| Old Soul | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 15, 2023 | |||
| Studio | Stephen Marley's home studio[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 59:25 | |||
| Label | Ghetto Youths International | |||
| Stephen Marley chronology | ||||
| ||||
Old Soul is the fourth studio album by Jamaican-American musician Stephen Marley. It was released on September 15, 2023.
Background
The lead single of the album, "Old Soul", was released on April 19, 2023. The song is about his relationship with his family and key events in his life, and also celebrates the history of Jamaican music.[2][3] These themes are present on the rest of the album. The album was announced on August 18, 2023, for a release date of September 15. It is a mix of covers and original songs. It features guest appearances from Eric Clapton, Bob Weir, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, and more.[4]
Musically, Old Soul is a change of pace from Marley's previous work, and is his first studio album in 7 years. He has described it as "old school. It's eclectic but it's also healing".[5] In September and October 2023, he embarked on the Old Soul: Unplugged Tour with special guest Mike Love.[6]
Reception
Old Soul received critical acclaim. Daily Reggae praised the album, saying "this is music that can only be created from the heart and soul, from a place of sincerity and deliberateness. Stephen Marley has a soothing, yet powerful voice carried by acoustic-inspired compositions across the album, and the production is equally as smooth. There is absolutely no shortage of talent contained here."[7]
Afropop Worldwide called it "a deeply personal album, showcased in the soulfully autobiographical title song."[8] Marley's lyrics have been praised for being mature and authentic.[9]
Commercial performance
Old Soul debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, breaking Marley's streak of four No. 1 debuts on the weekly sales and streaming-driven listing. 500 copies were sold in pure album sales and 566,000 in audio and video streaming in the US.[10]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Stephen Marley, except when noted.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Don't You Believe" | 2:39 | |
| 2. | "Cool as the Breeze" | 4:38 | |
| 3. | "Cast the First Stone" (featuring Damian Marley) | 3:55 | |
| 4. | "Thanks We Get (Do Fi Dem)" (featuring Buju Banton) | 3:57 | |
| 5. | "Don't Let Me Down" (The Beatles cover) | Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; John Lennon; George Harrison | 3:41 |
| 6. | "Georgia on My Mind" (Ray Charles cover) | Ray Charles | 4:29 |
| 7. | "Let the Children Play" (Santana cover) | Carlos Santana | 4:03 |
| 8. | "Old Soul" | 3:31 | |
| 9. | "There's a Reward" (featuring Ziggy Marley) | 3:45 | |
| 10. | "This Time" | 4:45 | |
| 11. | "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" (Frank Sinatra cover) | Frank Sinatra | 3:19 |
| 12. | "I Shot the Sheriff" (Bob Marley cover; featuring Eric Clapton) | Bob Marley | 5:01 |
| 13. | "Standing in Love" (featuring Slightly Stoopid) | 3:48 | |
| 14. | "Winding Roads" (featuring Jack Johnson and Bob Weir) | 4:27 | |
| 15. | "Old Soul" (Single version) | 3:21 | |
| Total length: | 59:25 | ||
References
- ↑ https://gratefulweb.com/articles/review-stephen-marleys-old-soul
- ↑ Zemler, Emily. "Stephen Marley Pays Tribute to His Family in 'Old Soul' Video". Rolling Stone.
- ↑ Benitez-Eves, Tina (2023-06-14). "Stephen Marley Remembers Father, Those That Came Before on "Old Soul"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ↑ Peacock, Tim (2023-08-18). "Stephen Marley Announces Diverse New Album 'Old Soul'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ↑ "Stephen Marley to release new album 'Old Soul' on Friday". WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale. 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ↑ "STEPHEN MARLEY - Old Soul Unplugged 2023". The Flying Monkey. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ↑ "Album Review: Stephen Marley embraces his legacy with Old Soul". Daily Reggae. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ↑ "Afropop Worldwide | Stephen Marley: Old Soul and Bob Marley: Africa Unite". Afropop Worldwide. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ↑ "Review: Stephen Marley's "Old Soul"". Grateful Web. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ↑ Mallick, Dani (2023-09-26). "Stephen Marley's 'Old Soul' Ends His No. 1 Streak On Billboard Reggae Albums Chart". DancehallMag. Retrieved 2023-11-20.