Soul

Seal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros.
• ASIN: B001F290E4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (214 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > Pop > Adult Contemporary > General AAS
  • #4 in Music > R&B > Soul > General AAS
  • #34 in Music > Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

(Amazon.co.uk Review) Soul is a confusing beast. We know Seal has a great voice and can easily imagine him being covering golden oldies with aplomb. Yet this collection of soul favourites is frustratingly patchy. Opener "A Change Is Gonna Come" is impassioned and beautifully arranged (the album is helmed by David Foster of Celebrity Duets fame, who has made sure it sounds fresh and compelling), and even though it could never compare to Sam Cooke's original, it's ultimately a successful reworking. Seal applies his sandpapery tones to James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", Al Green's “Here I Am" and “I'm Still in Love With You", and Ben E King's “Stand By Me"--all of them with decent results. Decent, yet hardly overwhelming. And here's where the confusion kicks in: Why cover a bunch of songs that have already been done to death? Christmas being right around the corner is perhaps one good reason in commercial terms. But when you listen to the singer transform less well-trodden territory like Deniece Williams' “Free" or Ann Peeble's “I Can't Stand the Rain", it's hard not to feel this play-it-safe option--while undoubtedly a wonderful Xmas gift--is also a lost creative opportunity. --Danny McKenna

Product Description

2008 release from the Grammy-winning vocalist and songwriter. Soul is the best-selling artist's sixth studio album and was created in partnership with legendary producer David Foster. The album is comprised of 12 classic Soul songs that each evokes their own drama, emotion and romance. Seal brings his unique, signature style to the album and found a great collaborative spirit working with Foster. The London-born singer first emerged from Britain's House music scene in the early '90s providing vocals and lyrics for Techno artist Adamski's 1990 hit "Killer." The Top 10 debut single, "Crazy," followed and Seal would go on to earn critical acclaim and worldwide commercial success over four albums. Seal's prodigious vocal gifts - his soaring, husky baritone that has become a signature on such hits as "Prayer for the Dying," "Kiss From a Rose," and "Don't Cry" - amplify the emotion he brings to a song.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old School with New School Flavor!, November 23, 2008

By 

R. S. Hill "creative one" (Silver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul (Audio CD)

I heard "A Change is Gonna Come" played on the R&B station I listen to and was surprised the artist was Seal. I thought he did a great job on the Sam Cooke classic. I then listened to his rendition of Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions "People Get Ready." At that point, I knew I was going to buy this CD regardless of the low ratings viewers have given this album. Obviously, Seal fans are used to his "rock" style and aren't ready for such a soulful, classic, melodic CD. The brotha really goes deep into the roots of African-American R&B of the earlier groups, puts his own spin on them, but his delivery is superb. So, old school baby-boomers and post-boomers will really appreciate this CD so aptly named "Soul." Soul it is, and definitely R&B! I listened to every track and never took it out of my CD player while I ran errands for about four hours. Frankly, I was sad when Track 12 played because I knew I had to listen to the CD again. Beautiful CD! Old Schoolers -- you'll love it it if you like the ballads of Wilson Pickett, Al Green, Sam (the Impressions), and of course, the wonderful balladeer Sam Cooke. "I Can't Stand the Rain" is sung like a man (as opposed to Tina Turner) would sing the song, and I didn't have a problem with his rendition. I love this CD, and I've never bought a Seal CD in my life! Also, you'll remember Luther Vandross covered a lot of songs and took home lots of Grammy's. So, if you can cover a great song but add your own flavor, what's wrong with that? Beautiful music remains beautiful if the artist can sing!

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seal has done these songs justice., November 17, 2008

By 

Melissa - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul (Audio CD)

I started reading through some of these reviews and I think that what people are missing is that beyond being another Seal album, this is an ode to the classics performed by one of the best voices of this generation. The songs he chose are so amazing and I'm so glad to hear someone record them who can really do them justice. I will truly enjoy listening to this record over and over.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Re-defining Old Classics, November 18, 2008

By 

Barbara W. Brewster (San Diego, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul (Audio CD)

One of the mistakes that these so called reviewers make is rating each song as better or worse than the original version. Seal puts his on stamp on each and that is what makes each song so good. When I heard his version of "Walk on by", I did not like it. Now after listening to it over and over, Dionne Warwick's take on it seems lacking. Cut the guy some slack - each one of his CDs has had its own flavor and I appreciate the effort that it must take to redfine his style each pass through the recording studio. The biggest mistake a recording artist can make (in my opinion) is to crank out the same predictable stuff. With Seal you never know what to expect. He could record Disney's "Its a Small World" and make it sound sweet!