Music City Soul | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 7 May 2007 | |||
Recorded | October 2006 (Nashville, Tennessee) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 53:43 | |||
Label | Parlophone | |||
Producer |
| |||
Beverley Knight chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Music City Soul | ||||
|
Music City Soul is the fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter Beverley Knight. It was released on Parlophone Records on 7 May 2007 in the United Kingdom. The album contains the singles "No Man's Land", "After You" and "The Queen of Starting Over", and features Ronnie Wood on a number of tracks. The album became Knight's second highest charting album in the UK, peaking at number eight.
The majority of Music City Soul was recorded and produced by Mark Nevers at The Beech House studio in Nashville, Tennessee in the United States in just five days in late October 2006. [1] All the songs on the album were written beforehand the previous summer and then recorded back to back in the studio with an array of different musicians. The intention was to create an organic sound reminiscent of classic 1960s soul albums that epitomised releases by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and Al Green, who had influenced Knight as a child. [2] The album was titled Music City Soul to reflect the fact that Knight has returned to her soul and gospel roots. It was also intended to pay homage to Nashville, the city it was recorded in, which is often referred to as 'The Music City' due to its rich musical heritage. [3]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
The Mirror | [4] |
The Independent | [5] |
London Lite | [6] |
The Times | [7] |
The Guardian | [8] |
Digital Spy | [9] |
The Belfast Telegraph | [10] |
Virgin Media | [11] |
Mojo | [12] |
Music City Soul received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Allmusic editor Jon O'Brien rated the album three stars out of five and remarked that "whether it's a knee-jerk response to the disappointing sales of her 'all-bases-covered' predecessor, or a genuine affectionate homage to the likes of Al Green, Sam Cooke, and Aretha Franklin, its 15 tracks are undeniably and authentically old-school, thanks to Mark Nevers' organic production, Knight's full-throttled soulful vocals, and an inspired choice of collaborators and song choices." [1]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Every Time You See Me Smile" |
| Mark Nevers | 4:08 |
2. | "Ain't That a Lot of Love" |
| Nevers | 2:43 |
3. | "After You" |
| Nevers | 4:08 |
4. | "No Man's Land" |
| White | 3:30 |
5. | "The Queen of Starting Over" | Vale | Nevers | 3:47 |
6. | "Black Butta" |
| Nevers | 3:40 |
7. | "Saviour" |
| Nevers | 2:58 |
8. | "Time Is on My Side" | Norman Meade | Nevers | 3:33 |
9. | "Why Me, Why You, Why Now" |
| Nevers | 3:55 |
10. | "Tell Me I'm Wrong" |
| Nevers | 3:49 |
11. | "Trade It Up" |
| Nevers | 3:37 |
12. | "Rock Steady" | Aretha Franklin | Paul Reid | 3:57 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Uptight" |
| Nevers | 3:15 |
14. | "Back to You" |
| Nevers | 4:15 |
15. | "After You" (Radio Edit) |
| Vale | 3:59 |
Total length: | 55:07 |
|
|
Chart (2007) | Peak position |
---|---|
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [13] | 86 |
UK Albums (OCC) [14] | 8 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [15] | Silver | 60,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the "Queen of Soul", Rolling Stone twice named her as the greatest singer of all time. With global sales of over 75 million records, Franklin is one of the world's best-selling music artists.
Joscelyn Eve Stoker, known professionally as Joss Stone, is an English singer, songwriter and actress. She rose to prominence in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist. Her second album, Mind Body & Soul (2004), topped the UK Albums Chart and spawned the top-ten single "You Had Me", Stone's most successful single on the UK Singles Chart to date. Both the album and single received one nomination at the 2005 Grammy Awards, while Stone herself was nominated for Best New Artist, and in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2004, was ranked fifth as a predicted breakthrough act of 2004. She became the youngest British female singer to top the UK Albums Chart. Stone's third album, Introducing Joss Stone, released in March 2007, achieved gold record status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and yielded the second-ever highest debut for a British female solo artist on the Billboard 200, and became Stone's first top-five album in the US.
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul is the third studio album by American soul singer and songwriter Otis Redding. It was first released on September 15, 1965, as an LP record through the Stax Records subsidiary label Volt.
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" is a 1967 song by American soul singer Aretha Franklin released as a single by the Atlantic label. The words were written by Gerry Goffin from an idea by Atlantic producer Jerry Wexler, and the music was composed by Carole King. Written for Franklin, the record was a big hit reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became one of her signature songs. It made history on the UK Singles Chart a week after her death, finally becoming a hit almost 51 years after it was first released, entering at No. 79. Franklin also included a live recording on the album Aretha in Paris in 1968.
Voice – The Best of Beverley Knight is the first greatest hits album by British R&B recording artist and songwriter Beverley Knight, released in the United Kingdom on 20 March 2006 by Parlophone. The collection includes twelve UK Top 40 singles, including the newly recorded track and single "Piece of My Heart". The album also includes a second new track co-written with and produced by Chris Braide entitled "Who's Gonna Save Your Soul" and two live tracks. It was supported by the Voice – The Best of Tour.
The B-Funk is the debut studio album by the British R&B and soul singer-songwriter Beverley Knight. It was released on 26 November 1995 by independent record label Dome Records.
Who I Am is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Beverley Knight. It was released by Parlophone Records on 29 March 2002 in the United Kingdom. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 7, becoming Knight's first top ten album. It went on to be certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and earned Knight several awards nominations, most notably the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in 2002, and Best British Female and Best Urban Act at the 2003 BRIT Awards.
Reba is the fourteenth studio album by American country music singer Reba McEntire. McEntire collaborated once again with former rockabilly artist and legendary music producer Jimmy Bowen, and the album was released on April 25, 1988. Gone were the honky tonk stable steel guitars and fiddles of My Kind of Country and Have I Got a Deal for You, to be replaced by a highly produced and orchestrated production. The album recalls to mind the music on the hit parade of the late 1940s and early 1950s. The Nashville and country-soul crossover sounds of the 1960s are also represented. Created before For My Broken Heart and It's Your Call, this was one of the first of McEntire's albums to have a conceptual feeling. This was created by song choice and the use of similar instrumentation and vocal arrangement throughout the album. Reba was a success.
Beverley Knight is an English singer, songwriter, actress and radio personality. She released her first album, The B-Funk, in 1995. Heavily influenced by American soul music icons such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released eight studio albums. Widely regarded as one of Britain's greatest soul singers, Knight is best known for her hit singles "Greatest Day", "Get Up!", "Shoulda Woulda Coulda", "Come as You Are" and "Keep This Fire Burning".
"Piece of My Heart" is a romantic soul song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, originally recorded by Erma Franklin in 1967. Franklin's single peaked in December 1967 at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in the United States.
'"Flavour of the Old School"' is a song by British R&B recording artist Beverley Knight, released as her debut single from her first album, The B-Funk (1995). The track, which peaked at number fifty on the UK Singles Chart when it was released in March 1995, was accompanied by a low budget music video that saw Knight in the recording studio singing directly into the camera. It was re-released however in October 1995, supported by a new video and strong support from urban radio. The song went on to become Knight's first top 40 single, peaking at number thirty-three in the official UK Singles Chart. The song later reappeared on the b-side of Knight's 1999 single "Made it Back". The video is frequently shown in rotation on MTV Base.
Sam Dees is an American soul singer, songwriter and record producer. He has released several albums throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and the 1990s; as a composer, he has written hundreds of songs for many music artists.
"I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" is a 1967 single released by American soul singer Aretha Franklin. Released on Atlantic Records as the first big hit of her career and the lead single from her tenth studio album of the same name, it became a defining song for Franklin, peaking at number one on the rhythm and blues charts and number nine on the pop charts. The B-side was "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man". Before this Franklin had placed only two Top 40 singles on the pop chart during her modest tenure with Columbia Records.
"Don't Play That Song (You Lied)" is a song written by Ahmet Ertegun and Betty Nelson, the wife of soul singer Ben E. King. It was first recorded by King and was the title track on his third album Don't Play That Song! (1962). The song reached number 2 on the U.S. R&B singles chart and number 11 on the pop chart when released as a single on Atco Records in 1962. In Europe, it ranked at #10 in Italy on FIMI National Charts between 1962 and 1963.
"No Man's Land" is the first single released by British singer-songwriter Beverley Knight from her fifth studio album, Music City Soul. The song was released on 16 April 2007 digitally and 30 April 2007 physically and peaked at number forty-three on the UK singles chart. A further digital single was released on August 21, 2007, in support of her live performances at the iTunes festival in July, 2007, containing three live tracks. The digital EP release was the first of a two-part digital single, the second being released to promote the third single from Music City Soul, "The Queen of Starting Over".
"Rock Steady" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Aretha Franklin, released in October 1971 from her eighteenth album, Young, Gifted and Black (1972). The single reached the #9 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that same year. It also peaked at #2 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart. The original A-side, a rendition of the song "Oh Me Oh My ", peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart.
100% is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Beverley Knight. It was released on 7 September 2009 through Knight's own record label Hurricane Record, following her departure from Parlophone. The lead single from the album, "Beautiful Night" was released as a download-only on the same day as the album. A radio only first single, "Every Step", produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis was added to BBC Radio 2's B-list on 17 June 2009. It was released as a free download on 6 July 2009 for two weeks. A remix album, titled 100% – The Remixes was released exclusively on digital download via Beatport on 29 January 2012. It features remixes of three of the 100% album singles, "Beautiful Night", "In Your Shoes" and "Soul Survivor".
The Tender, the Moving, the Swinging Aretha Franklin is the third studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin, released in 1962 by Columbia Records. It was her first album to achieve any commercial success, reaching number 69 on the Billboard pop album charts. Unlike its predecessor, however, it did not have a hit single. The album was recorded at Columbia Recording Studio, in New York City.
Soul UK is the seventh studio album by English singer-songwriter Beverley Knight. The album was released on 4 July 2011, and features covers of British soul songs that inspired her whilst growing up. The album includes a live DVD of the tracks, filmed on 7 April at the Porchester Hall in London.
Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, or simply Dictionary of Soul, is the fifth studio album by American soul singer-songwriter Otis Redding and his last solo studio album released before his death. The successful Otis Blue and the following performance at Whisky a Go Go led to his rising fame across the United States. The first side of the album mainly contains cover versions, and the second songs mainly written by Redding.