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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]

Volume III Just Right
Studio album by Soul II Soul
Released	1992
Genre	R&B
Length	41:54
Label	Ten Virgin
Producer	Jazzie 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)

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

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

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Calgary Herald	A[15]
Robert Christgau	[16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[17]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[18]
The Indianapolis Star	[19]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[20]
USA Today	[13]
The Virginian-Pilot	[21]

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."[22]

Rolling Stone noted that "the Seventies-obsessed string arrangements on Just Right are piquant and precise."[23] 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."[21]

Track listing

Charts

Chart performance for Volume III Just Right

Chart (1992)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[24]	17
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[25]	24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[26]	25
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[27]	29
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[28]	13
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[29]	33
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[30]	19
UK Albums (OCC)[5]	3
US Billboard 200[6]	88
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[31]	33

References

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