Volume III Just Right
1992 studio album by Soul II Soul
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Volume III Just Right is the third album by the English music collective Soul II Soul, released in April 1992 through Ten and Virgin Records.[3][4][5] Its first single was "Joy".[6]
| Volume III Just Right | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 April 1992[1] | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 41:54 | |||
| Label |
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| Producer | Jazzie B | |||
| Soul II Soul chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Volume III: Just Right | ||||
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The album peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart[7] and No. 88 on the Billboard 200.[8] "Mood" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.[9]
Production
The album was produced by Jazzie B, who also rapped on three of the tracks.[10][11] Jazzie used several male vocalists on the album, including Richie Stephens.[12]
Gary Barnacle played flute on Just Right; Snake Davis played saxophone.[13][14] Caron Wheeler sang on "Take Me Higher".[15] "Move Me No Mountain" is a cover of the song made famous by Love Unlimited.[16]
Critical reception
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."[20] Trouser Press lamented that the collective had "devolved from a groundbreaking, if creatively unreliable, soul collective to a not particularly exciting R&B act."[5] The Gazette considered the album "background music at best," writing that "this is when groovy becomes generic."[25]
Rolling Stone noted that "the Seventies-obsessed string arrangements on Just Right are piquant and precise."[26] 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."[21] The Calgary Herald praised the "rich vocals, big fat beats, choral interludes, soul grooves and African wind instrumentals."[17] 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."[24]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Joy" | 4:31 |
| 2. | "Take Me Higher" | 4:49 |
| 3. | "Storm" | 3:36 |
| 4. | "Direction" | 3:47 |
| 5. | "Just Right" | 3:00 |
| 6. | "Move Me No Mountain" | 4:40 |
| 7. | "Intelligence" | 5:17 |
| 8. | "Future" | 4:35 |
| 9. | "Mood" | 3:48 |
| 10. | "Everywhere" | 3:51 |
| Total length: | 41:54 | |
Charts
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] | 17 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28] | 24 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[29] | 25 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] | 29 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[31] | 13 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[32] | 33 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] | 19 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[7] | 3 |
| US Billboard 200[8] | 88 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[34] | 33 |