True Spirit (Carleen Anderson album)

True Spirit
Studio album by Carleen Anderson
Released	June 6, 1994 (1994-06-06) [1]
Genre	R&B soul
Label	Circa Virgin
Producer	Ian Green Brendan Lynch
Carleen Anderson chronology
True Spirit (1994) Blessed Burden (1998)
Singles from True Spirit
"Nervous Breakdown" Released: January 31, 1994 [2] "Mama Said" Released: May 16, 1994 [3] "True Spirit" Released: August 1, 1994 [4] "Let It Last" Released: January 1995 [5]

True Spirit is the debut solo album by American singer and musician Carleen Anderson, released in 1994. The album includes four UK Top 40 singles: "Nervous Breakdown" (No. 27), "Mama Said" (No. 26), "True Spirit" (No. 24) and "Let It Last" (No. 16). ^[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Select	[8]

The Guardian noted that "big ballads like 'Only One for Me' and 'Secrets', all strings and heavy breathing, are so pompous that even this fine singer can only coast along." ^[9]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Tom Demalon describes Anderson's voice as "warm" and "soulful" and that the album "succeeds in drawing on older R&B vibes and making them sound fresh." He went on to say that the lyrics are "literate and sophisticated", adding that "True Spirit is a gorgeous album that constantly draws in the listener, both musically and spiritually." ^[7]

Track listing

All tracks written by Carleen Anderson, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"True Spirit"		4:40
2.	"Morning Love"		5:36
3.	"Mama Said"	Anderson Ian Green	4:07
4.	"Ain't Givin' up on You"	Anderson Green	4:24
5.	"Only One for Me"		4:36
6.	"Nervous Breakdown"		7:34
7.	"Secrets"		4:35
8.	"Let It Last"	Anderson Mark E. Nevin	4:54
9.	"Feet Wet Up"		4:34
10.	"Welcome to Changes"		3:19
11.	"Ian Green's Groove Conclusion"	Green	1:37

Personnel

• Carleen Anderson – arranger, primary artist, vocals
• Amanda Drummond – strings
• Ian Green – arranger, instrumentation, mixing, producer
• Martin "Max" Heyes – mixing
• Nigel Hitchcock – alto and tenor sax
• Stephen Hussey – strings
• Norman Jay – handclapping
• Brendan Lynch – glockenspiel, handclapping, producer, synthesizer
• Marco Nelson – bass
• Mark E. Nevin – arranger, guitar, handclapping, mellotron
• Jake Rea – strings
• Timothy Russell – engineer
• Steve Sidwell – trumpet
• Michael Talbot – keyboards
• Crispin Taylor – drums

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
UK Albums Chart [6]	12

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [10]	Silver	60,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Album Releases". Music Week . June 4, 1994. p. 20.
2. "Single Releases". Music Week. January 29, 1994. p. 25.
3. "Single Releases". Music Week. May 14, 1994. p. 27.
4. "Single Releases". Music Week. July 30, 1994. p. 25.
5. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 24, 1994. p. 31.
6. "Carleen Anderson Full Official Chart History". Official Charts. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
7. "True Spirit Carleen Anderson". AllMusic . Retrieved December 4, 2017.
8. Marsh, Tim (July 1994). "New Albums". Select . p. 82. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
9. Sullivan, Caroline (June 3, 1994). "Pop/rock". Features. The Guardian.
10. "British album certifications – Carleen Anderson – True Spirit". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 25, 2018.

External links

• True Spirit at Discogs