Crucial

Ali | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 17, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000005HQZ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,311 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Love Letters

2. Tomorrow

3. In and Out of My Life

4. Whatever You Want

5. Sure

6. Wish You Better

7. Crucial

8. Since Loving You Is Crucial (Reprise)

9. It Only Takes a Minute

10. Crazy Don't

11. Bitter Honey

12. So in Love

13. Feelin' You

14. Maybe Today

Editorial Reviews

Entertainment Weekly

This Brit soulster masterfully replicates [Al] Green's raspy burr, yet has missed his gritty, transcendent soul.... This overproduced, cliché-ridden debut proves to be anything but crucial.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars LOOKING FOR MORE FROM HIM, August 9, 2007

By 

TKYOPRINCE "P-FUNK" (CALI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crucial (Audio CD)

I'VE HAD THIS ALBUM FOR OVER 7 YEARS....AND I AM STILL ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR MORE FROM THIS ARTIST...ONCE I LUCKED UP ON ALI FROM THE ST. LUNATICS...HEAVY STARCH...I BOUGHT IT...BUT, I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME MORE MUSIC FROM THIS ARTIST...THE CUTS "TOMORROW", "RUNNING IN AND OUT OF MY LIFE", "SURE", & "CRUCIAL" THE TITLE CUT...MAKES THIS STAND OUT LET ALONE THE REMAINING TRACKS. WHOMEVER, WROTE THE INITIAL REVIEW FOR MAGS, FOR THIS ALBUM I FEELS KNOWS NOTHING OF SOUL AND R&B...GET IT IF YOU CAN FIND IT...AND I'LL CONTINUE MY SEARCH FOR MORE OF HIS VOCAL STYLINGS....

5.0 out of 5 stars Why 5 stars? Because this album has this homegrown feel., March 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Crucial (Audio CD)

Why did I give this 5 stars? I rarely give any album 5 stars. It would have to a perfect, cutting edge, influential album that stands the test of time.
This album is NOT one of those. But it's a 5 in the sense that it has this positive, homegrown, lowkey but warm charisma and vibe that's hard to describe. Much of that goes to Ali's voice, which is like a mix of Al Green's and Ronald Isley's.
The R&B from this English singer may not be funky and bass-deep like American R&B, but it makes you feel good. And it's a solid, consistent album from beginning to end with little, if any, filler. His strengths lie in his honey-warm vocals and his ability to sing funkier numbers as well as his ballads. Soulful from beginning to end.
It's sadly underrated, and a gem if you can find it. Don't listen to the EW review above, he's off base.
Some of the highlights: Love Letters, Tomorrow,In and Out of my life, Whatever you want,Sure, It only takes a Minute, Crazy Don't.

5.0 out of 5 stars Who on earth writes for Entertainment Weekly?, July 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Crucial (Audio CD)

The Entertainment review reads like a throw it together comment. Yes he sounds like Al Green and yes he hasn't got Al's maturity but he has a presence and quality in his voice that is unique. The songs on this albumn are classy and are brilliant for cruising. I often buy the less romantic R and B albumns but this one made me sit up and take notice. A definate ***** SD