Volume III Just Right
Volume III Just Right | ||||
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Studio album by Soul II Soul | ||||
Released | 1992 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 41:54 | |||
Label |
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Producer | Jazzie B | |||
Soul II Soul chronology | ||||
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Singles from Volume III: Just Right | ||||
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Volume III Just Right is the third album by the English music collective Soul II Soul, released in 1992 through Ten and Virgin Records.[1][2][3] Its first single was "Joy".[4]
The album peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart[5] and No. 88 on the Billboard 200.[6] "Mood" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.[7]
Production
The album was produced by Jazzie B, who also rapped on three of the tracks.[8][9] Jazzie used several male vocalists on the album, including Richie Stephens.[10]
Gary Barnacle played flute on Just Right; Snake Davis played saxophone.[11][12] Caron Wheeler sang on "Take Me Higher".[13] "Move Me No Mountain" is a cover of the song made famous by Love Unlimited.[14]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Calgary Herald | A[15] |
Robert Christgau | ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | C+[18] |
The Indianapolis Star | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
USA Today | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Virginian-Pilot | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Jazzie has returned to the low-key feel of his first album with little deviation, except that he has turned to male singers, instead of his usual stable of divas, to revive his by-now-stale formula."[18] Trouser Press lamented that the collective had "devolved from a groundbreaking, if creatively unreliable, soul collective to a not particularly exciting R&B act."[3] The Gazette considered the album "background music at best," writing that "this is when groovy becomes generic."[23]
Rolling Stone noted that "the Seventies-obsessed string arrangements on Just Right are piquant and precise."[24] The Indianapolis Star stated that "Jazzie B. and his 'sound system' turn in a confident, entertaining and well-plotted blend of R&B, jazz, African and dance influences."[19] The Calgary Herald praised the "rich vocals, big fat beats, choral interludes, soul grooves and African wind instrumentals."[15] The Virginian-Pilot called the album "sluggish buppie pop with some vaguely hip elements grafted on," writing that it "offers little but a desperate pandering to the Quiet Storm."[22]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Joy" | 4:31 |
2. | "Take Me Higher" | 4:49 |
3. | "Storm" | 3:36 |
4. | "Direction" | 3:47 |
5. | "Just Right" | 3:00 |
6. | "Move Me No Mountain" | 4:40 |
7. | "Intelligence" | 5:17 |
8. | "Future" | 4:35 |
9. | "Mood" | 3:48 |
10. | "Everywhere" | 3:51 |
Total length: | 41:54 |
Charts
Chart (1992) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] | 17 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] | 24 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[27] | 25 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[28] | 29 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[29] | 13 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[30] | 33 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] | 19 |
UK Albums (OCC)[5] | 3 |
US Billboard 200[6] | 88 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[32] | 33 |
References
- ^ "Soul II Soul Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Davis, Sharon (January 6, 2012). 80s Chart-Toppers: Every Chart-Topper Tells a Story. Random House. ISBN 978-1-78057-411-0 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Soul II Soul". Trouser Press. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "New This Week". Part II. Newsday. 4 May 1992. p. 46.
- ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Billboard 200: Week of May 23, 1992". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Soul II Soul". Recording Academy. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ "Album Reviews — Volume III Just Right by Soul II Soul". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 18. May 2, 1992. p. 61.
- ^ "Popular Music — Just Right Volume III by Soul II Soul". Stereo Review. 57 (7): 70. Jul 1992.
- ^ Jaeger, Barbara (May 7, 1992). "Soul II Soul, 'Volume III Just Right'". The Record. p. B12.
- ^ Riccio, Richard (18 Sep 1992). "More of the same". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 17.
- ^ Ross, Curtis (May 22, 1992). "Seamless Soul". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 19.
- ^ a b Jones IV, James T (15 May 1992). "Soul II Soul grooves to various rhythms". USA Today. p. 7D.
- ^ "Soul II Soul is back in effect". Indianapolis Recorder. No. 18. 2 May 1992. p. B4.
- ^ a b Dunlop, Neil (17 May 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Soul II Soul". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 618.
- ^ a b "Volume III Just Right". EW.com.
- ^ a b Ford, Lynn Dean (8 May 1992). "Third time's charm for Soul II Soul". The Indianapolis Star. p. C12.
- ^ Oumano, Elena (May 31, 1992). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (May 28, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Wright, Rickey (May 8, 1992). "REVIEWS". PREVIEW. The Virginian-Pilot. p. 8.
- ^ Lepage, Mark (6 June 1992). "SOUL II SOUL Volume III: Just Right". The Gazette. p. E2.
- ^ Coleman, Mark (May 28, 1992). "Recordings — Volume III Just Right by Soul II Soul". Rolling Stone. No. 631. p. 54.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of May 23, 1992". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- v
- t
- e
- Jazzie B
- Caron Wheeler
- Charlotte Kelly
- Club Classics Vol. One (1989)
- Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade (1990)
- Volume III Just Right (1992)
- "Keep On Movin'"
- "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"
- "Get a Life"
- "A Dream's a Dream"
- "People"
- "Missing You"
- "Joy"
- "Move Me No Mountain"