Soulful (Ruben Studdard album)
2003 studio album by Ruben Studdard
Soulful is the debut studio album from second-season American Idol winner Ruben Studdard , released on December 9, 2003 by J Records . The record received mixed reviews from critics divided over the quality of the track listing and Ruben's vocal performance. Soulful debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and spawned two singles : "Sorry 2004 " and "What If".
Critical reception
Soulful garnered mixed reviews from music critics divided over the track listing and Studdard's vocal performance. A writer for People said that Soulful does "a good job of translating to record the cuddly Velvet Teddy Bear charm that won over Idol fans, resulting in a likable if unspectacular set."[ 4] David Browne , writing for Entertainment Weekly , commended the "penthouse R&B and mild hip-hop" tracks by Swizz Beatz and Irv Gotti for providing versatility in Studdard's performance but found his vocals on the ballads to be "raw and unpolished," filled with mediocrity whenever he "either strains or sings flat."[ 1] The A.V. Club ' s Keith Phipps said that the show favorite ballads were the highlights compared to more uptempo tracks like "No Ruben" and "What Is Sexy", concluding that following in this direction shows that "even the most obviously talented contestant to walk the Idol stage seems fated to be forever a glorified karaoke champ."[ 9] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine also found the ballads Studdard performed on the show showcase his strengths more than tracks like "Don't Quit On Me" and "Take the Shot" that are "insufferably repetitive and tuneless", calling the overall record "a painfully predictable mix of traditional R&B glop and comparatively forced contemporary hip-hop."[ 6] Barry Walters from Rolling Stone heavily criticized the songwriters and producers for crafting material that sounds like "Broadway ripoffs of hip-hop-inspired R&B", concluding that "Studdard does the best he can, but the people behind him and the other Idols simply aren't trying."[ 5]
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 , selling over 417,000 copies in its first week,[ 10] and was certified Platinum by the RIAA in January 2004. In the U.S. the album sold an estimated 1,779,000 copies.[ 11]
Track listing
Notes
^[a] signifies a vocal producer
Sample credits
"No Ruben" contains a sample of the recording "Hold On (I Feel Our Love Is Changing)" by B.B. King & The Crusaders .
"What is Sexy" contains interpolations from "Real Love ," written by Nathaniel Robinson Jr, Kirk Robinson, Mark Morales , and Cory Rooney .
"Can I Get Your Attention" contains a sample of the recording "It's Over" by Cameo.
Personnel
Adapted from AllMusic.[ 12]
Kamel Abdo – engineer
Kwaku Alston – photography
June Ambrose – stylist
Maxi Anderson – background vocals
David Ashton – Pro Tools , vocal engineer
Elena Barere – concert master, violin
Davis A. Barnett – viola
Bob Becker – viola
Eric Bell – background vocals
Cecilia Bereal-Powell – background vocals
Joseph Jr. Bereal – background vocals
Latanya Bereal – vocal contractor, background vocals
Melissa Bereal – background vocals
Charlie Bisharat – violin
Jim Bottari – engineer, string engineer
Paul Boutin – engineer
Joel Bowers – background vocals
Felecia Bowles – choir/chorus, group member
Leslie Brathwaite – mixing
Chandler Bridges – Pro Tools
Jacqueline Bridges – choir/chorus, group member
Jamie Brown – choir/chorus, group member
David Campbell – arranger, string arrangements
Terrence Cash – assistant engineer
Rob Chiarelli – mixing
Steve Churchyard – engineer
Tanisha J. Cidel – choir/chorus, group member
Melvin Coleman – producer
Steve Conover – engineer
Larry Corbett – cello
Cenovia Cummins – violin
Ashley Davis – background vocals
Clive Davis – producer
Kevin KD Davis – mixing
Mike Davis – assistant
Vidal Davis – instrumentation, mixing, producer
Eric Dawkins – vocal director, background vocals
Andrea Derby – production coordination
Joel Derouin – concert master
Vincent Dilorenzo – engineer
Jonathan Dinklage – violin
PamKenyon Donald – production manager
Crystal Drummer – background vocals
Nathan East – bass
Fat Joe – featured artist, guest artist, primary artist
Lawrence Feldman – flute
Steve Ferrera – drums
Barry Finclair – violin
Angela Fisher – background vocals
Steve Fisher – assistant
Ghislaine Fleischmann – violin
Bruce Fraser – engineer
John Frye – mixing
Simon Fuller – management
Armen Garabedian – violin
Berj Garabedian – violin
Chris Gehringer – mastering
Serban Ghenea – mixing
Larry Gold – conductor, string arrangements
Peter Gordon – French horn
Gordon Goss – assistant engineer
Irv Gotti – producer
Hart Gunther – assistant engineer
Noel Hall – keyboards
Fred Hammond – drum programming, featured artist, guest artist, mixing, primary artist, vocals, background vocals
Ray Hammond – mixing engineer
Kevin Hanson – guitar
Andre Harris – instrumentation, mixing, producer
Dabling Harward – editing, engineer
Al Hemberger – engineer, mixing
Dino Hermann – Pro Tools
Kevin Hicks – producer
Larry Jackson – A&R
Mark Jaimes – guitar
Jazze Pha – producer
Suzie Katayama – cello
Rich Keller – mixing
Andrew Kennedy – background vocals
Eric King – background vocals
Olga Konopelsky – violin
Emma Kummrow – violin
Charlene Kwas – violin
Edward Lawson – background vocals
Ricky Lawson – drums
Chris LeBeau – artwork
Lil Ronnie – instrumentation, producer
Harold Lilly – producer, vocal producer, background vocals
Vince Lionti – viola
Richard Locker – cello
Jennie Lorenzo – cello
Kev Mahoney – assistant engineer
Harvey Mason Jr. – group member, producer
John McGlinchey – assistant
James McMillan – arranger, producer
Kevin Milburn – background vocals
David Earl Miller – choir/chorus, group member
Cindy Mizelle – guest artist, background vocals
Rob Mounsey – conductor, guest artist, keyboards, piano, string arrangements
Peter Murray – keyboards, piano
Peter Nocella – viola
Sid Page – violin
Alyssa Park – violin
Bob Peterson – violin
Greg Phillinganes – keyboards
Malcolm Pollack – engineer
Postmaster – programming
James Poyser – piano
Karie Prescott – viola
Pretty Tony – featured artist, guest artist, primary artist
Alex Reverberi – engineer
Michele Richards – violin
Tim Roberts – assistant
Mark Robertson – violin
Evan Rogers – producer
Jonn Savannah – Pro Tools
Jon Smeltz – mixing
Dan Smith – cello
Richard Sortomme – violin
Brian Springer – engineer
Ruben Studdard – primary artist, vocals, background vocals
Carl Sturken – guitar, keyboards, producer
Swizz Beatz – producer
Igor Szwec – violin
Damon Thomas – group member, producer
Gerard Thomas – producer
Michael Thompson – guitar
Tribe Called Judah – choir/chorus, group
The Underdogs – group, instrumentation, producer
Josefina Vergara – violin
Alonzo Vargas – assistant engineer
Tommie Walker – drum programming
Doc Wiley – engineer
Anthony Wilkins – background vocals
Evan Wilson – viola
Kevin Wilson – assistant engineer, engineer
Mike "Hitman" Wilson – engineer
John Wittenberg – violin
Joey Woolfalk – guitar
A.J. Wright – choir/chorus
Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
Alexis Yraola – art direction, design
Helen Zeigler – choir/chorus, group member
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
See also
References
^ a b c Browne, David (December 19, 2003). "Soulful" . Entertainment Weekly . Time Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2011 .
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . "Soulful - Ruben Studdard" . AllMusic . Retrieved August 9, 2011 .
^ Album reviews at CD Universe
^ a b "Picks and Pans Review: Soulful " . People . Time Inc. January 12, 2004. Retrieved November 25, 2012 .
^ a b Walters, Barry (January 7, 2004). "Ruben Studdard: Soulful" . Rolling Stone . Wenner Media . Archived from the original on January 1, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2011 .
^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (December 12, 2003). "Ruben Studdard - Soulful" . Slant Magazine . Retrieved November 25, 2012 .
^ Jones, Steve (December 8, 2003). "Musiq's 'Soulstar' shines; Setzer's 'Daddy' is all grown up" . USA Today . Gannett Company . Retrieved January 21, 2013 .
^ "Ruben Studdard" . Variety . 2004-03-28. Archived from the original on 2017-02-16.
^ Phipps, Keith (December 16, 2003). "Ruben Studdard: Soulful" . The A.V. Club . The Onion . Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2012 .
^ Nelson, Chris (December 18, 2003). "Who Becomes An Idol Most?" . The New York Times . Retrieved February 26, 2014 .
^ Moss, Corey (March 7, 2006). " 'American Idol': No Love For 'Idol' Losers" . MTV . Archived from the original on April 11, 2006. Retrieved February 5, 2007 .
^ "Soulful – Ruben Studdard | Credits" . AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2016 .
^ "Ruben Studdard Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved June 3, 2018.
^ "Ruben Studdard Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved June 3, 2018.
^ "Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums - 2004" . Billboard . Retrieved December 17, 2018 .
^ "Year-End Charts: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - 2004" . Billboard . Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2018 .
^ "American album certifications – Ruben Studdard – Soulful" . Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 3, 2018 .
Studio albums Compilations Singles