For Life (Soul for Real album)

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For Life
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 24, 1996
Recorded1995–1996
The Hit Factory
Daddy's House Recording Studios
New York City, New York
GenreR&B, soul
Length58:51
LabelUptown, Universal
ProducerHeavy D. & Tony Dofat, Chucky Thompson, Sean Combs & Stevie J., Tim & Bob, Chris Kringle, Rhano & Rheji Burrell, Dave Cintron
Soul for Real chronology
Candy Rain
(1995)
For Life
(1996)
Heat
(1999)
Singles from For Life
  1. "Never Felt This Way"
    Released: August 5, 1996
  2. "Love You So"
    Released: December 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

For Life is the second studio album by Soul for Real, released on September 24, 1996. The album was released quickly after their debut studio album Candy Rain. During that time, Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell left the label to become the president at Motown Records.[2] MCA Music Entertainment Group CEO Doug Morris promoted Heavy D. as the new president of Uptown several months before the release of For Life.[3] As a result, Uptown was moved from its parent company MCA Records to the newly launched Doug Morris label Universal Records.

The first single released was the Chucky Thompson produced first single "Never Felt This Way", followed by the Sean "Puffy" Combs & Stevie J. produced second single "Love You So". Despite getting good reviews, the album was met with the sophomore jinx. This album would be the first of a long line of R&B albums that were underpromoted while being released under Universal Records. For Life would be their last album recorded for a major label, as they would go independent for their next album.

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Stay"Tony Dofat, Louise Francis, Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple4:15
2."Never Felt This Way"Dwight Meyers, Nicole Johnson4:15
3."You Just Don't Know"Dwight Meyers, Tony Dofat, Erik Milteer, Felicia Adams3:51
4."Love You So"Sean Combs, Steven Jordan, Marvin Scandrick, Michael Keith, Quinnes Parker, Daron Jones3:47
5."Let's Stay Together"Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Al Jackson, Jr.4:50
6."Good to You"Nicole Johnson3:53
7."Being With You"Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson4:53
8."Leavin'"Dwight Meyers, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Curt Gaddy, Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple4:51
9."Where Do We Go"Sean Combs, Steve Jordan, Marvin Scandrick, Michael Keith, Quinnes Parker, Daron Jones4:36
10."I'm Coming Home"Dwight Meyers, Faith Evans5:10
11."Your Love Is Calling"Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple5:44
12."I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye"Faith Evans, Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell5:23
13."Can't You Tell (Acapella)"Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple3:28
Total length:58:51

Samples

  • "Stay" contains a sample of "Mind Power", as performed by James Brown
  • "You Just Don't Know" contains a sample of "Take Some Leave Some", as performed by James Brown
  • "Love You So" contains a sample of "Blues & Pants", as performed by James Brown

Chart history[edit]

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (1996) Peak Position
U.S. Billboard 200 119
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 29

Personnel[edit]

  • Keyboards and drum programming: Tony Dofat, Chucky Thompson, Stevie J., Chris Kringle, Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Dave Cintron
  • Guitar: Rob Bacon, Jon Shriver
  • Background vocals: Soul for Real, Erik Milteer, Monifah
  • Recording engineer: Carl Nappa, Jon Shriver, Lane Craven, Tony Dofat, Andy Grassi, Ian Dalsemer, Bill Esses, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell
  • Mixing: Jon Shriver, Chucky Thompson, Tony Dofat, Paul Logus, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Jamey Staub, Prince Charles Alexander, Carl Nappa
  • Mastering: Chris Gehringer
  • Photography: Daniela Federici
  • Art direction: Nicole L. Dollison
  • Design: Eric Altenburger, Elizabeth Barrett

References[edit]

  1. ^ For Life at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Andre Harrell named president & CEO of Motown Records". news article. thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
  3. ^ "HEAVY D APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF UPTOWN RECORDS". news article. thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2013-04-18.