The group initially attracted attention as a sound system, playing records at house and street parties (where their clothing style, dubbed "Funki Dred," started a line of clothing). Founded by Jazzie B and featuring a changing roster of other musicians - notably Nellee Hooper, Simon Law, Phillip 'Daddae' Harvey and Caron Wheeler - Soul II Soul's experiments in music-making of their own resulted in the dub plate "Fairplay," which secured them a recording contract with Virgin Records.
The group also had some success in the United States, where "Back To Life" reached the Top 10 and was certified platinum, and the album (renamed asKeep On Moving for the US market) reached the Top 20 and sold over two million copies. The group also won two Grammy Awards; Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for "Back To Life", and Best R&B Instrumental for "African Dance".
Their follow-up album, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade, yielded two Top 10 hits, "Get A Life" and "A Dream's A Dream", the latter featuring vocals byVictoria Wilson James. This album also reached number 1, and was certified platinum by the BPI, and reached the Top 30 in the US where it was certified gold. In April 1990, Soul II Soul got three US Soul Train awards.[3] The band had one more Top 10 in 1992 with "Joy", taken from their third album Vol. III: Just Right, which itself peaked at number 3 and was certified gold by the BPI. However, by this time the band's commercial success was in decline.
Their greatest hitscompilation album, Volume IV: The Singles 88-93, was released in late 1993 and peaked at number 10. Soul II Soul reached Volume Vof their series of albums for Virgin in 1995, which peaked at number 13. They then moved to Island Records and released two more albums in 1997,Volume VI Time for Change and the remix album @REMIX.or.jp, but these failed to chart. The group then virtually disbanded for some years, but reformed for various live dates in the 2000s.
In 2002, Doreen Waddell, a former singer with Soul II Soul living in Hove, died after being hit by three cars while fleeing from a shoplifting incident. The 36-year-old, who left a 4-year-old son, sang lead vocals on Feel Free and Happiness (Dub), and backing vocals on other tracks, on the album Club Classics Vol. One.
The daughter of former member Melissa Bell, Alexandra Burke, was the winner of the 2008 series of the UK television talent contest The X Factor and has since gone on to a successful music career of her own.[4] On 2 December 2008, a radio programme about Soul II Soul was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
The Soul II Soul Sound System featuring Caron Wheeler toured Australia nationally in February 2009. They played the Playground Weekender Festivalnear Sydney, New South Wales. Soul II Soul performed live at the Yasalam free concerts in conjunction with the 2009 Formula 1TM Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix celebrations in October 2009.
Songwriters: ROMEO, BERESFORD/WHEELER, CARON/LAW, SIMON ALBAN
back to life, back to reality
back to life, back to reality
back to life, back to reality
back to the here and now yeah
show me how decide what you want from me
tell me maybe i could be there for you
how ever do you want me how
how ever do you need me
how ever do you want me
how ever do you need me how
how ever do you want me
how ever do you need me
back to life back to the present time
back from a fantasy
tell me now take the initiative
ill leave it in your hands until your ready
how ever do you want me how
how ever do you need me
how ever do you want me
how ever do you need me how
how ever do you want me
how ever do you need me
live at the top of the block
no more room for trouble and fuss
need a change a positive change
look its me writing on the wall
how ever do you want me how
how ever do you need me
how ever do you want me
how ever do you need me how
how ever do you want me
how ever do you need me
back to life back to the day we have
lets end this foolish game
hear me out dont let me waste away
make up your mind so i know where i stand
how ever do you want me how
how ever do you need me
how ever do you want me
how ever do you need me how
how ever do you want me
how ever do you need me
back to life, back to reality
back to the here and now yeah
show me how decide what you want from me
tell me maybe i could be there for you
