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
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.

1. A Change Is Gonna Come 3:54
2. I Can't Stand The Rain 3:33
3. It's A Man's Man's Man's World 3:51
4. Here I Am [Come And Take Me] 4:08
5. I've Been Loving You Too Long 3:06
6. It's Alright 3:43
7. If You Don't Know Me By Now 3:46
8. Knock On Wood 3:20
9. I'm Still In Love With You 4:33
10. Free 3:23
11. Stand By Me 4:02
12. People Get Ready 3:35

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F290E4/?tag=imwan-20

Maybe he'll do an Alanis Morrisette song since she did "Crazy."

Then again, who cares? I aint buying this album anyway!

didn't he just put out an album of dance music/techno in the spring?

didn't it tank?

heidi must be expensive!

renny

The album was "System" and it came out last fall. It made the Top 40 but faded quick, although "Amazing" was a minor hit. I liked it, but it was his weakest effort.
I will buy "Soul" as well-I'm not excited by it, but Seal could sing a Burger King menu and I'd buy it (only the Whopper mix of course)!

Uh, David Foster? The Celine Dion/easy listening David Foster? Puke.

I have been a HUGE fan of Seal since day one, but I don't know of another artist who has been more of a manufactured success by a producer than Seal. Without Trevor Horn, Seal is crap.

Here's the track list and original artists:
"A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)
"I Can't Stand The Rain" (Ann Peebles)
"It's A Man's Man's Man's World" (James Brown)
"Knock on Wood" (Eddie Floyd)
"I've Been Loving You Too Long" (Otis Redding)
"Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" (Al Green)
"If You Don't Know Me By Now" (Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes)
"It's Alright" (Impressions)
"I'm Still in Love With You" (Al Green)
"Free" (Deniece Williams)
"People Get Ready" (Impressions)

From Billboard online today:

Seal Sings From His 'Soul' On New Album
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Exactly a year on the heels of his last album, Seal will unveil another new project Nov. 11 via Warner Bros. "Soul," as its name indicates, features the artist covering 11 vintage soul numbers with production from David Foster.

Among the material features is Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me by Now."

"Someone once said, 'The album will sound like the time you had making it.' Never before has it been as true as in the process of recording this record," says Seal.

The artist's 2007 dance-dominated album "System" has been his lowest seller to date, having moved just 155,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The lone date on Seal's schedule at present is an Oct. 14 appearance at the Africa Rising benefit at London's Royal Albert Hall, alongside Christina Aguilera.

Here is the song list for "Soul":

"A Change Is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke)
"I Can't Stand The Rain" (Ann Pebbles)
"It's A Man's Man's Man's World" (James Brown)
"Knock on Wood" (Eddie Floyd)
"I've Been Loving You Too Long" (Otis Redding
"Here I Am (Come And Take Me)" (Al Green)
"If You Don't Know Me By Now" (Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes)
"It's Alright" (the Impressions)
"I'm Still in Love With You" (Al Green)
"Free" (Deniece Williams)
"People Get Ready" (the Impressions)

I listened to this album all the way through this morning. I love Seal's earlier stuff, but this is a very pointless and boring album! BRING BACK TREVOR HORN!

The Barnes & Noble version includes a bonus track ("My Girl"). I love Seal, but I wish he would have chosen some more adventurous songs, like "Free". I understand Seal is singing "Eli's Coming" this season on the television show, ELI STONE -- he should have included that!

I always think of David Foster as the guy who ruined Chicago (the group, not the city!)

The Borders exclusive version includes a different bonus track: "In the Midnight Hour."

After reading Walter's enthusiastic review ( ), I picked this up with the Borders coupon today. Maybe I'll pop it in to help me doze off tonight.

Ven...it will work better than Sominex!

Poor Seal, he was fantastic live last year when I saw him at Westbury. But his recent music is boring. Give me "Prayer For The Dying" or "Human" anytime.

Not the most exciting CD and hardly a necessary one, but I don't mind it. It gets a bit stronger in the second half and the Borders bonus track is one of the better ones. Did anyone get the B&N version? If so, how is his take on the Temps?

There's also a forthcoming French release which includes a DVD but none of the U.S. retailer-exclusive bonus tracks.

Although this album is predictable, I gotta say Seal sounds dynamite. He's one of my favorite singers anyway, but he did a great job here. Not as schmaltzy as I thought David Foster would come up with. Also, this album is doing very well and is still near or in the Top 50 after all this time.

The general release version here in the USA apparently ended up containing 12 tracks, and in a different order than was originally announced. See the first post for updated details.

This MP3 EP has now been released, featuring 3 non-album acoustic versions:



1. If You Don't Know Me By Now (Album Version) 3:46
2. If You Don't Know Me By Now [with David Foster] [Live] 3:35
3. A Change Is Gonna Come [with David Foster] [Live] 3:54
4. It's A Man's Man's Man's World [with David Foster] [Live] 3:33

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0026OY7Q6/?tag=imwan-20