Seal Sets "Standards" With New Album Of Timeless Classics (November 10, 2017)

Seal Sets Standards With New Album Of Timeless Classics

Standard CD:

1. Luck Be A Lady
2. Autumn Leaves
3. I Put A Spell on You
4. They Can’t Take That Away From Me
5. Anyone Who Knows What Love Is
6. Love For Sale
7. My Funny Valentine
8. I’ve Got You Under My Skin
9. Smile
10. I’m Beginning To See The Light (featuring The Puppini Sisters)
11. It Was A Very Good Year

Deluxe CD:
1. Luck Be A Lady
2. Autumn Leaves
3. I Put A Spell on You
4. They Can’t Take That Away From Me
5. Anyone Who Knows What Love Is
6. Love For Sale
7. My Funny Valentine
8. I’ve Got You Under My Skin
9. Smile
10. I’m Beginning To See The Light (featuring The Puppini Sisters)
11. It Was A Very Good Year
12. The Nearness of You
13. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
14. Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting)

Acoustic Sounds has a vinyl version, but no track listing, so not sure if it will be the standard or deluxe version.

Very short album trailer:

 

I liked the Soul 2 album quite a bit but not the first installment too much. I will screen this one before buying.

 

Here's "Luck Be A Lady":

 

Here's "It Was A Very Good Year":

 

when you run out ideas

when you can't sell albums anymore

you do what rod stewart did

you record oldies and hope it sells, because if it doesn't.......uh, oh.

 

God is this what Dylan did?

 

Another Frank Sinatra standby, “I've Got You Under My Skin”:

 

Nothing to see hear!



peace and love✌Dave

 

He commits, to me, the ULTIMATE MORTAL SIN. That being using the original arrangements from the Sinatra catalogue. He can't even be original and have someone pen arrangements more suited for his style and voice. To me, that is just disgusting!!!!!

For God's sake, man...BE ORIGINAL will you????

 

Timeless classic's? I recognise about three of those song titles!

 

Where ya' been? I recognize them all (but one*), and they ARE timeless classics.

* [Edit] The exception:



This one was apparently a soul hit by Irma Thomas, co-written by Randy Newman and Jeannie Seely. (Not my bag, and I'd say it's out of place on an album of “standards.”)

 

Didn't he jump on the music scene, back in 1991, as one of the more innovative pop stars.... and now he's doing a set of already murdered to death (Ive heard the Dylan albums - definatley a murder going on there) jazz standards!!?!!?

And if you are reduced to recording an album of Jazz Standards - that from the many many written between say 1915 and 1959 - they could choose some different material than the usual suspects.

 

This is primarily a tribute album to Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nina Simone.

 

I think "It Was a Very Good Year" in particular sounds very nice--dare I say a more successful cover than some of Frank's covers of Baby Boomer-era material ("Mrs. Robinson," "Something," etc.). "Luck Be a Lady" sounds a bit jarring--I think the vocals may be overcompressed, and this material needs all the dynamics intact. Still, I'd want to reserve judgment before hearing the whole album a few times.

 

What was wrong with Sinatra singing "Something " it's great. I also like "Mrs Robertson " it's fun , I agree if you play it back to back with the original it's more than a bit jarring but give him credit for doing them " his way"!
Unlike these guys using the standard arrangements when they should try to put there stamp on the song.

Anyway to each his own , be a dull world if we all agreed.

peace and love✌Dave

 

I hear what you're saying (and as far as whether we enjoy any of Frank's or Seal's interpretations is simply a matter of taste--I find the aforementioned covers to be almost unintentionally hilarious in a Shatner-esque way, but can respect someone who enjoys them). But I don't think using retro arrangements shows a lack of creativity on Seal's part--I feel like it's refreshing to hear his voice in a different musical setting than he would normally use, and it calls on him to think differently about phrasing and how to use his voice. I would find it more eye-rolling if he were to use more current adult contemporary arrangements with those ubiquitous electric pianos and such. It sounds to me like he is indeed putting his stamp on the material, for better or for worse.

 

Of course if you want to hear a master covering standards I would suggest digging out

Marvin Gaye - Vulnerable

 

Yes

 

I was dreading this for many reasons mentioned above. A huge letdown after what I think is his best album of all... 7.

But then I found myself really enjoying 'It Was A Very Good Year'. Well.

 

Next stop, a Christmas album...

"Christmas Seals"....

 

In all seriousness, this seems to have flown under the radar:

Seal recruited for Frank Sinatra Christmas duets album

(No verification yet from the Sinatra estate.)

 

Seal: 'You Really Can't Go Wrong' Singing The Classics! | Access Hollywood

 

Another track released: “Autumn Leaves”

 

He sounds out of key!