Soul Provider
Studio album by
Michael Bolton
ReleasedJune 19, 1989 (1989-06-19)
Studio
Various
Length47:04
LabelColumbia
ProducerPeter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff (tracks 1 & 9); Michael Bolton (tracks 2, 5-8 & 10); Desmond Child (track 5); Barry Mann (track 10); Guy Roche (track 7); Michael Omartian (tracks 3, 4 & 10); Susan Hamilton (track 2); Walter Afanasieff (track 7)
Michael Bolton chronology
The Hunger
(1987) 		Soul Provider
(1989) 		Time, Love & Tenderness
(1991)
Singles from Soul Provider
  1. "Soul Provider"
    Released: June 1989
  2. "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"
    Released: October 1989
  3. "How Can We Be Lovers?"
    Released: January 1990
  4. "When I'm Back on My Feet Again"
    Released: April 1990
  5. "Georgia on My Mind"
    Released: July 1990

Soul Provider is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. The album was released on June 19, 1989, by Columbia Records/CBS. The album has sold 12.5 million copies worldwide.[1]

Containing five US top 40 hits (including three that reached the top 10), Soul Provider achieved longevity on the charts. The album spent almost four years on the Billboard 200 and peaked at number 3.[2] It was certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[3]

For the single version of "Georgia on My Mind", CBS edited out Michael Brecker's saxophone solo and replaced it with one by Kenny G.[4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Robert ChristgauC−[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

Soul Provider has received generally mixed reviews from critics. AllMusic retrospectively described it as "more of the same", but noted that due to this album, Bolton "was now stoking the romantic fires in bedrooms across America".[5] Robert Christgau gave the album a negative review, declaring Bolton to be "indistinguishable from pop metal except in the wattage of his guitar parts and the shamelessness of his song doctors."[6] The Rolling Stone Album Guide described the album as the beginning of Bolton's descent into overdone and disrespectful covers, though they added that some of the self-penned performances on the album showed potential.[7]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Soul Provider"Michael Bolton, Andrew Goldmark4:28
2."Georgia on My Mind"Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell4:58
3."It's Only My Heart"Bolton, Diane Warren4:33
4."How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"Bolton, Doug James4:48
5."How Can We Be Lovers?"Bolton, Warren, Desmond Child3:55
6."You Wouldn't Know Love"Bolton, Warren3:54
7."When I'm Back on My Feet Again"Warren3:47
8."From Now On" (featuring Suzie Benson)Bolton, Dean Pitchford, Eric Kaz4:07
9."Love Cuts Deep"Bolton, Warren, Child3:49
10."Stand Up for Love"Bolton, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil4:44
11."Forever Eyes" (bonus track)Bolton, Bob Halligan Jr.4:23
Total length:47:04

Personnel

Production

Charts

Singles

Release date Title US Hot 100 US AC
June 1989 "Soul Provider" 17 3
October 1989 "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" 1 1
March 1990 "How Can We Be Lovers" 3 3
May 1990 "When I'm Back on My Feet Again" 7 1
August 1990 "Georgia on My Mind" 36 6

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[28] 5× Platinum 500,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[29] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[30] Gold 7,500^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[32] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] 4× Platinum 1,200,000^
United States (RIAA)[34] 6× Platinum 6,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Bolton, Michael (2013-01-29). The Soul of It All: My Music, My Life. Center Street. ISBN 978-1-4555-2366-5.
  2. ^ "Michael Bolton on the Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  3. ^ "RIAA – Searchable Database: Michael Bolton". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  4. ^ "The Case of the Disappearing Solo". Los Angeles Times. 5 October 1990. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  5. ^ a b AllMusic review
  6. ^ a b Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
  7. ^ a b Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 90. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone michael bolton album guide.
  8. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1242". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  11. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  12. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 105. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Charts.nz – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  15. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  16. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  18. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  19. ^ "Michael Bolton Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  20. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1990". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  21. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1990". RPM. December 12, 1994. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  22. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1990". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  23. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  24. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  26. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  27. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  28. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". Music Canada. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  29. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved July 12, 2019. Enter Soul Provider in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1991 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  30. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  31. ^ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
  32. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  33. ^ "British album certifications – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 12, 2019.Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Soul Provider in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  34. ^ "American album certifications – Michael Bolton – Soul Provider". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 12, 2019.

External links

Michael Bolton
Authority control databases
Categories