Description
Unlike previous releases, 'Sons of Soul' was entirely produced by Raphael Saadiq, Timothy Christian Riley, and D’Wayne Wiggins, otherwise known as Tony! Toni! Toné! Released in 1993, the album received tons of critical praise and clamped onto the Billboard 200 for a staggering 43 weeks, eventually earning double Platinum status by the Recording Industy Association of America. Monster singles like “(Lay Your Head On My) Pillow,” “If I Had No Loot,” and “Anniversary” all charted and solidified the group as the hottest proprietors of the ‘90s R&B sound that dominated airwaves at the time.
The album was mostly written and recorded in Trinidad, and intended to pay homage to ‘70s soul and funk, which the crewmembers grew up on. There are currents of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield throughout, but so are nods to hip-hop with the infusion of scratches and sample collages on specific tracks. The vibe is flirtatious and smooth with top-notch production, aided by colorful instrumentation and samples. Even with the album’s reception, the group parted ways after its release (and eventually re-united). It’s an enormous feat for a completely self-written, self-produced album to garner the critical and commercial success 'Sons Of Soul' did. Some years later, in an interview with the 'Omaha World Herald,' D’Wayne Wiggins would claim that 'Sons of Soul' remains his favorite Tony! Toni! Toné! release.
Tracklist
A1. If I Had No Loot
A2. What Goes Around Comes Around
A3. My Ex-Girlfriend
A4. Tell Me Mama
B1. Leavin'
B2. Slow Wine
B3. (Lay Your Head On My) Pillow
C1. I Couldn't Keep It To Myself
C2. Gangsta Groove
C3. Tonyies! In The Wrong Key
C4. Dance Hall
D1. Times Square 2:30 A.M. (Segue)
D2. Fun
D3. Anniversary
D4. Castleers