Soul 2
Soul 2 is the eighth studio album by British soul and R&B singer-songwriter Seal, released on November 4, 2011, by Reprise Records.[1] As a sequel to his 2008 covers album Soul, it features Seal's interpretations of eleven classic soul tracks, primarily drawn from the 1970s era, including songs originally performed by artists such as Al Green, Marvin Gaye, and Bill Withers.[2] The album was produced by Trevor Horn and David Foster, with additional contributions from Jochem van der Saag, emphasizing lush, reverent arrangements that highlight Seal's distinctive falsetto and emotive delivery.[3][4] The project originated as a continuation of Seal's exploration into soul music's canon, building on the commercial success of its predecessor, which had peaked at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart.[5] Key tracks include the lead single "Let's Stay Together," a cover of Al Green's 1972 hit, which charted at number 74 on the UK Singles Chart,[6] and "Wishing on a Star," originally by Rose Royce, showcasing Seal's ability to infuse timeless melodies with contemporary polish. Other notable covers encompass "Love T.K.O." by Teddy Pendergrass, "Ooh Baby Baby" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye, blending orchestral elements with subtle electronic touches under Horn's production guidance.[7] A deluxe edition expands the tracklist with additional renditions like "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown and "Knock on Wood" by Eddie Floyd, offering deeper dives into soul's expressive legacy.[4] Critically, Soul 2 received generally favorable reviews for Seal's vocal prowess and the album's warm, accessible sound, though some critics noted the arrangements adhered closely to the originals without significant innovation.[3] Publications such as Billboard praised its "highly skilled reverence" toward the source material, while The Guardian awarded it four out of five stars, commending Seal's unimpeachable performances despite occasional predictability in production.[5] BBC Music highlighted the album's bright, polished execution, likening it to "the first snowflakes of a new winter," and AllMusic rated it three out of five stars, appreciating its emotional depth amid familiar territory.[1] Commercially, it debuted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 8 on the US Billboard 200, reflecting steady interest in Seal's soul-infused catalog.[7] Overall, Soul 2 solidifies Seal's reputation as a interpreter of soul classics, bridging generational appeal through his signature blend of vulnerability and sophistication.[8]Background and recording
Conception and inspiration
Following the commercial success of his 2008 covers album Soul, which peaked at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart, Seal sought to revisit the genre with a sequel, drawn to the enduring appeal of classic soul songs that allowed him to explore their timeless emotional resonance.[9][10] The original album's positive reception, including top-10 placements in multiple countries, reinforced Seal's appreciation for reinterpreting soul standards, prompting him to expand on this concept by selecting tracks that captured the genre's heartfelt authenticity.[9] To realize this vision, Seal emphasized collaborations with renowned producers David Foster and Trevor Horn, aiming to honor the roots of 1970s soul while infusing modern production elements for a fresh take on the material.[11][3] This partnership was central to the project's artistic rationale, as Seal intended to preserve the originals' integrity through subtle contemporary arrangements rather than radical reinventions.[12] In pre-production discussions around the album's development in 2011, Seal highlighted influences from icons like Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, and Al Green, praising the "emotional depth" inherent in their compositions.[10] He noted that while the lyrics remained unchanged, his vocal delivery would inevitably convey personal nuance, stating, "Because of the tone of your voice, because of the way you phrase things, it can't help but reflect your state of mind."[10] This approach underscored Seal's goal of connecting contemporary audiences to the profound intent behind these soul classics.Recording sessions
The recording sessions for Soul 2 commenced in 2011 and spanned several months, utilizing studios across London and Los Angeles to facilitate collaboration among the production team and musicians. Key locations included Sarm West Studios and Angel Studios in London, as well as Chartmaker Studios, Henson Recording Studios, Capitol Studios, Sarm West Coast, and The Village in Los Angeles. This transatlantic approach allowed for flexible scheduling and access to specialized facilities for orchestral and live recordings.[7][13] Primary producers David Foster, Trevor Horn, and Jochem van der Saag oversaw the arrangements, with Foster providing keyboards and orchestral/brass elements, Horn contributing bass and programming, and van der Saag handling co-production and sound design on select tracks. The team assembled a roster of session musicians, including Chris Bruce on guitar and bass, Jamie Muhoberac on keyboards and synth, Ash Soan and Victor Indrizzo on drums, and Pete Murray on piano, to support the core instrumentation.[13][14] The sessions prioritized live instrumentation—such as guitars, drums, percussion, piano, vibraphone, saxophone, horns, and strings—to evoke the organic feel of classic soul recordings, complemented by programmed elements for polish. This blend resulted in an album totaling 43:47 minutes, balancing reverence for the source material with contemporary production techniques.[13][15]Musical style and content
Genre and influences
Soul 2 is classified primarily as a soul and R&B album, featuring covers of classic tracks from the late 1960s to early 1980s.[3][5] The project draws heavily from the Motown and Stax Records traditions, evoking the rich, emotive sound of that period through its selection of repertoire and interpretive approach.[5] The album's influences are rooted in iconic soul artists such as Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, and Al Green, whose works form the core of its tracklist and stylistic foundation.[5][1] Seal's renditions pay homage to these figures by preserving the introspective lyricism and heartfelt delivery characteristic of their output, while extending to broader soul influences like Otis Redding and Curtis Mayfield.[1] This nod to historical soul pioneers underscores the album's role as a tribute to the genre's golden age, blending reverence with Seal's own vocal identity.[3] Stylistically, Soul 2 employs lush orchestration and warm instrumental textures, such as keyboard washes in place of traditional gospel elements, to create a nostalgic yet polished atmosphere.[3] Seal's emotive, smooth vocals anchor the rhythmic grooves, delivering powerful interpretations that maintain the originals' emotional depth while adding contemporary accessibility through bright production.[1][5] This fusion of classic soul structures with modern refinements ensures the album resonates with both longtime fans of the genre and newer listeners.[3]Cover selections and arrangements
Soul 2 features 11 cover songs drawn primarily from classic soul and R&B tracks of the late 1960s to early 1980s, with selections emphasizing timeless hits that Seal admired from his youth.[3] Notable inclusions are "Wishing on a Star," originally by Rose Royce in 1977, which captures a theme of longing; "Let's Stay Together," Al Green's 1972 plea for enduring love; and "Back Stabbers," The O'Jays' 1972 cautionary tale of betrayal.[1] These choices highlight Seal's affinity for songs rooted in emotional authenticity and strong songwriting, avoiding lesser-known tracks in favor of widely influential staples. The deluxe edition expands the album to 13 tracks by adding two bonus covers: "For the Love of You," originally performed by the Isley Brothers in 1975 as a tender ballad of affection, and "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party," the Showstoppers' upbeat 1967 party anthem.[17] These selections maintain the album's focus on soulful narratives while incorporating a slightly broader temporal range into the late 1960s.[8] In adapting these tracks, Seal and producers Trevor Horn and David Foster, with co-productions by Jochem van der Saag on several songs, opted for subtle enhancements that honored the originals' melodies and structures without drastic reinventions. Arrangements often incorporate lush orchestration and warm keyboard elements, such as the keyboard washes replacing gospel handclaps in "Lean on Me" (Bill Withers, 1972), while Seal's vocals receive reverb for added depth and intimacy.[3][18] For instance, "Wishing on a Star" features a smoky backing evoking Sade's style, and "What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye, 1971) gains a polished revision through layered strings that amplify its social commentary without altering the core groove.[1] This approach preserves the heartfelt essence of the source material, allowing Seal's falsetto and brooding delivery to shine, as in his higher-key rendition of "Let's Stay Together" that closely mirrors Green's phrasing.[3][8] Seal's rationale for these selections stemmed from personal resonance, viewing the songs as vehicles for conveying integrity and emotion tied to his life experiences, including relationship changes at the time.[10] He prioritized tracks he grew up revering, aiming to reinterpret them with vocal focus to pay tribute rather than overshadow the originals' legacy.[3] This restraint ensured the covers felt like natural extensions of the soul tradition, blending reverence with contemporary polish.[1]Promotion and release
Singles
The lead single from Soul 2 was "Let's Stay Together", a cover of Al Green's 1971 classic, released on 30 September 2011 as a digital download and promotional CD single in the UK.[19] The second single, "Wishing on a Star", a cover of Rose Royce's 1977 hit, followed on 2 November 2011, accompanied by a music video featuring a soulful, retro aesthetic that evoked the album's homage to classic soul eras.[20] No additional official singles were issued from the album, though other tracks such as "O-o-h Child" garnered notable radio airplay, aligning with promotional efforts that highlighted Soul 2's thematic ties to soul music heritage ahead of the album's November 2011 UK launch.[7]Release formats and dates
Soul 2 was initially released on 4 November 2011 in select European markets including the Netherlands and France, available in CD and digital download formats through Reprise Records.[13] The United Kingdom received the album on 21 November 2011, aligning with its entry into the UK Albums Chart the following month.[21] In contrast, the United States release was postponed until 24 January 2012, where it launched with a standard edition comprising 11 tracks and a deluxe edition expanding to 13 tracks with additional bonus covers.[5][7] Across regions, formats encompassed the standard CD, digital download, and digital streaming options, though no widespread vinyl pressing occurred at launch.[15] The album's cover artwork presents a minimalist black-and-white portrait of Seal, captured by photographer Steve Huff during a performance in Paris.[22]Track listing and credits
Standard edition
| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wishing on a Star" | 4:13 |
| 2. | "Love T.K.O." | 5:37 |
| 3. | "Ooh Baby Baby" | 3:01 |
| 4. | "Let's Stay Together" | 3:41 |
| 5. | "What's Going On" | 4:27 |
| 6. | "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" | 4:10 |
| 7. | "Back Stabbers" | 3:36 |
| 8. | "I'll Be Around" | 3:15 |
| 9. | "Love Won't Let Me Wait" | 4:24 |
| 10. | "Lean on Me" | 3:26 |
| 11. | "Oh Girl" | 3:53 |
Deluxe edition
The deluxe edition appends two additional tracks to the standard edition:| No. | Title | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "For the Love of You" | 4:12 |
| 13. | "Ain't Nothin' But a House Party" | 3:07 |
Personnel
Seal served as the lead and backing vocalist on all tracks of Soul 2.[13] Jamie Muhoberac contributed keyboards, synthesizers, bass synth, piano, programming, and melodica across most tracks.[13] David Foster provided keyboards and piano on tracks 4, 7, 8, and 9, in addition to arranging orchestra and brass sections for those same tracks.[13] Trevor Horn played bass guitar on tracks 2, 3, and 5, and also contributed backing vocals on those tracks while serving as producer for the entire album.[13] Jochem van der Saag handled synthesizers, programming, and sound design on tracks 4, 7, 8, and 9, and co-produced those tracks.[13] Additional musicians included Chris Bruce on bass (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), guitar (tracks 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 11), and electric guitar (tracks 6, 10); Ash Soan on drums (tracks 1, 2, 3, 11) and percussion (track 1); Victor Indrizzo on drums (tracks 4, 7, 8, 9, 10); Phil Palmer on electric guitar (tracks 2, 3, 6, 11) and acoustic guitar (track 5); Frank Ricotti on percussion (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6) and vibraphone (tracks 1, 3, 6); and Alex Acuna on percussion (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10).[13] String sections were arranged by David Foster and Jerry Hey on select tracks, with conductors including Pete Murray (tracks 1, 2, 3), Julian Hinton (tracks 5, 6, 10, 11), and others such as Steve Sidwell (track 3) and Everton Nelson (various).[13] Engineering was led by Gary Langan (brass on tracks 1, 2, 5; strings on tracks 3, 5, 6, 10, 11), Mat Bartram (strings on tracks 1, 5, 6), Tim Weidner (additional on tracks 4, 7, 8, 9), and assistants including Andy Hughes, John Cranfield, Simon Bloor, Steve Genewick, Chris Owens, and Graham Archer.[13]Commercial performance
Chart performance
Soul 2 achieved moderate commercial success upon its release, entering several international album charts in late 2011 and early 2012. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 17 on the Official Albums Chart and spent a total of 13 weeks on the chart.[21] In the United States, Soul 2 marked Seal's highest-charting album since 2003, debuting at number 8 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 27,000 copies. It also topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, underscoring its strong appeal within R&B categories, and remained on that tally for several weeks.[24][25] The album saw varied performance across other territories, peaking outside the top 40 in Australia but achieving stronger results in European markets. It entered the French Albums Chart at number 6 and sustained a presence for 28 weeks, reflecting enduring popularity there. In Belgium, it reached number 9 on the Ultratop Flanders region chart (17 weeks) and number 3 on the Wallonia chart (44 weeks). No significant year-end chart placements were recorded globally.| Chart (2011–2012) | Peak position | Weeks on chart |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 42 | 2 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 9 | 17 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 3 | 44 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 6 | 28 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 17 | 13 |
| US Billboard 200 | 8 | 7 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 1 | 18 |
Certifications
Soul 2 received Gold certifications in Belgium and the United Kingdom, along with a Platinum certification in France, acknowledging its sales performance in those markets.| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales | Awarding body | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 10,000* | Belgian Entertainment Association | 2012 |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 100,000* | Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique | 2012 |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 100,000^ | British Phonographic Industry | 2012 |
^Shipments figures based on certification alone. In the United States, despite achieving 115,000 units in total sales as of October 2015, the album did not receive a certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), as it fell short of the 500,000-unit threshold for Gold status. By 2015, global sales for Soul 2 were estimated at approximately 500,000 units.[27]