Product Description

A great voice singing great songs recorded by a great producer. That is 'Soul', the sixth studio album from multiplatinum selling, Grammy-winning, critically acclaimed Seal. Each song is a stone-cold soul classic, from Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come', Ben E. King's 'Stand By Me', and Ann Pebbles' 'I Can't Stand The Rain' to Harold Melvin And The Blue Notes' 'If You Don't Know Me By Now' and Otis Redding's 'I've Been Loving You Too Long'. Produced by David Foster, 'Soul' is the perfect coming together of man, material and moment.

Track Listing

1. A Change Is Gonna Come
2. I Can't Stand The Rain
3. It's A Man's Man's Man's World
4. Here I Am (Come And Take Me)
5. I've Been Loving You Too Long
6. It's Alright
7. If You Don't Know Me By Now
8. Knock On Wood
9. I'm Still In Love With You
10. Free
11. Stand By Me
12. People Get Ready

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #269 in Music
• Released on: 2008-11-11
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

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

Customer Reviews

Old School with New School Flavor!
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!

Flawless Software But Little Else
Soul is a disc that you really want to like - stellar production - amazing talent - legendary material - almost guaranteeing that Seal's tribute to the golden era of Soul and R&B would easily score five stars on technical merit alone.

So where's my enthusiasm? Upon further review, I suspect it was left at the door with the headliner who, while making an airtight composite of a great album, fell prey to the fatal flaw of most artists who take on an entire recording of cover material - holding the songs so tight that they forget to forego the Kareoke and leave little of themselves on the final take.

To be fair, there's not one truly bad cut on the entire disc (I Can't Stand The Rain and If You Don't Know Me By Now are standouts) however, Soul projects an overwhelming "in the moment" feel - a coolly professional encounter that leaves no lasting impression.

Instead of simply pulling all the levers in his quest to "manufacture" a great record, Seal would have been better served bringing his heart as well as his body to the sessions. There's actually much here to like - just not much to remember.

Gotta LOVE Seal!
I have been following and loving Seal since his "Killer" days. This album is such a mature and wonderful addition to his already great work. He has taken some cool old classics and made them better than they were the first time! "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" and "If you don't love me by now" have never sounded so soulful and sweet. What a LUCKY girl that Heidi Klum is!!!