Seal (1994 album)

"Seal II" redirects here. For the 1921 Supermarine aircraft, see Supermarine Seal II.

Seal
Studio album by Seal
Released	23 May 1994 [1]
Recorded	1993–1994
Studio	Sarm West, Sarm East and Angel Recording Studios (London, UK) Hook End Recording Studios (Oxfordshire, UK) Real World Studios (Box, Wiltshire, UK) Sarm West Coast (Los Angeles, California, USA)
Genre	Progressive soul [2] pop dance [3]
Length	50:29
Label	Zang Tumb Tuum Sire (US)
Producer	Trevor Horn
Seal chronology
Seal (1991) Seal (1994) Human Being (1998)
Singles from Seal
"Prayer for the Dying" Released: 9 May 1994 [4] "Kiss from a Rose" Released: 11 July 1994 [5] "Newborn Friend" Released: 24 October 1994 "I'm Alive" Released: 1995 "Don't Cry" Released: 27 November 1995

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
Christgau's Consumer Guide	[7]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[8]
Entertainment Weekly	A [3]
Knoxville News Sentinel	[9]
Los Angeles Times	[10]
NME	4/10 [11]
Rolling Stone	[12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[13]
Smash Hits	2/5 [14]

Seal (sometimes referred to as Seal II to avoid confusion with the 1991 album of the same name) is the second eponymous studio album by British singer Seal. The album was released in 1994 on ZTT and Sire Records and features the worldwide smash hit single "Kiss from a Rose".

The image on the cover has since become nearly synonymous with Seal, in that it has appeared on several singles covers and was reused for his greatest hits album.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bring It On"	Chris Bruce Lisa Coleman Wendy Melvoin Carmen Rizzo Augustus Isidore Seal	3:58
2.	"Prayer for the Dying"	Isidore Seal	5:30
3.	"Dreaming in Metaphors"	Isidore Seal	5:52
4.	"Don't Cry"	Seal	6:17
5.	"Fast Changes"	Isidore Seal	5:42
6.	"Kiss from a Rose"	Seal	4:47
7.	"People Asking Why"	Seal	4:45
8.	"Newborn Friend"	Seal	4:05
9.	"If I Could" (duet with Joni Mitchell)	Seal	4:16
10.	"I'm Alive"	Coleman Melvoin Rizzo Isidore Seal	4:02
11.	"Bring It On (Reprise)"	Bruce Coleman Melvoin Rizzo Isidore Seal	1:15

30th anniversary deluxe edition CD2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bring It On" (Alternate Version)		5:35
2.	"Reality"	Seal	4:34
3.	"Prayer for the Dying" (Alternate Version)		5:31
4.	"Kiss from a Rose" (Alternate Version)		5:11
5.	"Fast Changes" (Alternate Version)		5:42
6.	"Newborn Friend" (Alternate Version)		3:59
7.	"I'm Alive" (Alternate Version)		4:10
8.	"Don't Cry" (Alternate Version)		6:22
9.	"People Asking Why" (Alternate Version)		5:21
10.	"Dreaming in Metaphors" (Alternate Version)		5:04
11.	"If I Could" (Alternate Version)		3:52
12.	"Love Is Powerful"	Seal	3:04
13.	"Manic Depression" (featuring Jeff Beck)	Jimi Hendrix	5:13
14.	"Blues in 'E'"	Seal	3:43
15.	"The Wind Cries Mary"	Hendrix	3:54
16.	"Fly Like an Eagle"	Steve Miller	4:15

Personnel

• Seal – vocals, musician
• Gus Isidore, Jamie Muhoberac, Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin – principal musicians
• Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, Andy Duncan, Andy Newmark, Anne Dudley, Anthony Pleeth, Barry Wilde, Ben Cruft, Betsy Cook, Bill Benham, Bob Smissen, Boguslaw Kostecki, Carmen Rizzo, Charley Drayton, Chris Bruce, Chris Laurence, D'Influence, David Oladunni, David Theodore, Derek Watkins, Dick Morgan, Eddie Roberts, Garfield Jackson, Gavyn Wright, George Robertson, Gota Yashiki, Harvey Mason, Helen Liebmann, Ian Thomas, Jackie Shave, Jeff Beck, Jim McLeod, John Pigneguy, Jonathan Evans-Jones, Judd Proctor, Katie Wilkinson, Laurence Cottle, Luís Jardim, Maciej Rakowski, Mark Berrow, Mark Mann, Martin Loveday, Mike Brittain, Mike De Saulles, Nicholas Busch, Pandit Dinesh, Patrick Kiernan, Paul Kegg, Perry Montague-Mason, Peter Oxer, Phil Spalding, Pino Palladino, Richard Cottle, Rita Manning, Roger Garland, Roger Smith, Sam Maitland, Sarah Webb, Tim Weidner, Tony Stanton, Trevor Horn, Wilfred Gibson, William Orbit – musicians
• Eric Caudieux, Carmen Rizzo, Tim Weidner – programming
• Anne Dudley, Wil Malone – string arrangements
• Graeme Perkins – orchestra session arrangements
• Joni Mitchell – additional vocals (9)

Production

• Trevor Horn – producer
• Robin Barclay, Sean Cherney, Steve Fitzmaurice, Gregg Jackman, Steve MacMillan, Carmen Rizzo, Tim Weidner, Paul Wright – engineers
• Steve Fitzmaurice, Steve MacMillan, Tim Weidner – mixing
• Richard Lowe – first assistant engineer
• Howard Bargroff, Tom Elmhirst, Andrew Gallimore, Efren Herrera – assistant engineers
• Bill Ward – technical backup
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering at Precision Mastering (Hollywood, California, USA)
• Mike Higham – production assistant
• Michael Nash Associates – design
• Nick Knight – photography
• Bob Cavallo, John Wadlow – management

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Seal II Chart (1994–96) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) [15] 2 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [16] 8 Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [17] 3 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [18] 3 European Albums (European Top 100 Albums) [19] 6 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [20] 25 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [21] 4 Scottish Albums (OCC) [22] 19 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [23] 33 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [24] 15 UK Albums (OCC) [25] 1 US Billboard 200 [26] 15 Chart (2024) Peak position Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) [27] 25

Year-end charts 1994 year-end chart performance for Seal II Chart (1994) Rank Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [28] 82 European Albums (European Top 100 Albums) [19] 56 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [29] 97 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [30] 30 UK Albums (OCC) [31] 37 US Billboard 200 [32] 92 1995 year-end chart performance for Seal II Chart (1995) Rank Australian Albums (ARIA) [33] 81 Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [34] 28 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [35] 90 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [36] 19 UK Albums (OCC) [37] 46 US Billboard 200 [38] 56

Certifications

Certifications and sales for Seal II

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [39]	Platinum	70,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [40]	Gold	100,000*
Germany (BVMI) [41]	Gold	250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [42]	Gold	50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) [43]	Platinum	15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [44]	Gold	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [45]	2× Platinum	600,000^
United States (RIAA) [46]	5× Platinum	5,000,000‡
Summaries
Europe (IFPI) [47]	Platinum	1,000,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Album Releases" (PDF). Music Week . 21 May 1994. p. 26. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
2. Himes, Geoffrey (28 October 1994). "Two Who Revive Progressive Soul". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
3. Bernard, James (3 June 1994). "Seal". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
4. "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week . 7 May 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
5. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week . 9 July 1994. p. 33.
6. Wilson, MacKenzie. "Seal [1994] – Seal". AllMusic . Retrieved 3 June 2012.
7. Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG Book '90s: S". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s . Macmillan. ISBN   0312245602 . Retrieved 30 March 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
8. Larkin, Colin (2011). "Seal". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
9. Campbell, Chuck (17 June 1994). "McLachlan Explores Love At Its Darkest". Knoxville News Sentinel .
10. Hunt, Dennis (5 June 1994). "Seal; 'Seal' (Sire/Warner Bros.)". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 3 August 2016.
11. Sutherland, Mark (28 May 1994). "Long Play". NME . p. 33. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
12. Wright, Christian (6 October 1994). "Seal: Seal (1994)". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
13. Hunter, James (2004). "Seal". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p.  723. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
14. Cochrane, Emma (25 May 1994). "New Albums". Smash Hits . p. 48. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
15. "Australiancharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
16. "Austriancharts.at – Seal – Seal II" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
17. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2741". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Seal – Seal II" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
19. "1994 in Review: Sale Charts" (PDF). Music & Media 1994 In Review. 24 December 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2022– via World Radio History.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Seal – Seal II" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
21. "Charts.nz – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
22. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
23. "Swedishcharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
24. "Swisscharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
25. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
26. "Seal Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
27. "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2024. 25. hét". MAHASZ . Retrieved 26 June 2024.
28. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2686". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
29. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
30. "Top Selling Albums of 1994". RIANZ. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
31. "Top 100 Albums 1994" (PDF). Music Week . 14 January 1995. p. 11. Retrieved 20 May 2022– via World Radio History.
32. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
33. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums 1995 (page 2)". imgur.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
34. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2839". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
35. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
36. "Top Selling Albums of 1995". The Official NZ Music Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
37. "Top UK Albums Chart – Year-End 1995". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
38. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
39. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 246.
40. "Brazilian album certifications – Seal – Seal II" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
41. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Seal; 'Seal')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
42. "Dutch album certifications – Seal – Seal" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.Enter Seal in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1995 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
43. "New Zealand album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
44. "Spanish album certifications – Seal – Seal". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved 13 October 2024.
45. "British album certifications – Seal – Seal II". British Phonographic Industry.
46. "American album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 23 May 2024.
47. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 2 February 2020.