The Revival (Tony! Toni! Toné! album)

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The Revival
The Plant (San Francisco)
  • Eve-Jims
  • Westlake (Los Angeles)
  • Can-Am (Tarzana)
  • Live Oak (Berkeley)
  • J-Jam (Oakland)
  • Genre
    Length66:18
    LabelWing
    Producer
    Tony! Toni! Toné! chronology
    Who?
    (1988)
    The Revival
    (1990)
    Sons of Soul
    (1993)
    Singles from The Revival
    1. "The Blues"
      Released: March 1990
    2. "Oakland Stroke"
      Released: May 1990
    3. "Feels Good"
      Released: June 15, 1990
    4. "It Never Rains (In Southern California)"
      Released: October 19, 1990
    5. "Whatever You Want"
      Released: February 13, 1991

    The Revival is the second

    studio album by American R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, released on May 8, 1990, by Wing Records. It was produced and arranged primarily by the band, although they were assisted on a few songs by the production duo Foster & McElroy, who had produced their first album, Who? (1988). The band recorded at several studios in California with the assistance of the Synclavier, an early music workstation
    .


    The album features R&B music that draws on
    funk and older soul influences. Its songs incorporate eccentric sounds and stylistic elements from jazz and hip hop, including improvisational sounds, conversational vocals, and digital samples. The group's lyrics exhibit contemporary hip hop attitudes and traditional soul themes, with songs about unruly women, low-key ballads, and more danceable tracks.

    The album was critically well received; reviewers applauded Tony! Toni! Toné!'s songwriting and appropriation of older sounds with contemporary R&B. Commercially, it

    Nielsen SoundScan
    , had sold two million copies by 1992.

    Recording

    The Plant
    in San Francisco

    The Revival is the follow-up to Tony! Toni! Toné!'s 1988 debut album

    Sacramento after finishing Who? with Foster & McElroy and began to record The Revival.[1]

    Recording sessions for the album took place at several studios in California—

    The Plant in San Francisco, Eve-Jims Studio and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Can-Am Studio in Tarzana, Live Oak Studio in Berkeley, and J-Jam Studio in Oakland.[2] Tony! Toni! Toné! used the Synclavier, an early music workstation, to record the album.[3]

    The band primarily produced and arranged The Revival, with additional production by Foster & McElroy for a few songs.

    Vanessa Williams, who sang on "Oakland Stroke".[4]

    Music and lyrics

    The Revival features

    Pointer Sisters, James Brown, among others." "Let's Have a Good Time" samples the Pointer Sisters' 1973 song "Yes We Can Can", and "Oakland Stroke", a paean to the group's hometown, has "Jungle Boogie"-like horn riffs.[6] The "sardonic" song veers stylistically from hip hop to swing,[5] incorporating a 1940s jazz break.[6]

    According to McAdams, Tony! Toni! Toné!'s songwriting on The Revival disregarded "social commentary or political posturing" in favor of "the preservation of R&B's signature, the perpetuation of the soul tradition, and—on the lighter side—the glorification of barbeque, the

    D'wayne Wiggins learned from his father, and ideas from pianist Vince Guaraldi's music for Peanuts television specials.[14]

    The album's songs also feature offbeat sounds,

    Allmusic writes that "the last part sounds like a Sunday morning testimonial."[13]

    After the first five songs, The Revival features songs at a calmer tempo and more conventional style,[5] with ballads that are more relaxed and low-key.[5] "It Never Rains (In Southern California)" was titled after an oft-repeated phrase from one of Tony! Toni! Toné!'s attorneys, who used it in response to the group wearing heavy coats after returning from visits on the East Coast. Group drummer Timothy Christian played most of the song's instruments, and bassist Raphael Wiggins wrote its lyrics about a man longing for a woman who was in southern California.[16] The ballads are followed by "Those Were the Days", which features jouncing banjo, trumpet, and wistful lyrics reminiscing about simpler times "when a dollar was worth a dollar, and you didn't have to carry a gun when you left your house."[15] Lyrics written by Raphael Wiggins,Elijah Baker

    Release and sales

    The album was released on May 8, 1990, by

    Hot 100 in the fall of 1990, going on to sell over one million copies.[13] In late 1990, the album's third single "It Never Rains (In Southern California)" became a number-one R&B hit and also peaked at number 34 on the Hot 100.[16]

    On January 28, 1991, The Revival was certified platinum by the

    Nielsen SoundScan,[19] which began tracking sales data in 1991.[20]

    Critical reception

    Professional ratings
    Review scores
    SourceRating
    Encyclopedia of Popular Music
    [22]
    Entertainment WeeklyA−[15]
    Los Angeles Times[5]
    Orlando Sentinel[23]
    The Rolling Stone Album Guide[24]
    Select2/5[25]

    Reviewing the album for the

    Motown influences". With its addition of "loopy humor", the album was rendered "a terrific '60s-meets-the-'90s recipe", in his opinion.[7] In Entertainment Weekly, Greg Sandow applauded the band for "building momentum by adding new elements as the songs proceed" and "setting the course for whatever future the [R&B] genre is likely to have".[15] Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times said although their "offbeat R&B hybrids" are occasionally "too busy and intentionally oddball", "the Tonys' explorations ... are mostly successful".[5] Orlando Sentinel writer Parry Gettelman said the dance-oriented tracks "have great grooves and a warmth, humor and vocal finesse sadly lacking in the Top 40",[23] while Geoffrey Himes from The Washington Post viewed the album as a promising debut with "perfect party music".[26] Janine McAdams from Spin
    said the band "transformed the simplest ditties into jammin' anthems that assault the ear and move the feet"; she continued to say:

    Revival works as evidence of the wide-ranging continuum of R&B, the ability of sterling soul to remain fresh for the new generation. The Tonyies pull off the feat without obscuring their unique voice. Maybe some will be jolted by their barrage of remember-when musical references on Revival, but to the youthful crowd it's aimed at, much of this is brand-new.[6]

    In retrospect, The Revival was viewed by

    Rhapsody felt in spite of its new jack swing hit "Feels Good", most of the album embraced "Bay Area funk and hinted at the subsequent innovations of key member Raphael Saadiq".[29] Robert Christgau was somewhat less enthusiastic and gave it a two-star honorable mention, indicating a "likable effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well enjoy". He singled out "Feels Good" and "Oakland Stroke" as highlights while summarizing Tony! Toni! Toné!'s performance as that of "a love band" that plays funk music.[21]

    Track listing

    No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
    1."
    Vanessa Williams)
    Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!4:39
    4."The Blues"Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!4:10
    5."Let's Have a Good Time"Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroyFoster & McElroy4:01
    6."It Never Rains (In Southern California)"Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!5:00
    7."Whatever You Want"Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!4:48
    8."I Care"Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!5:55
    9."Sky's the Limit"Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!4:35
    10."All My Love"Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!5:58
    11."Don't Talk About Me"Foster, McElroy, Susan VerdejoFoster & McElroy4:14
    12."Skin Tight"Foster, McElroyFoster & McElroy3:59
    13."Jo-Jo"Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!4:12
    14."Those Were the Days"Christian, Wheeler, D. Wiggins, R. WigginsTony! Toni! Toné!4:58

    Personnel

    Credits are adapted from

    Tony! Toni! Toné!

    • Timothy Christian Riley – drums
    • D'Wayne Wiggins – guitar, vocals
    • Raphael Wiggins – bass, vocals
    • Carl Wheeler - keyboards,vocals
    • Elijah Baker - Bass,vocals
    • Antron Haile - synthesizer

    Additional personnel

    Charts

    Singles

    Year Song Chart Peak
    position
    1990 "The Blues" US
    Billboard Hot 100[37]
    46
    US Billboard Hot Black Singles[37] 1
    US
    Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[37]
    43
    "Oakland Stroke" UK Singles Chart[38] 50
    "Feels Good" US Billboard Hot 100[39] 9
    US Billboard Hot Black Singles[39] 1
    "It Never Rains (In Southern California)" US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[40] 1
    1991 UK Singles Chart[38] 69
    US Billboard Hot 100[40] 34
    "Whatever You Want" US Billboard Hot 100[41] 48
    US Billboard Hot R&B Singles[41] 1

    References

    1. ^ a b c "From Tonies to Townies – Hot Soul Stars Tony! Toni! Tone! Warm Up for a National Tour in Their Hometown". The Sacramento Bee. November 5, 1993. p. TK14. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    2. ^ "Tony Toni Tone – Revival CD Album". CD Universe. Muze. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    3. ^ Bourgoin & LaBlanc 1994, p. 249.
    4. ^ a b "The Revival – Tony! Toni! Toné! : Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    5. ^ a b c d e f g h Hunt, Dennis (May 20, 1990). "*** TONY! TONI! TONE! "The Revival" PolyGram". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on June 16, 2011.
    6. ^ a b c d e f g h McAdams, Janine (May 1990). "Tony! Toni! Toné!, 'Revival' (Wing/PolyGram)". Spin. 6 (2): 73–74. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    7. ^ a b c Kot, Greg (June 14, 1990). "Tony! Toni! Tone! The Revival (Wing)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved on June 16, 2011.
    8. ^
      Allmusic
      . Retrieved on June 16, 2011.
    9. ^ "More Sappy Pap from New Kids". Dayton Daily News: 19. June 15, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    10. ^ Brusca 2006, p. 511.
    11. ^ Pearson, Mike (July 12, 1990). "Joyous Noise Brings Crowd to Feet at R&B Fest". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    12. ^ "Tony! Toni! Tone! turns it up, up, up". Fort Worth Star-Telegram: 11. April 5, 1991. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    13. ^ a b c Hogan, Ed. "Feels Good – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Allmusic. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    14. ^ Hogan, Ed. "The Blues – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Allmusic. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    15. ^ a b c d e Sandow, Greg (May 11, 1990). "The Revival Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on June 16, 2011.
    16. ^ a b Hogan, Ed. "It Never Rains in Southern California – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Allmusic. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    17. ^ a b c "RIAA Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – Tony! Toni! Tone!". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on June 17, 2011.
    18. ^ "The Revival – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Billboard. Retrieved on June 17, 2011.
    19. ISSN 0006-2510
      . QRIEAAAAMBAJ. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    20. ^ Sims, Brian (February 11, 2008). "Get Your Mind Right: Underground Vs. Mainstream". HipHop DX. Cheri Media Group. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    21. ^ .
    22. .
    23. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (June 22, 1990). "Tony! Toni! Tone!". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved on June 16, 2011.
    24. ^ Schuers et al. 2004, p. 818.
    25. ^ Harrison, Andrew (July 1990). "Tony! Toni! Tone!: Revival". Select.
    26. ^ Himes, Geoffrey (May 16, 1990). "Records". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
    27. ^ Wilson, Scott (May 8, 2000). "Tony! Toni! Toné! Reviews". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011.
    28. ^ Heller, Jason (September 30, 2010). "New jack swing". The A.V. Club. Chicago. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    29. Rhapsody
      . Retrieved on June 17, 2011.
    30. ^ "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing November 18, 1991". Bubbling Down Under. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
    31. ^ "Tony Toni Tone Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
    32. ^ "Tony Toni Tone Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
    33. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
    34. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
    35. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
    36. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
    37. ^ a b c "The Blues – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    38. ^
      The Official Charts Company
      . View Singles. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    39. ^ a b "Feels Good – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    40. ^ a b "It Never Rains in Southern California – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
    41. ^ a b "Whatever You Want – Tony! Toni! Toné!". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2012.

    Bibliography

    External links