Seal (1991 album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Chicago Tribune | [2] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A[4] |
| Los Angeles Times | [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
| The Village Voice |  [7] |
Seal is the debut studio album by Seal, released in 1991. It contains the singles "Crazy", "Future Love Paradise", "The Beginning", "Killer" and "Violet". The album debuted at #1 in the UK and went on to win Best British Album at the 1992 Brit Awards. Seal's following album, released in 1994, was also named Seal. It is usually referred to as Seal II.
There are two versions of the album, with minor and major differences in three songs.[8] The shorter version of "Wild" is more rock-based and heavy than the original. The shorter version of "Violet" contains no dialogue within the singing. Track lengths of both versions are given for each song affected. "Killer" is a re-recorded version of the UK number one single by Adamski, which also features Seal on vocals.
Many of the songs (including various ZTT mixes) were featured in the Greg Stump 1991 film Groove Requiem in the Key of Ski.[citation needed] Later Seal tracks appeared in other Stump films as well. The track "Killer" was also featured on the American crime series Homicide: Life on the Street and was included on the 2-disc soundtrack album.
The song "Crazy" was covered by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their album Take a Break, by Mushroomhead on their album XIII, by Talisman on their 1995 album Life, by Alanis Morissette on her 2005 compilation album Alanis Morissette: The Collection, and by German power metal band Iron Savior.
Track listing
All lyrics and music written by Seal, except where noted.
- "The Beginning" (Seal, Guy Sigsworth) – 5:40
- "Deep Water" – 5:56
- "Crazy" (Seal, Guy Sigsworth) – 4:47 or 5:57
- "Killer" (Adam Tinley, Seal) – 6:22
- "Whirlpool" – 3:56 or 3:51
- "Future Love Paradise" – 4:20
- "Wild" (Seal, Guy Sigsworth) – 5:19 or 5:28
- "Show Me" – 5:59
- "Violet" (Seal, Guy Sigsworth) – 8:06 or 8:31
Personnel
- Seal – vocals
- Richard Cottle, Mars Lasar, Mark Mancina, Jamie Muhoberac, Guy Sigsworth – keyboards/sampling
- Gus Isidore, Randall Jacobs, Chester Kamen, Trevor Rabin, Kenji Suzuki, Bruce Woolley – guitars
- Chrissy Shefts – all guitars ("Crazy")[9]
- Trevor Horn, Steve Pearce, Doug Wimbish – bass guitar
- Curt Bisquera, Denny Fongheiser, John Robinson, Keith LeBlanc – drums
- Paulinho da Costa, Andy Duncan, Luís Jardim – percussion
- Gary Maughan – Fairlight CMI
- Gota Yashiki – drums, percussion, bass guitar
- Ian Morrow – keyboard & drum programming
- Maria Vidal – backing vocals
- Robin Hancock – programming
- Anne Dudley – string arrangements
- Richard Croft – cover photography
Singles
| Release date | Title | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 23 November 1990 | "Crazy" | 2 |
| 12 April 1991 | "Future Love Paradise" | 12 |
| 19 July 1991 | "The Beginning" | 24 |
| 22 November 1991 | "Killer" | 8 |
| 14 February 1992 | "Violet" | 34 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (IFPI Austria)[10] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[11] | Gold | 100,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[12] | 3× Platinum | 300,000^ |
| France (SNEP)[14] | Gold | 261,600[13] |
| Germany (BVMI)[15] | Gold | 250,000^ |
| Netherlands (NVPI)[16] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[17] | Gold | 7,500^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[18] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[19] | 2× Platinum | 600,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[20] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Wilson, MacKenzie. "Seal [1991] – Seal". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ May, Mitchell (18 July 1991). "Seal: Seal (Sire)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
- ^ Linden, Amy (16 August 1991). "Seal". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ Hochman, Steve (14 July 1991). "Seal, 'Seal,' Sire". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ Hunter, James (2004). "Seal". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. p. 723. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (3 March 1991). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
- ^ "Seal (Debut album) remixed/edited version". Futureloveparadise.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
- ^ About Chrissy Shefts
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – Seal – Seal" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Seal – Seal" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Seal – Seal". Music Canada.
- ^ "Les Albums Or". infodisc.fr. SNEP. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "French album certifications – Seal – Seal" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Seal; 'Seal')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – Seal – Seal" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Seal in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1992 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recorded Music NZ.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Seal')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – Seal – Seal". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Seal in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recording Industry Association of America.