Club Classics Vol. One

Club Classics Vol. One
Studio album by
Soul II Soul
Released10 April 1989
Recorded1988–1989
Studio
GenreR&B
Length44:54
LabelVirgin
ProducerJazzie B, Nellee Hooper
Soul II Soul chronology
Club Classics Vol. One
(1989) 		Vol. II: 1990 – A New Decade
(1990)
Singles from Club Classics Vol. One
  1. "Keep on Movin'"
    Released: 6 March 1989
  2. "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"
    Released: 30 May 1989

Club Classics Vol. One (US title: Keep On Movin') is the debut album by the British group Soul II Soul. Released in 1989, the album featured the group's hit singles "Keep on Movin'" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)", the latter of which was a UK number-one hit and the fifth best-selling single in the UK that year. The album also reached number one and was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess of 900,000 copies.[2]

In the United States, the album reached the Top 20 and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales in excess of two million copies. The single "Back to Life" was also a Top 10 hit in the US and was certified platinum. It found stronger success with R&B music listeners in the US, as the album went to No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart, and the title track and "Back to Life" were number-one R&B hit singles.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Chicago Tribune[4]
Los Angeles Times[5]
Muzik[6]
NME8/10[7]
Record Mirror5/5[8]
Rolling Stone[9]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[10]
Spin Alternative Record Guide7/10[11]
The Village VoiceB+[12]

The Sunday Times noted that "there are traces of dubbed reggae, jazz flute, orchestral strings and Zulu harmonies here, as well as the more obvious delights of Caron Wheeler's gospel-soul vocals and the metronomic itch of the percussion loops."[13]

Alex Henderson, in a retrospective review for AllMusic, commented that the musical influences ranged from "Chic to hip hop to African music", and that the album was "among the most rewarding R&B releases of 1989."[3]

Legacy

In 2004, Q placed Club Classics Vol. One at number 28 in its list of the 50 Greatest British Albums Ever.[14] In 2006, the magazine placed the album at number 34 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the 1980s".[15] In 2012, Slant Magazine placed the album at number 100 on its list of the best albums of the 1980s.[16] In 2024, Uncut included "Club Classics Vol. One" in their list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of the 1980s".[citation needed]

In late April 2021 Sky Arts included the album in episode two of its newly released Classic Albums series. The hour long broadcast featured newly released interviews with the band members and friends including Trevor Nelson.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Keep on Movin'" (featuring Caron Wheeler)Trevor Beresford Romeo6:00
2."Fairplay" (featuring Rose Windross)Romeo, Nellee Hooper, Rose Windross5:55
3."Holdin' On"Romeo, Simon Law4:13
4."Feeling Free" (Live Rap)Romeo4:13
5."African Dance"Romeo, Law6:00
6."Dance"Romeo, Law3:40
7."Feel Free" (featuring Do'reen)Romeo, Hooper5:00
8."Happiness" (featuring Do'reen)Romeo, Hooper5:30
9."Back to Life" (Accapella) (featuring Caron Wheeler)Romeo3:12
10."Jazzie's Groove"Romeo, Hooper3:12
10th Anniversary edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Ambition" (Rap)Romeo3:49
12."Keep on Movin'" (Big Beat Accapella)Romeo3:36
13."Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"Romeo, Wheeler, Law, Hooper3:52
14."Jazzie's Groove" (Piano Version)Romeo, Hooper4:04
15."Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" (One World Remix)Romeo, Wheeler, Law, Hooper6:34
16."Keep on Movin'" (M Beat Bonus Mix)Romeo4:23

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[33] Platinum 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[34] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Gold 7,500^
United Kingdom (BPI)[2] 3× Platinum 900,000^
United States (RIAA)[36] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ^ Doyle, Tom (September 2022). "Classic Tracks: Soul II Soul 'Back To Life'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "British album certifications – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol 1". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b Henderson, Alex. "Club Classics, Vol. 1 – Soul II Soul". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  4. ^ Kot, Greg (10 August 1989). "Soul II Soul: Keep on Movin' (Virgin)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  5. ^ Marlowe, Duff (9 July 1989). "A Soulful English Posse to the Rescue". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  6. ^ Tope, Frank (May 1999). "Soul II Soul: Club Classics Volume One". Muzik. No. 48. p. 85.
  7. ^ Morton, Roger (15 April 1989). "Soul II Soul: Club Classics Vol. One". NME. p. 34.
  8. ^ Jeffery, Tim (15 April 1989). "Soul II Soul: Club Classics Volume I". Record Mirror. p. 32.
  9. ^ Diehl, Matt (19 July 2001). "Soul II Soul: Keep On Movin'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 November 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  10. ^ Considine, J. D. (2004). "Soul II Soul". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 762. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  11. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (1995). "Soul II Soul". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 369–370. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  12. ^ Christgau, Robert (3 October 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  13. ^ Sandall, Robert (18 June 1989). "How dance with a British beat is finding its feet". Features. The Sunday Times.
  14. ^ "The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever!". Q. No. 165. June 2000.
  15. ^ "40 Best Albums of the '80s". Q. No. 241. August 2006. pp. 84–89.
  16. ^ "The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s". Slant Magazine. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Charts.nz – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol. One". Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  24. ^ "Soul II Soul | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Soul II Soul Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Soul II Soul Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  27. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1989". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1989". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  31. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  32. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'". Music Canada. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  34. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Soul II Soul – Club classics vol. 1" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 2 May 2022. Enter Club classics vol. 1 in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1990 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  35. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Soul II Soul – Club Classics Vol I". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  36. ^ "American album certifications – Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 11 February 2021.