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".
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]
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. 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 ^ 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 . 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