From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Seal
Studio album by
Released23 May 1994 [1]
Recorded1993–1994
Studio Sarm West (London)
Genre
Length50:29
Label
Producer Trevor Horn
Seal chronology
Seal
(1991)
Seal
(1994)
Human Being
(1998)
Singles from Seal
  1. " Prayer for the Dying"
    Released: 9 May 1994 [3]
  2. " Kiss from a Rose"
    Released: 18 July 1994
  3. " Newborn Friend"
    Released: 24 October 1994
  4. " I'm Alive"
    Released: 1995
  5. " Don't Cry"
    Released: 27 November 1995
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [4]
Christgau's Consumer Guide (dud) [5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music [6]
Entertainment WeeklyA [2]
Knoxville News Sentinel [7]
Los Angeles Times [8]
NME4/10 [9]
Rolling Stone [10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide [11]

Seal (sometimes referred to as Seal II to avoid confusion with the 1991 album of the same name) is the second eponymous studio album by British singer Seal. The album was released in 1994 on ZTT and Sire Records and features the worldwide smash hit single " Kiss from a Rose".

The image on the cover has since become nearly synonymous with Seal, in that it has appeared on several singles covers and was reused for his greatest hits album.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bring It On"
3:58
2." Prayer for the Dying"
  • Isidore
  • Seal
5:30
3."Dreaming in Metaphors"
  • Isidore
  • Seal
5:52
4." Don't Cry"Seal6:17
5."Fast Changes"
  • Isidore
  • Seal
5:42
6." Kiss from a Rose"Seal4:47
7."People Asking Why"Seal4:45
8." Newborn Friend"Seal4:05
9."If I Could" (duet with Joni Mitchell)Seal4:16
10." I'm Alive"
  • Coleman
  • Melvoin
  • Rizzo
  • Isidore
  • Seal
4:02
11."Bring It On (Reprise)"
  • Bruce
  • Coleman
  • Melvoin
  • Rizzo
  • Isidore
  • Seal
1:15

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for Seal II
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia ( ARIA) [34] Platinum 70,000^
Brazil ( Pro-Música Brasil) [35] Gold 100,000*
Germany ( BVMI) [36] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands ( NVPI) [37] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand ( RMNZ) [38] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom ( BPI) [39] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States ( RIAA) [40] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^
Summaries
Europe ( IFPI) [41] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Himes, Geoffrey (28 October 1994). "Two Who Revive Progressive Soul". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Bernard, James (3 June 1994). "Seal". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 7 May 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  4. ^ Wilson, MacKenzie. "Seal [1994] – Seal". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG Book '90s: S". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan. ISBN  0312245602. Retrieved 30 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  6. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Seal". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN  978-0-85712-595-8.
  7. ^ Campbell, Chuck (17 June 1994). "McLachlan Explores Love At Its Darkest". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  8. ^ Hunt, Dennis (5 June 1994). "Seal; 'Seal' (Sire/Warner Bros.)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  9. ^ Sutherland, Mark (28 May 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 33. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. ^ Wright, Christian (6 October 1994). "Seal: Seal (1994)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  11. ^ Hunter, James (2004). "Seal". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p.  723. ISBN  0-7432-0169-8.
  12. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Seal – Seal II" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Seal – Seal II" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  15. ^ a b "1994 in Review: Sale Charts" (PDF). Music & Media 1994 In Review. 24 December 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2022 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Seal – Seal II" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Charts.nz – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Seal Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  23. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2686". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1994". RIANZ. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Top 100 Albums 1994" (PDF). Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 11. Retrieved 20 May 2022 – via World Radio History.
  27. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  28. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums 1995 (page 2)". imgur.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  29. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2839". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  30. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  31. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1995". The Official NZ Music Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Top UK Albums Chart – Year-End 1995". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  33. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  34. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 246.
  35. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Seal – Seal II" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
  36. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Seal; 'Seal')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  37. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Seal – Seal" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Seal in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1995 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  38. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recorded Music NZ.
  39. ^ "British album certifications – Seal – Seal". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Seal in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  40. ^ "American album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recording Industry Association of America.
  41. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 February 2020.