Sons of Soul

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Sons of Soul
Studio album by Tony! Toni! Toné!
Released June 22, 1993
Recorded 1992–1993
Various recording locations
Genre R&B, soul, funk
Length 68:54
Label Wing/Mercury
Producer Tony! Toni! Toné!
Tony! Toni! Toné! chronology
The Revival
(1990)		 Sons of Soul
(1993)		 House of Music
(1996)
Singles from Sons of Soul
  1. "If I Had No Loot"
    Released: June 1, 1993
  2. "Anniversary"
    Released: August 1993
  3. "(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow"
    Released: 1994
  4. "Leavin'"
    Released: 1994
  5. "Slow Wine"
    Released: 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[1]
Chicago Tribune 3.5/4 stars[2]
Entertainment Weekly (A-)[3]
Los Angeles Times 3.5/4 stars[4]
Q 4/5 stars[5]
Rolling Stone 4.5/5 stars[6]
Time (favorable)[7]
USA Today 3.5/4 stars[8]
Vibe (favorable)[9]
The Washington Post (favorable)[10]

Sons of Soul is the third studio album by American R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné!, released June 22, 1993, on Wing Records. It was produced entirely by the group, who intended to pay homage with the album to their musical influences.[11] Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording studios in California, including Air L.A. Studios, Jam Studio in Oakland, Paramount Recording Studios, West Lake Audio, and Paramount Studio in Hollywood, J.Jam Recording in Oakland Hills, and Paradise Recording Studio in Sacramento, as well as Caribbean Sound Basin in Trinidad.[12] The group recorded approximately 40 songs in the sessions for the album.[13]

The album bridged the gap between commercial and critical success for the group,[14] and helped Tony! Toni! Toné! become one of the most popular R&B acts at the time.[15] It charted for 43 weeks on the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 24,[16] serving as the group's highest-charting album in the United States.[17] The album produced five singles, including the gold-shipping, top-10 Billboard hits "If I Had No Loot" and "Anniversary".[18] On November 14, 1995, Sons of Soul was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of two million copies in the US.[18] By 1997, it had sold 1.2 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[19]

Contents

[edit] Reception

[edit] Critical response

Sons of Soul received general acclaim from music critics upon its release.[13] Billboard complimented the album's classicist influences and contemporary sensibilities, calling it "a prismatic record from a maturing group".[20] Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot gave the album three-and-a-half out of four stars and dubbed it "the most accomplished merger of hip-hop attitude with a '70s R&B aesthetic" and wrote that the group "delivers funk and soul with street-smart attitude".[2] He compared lead vocalist Rapheal Wiggins' singing to "a young Stevie Wonder" and added that "the guitars evoke Memphis soul, while the turntable scratching and slinky rhythms are straight off an Oakland street corner".[2] Gil Griffin of The Washington Post commended the group's "adulation for classic soul music" and called the album "nostalgic, hip and atmospheric through its colorful textures", writing that "it manages to pay homage to the past while sounding very much up to date".[10]

James Earl Hardy of Entertainment Weekly called it "a 15-song tribute to the classic soul of Motown, Sly Stone, and Isaac Hayes [...] It's fresh, funky, fierce, and it feels good".[3] USA Today's James T. Jones gave it three-and-a-half out of four stars and noted "infectious, instrumental-driven grooves that owe much to Sly Stone".[8] Christopher John Farley of Time found the album "more sophisticated, emotionally and musically" than Tony! Toni! Toné!'s previous albums and called it "a graceful album [that] transports the sweet soul sounds of the past into the '90s".[7] Los Angeles Times writer praised the group's "loose-jointed, eclectic and groove-conscious" style and commented that they "improves on the formula with quirky lyrics and musical segues that keep matters lively".[4] Elysa Gardner of Vibe noted "great songwriting" on the album and commented that "the Tonys can be a reverent bunch, whether serenading a lover or paying homage to the legends of soul".[9]

[edit] Retrospect

In a retrospective review, Allmusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine commented that the group "received their greatest chart success, without compromising their music", writing that "it was still the finely crafted, highly eclectic and funky pop-soul that distinguished their first two albums, while the band's songwriting and playing had improved".[1] Yahoo! Music's Scott Wilson wrote that "their production smarts come firmly to the front here".[14] Viewing its ballads as improved from those of The Revival, The New Rolling Stone Album Guide notes Motown and New Jack Swing-influences in the album's opening "five-song tour de force", followed by "a series of ballads as sexy as they are sweet", adding that "Raphael Wiggins' high tenor glides as smoothly and confidently as his songwriting".[6] Amazon.com editor Geoffrey Himes stated, "Much more important than the influences, old or new, is the high quality of Ray Wiggins' singing and songwriting, which marries rhythm, melody and meaning as effectively as his heroes once did".[21]

[edit] Track listing

All tracks were produced by Tony! Toni! Toné!.

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "If I Had No Loot"   Juan Bautista, Will Harris, Raphael Wiggins 4:01
2. "What Goes Around Comes Around"   Carl Wheeler, D'wayne Wiggins, R. Wiggins 4:33
3. "My Ex-Girlfriend"   Timothy Christian Riley, D. Wiggins, R. Wiggins 4:52
4. "Tell Me Mama"   Riley, R. Wiggins, Z'Ann 4:17
5. "Leavin'"   John T. Smith, R. Wiggins 5:15
6. "Slow Wine"   D. Wiggins 4:49
7. "(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow"   Riley, D. Wiggins, R. Wiggins 6:12
8. "I Couldn't Keep It to Myself"   R. Wiggins 5:20
9. "Gangsta Groove"   Smith, D. Wiggins, R. Wiggins 5:03
10. "Tonyies! In the Wrong Key"   Riley, R. Wiggins 4:05
11. "Dance Hall"   Curtis Grant, D. Wiggins 4:26
12. "Times Squares 2:30 A.M. (Segue)"     0:33
13. "Fun"   Riley, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. Wiggins 5:16
14. "Anniversary"   Wheeler, R. Wiggins 9:24
15. "Castleers"   Wheeler, R. Wiggins 1:19
"What Goes Around Comes Around"
The rhythmic, uptempo song was composed by D'wayne Wiggins, Raphael Wiggins, and keyboardist Carl Wheeler.[5]
"(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow"
The ballad features tender come-ons in its lyrics and incorporates country-influenced pedal steel guitar.[9][22]
"Anniversary"
The song has been described by one writer as "a grandly romantic, nine-minute bolero that lavishes its female subject with [...] warmth and respect".[9]
Problems listening to these files? See media help.
Sample credits
Notes
  • "Dancehall" features a rap by Trinidadian dancehall rapper General Grant.[13]
  • The segue track, "Times Squares 2:30 A.M.", was recorded by the group on the street using a tape recorder.[24]
  • "Castleers" was also the name of Tony! Toni! Toné!'s Castlemont High School musical group.[25]

[edit] Personnel

Credits for Sons of Soul adapted from Allmusic.[26]

  • John Affoon – engineer
  • Gerald Albright – saxophone
  • Ali – programming
  • Enrique Badulescu – photography
  • Gerry Brown – engineer, mixing
  • Ray Brown – trumpet
  • Joe Capers – engineer
  • Brian Carrigan – engineer
  • Peter Corant – pedal steel, steel guitar
  • Ed Eckstine – executive producer
  • The Fat Lip Horns – horn
  • Clare Fischer – arranger, string arrangements
  • Earl Garner – trumpet
  • General Grant – performer
  • Andy Grassi – engineer
  • Dave Jahnsen – engineer
  • Anthony Jeffries – engineer
  • Ken Kessie – mixing
  • Kelle Kutsugeras – costume design
  • L.A. Jae – programming
  • Craig Long – engineer
  • Bill Malina – engineer
  • Nick Marach – acoustic guitar, guitar
  • Bill Ortiz – soloist, trumpet
  • Neil Perry – engineer
  • Phase 5 – programming
  • Lenny Pickett – tenor saxophone
  • Sean Pollard – engineer
  • Bob Power – mixing
  • Herb Powers – mastering
  • Timothy Christian Riley – drum programming, drums, keyboards, producer, programming, synthesizer, synthesizer horn
  • Aaron Rudden – engineer
  • Mike Scapelli – engineer
  • Kirt Shearer – engineer, programming
  • John T. Smith – guitar, upright bass
  • The SNL Horns – horn
  • Norbert Stachel – woodwind
  • Maurice Stewart – programming
  • Mark Sullivan – production coordination, project coordinator
  • Ali Tabatabaee – programming
  • Terry T. – programming
  • Tony! Toni! Toné! – producer
  • Kenneth A. Van Druten – engineer
  • Charles Veal – soloist, string arrangements, violin
  • Carl Wheeler – keyboards
  • D'wayne Wiggins – bass, drum programming, drums, guitar, producer, programming
  • Raphael Wiggins – bass, drum programming, drums, keyboards, producer, synthesizer bass
  • Jon Williams – trumpet
  • Benjamin Wright – string arrangements
  • Frank Wright – arranger
  • George Young – alto saxophone
  • Reggie C. Young – trombone

[edit] Charts

[edit] Album

Chart (1993) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[27] 66
US Billboard 200[16] 24
US Billboard Top R&B Albums[16] 3

[edit] Singles

Year Song Chart Peak
position
1993 "If I Had No Loot" UK Singles Chart[28] 50
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 7
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[29] 45
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[29] 8
US Billboard Top 40 Airplay[29] 5
"Anniversary" US Billboard Hot 100[30] 10
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[30] 2
US Billboard Top 40 Airplay[30] 20
1994 "(Lay Your Head on My) Pillow" US Billboard Hot 100[31] 31
US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[31] 4
"Slow Wine" US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[32] 21

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (August 1, 2003). Sons of Soul - Tony! Toni! Toné! | AllMusic: Review. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  2. ^ a b c Kot, Greg (February 27, 1994). R&b Is Popping Up All Over The Charts - Page 2 - Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  3. ^ a b Hardy, James Earl (June 25, 1993). Sons of Soul Review | Music Reviews and News | EW.com. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Connie (June 27, 1993). Sons of Soul — Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  5. ^ a b Columnist (October 1993). "Tony! Toni! Toné! – Sons of Soul (Wing/Mercury)". Q (EMAP Metro Ltd) (85): 110. 
  6. ^ a b Rolling Stone (2004), p. 818.
  7. ^ a b Farley, Christopher John (July 26, 1993). Street Scene, Summer '93 - TIME. Time. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  8. ^ a b Jones, James T. (June 29, 1993). "Johnny Gill's `Provocative' new mix". USA Today (Gannett Company): 6.D. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55196354.html?dids=55196354:55196354&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+29%2C+1993&author=James+T.+Jones+IV&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Johnny+Gill's+%60Provocative'+new+mix&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2011-06-20. 
  9. ^ a b c d Gardner, Elysa (September 1993). "Tony Toni Toné – Sons of Soul (Mercury)". Vibe (Vibe Media Group) 1 (1): 125–126. http://books.google.com/books?id=IigEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT128#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2011-06-20. 
  10. ^ a b Griffin, Gil (June 23, 1993). "Recordings; 2 Hip-Hop Trios, Back With Brio". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company): C.07. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/72163275.html?dids=72163275:72163275&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+23%2C+1993&author=Gil+Griffin&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Recordings%3B+2+Hip-Hop+Trios%2C+Back+With+Brio&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2011-04-18. 
  11. ^ Rule, Sheila (September 29, 1993). The Pop Life - New York Times. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  12. ^ Tony Toni Tone - Sons Of Soul CD Album. Muze. CD Universe. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  13. ^ a b c Contemporary Musicians (1994), p. 249.
  14. ^ a b Wilson, Scott (June 22, 2000). Tony! Toni! Toné! Reviews on Yahoo! Music. Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 2011-06-20.
  15. ^ Witter, Simon (December 1993). "Tony Toni Toné: Sons of Soul". The Sunday Times (Times Newspapers Ltd). http://www.rocksbackpages.com/article.html?ArticleID=5350. Retrieved 2011-06-20. 
  16. ^ a b c Sons of Soul - Tony! Toni! Tone! | Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  17. ^ Tony! Toni! Toné! Album & Song Chart History | Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  18. ^ a b RIAA - Recording Industry Association of America. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on 2011-06-17.
  19. ^ Reynolds, J. R. (March 29, 1997). "Tony Toni Toné Still in the Groove; 'Love Jones' Contest Seeks Love Lyrics". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 109 (13): 21. ISSN 0006-2510. 1Q4EAAAAMBAJ. http://books.google.com/books?id=1Q4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA21&dq=#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2011-06-24. 
  20. ^ Columnist (July 10, 1993). "Album Reviews". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 105 (28): 46. ISSN 0006-2510. CxAEAAAAMBAJ. http://books.google.com/books?id=CxAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46&dq=#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2011-06-24. 
  21. ^ Amazon.com: Sons of Soul: Tony Toni Tone: Music. Amazon.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  22. ^ "From Tonies to Townies - Hot Soul Stars Tony! Toni! Tone! Warm Up for a National Tour in Their Hometown". The Sacramento Bee (The McClatchy Company): TK14. November 5, 1993. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SB&p_theme=sb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB0DA7AA655A00D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2011-07-24. 
  23. ^ a b c d e The (Rap) Sample FAQ. The-Breaks.com. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  24. ^ "Tony! Toni! Tone! Is 3 in Harmony". The Milwaukee Journal (Journal Communications): 64. November 26, 1993. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QqIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tCwEAAAAIBAJ&dq=raphael%20sons-of-soul&pg=7138%2C3715564. Retrieved 2011-07-24. 
  25. ^ Coker, Cheo Hodari (January 12, 1997). Time to Jam--or Jam? - Page 2 - Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2011-06-25.
  26. ^ Sons of Soul - Tony! Toni! Toné! | AllMusic: Credits. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2011-06-20.
  27. ^ "TONY! TONI! TONE!". The Official Charts Company. View Albums. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/tony%21%20toni%21%20tone%21/. Retrieved 2011-08-18. 
  28. ^ "TONY! TONI! TONE!". The Official Charts Company. View Singles. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/tony%21%20toni%21%20tone%21/. Retrieved 2011-08-18. 
  29. ^ a b c d If I Had No Loot - Tony! Toni! Toné! | Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  30. ^ a b c Anniversary - Tony! Toni! Toné! | Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  31. ^ a b (Lay Your Head on My) Pillow - Tony! Toni! Toné! | Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.
  32. ^ Slow Wine - Tony! Toni! Toné! | Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-06-24.

[edit] References

  • Michael L. LaBlanc, Suzanne Bourgoin (1994). Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music. Vol. 12. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Research. ISBN 0-81038-553-8. 
  • Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. 

[edit] External links

Raphael Saadiq
Solo albums
Tony! Toni! Toné!
Lucy Pearl
Solo singles
  • "Ask of You" (1995)
  • "Get Involved" (1999)
  • "Be Here" (2002)
  • "Still Ray" (2002)
  • "Rifle Love" (2004)
  • "Chic Like You" (2004)
  • "I Want You Back" (2005)
  • "Love That Girl" (2008)
  • "Big Easy" (2008)
  • "100 Yard Dash" (2009)
  • "Never Give You Up" (2009)
  • "Let's Take a Walk" (2009)
Related articles
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