Soul Talkin' is an album by the American musician Brenda Russell, released in 1993.[2][3] Disappointed with how the album was handled, Russell took a break from solo recording to travel and work on other projects.[4]
| Soul Talkin' | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1993 | |||
| Genre | Pop, R&B | |||
| Label | EMI[1] | |||
| Producer | Brenda Russell | |||
| Brenda Russell chronology | ||||
| ||||
The single "No Time for Time" peaked at No. 47 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[5]
Production
editThe album was produced by Russell, who cowrote or wrote every song but one.[6][7] She spent two years working on Soul Talkin'; it was the first time Russell had produced an album entirely on her own.[8][7]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [10] |
| The Gazette | B+[6] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [11] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | [12] |
| USA Today | [13] |
Entertainment Weekly called the album "a crafty collection of Caribbean, Brazilian, and jazzy pop," writing that "not since her 1979 debut has Brenda Russell sounded so good, so right."[14] The Sun Sentinel thought that "it's fine adult contemporary radio fare, but if Russell wants a serious crack at the charts, she needs to loosen up and really swing."[15] The Washington Post determined that Russell "wraps her songs in so many synthesizers and harmony vocals that she smothers them," while noting that her true talent remains her songrwriting.[16]
The Los Angeles Times opined that "the highlight is the appearance of Bobby Caldwell—another gutsy singer—on the gently romantic 'Who Are You?'"[11] USA Today declared that Russell is "a gifted composer," writing that "her infectious pop melodies enrich the album."[13] The Orange County Register deemed the album "compelling, if slick, R&B pop/balladry."[17]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Matters of the Heart" | Brenda Russell, Larry Williams | 4:15 |
| 2. | "Soul Talkin'" | Brenda Russell | 4:54 |
| 3. | "In Over My Heart" | Brenda Russell, Denise Eisenberg Rich, Mary Unobsky | 4:47 |
| 4. | "No Time for Time" | Brenda Russell | 4:22 |
| 5. | "You'll Fall in Love Again" | Brenda Russell | 4:30 |
| 6. | "10,000 Words" | Brenda Russell, Joe Turano | 4:33 |
| 7. | "Life Is Waiting" | Brenda Russell | 4:41 |
| 8. | "Got to Love" | Brenda Russell | 4:48 |
| 9. | "The Universe Is Calling You" | Brenda Russell, Ivan Lins | 5:32 |
| 10. | "Who Are You?" (featuring Bobby Caldwell) | Bill Cantos | 4:43 |
| Total length: | 44:55 | ||
Personnel
edit- Brenda Russell – vocals, vocal arrangements, arrangements (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 6), synth strings (5), guitar synthesizer (5), synthesizers (7)
- Jeff Hull – keyboards (1, 4), synthesizer programming (1, 4), drums (1, 4), drum programming (1, 4), arrangements (1, 4), keyboard programming (9), intro sound effects (9)
- Russell Ferrante – acoustic piano (2, 10), acoustic piano solo (3)
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (2)
- William "Smitty" Smith – Rhodes piano (2, 3), keyboards (6), organ (6), backing vocals (6)
- Brad Cole – synthesizers (2, 7, 8), additional synthesizers (3), synth flute (5), synth percussion (6), keyboard programming (7, 8), drum programming (7, 8), arrangements (7, 8), drums (8)
- David Swanson – synthesizers (2, 6), backing vocals (6)
- Aaron Zigman – synthesizers (3)
- Michael Ruff – acoustic piano (5)
- Larry Williams – additional synthesizers (5), synth solo ending (5)
- Ivan Lins – synthesizers (9), percussion (9), vocal solo (9), arrangements (9)
- James Harrah – acoustic guitar (1), guitars (3, 8)
- Ricardo Silveira – acoustic guitar (2, 4, 5), guitars (9)
- Marlo Henderson – guitars (3)
- Don Griffin – guitars (6)
- Michael Thompson – guitars (7)
- Bill Sharpe – electric bass (2), bass (3), backing vocals (6)
- Abraham Laboriel – bass (6)
- John Leftwich – acoustic bass (10)
- Alvino Bennett – drums (2, 6)
- Carlos Vega – drums (3, 10)
- Lenny Castro – percussion (2, 3)
- Luis Conte – percussion (6)
- Cassio Duarte – percussion (9)
- Mike Shapiro – percussion (10), arrangements (10)
- Everette Harp – saxophones (2)
- Scott Mayo – saxophones (2)
- Reggie Young – trombone (2)
- Michael "Patches" Stewart – trumpet (2)
- Tollak Ollestad – harmonica (4)
- Gary Herbig – woodwinds (5)
- Dan Higgins – woodwinds (5)
- Kim Hutchcroft – woodwinds (5)
- Bob Tricarico – woodwinds (5)
- Jerry Hey – woodwind arrangements (5)
- Steve Lindsey – arrangements (8)
- Bill Cantos – arrangements (10)
- Maxayn Lewis – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 8)
- Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (1, 8)
- Joe Turano – backing vocals (1, 6, 8), acoustic piano (6), additional synthesizers (6)
- Mica Paris – vocal inspiration (1)
- Petsye Powell – backing vocals (2, 3, 6)
- Paulette Brown – backing vocals (3, 6)
- Amanda Hayley – backing vocals (3)
- Carol Perry – backing vocals (4, 7, 9)
- Darlene Perry – backing vocals (4, 7, 9)
- Lori Perry – backing vocals (4, 7, 9)
- Sharon Perry – backing vocals (4, 7, 9)
- Rita Coolidge – backing vocals (6)
- Louis Price – backing vocals (6)
- Mary Wilson – backing vocals (6)
- Dianne Brooks – backing vocals (8)
- Pauline Wilson – backing vocals (8)
- Bobby Caldwell – vocals (10)
Production
edit- Brenda Russell – producer
- Tommy Vicari – recording, mixing
- Fletcher Dobrocke – recording (2, 3, 5, 6)
- David Ahlert – additional recording (1, 3, 10)
- Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff – additional recording (2, 6), recording (7, 8, 9)
- Tony Phillips – additional recording (2, 5, 6)
- Erik Hanson – additional recording (3)
- Micajah Ryan – additional recording (3)
- Randy Long – assistant engineer (1-5, 7)
- Judy Kirschner – recording assistant (2, 3)
- Scott Ralston – recording assistant (2)
- Jeff Shannon – recording assistant (2, 5)
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Debbie Wolinsky – production assistant
- Henry Marquez – art direction
- Lu Ann Graffeo – design
- Daniela Federici – photography
- Tanya Gill – stylist
- Roberto Leon – hair stylist
- Rudy Calvo – make-up
Studios
- Recorded at Pacifique Studios and Track Record Studios (North Hollywood, California); Cherokee Studios (Hollywood, California); Studio 56, Walt Tucker Studio and Willyworld (Los Angeles, California); Take One Studios (Burbank, California).
- Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California).
References
edit- ^ Holden, Stephen (21 Aug 1993). "Singer as Songwriter, Admirers as Before". The New York Times. p. L9.
- ^ "Brenda Russell Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ^ "Seven-Year Break Helps Brenda Russell 'Suss Out' Good Songs". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ^ "Russell Returns With 'Paris Rain'". Los Angeles Sentinel. 19 July 2000. p. B7.
- ^ "Brenda Russell". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
- ^ a b Stride, Todd (29 Aug 1993). "Music". The Gazette. p. F5.
- ^ a b Jones IV, James T. (Sep 1993). "Brenda Russell: Signature songwriter". Essence. Vol. 24, no. 5. p. 54.
- ^ Holsey, Steve (5 Apr 1995). "What's a middle-aged artist to do?". Michigan Chronicle. p. 1D.
- ^ "Soul Talkin'". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 197.
- ^ a b "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. July 4, 1993. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 496.
- ^ a b Jones IV, James T. (18 May 1993). "Brenda in Charge". USA Today. p. 6D.
- ^ "Soul Talkin'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ^ Wilker, Deborah. "Soft on Soul". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2022-10-14. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
- ^ Himes, Geoffrey (13 August 1993). "Russell's Pop Gifts Are for Giving". The Washington Post. p. N15.
- ^ Darling, Cary (June 25, 1993). "R&B". Orange County Register. p. P46.