Soul Flower

Last updated
Soul Flower
En Vogue-Soul Flower (album cover).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 24, 2004
Recorded2003–2004
Genre R&B
Label
Producer
En Vogue chronology
The Gift of Christmas
(2002)
Soul Flower
(2004)
Electric Café
(2018)
Singles from Soul Flower
  1. "Losin' My Mind"
    Released: 2004
  2. "Ooh Boy"
    Released: 2004

Soul Flower is the sixth studio album by the American recording group En Vogue. Released through 33rd Street and Funkigirl Records and distributed by Bayside Entertainment on February 24, 2004 in the United States, the album marked the band's debut with the label as well as their first full-length release to feature vocals by new band member Rhona Bennett who had joined remaining founding members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron the year before following the departure of Amanda Cole, resulting into the partial re-recording of several songs on Soul Flower that Cole had originally lent her voice to.

Contents

The trio reteamed with longtime contributors Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy to work on most of the album, with additional production coming from Troy Johnson, Dwayne Morgan, Phillips Scott, Marlon McClain, and songwriting collective Trackheadz. Upon its release, Soul Flower debuted at number 47 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 15 on the Independent Albums charts, making it the band's lowest-chart album to date. In support of it, two singles, including "Losin' My Mind" and "Ooh Boy", were released.

Background

In 2000, En Vogue released their fourth studio album Masterpiece Theatre , their second project as a trio following the departure of original member Dawn Robinson in 1997. A commercial disappointment, it underperformed and was considered a drop from their previous effort EV3 (1997), [1] resulting in the release of no further singles after the weak commercial performance of the project. [2] Instead, En Vogue were soon dropped from Elektra. [3] The following year, Amanda Cole was added as a performing member to the band, but soon after original member Maxine Jones announced her desire to spend more time with her young daughter and departed. [3] Soon after, the band collaborated with producer Timothy Eaton on the Christmas album The Gift of Christmas , released through Eaton's Discretion Records in 2002. [3]

2004 marked the return of En Vogue with a new album and a new lineup. Original members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron are joined by new member, actress and singer Rhona Bennett. The new line-up continued to showcase En Vogue's trademark harmonies, adding a mature attitude that's still sexy and strong. Bennett replaced Amanda Cole who recorded ten of the fifteen tracks with Herron and Ellis; these would later be re-recorded with Bennett who replaced all of Cole's leads on the album. [4] Five additional tracks were then added to complete the album. The song "Stop" as well as the lead single "Losin' My Mind" were brought in by Bennett, "Ez-a-Lee" was an additional track added by the group's new management, while "Ooh Boy" and "New Day Calling'" were brought to the project by the record company.

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Ebony Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]

Soul Flower received generally mixed reviews from music critics. David Jeffries from AllMusic felt that the album "benefits from more of an eye on the groove than on the charts and better than ever tricks from longtime producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy." He added that while "this isn't a return to form [...] Soul Flower finds the band revitalized, learned, and with a whole new set of opportunities in front of them." [5] In his review for USA Today , Steve Jones described the album as "a more mature, soulful outfit. The harmonies are as pristine as ever, and they are still putting lame guys in check, but they seem to have mellowed a bit." [7]

Following its release, Soul Flower debuted at number 47 on Billboard 's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number 15 on the Independent Albums chart in the United States. It became the En Vogue's first album neither to reach the top forty of the former not to chart on the Billboard 200. Altogether, Soul Flower produced two singles, including "Losin' My Mind" and "Ooh Boy," the latter of which reached Billboard 's Bubbling Under charts.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Losin' My Mind"Johnson3:13
2."Ez-A-Lee"
  • Dwayne Morgan
  • Phillips Scott
  • Morgan
  • Scott
3:03
3."Ooh Boy"
Foster & McElroy 3:33
4."All You See"
  • Foster & McElroy
3:29
5."Dissed Him"
  • Benjamin
  • Meyers
4:29
6."Ooh La La"
  • Track Headz
3:38
7."I Do Love You (Piece of My Love)"
  • Foster & McElroy
4:24
8."Stop"
  • Foster
  • Scott
  • Bennett
  • McElroy
  • Foster & McElroy
2:51
9."Heaven"
  • Herron
  • Foster
  • Ellis
  • McElroy
  • Foster & McElroy
4:01
10."Everyday"
  • Foster & McElroy
4:16
11."Nearly Lost"
  • Arvel McClinton
  • Curtis Wilson
  • Ngai McGee
  • Trackheadz
3:12
12."Million Different Ways"
  • John Webb
  • Marlon McClain
  • Matt Theriault
  • McClain
  • Theriault
3:29
13."Careful"
  • Herron
  • Foster
  • Jara Harris
  • McClain
  • Ellis
  • McElroy
  • Harris
  • McClain
3:02
14."How Do I Get Over"
  • Foster
  • Marshall
  • McElroy
  • Foster & McElroy
4:06
15."New Day Callin'"
  • Dorian Cheah
  • Robert Ventura
  • Foster & McElroy
4:11

Personnel

Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.

Charts

Chart (2004)Peak
position
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [8] 15
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [9] 47

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">En Vogue</span> American R&B/pop vocal group

En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single "Hold On", taken from their 1990 debut album Born to Sing. The group's 1992 follow-up album Funky Divas reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, and included their second US number two hit "My Lovin' " as well as the US top 10 hits "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and "Free Your Mind".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foster & McElroy</span> American production team

Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy are an American R&B record production and songwriting duo, releasing recordings under the names Foster & McElroy and Fmob. They have written and produced songs for musicians such as Club Nouveau, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Alexander O'Neal, Regina Belle, and Swing Out Sister. Their music has been sampled in hit songs by the Luniz, Puff Daddy, Ashanti, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Jessica Simpson, and others. Foster & McElroy are best known as the founders of the group En Vogue, listed by Billboard as one of the Top 10 Girl Groups of All Time. In addition to producing music for various television shows, they are also credited for songs in numerous movie soundtracks including The Great White Hype, Lean on Me, and Who's That Girl.

<i>Funky Divas</i> 1992 studio album by En Vogue

Funky Divas is the second studio album by American recording group En Vogue, released by Atlantic Records division East West on March 24, 1992, in the United States. Conceived after the success of their Grammy Award–nominated debut album Born to Sing (1990), En Vogue reteamed with their founders Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy to work on the entire album. As with Born to Sing, the pair borrowed from contemporary R&B, new jack swing, and hip hop, while also incorporating classic soul, blues and doo-wop elements, particularly on its on two Sparkle cover versions, as well as, in the case of "Free Your Mind," heavy metal sounds. The album became the quartet's second album to earn a Grammy Award nomination in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category, while winning the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and the Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dawn Robinson</span> American singer (born 1966)

Dawn Sherrese Robinson is an American singer and actress best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. Following her departure from En Vogue, Robinson joined Lucy Pearl and released their self-titled debut album Lucy Pearl in 2000, which went platinum worldwide and produced the successful singles "Dance Tonight" and "Don't Mess with My Man".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Ellis</span> American R&B singer

Terry Lynn Ellis is an American singer. She is best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue which formed in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxine Jones</span> American singer

Maxine Jones, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman, best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. She sang lead vocals on the group's signature singles "My Lovin' " and "Don't Let Go (Love)", both of which garnered international success and sold over a million copies. Throughout her career, Jones has sold over 20 million records with En Vogue. Her work has earned her several awards and nominations, including two American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, four MTV Video Music Awards, and four Soul Train Music Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cindy Herron</span> American singer and actress

Cynthia Ann Herron, professionally known as Cindy Herron and sometimes credited as Cindy Herron–Braggs is an American singer and actress. Herron is best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. She sang lead vocals on the group's first single "Hold On", which garnered mainstream success and sold over a million copies. Despite being absent from the group during certain periods, Herron and fellow group member Terry Ellis are the only original members to appear on all of the group's album releases to date. In the 1980s, Herron began her career as an actress, making her debut appearance in Up and Coming as "Valerie".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhona Bennett</span> American singer and actress

Rhona Lynn Bennett, also known as Miss R&B, is an American singer and actress best known for her recurring role as Nicole on The Jamie Foxx Show. She is currently a member of contemporary R&B female group En Vogue. Bennett began her career doing voiceovers and industrial films before moving into professional theatre and television. Before joining the cast of The Jamie Foxx Show, Rhona was a castmember of the Disney Channel's variety show The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority. She also appeared as Loquatia on the short-lived UPN television sitcom Homeboys in Outer Space during the 1996–97 season.

<i>Born to Sing</i> (En Vogue album) 1990 studio album by En Vogue

Born to Sing is the debut studio album by American vocal group En Vogue. It was released by Atlantic Records on April 3, 1990, in the United States. Conceived after their contribution to band founders Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy's 1988 compilation project FM2 for Atlantic, it was chiefly produced by Foster and McElroy, with additional contribution coming from Hughie Prince, Don Raye, and former The Independents members Marvin Yancy and Chuck Jackson. Musically, Born to Sing contains a range of contemporary genres, blending a mix of soft hip hop soul, pop, contemporary early-1990s R&B, rap, and new jack swing.

<i>Electric Café</i> (En Vogue album) 2018 studio album by En Vogue

Electric Café is the seventh studio album by American female vocal group En Vogue. It was released worldwide on April 6, 2018. Their first studio album in fourteen years, it marked their first full-length release through eOne Music and their own label, En Vogue Records. Material for Electric Café was originally conceived between 2014 and 2018. The trio reteamed with their founders Foster & McElroy to work on the majority of the album, with additional contribution coming from musicians Raphael Saadiq, Dem Jointz, Taura Stinson, Kid Monroe, Ne-Yo, and Curtis "Sauce" Wilson. Rapper Snoop Dogg appears as a guest vocalist. Musically, Electric Café contains a range of genres, blending a mix of neo soul, pop, and contemporary R&B with electronic dance music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hold On (En Vogue song)</span> 1990 single by En Vogue

"Hold On" is a song by American girl group En Vogue, released in early 1990 as the first single from their debut album, Born to Sing (1990). It was produced by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, and written by the former two and all members of the group. It peaked at number five in the UK and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. In addition, the song reached number-one on both the Billboard Dance Club Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. En Vogue performed "Hold On" at the 2008 BET Awards with Alicia Keys. In 2017, it was ranked number four on Spin magazine's ranking of "The 30 Best '90s R&B Songs".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lies (En Vogue song)</span> 1990 single by En Vogue

"Lies" is a song from American R&B/pop group En Vogue. It is the second single from their debut hit album, Born to Sing. Written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, it became the group's second single to top the Billboard R&B singles chart. It peaked at number thirty-eight and was also their second US Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Don't Love You</span> 1993 single by En Vogue

"Love Don't Love You" is a song by American R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue, released as the final single from their second album, Funky Divas (1992). It was released in 1993 and became the group's fifth consecutive top-40 single from the album in the United States. The song is led by Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riddle (song)</span> 2000 single by En Vogue

"Riddle" is a song recorded by American R&B group En Vogue. It was written by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, along with band members Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, and Terry Ellis, for their fourth studio album Masterpiece Theater (2000), while production was helmed by Foster & McElroy. An angry mid-tempo song about a sneaking, cheating lover, "Riddle" is built around a clapping game motif, and interpolates the band's 1992 song "My Lovin' ." Lyrically, it has the protagonist revealing her feelings about discovering that her love interest is having an affair with someone else over the course of the week.

<i>Remix to Sing</i> 1991 EP by En Vogue

Remix to Sing is a 1991 EP by American female vocal group En Vogue. It is their first remix album which was released on November 26, 1991, by East West Records. The EP features remixes of songs from their platinum debut album Born to Sing. Also included are the three hit singles; "Hold On", "You Don't Have to Worry" and "Lies" which all peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runaway Love (En Vogue song)</span> 1993 single by En Vogue

"Runaway Love" is a song by American R&B/pop group En Vogue, released in September 1993 by EastWest as the first single from the group's extended play (EP) Runaway Love. After the huge success of their second album, Funky Divas (1992), the single was released. It was written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster. Group members Cindy Herron and Terry Ellis share lead vocals, Dawn Robinson leads on the bridge, and spoken intro is by Maxine Jones. Elroy and Foster contributed vocals and spoken rap, their known as the alias FMob group.

<i>Masterpiece Theatre</i> (En Vogue album) 2000 studio album by En Vogue

Masterpiece Theatre is the fourth studio album by American recording group En Vogue, released worldwide by Elektra Records on May 23, 2000. It marked the band's debut with Elektra, as well as their only release following their departure from longtime label Eastwest Records. Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones worked exclusively with regular collaborators Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy on the album who made heavy use of samples from classical music and traditional pop music to construct songs for Masterpiece Theatre, with its title alluding to the same-titled American drama anthology television series, best known for presenting adaptations of a mix of contemporary and classic novels and biographies.

<i>The Gift of Christmas</i> (En Vogue album) 2002 studio album by En Vogue

The Gift of Christmas is fifth studio album and the Christmas album by American female recording group En Vogue, released on October 8, 2002 by Discretion Enterprises following their departure from Elektra Records. Produced and arranged by long time collaborators Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, featuring additional production by Timothy Eaton, it is the group's first Christmas album and their only record to feature vocals from Amanda Cole who remained two years with the group. The Gift of Christmas features original Christmas tunes as well as cover versions of classic holiday songs.

"Ooh Boy" is a song recorded by American recording group En Vogue. It was written by Jamie Brewer, Kisha Griffin, Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy for their sixth studio album Soul Flower (2004), while production was helmed by Foster and McElroy. An uptempo R&B song with a funky disco groove, it features lead vocals from Rhona Bennett and Terry Ellis. "Ooh Boy" was released as the second and final single from the album, serving as its lead single. The song reached the top thirty of the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. In support of the song, En Vogue performed it on several US television shows such as Soul Train and On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket (En Vogue song)</span> 2017 single by En Vogue

"Rocket" is a song by American recording group En Vogue. It was written by singer-songwriter Ne-Yo and recorded for their seventh studio album Electric Café (2018), while production was handled by Curtis "Sauce" Wilson. The R&B song served as the album's lead single and was released on December 1, 2017 through En Vogue Records and eOne Music. In the United States, the song peaked at number eight on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart, becoming En Vogue's first top 10 hit in twenty years.

References

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  2. O'Keefe, Meghan (July 31, 2013). "Bach & Roll: 10 Modern Songs Written By Classical Composers". VH1. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Harrison, Quentin (March 23, 2017). "INTERVIEW: En Vogue's Cindy Herron-Braggs, Forever a Funky Diva". Albumism. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  4. "Soul Flower" by En Vogue - Songs, Reviews, Credits - Allmusic
  5. 1 2 Jeffries, David. En Vogue - Soul Flower review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
  6. Norment, Lynn. The Funky Divas Are Back in Stride. Ebony, Mar-2004
  7. 1 2 Jones, Steve. Music: Reviews En Vogue Soul Flower. USAToday, Feb-23-2004
  8. "En Vogue Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  9. "En Vogue Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2018.