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Soul Talkin' is an album by the American musician Brenda Russell, released in 1993.[2][3]

Soul Talkin'
Studio album by Brenda Russell
Released	1993
Genre	Pop, R&B
Label	EMI Records[1]
Producer	Brenda Russell
Brenda Russell chronology
Greatest Hits (1992) Soul Talkin' (1993) Paris Rain (2000)

The single "No Time for Time" peaked at No. 47 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.[4]

Production

The album was produced by Russell, who cowrote or wrote every song but one.[5][6] She spent two years working on Soul Talkin'; it was the first time Russell had produced an album entirely on her own.[7][6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[9]
The Gazette	B+[5]
Los Angeles Times	[10]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide	[11]
USA Today	[12]

Entertainment Weekly called the album "a crafty collection of Caribbean, Brazilian, and jazzy pop," writing that "not since her 1979 debut has Brenda Russell sounded so good, so right."[13] The Sun Sentinel thought that "it's fine adult contemporary radio fare, but if Russell wants a serious crack at the charts, she needs to loosen up and really swing."[14] The Washington Post determined that Russell "wraps her songs in so many synthesizers and harmony vocals that she smothers them," while noting that her true talent remains her songrwriting.[15]

The Los Angeles Times opined that "the highlight is the appearance of Bobby Caldwell—another gutsy singer—on the gently romantic 'Who Are You?'"[10] USA Today declared that Russell is "a gifted composer," writing that "her infectious pop melodies enrich the album."[12] The Orange County Register deemed the album "compelling, if slick, R&B pop/balladry."[16]

Track listing

Personnel

• Brenda Russell – vocals, vocal arrangements, arrangements (1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals (2, 3, 6), synth strings (5), guitar synthesizer (5), synthesizers (7)
• Jeff Hull – keyboards (1, 4), synthesizer programming (1, 4), drums (1, 4), drum programming (1, 4), arrangements (1, 4), keyboard programming (9), intro sound effects (9)
• Russell Ferrante – acoustic piano (2, 10), acoustic piano solo (3)
• Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (2)
• William "Smitty" Smith – Rhodes piano (2, 3), keyboards (6), organ (6), backing vocals (6)
• Brad Cole – synthesizers (2, 7, 8), additional synthesizers (3), synth flute (5), synth percussion (6), keyboard programming (7, 8), drum programming (7, 8), arrangements (7, 8), drums (8)
• David Swanson – synthesizers (2, 6), backing vocals (6)
• Aaron Zigman – synthesizers (3)
• Michael Ruff – acoustic piano (5)
• Larry Williams – additional synthesizers (5), synth solo ending (5)
• Ivan Lins – synthesizers (9), percussion (9), vocal solo (9), arrangements (9)
• James Harrah – acoustic guitar (1), guitars (3, 8)
• Ricardo Silveira – acoustic guitar (2, 4, 5), guitars (9)
• Marlo Henderson – guitars (3)
• Don Griffin – guitars (6)
• Michael Thompson – guitars (7)
• Bill Sharpe – electric bass (2), bass (3), backing vocals (6)
• Abraham Laboriel – bass (6)
• John Leftwich – acoustic bass (10)
• Alvino Bennett – drums (2, 6)
• Carlos Vega – drums (3, 10)
• Lenny Castro – percussion (2, 3)
• Luis Conte – percussion (6)
• Cassio Duarte – percussion (9)
• Mike Shapiro – percussion (10), arrangements (10)
• Everette Harp – saxophones (2)
• Scott Mayo – saxophones (2)
• Reggie Young – trombone (2)
• Michael "Patches" Stewart – trumpet (2)
• Tollak Ollestad – harmonica (4)
• Gary Herbig – woodwinds (5)
• Dan Higgins – woodwinds (5)
• Kim Hutchcroft – woodwinds (5)
• Bob Tricarico – woodwinds (5)
• Jerry Hey – woodwind arrangements (5)
• Steve Lindsey – arrangements (8)
• Bill Cantos – arrangements (10)
• Maxayn Lewis – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 8)
• Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (1, 8)
• Joe Turano – backing vocals (1, 6, 8), acoustic piano (6), additional synthesizers (6)
• Mica Paris – vocal inspiration (1)
• Petsye Powell – backing vocals (2, 3, 6)
• Paulette Brown – backing vocals (3, 6)
• Amanda Hayley – backing vocals (3)
• Carol Perry – backing vocals (4, 7, 9)
• Darlene Perry – backing vocals (4, 7, 9)
• Lori Perry – backing vocals (4, 7, 9)
• Sharon Perry – backing vocals (4, 7, 9)
• Rita Coolidge – backing vocals (6)
• Louis Price – backing vocals (6)
• Mary Wilson – backing vocals (6)
• Dianne Brooks – backing vocals (8)
• Pauline Wilson – backing vocals (8)
• Bobby Caldwell – vocals (10)

Production

• Brenda Russell – producer
• Ron Fair – executive producer
• Tommy Vicari – recording, mixing
• Fletcher Dobrocke – recording (2, 3, 5, 6)
• David Ahlert – additional recording (1, 3, 10)
• Jeffrey "Woody" Woodruff – additional recording (2, 6), recording (7, 8, 9)
• Tony Phillips – additional recording (2, 5, 6)
• Erik Hanson – additional recording (3)
• Micajah Ryan – additional recording (3)
• Randy Long – assistant engineer (1-5, 7)
• Judy Kirschner – recording assistant (2, 3)
• Scott Ralston – recording assistant (2)
• Jeff Shannon – recording assistant (2, 5)
• Bernie Grundman – mastering
• Debbie Wolinsky – production assistant
• Henry Marquez – art direction
• Lu Ann Graffeo – design
• Daniela Federici – photography
• Kim Nickerson – personal assistant
• Tanya Gill – stylist
• Roberto Leon – hair stylist
• Rudy Calvo – make-up

Studios

• Recorded at Pacifique Studios and Track Record Studios (North Hollywood, California); Cherokee Studios (Hollywood, California); Studio 56, Walt Tucker Studio and Willyworld (Los Angeles, California); Take One Studios (Burbank, California).
• Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California).

References

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