Soul (Seal album) explained

Soul
Type:	studio
Artist:	Seal
Cover:	Soul (album).png
Alt:	The cover features a black-and-white photo of Seal wearing a suit and tie with a microphone close to his face. The artist's name is colored in blue, while the album title is behind it in shadows.
Released:	10 November 2008
Recorded:	2008
Studio:	Chartmaker Studios and Blue Studios (Malibu) Capitol Studios (Hollywood) Record Plant and The Village Studios (Los Angeles)
Genre:	Soul R&B
Length:	41:13
Label:	143 Warner Bros.
Producer:	David Foster Jochem van der Saag
Prev Title:	System
Prev Year:	2007
Next Year:	2010

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.^[1] It is made up of cover versions of eleven soul music classics.^{[2] [3]}

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Critical reception

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.

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." 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." Entertainment Weeklys Mikael Wood wrote that: "As always, Seal sounds great; age has relaxed his singing, and that lends the material an appropriately lived-in vibe."

Rolling Stones 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." 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."

Personnel

• Seal – vocals, backing vocals (1-3, 6, 7, 9, 10)
• David Foster – keyboards, bass, arrangements, horn arrangements (1-6, 8, 9, 11, 12), string arrangements (1-3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12), acoustic piano (3, 5, 7)
• Jochem van der Saag – synthesizers, drum programming, sound design, organ (6-8, 12), BGV arrangements (6), arrangements (10)
• Michael Thompson – guitars (2, 4, 6-8, 12)
• Dean Parks – guitars (5, 10, 11)
• Marcus Brown – bass (2, 4, 9)
• Nathan East – bass (6-8)
• Teddy Campbell – drums (8)
• John Robinson – drums (11)
• Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (1, 2, 4-6, 11, 12), string arrangements (1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 12)
• Don Sebesky – string and horn arrangements (3, 8)
• Brad Dechter – string and horn arrangements (9)
• Toyia Barnes – backing vocals (4, 5)
• Angie Fisher – backing vocals (4, 5)
• O'Nita Hutton – backing vocals (4, 5)

Choir on "People Get Ready"

• Keith Allen, Koko Barnes, Toyia Barnes, Sharon Bryant, David Daughtry, Lawrence Dotson, Angie Fisher, O'Nita Hutton, Demeka Jackson, Jason Moralis, Tony Wilkins and Brandon Winbush

Production

• Jeff Aldrich – A&R
• David Foster – producer
• Jochem van der Saag – co-producer, engineer, mixing
• David Reitzas – recording (live drums, horn, string and choir)
• Chris Owen – assistant engineer
• Jorge Vivo – additional engineer, digital editing
• Brian Gardner – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
• Louis Price – vocal consultant
• Courtney Blooding – production coordinator
• Ellen Wakayama – art direction
• Donny Phillips – design
• Nabil Elderkin – photography
• Ric Salmon – management

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2008)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[7]	98
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[8]	33
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[9]	41
French Albums (SNEP)^[10]	2
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[11]	34
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[12]	58
UK Albums (OCC)^[13]	40

Chart (2009)	Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop overal)^[14]	1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[15]	16
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[16]	1
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[17]	44
French Albums (SNEP)^[18]	2
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[19]	14
UK Albums (OCC)^[20]	145
US Billboard 200^[21]	75
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[22]	28

Notes and References

1. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr09/articles/it_0409.htm Article by Paul Tingen on van der Saag's work on Soul, in Sound on Sound magazine
2. Cohen. Jonathan. 1 October 2008. Seal Sings from His 'Soul' on New Album. Billboard. 24 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20221208180033/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/seal-sings-from-his-soul-on-new-album-1043914/. 8 December 2022. live.
3. http://auspop.blogspot.com/2008/10/seals-soul.html Seal's Soul
4. Web site: Jones. Alan. Official Chart Analysis: Sales slow, but Sheeran and Cover Drive reign. Music Week. 2 February 2012. 30 January 2012.
5. Caulfield. Keith. Tim McGraw Scores Top Billboard 200 Debut, Adele Still No. 1. Billboard. 1 February 2012. 24 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20240319155101/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/tim-mcgraw-scores-top-billboard-200-debut-adele-still-no-1-508249/. 19 March 2024. live.
6. Web site: Representando a la Industria Argentina de la Música. es. CAPIF. 31 January 2010. 4 September 2010. dead. https://archive.today/20081009022847/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?CodOp=ESCS&CO=6. 9 October 2008.
7. Web site: ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2008. Australian Recording Industry Association. 7 December 2020.
8. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2008. Ultratop. 22 May 2021.
9. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 2008. dutchcharts.nl. 22 May 2021.
10. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/charts/albums-2008.php
11. Web site: Årslista Album – År 2008. Sverigetopplistan. sv. 22 May 2021.
12. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2008. hitparade.ch. 22 May 2021.
13. Web site: End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2008. Official Charts Company. 22 May 2021.
14. https://web.archive.org/web/20110823093544/http://www.belgianentertainment.be/pdf/Powerpoint_BEA_2009.pdf De Belgische entertainmentmarkt 2009 – Top 10 Albums 2009 Belgium
15. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2009. Ultratop. nl. 22 May 2021.
16. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2009. Ultratop. 22 May 2021.
17. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 2009. dutchcharts.nl. 22 May 2021.
18. Web site: Tops & Flops musicaux en 2009. fr. Chartsinfrance.net. 28 December 2009. 4 September 2010.
19. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2009. hitparade.ch. 22 May 2021.
20. Web site: UK Year-End 2009. Charts Plus. 22 May 2021.
21. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2009. Billboard. 22 May 2021. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20201010103616/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-billboard-200-albums. 10 October 2020. live.
22. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2009. Billboard. 22 May 2021. subscription. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026230823/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2009/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums. 26 October 2020. live.