Soulful by Dionne Warwick

Soulful, an album by Dionne Warwick, was released in 1969 on Scepter Records. It was the first of Warwick's Scepter albums that did not directly involve her longtime production and songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David being produced by Warwick and Chips Moman and comprising covers of Soul or what were considered Soul-influenced Pop songs designed to showcase Warwick as more of an R&B singer than had her collaborations with Bacharach and David. Warwick was encouraged to make an R&B album by the surprise appearance of B-side of her smash hit "Do You Know the Way to San Jose": "Let Me Be Lonely" on the R&B chart, where the gospel-tinged track with little or no promotion reached #71. Soulful was recorded at Moman's American Studios in Memphis, Tennessee; Warwick was backed by the studio houseband comprising Gene Chrisman (drums), Tommy Cogbill (bass), Bobby Emmons (keyboards) and Reggie Young (guitar). Thirteen tracks were recorded: Warwick's renditions of "The Weight", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" and "The Love of My Man" were not included on the album. The track "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" was the only single released from the album and although a success at #16 (#13 R&B), it failed to match the impact of Warwick's work with Bacharach and David. However, with a #11 peak, Soulful was one of Warwick's most successful albums, due in part to its promotion via full-page newspaper ads placed by Warwick herself. In 1972, Scepter released From Within which included all thirteen tracks from the Soulful sessions as well as thirteen obscure R&B influenced tracks by Warwick. Issued as Warwick was ending her tenure with Scepter, From Within reached #169; the tracks "The Love of My Man" and "I'm Your Puppet" were issued as singles respectively bubbling under the Hot 100 at #107 and #113. In January 2004, Rhino Handmade issued the limited edition (5000 copies) Soulful Plus an internet-only purchase disc comprising the thirteen tracks from the Soulful sessions plus nine obscure R&B influenced tracks by Warwick and a previously unreleased version of "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." ℗ 2004 Warner Special Products. Manufactured & Marketed by Warner Strategic Marketing