Soulicious The Soul Album [CD]

I have to admit that I think this time Sir Cliff has surpassed himself. Soulicious, in my humble (and I don't do humble for anyone, so that's saying something) opinion is one of his best albums ever, and I think you could make a case for it being his best album since Something's Goin' On in 2004, but I hesitate to say it, mainly because Cliff's albums are different each time. I think, for example, comparing Soulicious with Bold As Brass from last year would be unfair, because the two albums are just so different in style, it would be like comparing chalk and cheese.

In truth I think Soulicious is the sort of album Cliff could have been recording for years. I think Mickie Most once said that Cliff has, and I hope this won't offend anyone, a black edge to his voice. I think that's spot on, and I think he uses it to its full effect on this one. The public, I suppose, knows Cliff for rock and pop, but on Soulicious he gets to unleash his ability with this R&B and soul material, and the style fits him like a well made glove. In a way the natural forerunner for this album is Real As I Wanna Be (1998), with its glorious R&B feel, but on this one Cliff takes it even further, and the results, for my money, are staggering.

The vocals on the whole album are sublime. Cliff is heartbreaking on Go On And Tell Him, a track I openly admit to crying at the first time I heard it, with its message that a broken relationship is fixable, all the woman has to do is tell the new boyfriend that she still loves the ex and go back where she should be. The funny thing for me is that it isn't even remotely near the knuckle, I can't think why it made me cry! However, really get the tissues out for Do You Ever, where Cliff pours out his soul and hands it to you virtually gift-wrapped. Imagine Miss You Nights multiplied by a factor of about 1000 and you'll get how weepy this one is. I should also say that Brenda Holloway is fantastic on Do You Ever. Her vocals are wonderful and add to the intensity of Cliff's to perfection. Get the tissues out and listen.

Soulicious sort of hits you between the eyes. Right from the off with Saving A Life something palpably different is going on here. There is a joyous energy to the whole album, where I think the balance has been struck perfectly between an authentic Motown/Soul sound, especially on tracks such as Saving A Life, This Time With You, She Looked Good, Are U Feeling Me and How We Get Down (glorious harmonies on this one), with a contemporary soul style, such as in tracks like Birds Of A Feather, Every Piece Of My Broken Heart (with stunning falsetto vocals from Cliff) and Don't Say You Love Me, which for me has all the dynamics of We Don't Talk Anymore. There is a level of anatagonistic venom in Don't Say You Love Me that might even surprise a few, you know, those who think Cliff is all ballads and Christmas songs.

I think it's hard to tell what the covers are and what the new tracks are, at least on listening. All of them blend so well together. I'm Your Puppet is so laid-back and cool it needs an overcoat and slippers, but Teardrops is so energetic it could run a marathon. Oh How Happy is full on gospel, rather like The Miracle from Real As I Wanna Be in style, then there is Always And Forever, where Cliff's warm rich vocals lead the way to Billy Paul ad-libbing his heart out, and doing so with such class.

I really don't think there is a bad track on the album. They all fit together beautifully. I also don't think people need to worry about Cliff not being centre-stage with the duets. This is very much Cliff's album, make no mistake about it, but the guest vocals work so well with him. There are too many highlights to mention really, but Candi Staton, Peabo Bryson and Brenda Holloway work so well with Cliff, adding colour and depth, but also allowing Cliff to lead and shine.

If there is any justice Cliff will have an absolute smash with this one. He deserves to.

This is a fabulous piece of work, and not just for die-hard Cliff fans. Cliff has turned his voice to many genres over the decades, but never to soul. Yet he seems to like it, and his British soul sound suits him. In making this turn in his career, he wisely threw himself into the hands of soul legend, artist and producer, Lamont Dozier. Dozier's hand on the tiller guided the album skilfully, giving it a consistent and classic soul sound from start to end. Thus, Cliff gives is all, and delivers 15 worthy songs, including 11 new ones. Among them the highlights for me are "Saving a Life", "Go and Tell Him" and "Don't Say You Love Me". The gospel "Oh How Happy" seems a jarring departure but, for all its two-beat drum rhythm and choral backing vocals, it avoids the "praise the lord" clichés and therefore works very well. The best thing by miles is "She Looked Good", which Dozier wrote for Cliff. It's belted out good and proper by the band and, speaking personally, I would pay the price of the album just to get this song. It is an absolute firecracker.

Having seen Cliff's 2011 stage show to accompany the album, I have to say I was thrilled to see the likes of Lamont Dozier and Percy Sledge, and that experience gave the album an extra edge for me.

It seems to me that to understand the context of this album one needs to consider a couple of things: 1.Cliff has made it clear that he is slowing down, part of which involves touring and recording with other artists; 2.Cliff appears to be preparing to try one final time to break into the US market, and a soul album packed with American soul legends ought to help; and 3. Cliff has a long history of embracing new directions in his music. Looking broader than this album though, I wonder where Cliff is going with his music. His last album, "Bold As Brass" was a completely new genre again. It received high acclaim and it charted well, but whatever fans he gained with that sound won't know what to make of "Soulicious", which veers off at a musical tangent. Both are great albums, and long-time fans are generally along for the ride, but newcomers to Cliff may not be convinced to stick around in the face of such diversity.

So, has Cliff got soul? I'd say a definite YES to that. He does "get down" and feel the music, and he sounds as if he is really enjoying the songs. His rapport with the other artists comes across with the kind of pizazz that makes you feel they are involving you in the party.
His voice seems a little straight next to the likes of Dozier, Payne and Sledge, but as an English soul singer (he joins a long line of them) he delivers something compelling and substantial, and of course very much his own sound. All in all, it is an album that deserves a good deal of play.

About the limited edition box set:

I've mentioned it here because Amazon doesn't consider the two products separate items, and therefore I cannot review both of them.
The limited edition falls right into line with Cliff's other box sets of recent years, being the same size as the limited editions of "Bold As Brass" and "Reunited". This one includes a 16-page colour booklet, a large poster of the album cover, and a 200-piece jigsaw. Official Cliff jigsaw as are rarities (though there are many unofficial ones out there), and this one's fun to do while listening to the album. The box also has a slide-off card cover with fold-out front panel. It goes together very nicely, and the set looks good in our display cabinet.

Soulicious is Cliffs best album for many years. His voice is sounding clear strong and as smooth as silk all the songs are first class. As a Soul album in its own right its a very refreshing mix of old school and contemporary styles brilliantly produced by the legendary Lamont Dozier who gives it an authentic edge along with the guest artists: Candi Staton, Dennis Edwards & The Temptations, Freda Payne, Brenda Holloway, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis jr, Russell Thompkins & The Stylistics, Peabo Bryson, Billy Paul, Valerie Simpson, Deniece Williams, Percy Sledge and Lamont himself. Cliffs no shouter or showboater he's a proper recording artist who makes everything sound personal and intimate. Like he's singing especially for you. Anyone who thinks he can't sing R&B obviously hasn't heard the Talk of The Town and the Real As I Wanna Be albums and can't have seen the TV shows from the early 70's where he frequently dipped into the soul song book and sang with guest artists. This is an album that needed to be made and it needs to be in your collection. Never mind how old or young he looks just listen to how fresh he sounds no way does this sound like a 70 year old man! This album and this artist deserves critical recognition and respect. Highlights.. the funk stomper She Looked Good the contemporary Don't Say You Love Me it'll ruin my day), Birds of A Feather. The infectious Teardrops. The lush: Always and Forever Go On and Tell Him, Do You Ever, The gospel tinged Oh How Happy, the real old school I'm Your Puppet, the classic soul pop of Saving A Life.. well cut a long review short the whole album. Yes its that good. Buy and believe!