Album Review: Raphael Saadiq's 'Stone Rollin''

2011
10 songs
Length: 43:01
Available to buy on vinyl or CD, Apple Music or Spotify

About a month ago, while at work, I got an email from my husband. ‘You should listen to this album,’ it said, ‘on your way home from work tonight. I think you’ll really like it.’ The email included a Google Play link to ‘Stone Rollin’.’ So I listened to it on my hour plus commute. Then I listened to it again. He was right; I did really like it (he knows me so well!) In fact, I liked it so much, I couldn’t get enough of it. I listened to it the next day and the day after that too. I played it all the next weekend. Since then, I’ve listened to ‘Stone Rollin’’ countless times and I own a copy on vinyl.

‘Stone Rollin’’ is the fourth studio album from American R&B singer, songwriter and producer, Raphael Saadiq. Saadiq began his illustrious career touring with Prince as a teenager before becoming the lead vocalist and bassist for the hugely successful 1980’s-90’s R&B group, Tony, Toni, Toné! After they split, he went on to form Lucy Pearl with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest). Lucy Pearl only recorded one album. Saadiq has collaborated with many notable artists including Erykah Badu, The Roots, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Ghostface Killah and The Isley Brothers.

‘Stone Rollin’’ builds on the traditional soul style of Saadiq’s previous album ‘The Way I See It,’ to create a melting pot of styles including funk, blues, R&B and old time rock and roll. Every track on this album is an absolute gem and Saadiq delivers each style with perfect execution. The opening track ‘Heart Attack’ is a rollicking, up-tempo earworm with a classic Motown sound and echoes of James Brown. ‘Radio’ gets the vintage R&B rock and roll vibe just right (think Chuck Berry), and the album's title track ‘Stone Rollin’,’ blends electric guitar and some sassy harmonica into a flawless Chicago blues number.

Saadiq’s slower songs are just as good as his energetic ones, incorporating some beautiful and emotive orchestral arrangements. ‘Good Man’ is as gut wrenchingly soulful as they come, while ‘The Answer’ complements Saadiq’s impressive vocal range with a delicate composition of strings. The psychedelic soul tune, ‘Over You’ is my favourite track on the album. It’s a perfect hybrid of R&B, soul and rock and roll that transports me to my happy place every time I hear it. I could seriously listen to it on repeat ALL.DAY.LONG.

Saadiq is a master. ‘Stone Rollin’’ is an overwhelmingly fantastic album with a polished, classic sound that everyone should listen to. In fact, I’m so enthusiastic about this album; I want to give it away! When I bought ‘Stone Rollin’’on vinyl, it came with a free CD copy. I’ll post the CD to the first person to comment below. What are you waiting for? Get to it!

Profile: Annie Lennox

Last week I bought the Eurythmics album ‘Be Yourself Tonight’ on vinyl, which kick started a weekend long Eurythmics-athon at my house. It’s been a delightful reminder of how Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart came together in a fusion of new wave synth pop and soul to become one of the most successful bands of the 1980’s.

I’ve always had a mega girlcrush on Annie Lennox. Growing up in the 80’s, Lennox always stood out from the multitude of bland, manufactured pop stresses. Her talent was unmatched, and with her androgynous image, she was way ahead of her time. To me, Lennox was a symbol of strength, class and empowerment. Songs like ‘Would I Lie To You’ and ‘Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves’ were early influences on my political beliefs.

Lennox and Stewart formed Eurythmics in 1980, after the break up of their previous band, The Tourists. Curiously, this coincided with their split as a couple. Eurythmics lasted ten years, breaking up in 1990. They reformed again briefly in the late 1990’s, releasing an album in 1999 and embarking on a world tour, with all proceeds from the tour being donated to Greenpeace and Amnesty International. They reunited once more in 2014 for a Beatles tribute concert. The relationship between Lennox and Stewart has been said to be intense and complicated, and both Stewart and Lennox have gone on to have lucrative solo careers.

Lennox has collaborated with a number of notable musicians, which is another testament to her incredible talent and the respect she has earned as an artist. Eurythmics worked with music legends such as Aretha Franklin (Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves), Elvis Costello (Adrian) and Stevie Wonder (There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)) on the 1985 album ‘Be Yourself Tonight.’ Lennox also performed ‘Under Pressure’ with David Bowie at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert in 1992 and released the single ‘Put A Little Love In Your Heart’ with Al Green in 1988.

Lennox has received many awards throughout her career including eight Brit Awards, four Grammy Awards, an MTV Music Video Award and an honorary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Music. Lennox was also named ‘The Greatest White Soul Singer Alive’ by VH1 and has earned the distinction of being the ‘most successful female British artist in UK music history.’

Using her platform as an uber-successful musician, Lennox has campaigned to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa, earning her the appointment of Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2011. Said Lennox, her main passion was fighting for human rights, especially those of women and girls in the developing world. Lennox now splits her time between music and charity work.

 

Annie Lennox is one of the most inspirational artists around. She has retained her strength and class throughout her career, and continued her message of empowerment and inclusivity by using her position and wealth to fight against AIDS and support women’s rights. There’s really nobody else like her. I’m so happy to have reignited my love affair with Annie Lennox this weekend!