| Soul Power | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 6, 2014 | |||
| Recorded | 2014 | |||
| Studio | Living Room Studios Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 40:42 | |||
| Label | Burger | |||
| Producer | Curtis Harding | |||
| Curtis Harding chronology | ||||
| ||||
Soul Power is the debut studio album by American singer Curtis Harding, released May 6, 2014, by Burger Records. It encompasses a wide breadth of genres, though it is primarily inspired by soul music and his mother's gospel singing. The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics.
Before Soul Power, Curtis Harding had worked with several artists of various genres, including backing R&B and hip hop recording artist CeeLo Green and collaborating with members of the rock bands Black Lips and Mastodon. [1] As a child, Harding was influenced by his mother's gospel music while touring. [2] He also sees the evolution of gospel music as parallel with the history of African Americans in the United States, as the foundation of many musical genres. "From hardship and trials, you make something beautiful," he told The 405. [2]
According to Harding, many songs of Soul Power are inspired by relationships with his family and friends. "It's about love, love lost," he said prior to the album's release. "It's about overcoming different things." [3] He also said that he sought to make the album accessible to broad audiences by incorporating many genres. [3]
In 2014, Harding recorded Soul Power at Living Room Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, with Justin McNeight and Edward Rawls. [3] They spent two weeks and recorded 20 songs; 12 were included on the album. [3] Randy Michael composed the music to "Keep on Shining" (with Harding's lyrics); writer Jason Reynolds worked on two songs with Harding; and Harding co-wrote several other songs. [3]
Burger Records released Soul Power on May 6, 2014. [4] The album's cover image is a black-and-white photograph by Hedi Slimane [5] of Harding, shirtless, smoking a cigarette. [6]
Harding calls his musical genre "slop 'n' soul", based on the leftovers of music he has encountered; [3] the influence of many genres is evident. [1] His voice – kept mellow throughout the album – ranges "from smoky croon to silky falsetto." [7] Musically, Soul Power draws primarily from classic soul music. [6] "Foot-stomping backbeats, brassy guitar-work, and booming horns" across the album are taken from 1960s soul. [3]
In Soul Power, examples of other genres include the indie rock guitar part of "I Don't Wanna Go Home"; [6] the garage rock groove of "Drive My Car"; [5] the disco style of "Heaven's on the Other Side". [2] Classic rock and roll is featured in "Surf" (a song inspired by The Walking Dead ) [8] and "I Don't Wanna Go Home" in contrast to the balladry of "Castaway". [9] The lyrics of the somber, gospel-inspid song "Freedom" imply a connection with roots of soul music and slavery. [2] "Keep on Shining" is shaped by a dynamic rhythm reminiscent of northern soul [5] paired with brass flair and falsetto backing vocals. [2]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 80/100 [10] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| The 405 | 7/10 [2] |
| Allmusic |   [4] |
| Blurt | [9] |
| The Guardian | [5] |
| The Irish Times | [1] |
| Now | [7] |
Harding was commended for his voice. [7] "Harding's ability to keep every song in line with his personable singing and no-nonsense guitar is what makes this LP truly special – well, that and the fact that there’s not a bum track on it," wrote Michael Toland of Blurt . [9] "Harding is an undeniably versatile vocal talent, as you’d expect from someone schooled firstly in gospel choirs and then as a backing singer for CeeLo Green," wrote Tim Jonze of The Guardian . "But ... it's hard to detect what he's bringing fresh to the mix. Too often, Harding's new blues and soul sound very much like the old versions." [5]
Adapted from AllMusic. [4] All tracks are written by Curtis Harding, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Next Time" | 4:30 |
| 2. | "Castaway" | 3:40 |
| 3. | "Keep on Shining" (Harding and Randy Michael) | 3:23 |
| 4. | "Freedom" (Harding and Jason Reynolds) | 2:43 |
| 5. | "Surf" | 3:04 |
| 6. | "I Don't Wanna Go Home" (Harding and Jared Swilley) | 2:16 |
| 7. | "Beautiful People" | 3:22 |
| 8. | "The Drive" | 3:42 |
| 9. | "Heaven's on the Other Side" (Harding and Reynolds) | 3:59 |
| 10. | "Drive My Car" | 2:58 |
| 11. | "I Need a Friend" (Harding and Michael) | 3:13 |
| 12. | "Cruel World" (Harding and Andrew Teems) | 3:52 |
Adapted from AllMusic. [11]
| Chart (2014) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [12] | 156 |
| French Albums (SNEP) [13] | 82 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [14] | 43 |
Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the 1950s and early 1960s. It combines elements of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues and jazz. Soul music became popular for dancing and listening in the United States, where record labels such as Motown, Atlantic and Stax were influential during the Civil Rights Movement. Soul also became popular around the world, directly influencing rock music and the music of Africa.
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music. He first achieved success and recognition with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted group The Impressions during the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and 1960s, and later worked as a solo artist.
Stripped is the fourth studio album by American singer Christina Aguilera. It was released on October 22, 2002, by RCA Records. Looking to transition from the teen pop styles of her self-titled debut album (1999), Aguilera took creative control over her next album project, both musically and lyrically. She also changed her public image and established her alter ego Xtina. Musically, its music incorporates pop and R&B with influences from many different genres, including soul, rock, hip hop, and Latin music. Lyrically, most of the songs from the album discuss the theme of self-respect, while a few other songs talk about sex and feminism. As an executive producer, Aguilera enlisted numerous new collaborators for the album.
Eric Clapton is the debut studio album by British rock musician Eric Clapton, released in August 1970 under Atco and Polydor Records.
Hedi Slimane is a French photographer and fashion designer. From 2000 to 2007, he held the position of creative director for Dior Homme. From 2012 to 2016, he was the creative director for Yves Saint Laurent. Since February 1, 2018, Slimane has been the creative, artistic and image director of Celine.
Yael Naim is the self-titled second studio album by Yael Naim, released on 22 October 2007 worldwide and on 18 March 2008 in North America. It features the single "New Soul", which gained widespread popularity after being featured in Apple's MacBook Air video advertisement. Some editions credit the album to both Naim and co-producer David Donatien, with some also adding Donatien's name to the cover in smaller text below Naim's.
My Love: Essential Collection is a greatest hits album by Canadian recording artist Celine Dion. It was released by Columbia Records on 24 October 2008 as the follow up to her previous English-language compilation, All the Way... A Decade of Song (1999). Before releasing My Love: Essential Collection, Dion had already sold over 200 million albums worldwide. In the album's liner notes, she dedicated this collection of songs, recorded between 1990 and 2008, to her fans who supported her throughout the years. My Love: Essential Collection was released as a single disc, consisting of Dion's most successful singles, including: "My Heart Will Go On", "Because You Loved Me", "The Power of Love" and "It's All Coming Back to Me Now". The two-disc edition, entitled My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection, has been further expanded to include more hits and rare songs that have not previously appeared on her albums. Both editions include one new track, "There Comes a Time". The album wasn't released in Japan because Sony Music Entertainment decided to issue different compilation there, Complete Best.
Radio Music Society is the fourth studio album by Esperanza Spalding, which was released through the record label Heads Up International on March 20, 2012. The album earned Spalding Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for the track, "City of Roses".
Laura Mvula is a British recording artist, songwriter and composer. A native of Birmingham, Mvula has gained experience as a young member or leader of a cappella, jazz/neo-soul, and gospel groups and choirs. She was classically trained. In 2012, she signed with RCA Records and released an extended play, She, to critical acclaim.
The Electric Lady is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Janelle Monáe, released on September 6, 2013, by Wondaland Arts Society, Bad Boy Records and Atlantic Records. It is the follow up to her critically acclaimed debut studio album, The ArchAndroid (2010), and likewise, received universal acclaim from music critics. This album serves as the fourth and fifth installments of her seven-part Metropolis concept series. Musically, The Electric Lady incorporates influences of hip hop soul, funk, gospel, jazz, rock, pop, and reggae.
Food is the sixth studio album by American singer Kelis. It was released on April 21, 2014, becoming her first album released under Ninja Tune Records. After parting ways with Jive Records in 2007, Kelis signed to Interscope and will.i.am Music Group in 2009, through the label she released her fifth studio album, Flesh Tone, which saw Kelis experiment with a dance sound. In 2011, Kelis began work on the follow-up to Flesh Tone; however, she left Interscope and signed to Federal Prism, before officially signing to the British independent label Ninja Tune for the release of Food. Food is an R&B and soul album with a diverse musical style that incorporates funk, Afrobeat, Memphis soul, and neo soul. Its songs feature crackling horns, brass, earthy guitars, simmering electronics and vocals from Kelis that were noted as being breathy, smoky and sultry.
A Town Called Paradise is the fifth studio album by Dutch DJ and record producer Tiësto, released on 13 June 2014 by Musical Freedom, PM:AM Recordings, and Universal Music. Five singles were released: "Pair of Dice", "Red Lights", "Wasted", "Let's Go" and "Light Years Away".
Christian R&B is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music consisting of Christian-based lyrics or of musicians typically known for writing such songs, with the purpose to uplift, entertain, or to give a Christian perspective on any topic. Some people may view Christian R&B as a subgenre of gospel music, or a cross-genre under both gospel and R&B.
Fifty Shades of Grey: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 2015 film Fifty Shades of Grey, an adaptation of E. L. James's eponymous novel; it was released through Republic Records on February 10, 2015. It was the seventh best-selling album of 2015 with 2.2 million copies sold worldwide.
Texas 25 is an album by Scottish rock band Texas, released on 16 February 2015. The album was released to celebrate the band's 25th anniversary and features eight reworked Texas tracks along with four new songs. A 2-disc deluxe edition of the album was also released, with disc 1 featuring the same track listing as the standard version of the album and disc 2 including the original versions of 15 of the band's biggest hits.
Julia Rachel Cumming is an American singer-songwriter who is the frontwoman and bass player of the Brooklyn-based band Sunflower Bean. Cumming models occasionally, and has modeled for several well known designers and has appeared in global campaigns for H&M and Diesel. Cumming is also a political activist and is active in the Model Alliance. She has produced and directed a video featuring her fellow models, encouraging young people to become politically active.
Curtis Harding is an American singer and songwriter. Primarily a soul artist, his "slop 'n' soul" style carries the influence of genres including blues, gospel, psychedelia, R&B, and rock. His first album, Soul Power (2014), was followed by Face Your Fear in 2017, with production from Danger Mouse and Sam Cohen.
Face Your Fear is the second studio album by American singer Curtis Harding, released October 27, 2017, by Anti-.
Wasteland, Baby! is the second studio album by Irish musician Hozier, released on 1 March 2019 by Rubyworks Records. It is Hozier's first album since 2014. The album includes the songs "Nina Cried Power" and "Shrike" from the 2018 EP Nina Cried Power, as well as the single "Movement". It was promoted by a North American tour beginning in March 2019, and a European tour in late summer to fall 2019. Wasteland, Baby! debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, and has since been certified gold in the US.
Birds of Prey: The Album is the soundtrack album by various artists for the film Birds of Prey, released by Atlantic Records on February 7, 2020. Atlantic released five singles leading up to the album's release day. The album debuted at number 23 on the US Billboard 200, number nine in Australia, and within the top 40 in Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland. It won the 2020 American Music Award for Top Soundtrack. A separate film score album, titled Birds of Prey – Original Motion Picture Score and composed by Daniel Pemberton, was released on February 14 by WaterTower Music.