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Official Albums
NOTE: Second Version. This is the more widely available version of Seal's first album.
LP: 1991 DE (ZTT/WEA; 9031-74557-1 {903174557-1 A4})
CD: 1991 DE (ZTT/WEA; 9031-74557-2 {903174557-2.2 WME}) [stickered]
CD: 1991 US (Sire/Warner; 26627-2)
BOX: 1991 US (ZTT/Sire/Warner; 9 26627-2 / 9 26627-4) [CD+CS+card in box]
1. The Beginning 5:40
2. Deep Water 5:56
3. Crazy 5:57
4. Killer 6:21
5. Whirlpool 3:51
6. Future Love Paradise 4:19
7. Wild 5:28
8. Show Me 5:59
9. Violet 8:31
Reviews:
My Review:
What an incredible debut. When the two worst songs on the album are its two biggest hits, you've got something special. Don't get me wrong, Crazy and Killer are excellent songs, but they've been overplayed. What's great about this album is it shows the diversity of the artist while never requiring him to change his own style. You've got rock with Killer, dance with The Beginning, blues with Whirlpool, and a mix of all those styles on FLP and Wild. Then you've got some slower songs that far exceed the typical love song, those being Violet and Show Me. Violet is still my absolute favorite Seal song. Then you've got a song like Deep Water which changes from a languid pace to an urgent acoustic and string oriented song after a dreamy middle section. Very unique and its works to perfection. Yet, all these styles are made into the artist's own sound. A stunning debut that showcases the various talents of its performer.
NOTE: First Version.
LP: 1991 UK (ZTT; ZTT 9)
CS: 1991 UK (ZTT/WEA; ZTT 9 C? / 9031-74557-4)
CD: 1991 UK (ZTT/WEA; ZTT 9 CD? / 9031-74557-2)
LP: 1991 DE (ZTT/WEA; 9031-74557-1 {903174557-1 A})
CD: 1991 DE (ZTT/WEA; 9031-74557-2 {903174557-2 WME}) [sticker:"ZTT 9C"]
DCC: 1991 DE (ZTT/Warner; 9031-74557-5)
1. The Beginning 5:40
2. Deep Water 5:56
3. Crazy (early fade) 4:47 Much shorter version, but very little difference other than the ending fade.
4. Killer 6:21
5. Whirlpool 3:51
6. Future Love Paradise (album edit) 4:19
7. Wild (original version) 5:19 Very different sounding.
8. Show Me 5:59
9. Violet (original version) 8:06 The background movie voices are gone from this version, and its slightly shorter.
LP: 1994 UK (ZTT/Warner; 4509-96256-1) (+DE)
CD: 1994 UK (ZTT/Warner; 4509-96256-2) (+DE)
CS: 1994 UK (ZTT; ??) [promo; company/title-inlay; tracks unconfirmed]
CS: 1994 US (Sire; 4-45415)
CD: 1994 US (Sire; 2-45415) [31 May]
1. Bring It On 3:58
2. Prayer for the Dying 5:30
3. Dreaming in Metaphors 5:52
4. Don't Cry 6:17
5. Fast Changes 5:42
6: Kiss From a Rose 4:48
7. People Asking Why 4:45
8. Newborn Friend 4:05
9. If I Could 4:16
10. I'm Alive 4:02
11. Bring It On (reprise) 1:15
Reviews:
My Review:
This is an excellent follow up to a first rate debut. This entire album has a certain uniformity to it. Uniform in richness, uniform in content and uniform in high quality. The songs are those of a mature and intelligent lyricist and a singer in command of his voice. The production is spot on. Any time an artist tackles mature subjects there is the possibility of making the songs too preachy or simply sullen, but this whole album sounds hopeful and positive. Every track is a standout, there are simply no bad choices in the bunch. It's an album that holds up well too. While I'm weary of Crazy and Killer from the first album, this is one that can be put on at anytime without skipping. Strange to say, but Bring It On Reprise is one of my favorites all time.
Released 1998
UK/DE/US: Warner Bros WE 852 (Int: 9362-46828-2)
Promo: UPC # 9362-46828-2 (Numbered Promotional Copy)
1. Human Beings 4:36
2. State Of Grace 5:00
3. Latest Craze 4:28
4. Just Like You Said 4:14
5. Princess 1:58
6. Lost My Faith 4:35
7. Excerpt From 3:04
8. When A Man Is Wrong 4:18
9. Colour 5:22
10. Still Love Remains 5:54
11. No Easy Way 4:48
12. Human Beings Reprise 3:21
Reviews:
My review:
This is the album that people seem to love or hate. Warner Brothers didn't do the album any favors. There was very little promotion, and it just seemed to sink as soon as it was released. Too bad, because this album is excellent, although I'll admit its not something you want to play for every occasion. I love it, but for the first time there are a couple of songs that I could live without. Princess just seems like a throwaway and I don't think it even fits in the darker tone of this album. Latest Craze I can do without as well, but its certainly not a bad song. This album does seem darker, weighter, whereas the second album seemed full of hope. That's not a bad thing, but I suspect the darker tone has alienated some fans. I would take anyone to task that said the songs aren't of the same high quality of the last album. They are just different, more ruminative, more solemn. Human Beings is a solid rock song, State of Grace, Just Like You Said, No Easy Way, and When a Man is Wrong are all similar in tone but they are first rate. The highlight of the album for me is Still Love Remains, which sounds like it came straight from the score of a film noir picture like Chinatown. Colour is also a highlight. A different type of record, but the same high quality production, singing and lyrics.
This album was never released, but is included here because it was finished. If anyone has a copy, get in touch and I'll make you a good offer, even for a CDR or MP3's.
1. Step Away
2. Keep On
3. Love Is Better
4. Eliz
5. Under The Sun
6. Heaven (new mix of This Could Be Heaven)
7. English Lover
8. Breathe
9. Let It Ride
10. All I Wanted To Say
11. Togetherland
This is an older tracklisting:
1. Champagne (a joyous physicality)
2. Under the sun
3. Just a step away
4. English lover
5. Breathe
6. Heaven
7. Eliz
8. Loves special way
9. God sits (at the end of your tongue)
10. American
11. Togetherland.
Other possible tracks were:
Something
Interracial Immaculate
I Belong With You
1. Let Me Roll 3:52
2. Get It Together 3:56
3. Love's Divine 4:35
4. Waiting For You 3:38
5. My Vision 4:47
6. Don't Make Me Wait 4:30
7. Touch 5:20
8. Where There's Gold 5:12
9. Loneliest Star 4:05
10. Heavenly... (Good Feeling) 5:02
11. Tinsel Town 5:54
12. Get It Together (Reprise) 1:05
My Review:
Overall, a very good album, but just a little short of excellent. Starting with the less than great, Seal definitely seems to be shooting for commercial success with songs like My Vision, Waiting For You and Love's Divine. All good, catchy songs, but perhaps a little shallow. There's not much under the surface of these songs like singles in the past. Nevertheless, they are all fine additions to Seal's catalogue and it's hard to imagine fans disliking the songs, and hopefully they will garner some new converts. Tinsel Town is another fine song, but a tad repetitive. I'm waiting for someone to tell me how times the title is repeated throughout the song. It's alot. Let Me Roll is unlistenable to me. Next to Princess, it's the worst song he's ever done. This one sees Seal trying to sound hard and hip, and it just doesn't work for me.
Touch was touted as another Violet by Seal himself. Not even close. Violet is still something extra special these days. Touch is a great song, but it just doesn't ring as deeply as Violet. Get It Together is an excellent dance song. It's really irresistible, although I tend to agree with some others that the lyrics are a bit trite. Where There's Gold sees Seal hitting a reggae beat, and he does it very nicely without being too obvious. The rap towards the end of the song is fantastic and makes this one special. It's not rap, as in rap music, its a "rap" in a smooth, reggae style that Seal executes perfectly. Heavenly is a classic Seal song, it's really something that only he can do. Danceable and deep is something that Seal manages to combine better than anyone and this is a perfect example. Loneliest Star is a mid tempo ballad that is catchy and always a pleasant listen. Get It Together Reprise is another fine addition in what has become a tradition on Seal albums of ending with a short re-working of what is considered the lead song on each album. I always enjoy these songs as they are packed with emotion in a short burst. This one is no exception.
Again, very good, easily listenable. With the exception of Let Me Roll, you can put Seal IV on and listen the whole way through and be thoroughly satisfied. It doesn't break new ground, but it doesn't need to. Perhaps there's a little bit of settling in by Seal, but "ordinary" Seal is still better than what's currently available.