Volume III Just Right

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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)

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[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(dud)[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 – 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. 104 (18): 61. May 2, 1992.
  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 – 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 (631): 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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