British-born soul singer Seal has once again paid homage to the spectacular soul singers and songs that helped define his teenage years on his just released album Soul 2, the companion collection to 2008’s Soul. “When it came to making Soul 2 I decided not to go for the obvious hits, if you like, or more songs of that earlier period,” he explains, differentiating between the 60s era staples that populated Soul and the 70s standards he picked for Soul 2. No matter which decade, Seal’s uncanny covers bring new life to tried and true tunes.
Knocked Out By Soul: Raised in London, Seal recalls being exposed to a new crop of soul singers who followed the first wave of 60s legends like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and Ben E, King. “I remember songs like ‘Love T.K.O.’ (Teddy Pendergrass) and ‘Wishing on a Star’ (Rose Royce) and ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ (Rose Royce) – I just remember those songs being so unique-sounding when they came on the radio,” he reminisces. “They had a big impact on me… They were huge influences on my life and my outlook on writing music when I was growing up.”
Of course Seal puts his stamp on all three of the songs mentioned above on Soul 2, as well as eight more. In putting the track list together, he explains that he “went for songs that were popular in England when I was growing up and take a slightly different approach in terms of the actual sound…” Respected producer Trevor Horn (Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart), also born and raised in England, shares Seal’s love of soul, which as Seal says, led to them having “the most amazing time on this record because we talked a lot…about the old times.”
The 11-song Soul 2 begins with a fresh take on Rose Royce’s “Wishing on a Star,” and continues with Seal’s versions of Teddy Pendergrass’ “Love T.K.O.;” Smokey Robinson’s “Ooh Baby Baby;” Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together;” Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On;” Rose Royce’s “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore;” The O’Jays’ “Back Stabbers;” The Spinners’ “I’ll Be Around;” Major Harris’ “Love Won’t Let Me Wait;” Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me;” and The Chi-Lites’ “Oh Girl.”
Seal sums up Soul 2, saying, “Essentially it’s an album of love songs. However it’s such as my habit that there has to be something that inspires me on a social-comment level and there has to be something that inspires me on a – it’s such an overused term, but on a spiritual level. These songs have a definite sound to them. And I had such a good time singing them because they mean something to me. They’ve kind of chronicled my childhood and my adolescence.” And depending on the age of the listener, they’ve chronicled theirs as well, or their children’s, through the big old black circular things with the hole in the middle that their parents had around the house all their lives. The bottom line is Soul 2 is packed with timeless music for all to enjoy.
What Goes Around, Comes Around: Enjoy Seal’s performance of the Spinners’ classic “I’ll Be Around” on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live:
As A Matter of Fact…
* Seal was born Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel on February 19, 1963 in Paddington, London, England to a Nigerian mother and Brazilian father.
* Many rumors have circulated regarding the cause and/or meaning behind the scars on his face; they are a result of a type of Lupus called Discoid lupus erythematosus.
* In October 2011, Seal caused controversy and criticism from human rights advocates for performing at the birthday party of Chechnyan president Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been accused of numerous human rights abuses, including torture, disappearances, and the killing of political opponents and human rights workers. He refused to apologize for attending the event, for which he was paid $500,000.
* On January 22, 2012, Seal and his wife, model Heidi Klum, announced they were separating after seven years of marriage.