Wikipedia

Volume III Just Right

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]

Volume III Just Right
Studio album by
Soul II Soul
Released1992
GenreR&B
Length41:54
Label
ProducerJazzie B
Soul II Soul chronology
Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade
(1990) 		Volume III Just Right
(1992) 		Volume IV The Classic Singles 88–93
(1993)

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 edit

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 edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Calgary HeraldA[15]
Robert Christgau [16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [17]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[18]
The Indianapolis Star    [19]
Los Angeles Times    [20]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide     [21]
USA Today    [13]
The Virginian-Pilot    [22]

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 edit

Volume III Just Right track listing
No.TitleLength
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 edit

Chart performance for Volume III Just Right
Chart (1992) Peak
position
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 edit

  1. ^ "Soul II Soul Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "Soul II Soul". Trouser Press. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  4. ^ "New This Week". Part II. Newsday. 4 May 1992. p. 46.
  5. ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Billboard 200: Week of May 23, 1992". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Soul II Soul". Recording Academy. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Album Reviews — Volume III Just Right by Soul II Soul". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 18. May 2, 1992. p. 61.
  9. ^ "Popular Music — Just Right Volume III by Soul II Soul". Stereo Review. 57 (7): 70. Jul 1992.
  10. ^ Jaeger, Barbara (May 7, 1992). "Soul II Soul, 'Volume III Just Right'". The Record. p. B12.
  11. ^ Riccio, Richard (18 Sep 1992). "More of the same". Weekend. St. Petersburg Times. p. 17.
  12. ^ Ross, Curtis (May 22, 1992). "Seamless Soul". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 19.
  13. ^ a b Jones IV, James T (15 May 1992). "Soul II Soul grooves to various rhythms". USA Today. p. 7D.
  14. ^ "Soul II Soul is back in effect". Indianapolis Recorder. No. 18. 2 May 1992. p. B4.
  15. ^ a b Dunlop, Neil (17 May 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  16. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Soul II Soul". www.robertchristgau.com.
  17. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 618.
  18. ^ a b "Volume III Just Right". EW.com.
  19. ^ a b Ford, Lynn Dean (8 May 1992). "Third time's charm for Soul II Soul". The Indianapolis Star. p. C12.
  20. ^ Oumano, Elena (May 31, 1992). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ a b Wright, Rickey (May 8, 1992). "REVIEWS". PREVIEW. The Virginian-Pilot. p. 8.
  23. ^ Lepage, Mark (6 June 1992). "SOUL II SOUL Volume III: Just Right". The Gazette. p. E2.
  24. ^ Coleman, Mark (May 28, 1992). "Recordings — Volume III Just Right by Soul II Soul". Rolling Stone. No. 631. p. 54.
  25. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  26. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  28. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Charts.nz – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Soul II Soul – Volume III Just Right". Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  32. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of May 23, 1992". Billboard. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
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