Soul Provider
Soul Provider is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. The album was released on June 26, 1989, by Columbia Records/CBS. The album has sold 12.5 million copies worldwide.
Containing five US top 40 hits, Soul Provider achieved longevity on the charts. The album spent almost four years on the Billboard 200 and peaked at number 3. It was certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
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.
Reception
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". 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." 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.Track listing
Personnel
Musicians
- Michael Bolton – vocals, backing vocals
- Robbie Buchanan – keyboards
- Brad Cole – keyboards
- Richard Tee – keyboards
- Eric Rehl – additional synthesizers, synthesizers
- Michael Omartian – keyboards, drums, synthesizers, backing vocals, drum programming
- Gregg Mangiafico – keyboards
- Walter Afanasieff – additional keyboards, percussion, bass, drums
- Phillip Ashley – keyboards, additional keyboards
- Guy Roche – additional keyboards, arrangements
- Diane Warren – keyboards
- Barry Mann – keyboards
- Dann Huff – guitars
- Steve Lukather – guitars, guitar solo
- Michael Landau – guitars, additional guitars
- John McCurry – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, additional guitars
- Chris Camozzi – guitars
- Schuyler Deale – bass
- Neil Stubenhaus – bass, additional bass
- Hugh McDonald – bass
- Peter Bunetta – drum programming
- Chris Parker – drums
- John Keane – drums
- Bobby Chouinard – drums
- John Robinson – drums
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
- Kenny G – saxophone solo
- Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
- Jerry Peterson – saxophone solo
- Jeff Pescetto – backing vocals
- Sharon Robinson – backing vocals
- Leslie Smith – backing vocals
- Terry Brock – backing vocals
- Jocelyn Brown – backing vocals
- Robin Clark – backing vocals
- Milt Grayson – backing vocals
- Vicki Sue Robinson – backing vocals
- Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals
- Richard Marx – backing vocals
- Joe Turano – backing vocals
- Kyf Brewer – backing vocals
- Joe Cerisano – backing vocals
- Desmond Child – backing vocals
- Patricia Darcy – backing vocals
- John Fiore – backing vocals
- Kate McGunnigle – backing vocals
- Lou Merlino – backing vocals
- Bernie Shanahan – backing vocals
- Myriam Naomi Valle – backing vocals
- Suzie Benson – vocals
- Jeanette Hawes - backing vocals
- Wanda Vaughn – backing vocals
- Syreeta Wright – backing vocals
Production
- Janet Hinde – production coordination
- Steve Savitt – production manager
- Doreen Dorian – production coordination
- Christopher Austopchuk – art direction
- Glen Erler – photography
- Louis Levin – direction, management
- Vlado Meller – mastering at CBS Records Studio
- Daren Klein – recording
- Mick Guzauski – mixing, remix engineer
- Rick Kerr – engineer, mixing
- David Albert – engineer
- Terry Christian – engineer, mixing
- Sir Arthur Payson – recording, mixing
- David Frazer – remixing
- Jay Healy – engineer
- David Thoener – mixing
- Richard Piatt – engineer
- Guy Roche – engineer
- Arne Frager – remixing
- Jeff Balding – additional recording
- Gerry E. Brown – additional recording, mixing
- Mark Ettel – additional recording
- Gary Wagner – additional recording
- Bryant Arnett – assistant engineer
- Laura Livingston – assistant engineer
- Richard McKernon – assistant engineer
- Marnie Riley – assistant engineer
- Steve Satkowski – assistant engineer
- Tim Leitner – assistant engineer
- Paul Logus – assistant engineer
- Tony Van Horn – assistant engineer
- Michael White – assistant engineer
- Kevin Becka – second engineer, assistant engineer, additional engineer
- Doug Carlton – second engineer
- Keith Goldstein – assistant engineer
- Roy Hendrickson – assistant engineer
- Mike Krowiak – assistant engineer
- Danny Mormando – assistant engineer
- Joe Pirrera – assistant engineer
- John Herman – assistant mix engineer
- Dary Sulich – assistant engineer
- Rich Travali – assistant engineer
- Tony Friedman – assistant engineer
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
| Chart | Position |
| US Billboard 200 | 53 |