Soul | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 10 November 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 41:13 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
| |||
Seal chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Soul | ||||
|
Soul is the sixth studio album by British singer Seal, which was released on 10 November 2008. The album was produced by David Foster, and co-produced, engineered and mixed by Jochem van der Saag. [3] It is made up of cover versions of eleven soul music classics. [4] [5]
The album charted within the top 10 in twelve countries. In the United Kingdom, the album charted at number twelve. As of January 2012, the album had sold 419,841 copies in the UK. [6] The album peaked at number thirteen in the United States on the Billboard 200 albums chart. It has since sold 547,000 copies in the US. [7]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 59/100 [8] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [9] |
Billboard | positive [10] |
Entertainment Weekly | B [11] |
PopMatters | [12] |
Robert Christgau | [13] |
Rolling Stone | [14] |
Toronto Star | [15] |
Vibe | [16] |
Soul garnered mixed reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 59, based on eight reviews. [8]
AllMusic's John Bush called it "a sincere, well-considered affair", praising Seal's "caressing vocals" and knowledge of faithfully interpreting the track listing, and Foster's "subtle yet effective production" that use "earthy, organic arrangements and funky beats that are slightly clipped for a contemporary feel." [9] Ashante Infantry of the Toronto Star wrote: "By turns instructive and seductive, the 45-year-old brings weariness and passion to the songs; love to see this performed live." [15] Entertainment Weekly 's Mikael Wood wrote that: "As always, Seal sounds great; age has relaxed his singing, and that lends the material an appropriately lived-in vibe." [11]
Rolling Stone 's Jody Rosen called it "an unnecessary record", criticising Seal's interpretation of the covers for emitting "a feeling of swank Euro-sophistication that saps the music of much of its emotional oomph." [14] Oliver Wang of Vibe criticised the "milquetoast musical arrangements" and Seal's performance of said arrangements for having "unnecessary vocal runs" and diminishing the "elegant grace" of the originals, saying it "sounds more like an album from a green American Idol winner than a pop veteran with half a dozen albums." While praising the cover of Denice Williams' "Free", Wang concluded that: "Had the rest of Soul followed the same path, it might have made a greater impression. As it is though, the lack of risk-taking leaves this set light on soul." [16]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "A Change Is Gonna Come" | Sam Cooke | 3:55 |
2. | "I Can't Stand the Rain" | Ann Peebles, Don Bryant, Bernard Miller | 3:35 |
3. | "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" | James Brown, Betty Jean Newsome | 3:53 |
4. | "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" | Al Green, Mabon Hodges | 4:10 |
5. | "I've Been Loving You Too Long" | Otis Redding, Jerry Butler | 3:08 |
6. | "It's Alright" | Curtis Mayfield | 3:47 |
7. | "If You Don't Know Me by Now" | Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff | 3:50 |
8. | "Knock on Wood" | Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper | 3:22 |
9. | "I'm Still in Love with You" | Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Al Jackson Jr. | 4:37 |
10. | "Free" | Henry Redd, Susaye Green, Nathan Watts, Deniece Williams | 3:27 |
11. | "Stand by Me" | Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | 4:06 |
12. | "People Get Ready" | Curtis Mayfield | 3:35 |
Choir on "People Get Ready"
Chart (2008–2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
Argentinean Albums (CAPIF) [17] | 12 |
Australian Albums (ARIA) [18] | 16 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [19] | 8 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [20] | 2 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [21] | 1 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [22] | 11 |
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [23] | 5 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [24] | 6 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [25] | 23 |
French Albums (SNEP) [26] | 1 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [27] | 15 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) [28] | 21 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [29] | 5 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [30] | 22 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [31] | 7 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [32] | 9 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [33] | 12 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [34] | 6 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [35] | 4 |
UK Albums (OCC) [36] | 12 |
US Billboard 200 [37] | 13 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [38] | 4 |
Chart (2008) | Position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [39] | 98 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [40] | 33 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [41] | 41 |
French Albums (SNEP) [42] | 2 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [43] | 34 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [44] | 58 |
UK Albums (OCC) [45] | 40 |
Chart (2009) | Position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop overal) [46] | 1 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [47] | 16 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [48] | 1 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [49] | 44 |
French Albums (SNEP) [50] | 2 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [51] | 14 |
UK Albums (OCC) [52] | 145 |
US Billboard 200 [53] | 75 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [54] | 28 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [55] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [56] | Gold | 10,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [57] | 2× Platinum | 60,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [58] | Platinum | 80,000^ |
France (SNEP) [59] | Diamond | 750,000* |
Germany (BVMI) [60] | Gold | 100,000^ |
Italy (FIMI) [61] | Gold | 35,000* |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [62] | Gold | 15,000* |
Portugal (AFP) [63] | Gold | 10,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [64] | Gold | 40,000^ |
Sweden (GLF) [65] | Gold | 20,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [66] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [67] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI) [68] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Seal IV is the fourth studio album by Seal. It follows the aborted sessions for Togetherland, which was scrapped because Seal thought it was not up to the standard of his previous work.
The Soul Sessions is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Joss Stone, released on 16 September 2003 by S-Curve Records. The album consists of cover versions of soul songs from the 1960s and 1970s, in addition to a cover of the White Stripes' 2001 song "Fell in Love with a Girl". In 2004, The Soul Sessions was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and was nominated for a MOBO Award for Best Album.
Mezmerize is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on May 17, 2005, by American Recordings and Columbia Records. Upon its release, the album received acclaim from critics. The album sold over 450,000 copies in its first week, and immediately topped the Billboard 200.
It's Time is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. It was released on February 8, 2005, by 143 Records and Reprise Records. With arrangements by David Foster, the album contains cover versions of songs from traditional contemporary pop: George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Stevie Wonder, and The Beatles, as well as the original song "Home", which was co-written by Bublé.
Millennium is the third studio album by American vocal group Backstreet Boys, released by Jive Records on May 18, 1999. It was a highly anticipated follow-up to both their U.S. self-titled debut album and their second internationally released album, Backstreet's Back (1997). It was their first album to be released in the United States and internationally in the same form simultaneously.
Hits, is the first greatest hits album by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released on 5 October 1998 in the United Kingdom, and one day later in the United States. The collection included fourteen top 40 hits, including seven American number one songs, spanning from the albums Face Value (1981) through Dance into the Light (1996). One new Collins recording, a cover of Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors", also appeared on the collection and was a popular song on adult contemporary stations. Hits was also the first Phil Collins album to include four songs originally recorded for motion pictures as well as his popular duet with Philip Bailey, "Easy Lover".
Life is the fifth studio album by British pop and soul band Simply Red, released in 1995. The lead single "Fairground" became their first number 1 hit in the UK. Due to this success, the album also made #1 on the UK album chart. It also included "We're in This Together", the official theme song for Euro '96. This was also the last album to feature band members Fritz McIntyre and Heitor TP.
Amore is the eleventh studio album by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, released on 31 January 2006, for the Valentine's Day season. This album features a remake of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love"; "Because We Believe", the closing song of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, which Bocelli wrote and performed; "Somos Novios, a duet with American pop singer Christina Aguilera; and his first recording of Bésame Mucho, which eventually became one of his signature songs.
The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album for the eponymous Disney film. It contains songs from the film written by Elton John and Tim Rice, and a score composed by Hans Zimmer. Elton John has a dual role of performer for several tracks. Additional performers include Lebo M, Carmen Twillie, Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson, Joseph Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Jeremy Irons, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, and Sally Dworsky. The album was released on May 31, 1994 on CD and audio cassette. The soundtrack was recorded in three different countries: the U.S., the U.K. and South Africa. It is the best-selling soundtrack album to an animated film in the United States with over 7 million copies sold, with 4,934,000 copies sold in 1994. Hans Zimmer was awarded an Academy Award for his Original Motion Picture Score in 1995. An expanded version of The Lion King soundtrack, featuring 30 minutes of previously-unreleased material, was released as part of the Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection series on June 24, 2014. In 2014, Hot Topic released a vinyl picture disc of the soundtrack.
Awake is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Josh Groban. Announced on September 13, 2006, it is his third studio album, and a follow-up to his multi-platinum album Closer. Awake was released on November 7, 2006.
Call Me Irresponsible is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. Released on May 1, 2007 via 143 and Reprise Records, it was produced by David Foster, Humberto Gatica, and Bob Rock. The album features renditions of classic traditional pop songs, including the title track "Call Me Irresponsible", "'Always on My Mind", and "Comin' Home Baby" featuring Boyz II Men. Two original tracks were written for the album, "Everything" and "Lost", both of which were co-written by Bublé.
All the Lost Souls is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter James Blunt, released on 17 September 2007. It is the follow-up to his 2004 debut album, Back to Bedlam. The first single released from the album was "1973", which started radio play on 23 July 2007.
19 is the debut studio album by the English singer-songwriter Adele Adkins, released on 28 January 2008 by XL Recordings. Following Adele's graduation from the BRIT School in April 2006, she began publishing songs and recorded a three-song demo for a class project and gave it to a friend. They posted the demo on MySpace, where it became very successful and led to interest from the record label. This led to Adele signing a recording contract at age 18 with the label and providing vocals for Jack Peñate. During this session for Peñate's song she met producer Jim Abbiss, who would go on to produce the majority of her debut album.
Back for Good is the seventh studio album by German duo Modern Talking, released on 30 March 1998 by Hansa Records, following the reunion of the duo. The album includes new versions of 11 previous singles, four new songs, two remixes and a medley. Back for Good debuted atop the German Albums Chart on 13 April 1998 and spent a total of five weeks at the top. It was eventually certified five-times gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI), denoting shipments in excess of 1.25 million units in Germany. The album was also successful outside of Germany, topping the charts in Austria, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.
Crazy Love is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer Michael Bublé. It was released by 143 Records and Reprise Records on October 9, 2009. After only three days of sales, it opened atop the Billboard 200 chart with 132,000 copies, making it Bublé's second No. 1 album. Spending the first full week at the top, the album increased in sales to 203,000 copies, staying again at the No. 1 spot on its second week. In Australia, the album debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart and spent six non-consecutive weeks as No. 1. It has since been certified five times Platinum. In the United Kingdom, Crazy Love topped the album charts.
Seal 6: Commitment is the seventh studio album by British singer Seal. It was released worldwide on 20 September 2010 with the exception of the United States where it was released on 28 September 2010. The album is produced by David Foster, who also produced Seal's previous sixth studio album Soul. It debuted at number eleven on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Seal's highest-charting album on the chart since Seal IV in 2003. As of January 2012, the album had sold 52,932 copies in the United Kingdom. The album has produced two singles, "Secret" and "Weight of My Mistakes".
Rosenrot is the fifth studio album by German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein, released on 28 October 2005. The album includes six songs artistically omitted from Reise, Reise. The album's first title was Reise, Reise Volume Two, but on 18 August 2005 the album was announced as Rosenrot. The cover art is nearly identical to the Japanese import of Reise, Reise. The image is a slightly altered photograph of the icebreaker USS Atka, taken on 13 March 1960 at McMurdo Station, Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica.
Soul 2 is the eighth studio album by British soul/R&B singer Seal. The album was released on 4 November 2011. Like its predecessor, Soul (2008) the album consists of soul classics, and it was produced by David Foster, Jochem van der Saag, and long-time collaborator Trevor Horn. It was preceded by the lead single, "Let's Stay Together" on 30 September 2011.
Merry Christmas, Baby, is the first Christmas album by Rod Stewart and his 27th studio album overall, released on 30 October 2012. The album has proved to be a top 10 success in many countries including the UK, US, Canada and Australia. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in November 2012 with over 1,000,000 copies sold in the US.
Wallflower is the twelfth studio album by Canadian singer Diana Krall, released on February 3, 2015, by Verve Records. The album was produced by David Foster. The album's supporting tour, Wallflower World Tour, began in Boston on February 25, 2015.