Personnel: Raphael Saadiq (vocals, guitar, sitar, piano, bass guitar, drums); Charles "CJ" Hilton, Jr. (vocals, piano, drums, bongos); Joss Stone (vocals); Paul Baker , Maurice Draughn, Paul Baker (harp); Assa Drori, Al Hershberger, Roco Marron, Joe Ketendjian, Anatoly Rosinsky, Johana Krejci, Raphael Price, Marla Smith, Daniel Stachyra, Melody Wootton, Kyoko Kashiwagi, Constance Markwick, Sally Berman, Elizabeth Rowin, Robert Brosseau, Molly Hughes, Elizabeth Wilson , Andrew Wu, Agnes Gottschewski, Armen Garabedian (violin); Jerry Epstein, Raymond Tischer, Shanda Lowery, Lynn Grants, Karolina Naziemiec, Jody Robin, Leah Lucas, John Madison, Scott Stefanko, Robert Berg (viola); Maurice Grants, Christina Soule, Judith VanderWeg, Vahe Jayrikyan, Miguel Martinez, Robert Reed (cello); Stevie Wonder (harmonica); Greg Curtis (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ); Jack Ashford (vibraphone, shaker, tambourine, bells); Bobby Ozuna (drums, bongos, shaker, tambourine); Gerry Brown .
Audio Mixers: Charles "Biscuits" Brungardt; Raphael Saadiq.
Recording information: Blakeslee Recording Company, North Hollywood, CA; Harmonie Park Studios, Detroit, MI; The Music Shed Studios, New Orleans, LA.
Photographer: Norman Seeff.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.129) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "With a supple tenor that glides up easily into Smokey Robinson territory....[He] has crafted a filler-free album that evokes classic Northern soul..."
Rolling Stone (p.96) - Ranked #48 in Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums Of 2008 -- "A tribute to classic soul that saves some golden-era magic for the next generation."
Entertainment Weekly (p.95) - "Backed by a galvanizing ensemble of musicians that would make the Funk Brothers proud, Saadiq belts out effervescent love songs with infectious vigor."
XXL (Magazine) (p.129) - "This time out, Raphael Saadiq doesn't quell his hip-hop jones; instead, he offers a harmonious alternative to rap's current mode, with rich instrumentation and a vintage '60s sound."
Q (Magazine) (p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "'Love That Girl' is a dead ringer for Sam Cooke, while The Temptations, The Four Tops and Al Green are all clearly audible elsewhere."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] set that pays homage to '60s soul. Such has been his diligence in recreating the sound of antique Detroit, Chicago and Philly records that all 12 tracks sound as though they could have been recorded 45 years ago."
Blender (Magazine) (p.80) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Saadiq is a romantic who stays true to the deliberate simplicity of such titles as 'Sure Hope You Mean It' and 'Just One Kiss'....His adaptable baritone is always crisp and cocky..."
