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 (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. It was certified 6× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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.
Contents
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.
Personnel
Production
Janet Hinde – production coordination (3, 4)
Steve Savitt – production manager (5)
Doreen Dorian – production coordination (7)
Christopher Austopchuk – art direction
Glen Erler – photography
Louis Levin – direction, management
Technical
Vlado Meller – mastering at CBS Records Studio (New York City, New York)
Daren Klein – recording (1, 9)
Mick Guzauski – mixing (1, 7, 8), remix engineer (4)
Rick Kerr – engineer (2), mixing (2)
David Albert – engineer (3, 4, 10, 11)
Terry Christian – engineer (3, 4, 6–8, 10, 11), mixing (3, 4, 10, 11)
Sir Arthur Payson – recording (5), mixing (5)
David Frazer – remixing (5)
Jay Healy – engineer (6, 8)
David Thoener – mixing (6)
Richard Piatt – engineer (7)
Guy Roche – engineer (7)
Arne Frager – remixing (7)
Jeff Balding – additional recording (1, 9)