Music Metrics Vault

Soul II Soul

Data updated on 2025-03-25 15:35:13 UTC
Avowing a positive and multicultural philosophy with their "funky dred" logo and the catch phrase "A happy face, a thumpin' bass, for a lovin' race," Soul II Soul started spreading the similar ideals of London sound system culture across the globe at the end of the 1980s. At a time when the highly mechanized sound of new jack swing was dominating contemporary R&B, the group -- led by producer, songwriter, and occasional vocalist Jazzie B -- found a way to synthesize breakbeat-driven hip-hop and house music with the elegant dancefloor R&B of disco-era groups such as Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, MFSB, and Chic. The two biggest hits off Soul II Soul's debut Club Classics Vol. One (1989), "Keep On Movin'" and "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)," both powered by the silken voice of Caron Wheeler, turned the group into chart-topping stars at home and abroad. The latter also made them Grammy winners. Soul II Soul's output since then is highlighted by a second number one U.K. album, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade (1990) and the number three hit Volume III: Just Right (1992), plus 11 additional U.K. Top 40 singles, each one featuring a different lead voice.

Jazzie B (Trevor Beresford Romeo) and Daddae Harvey (Philip Harvey) ran their first sound system in their early teens. They moved crowds with reggae before expanding their sets to incorporate soul, funk, and jazz, and in the mid-'80s reached full flight with an inclusive Sunday-night residency at the Africa Centre in Covent Garden. In 1988, Soul II Soul branched out from sound systems and pirate radio to wax with "Fairplay," their debut for Virgin's 10 subsidiary. Jazzie B co-wrote and co-produced the track, also co-produced by Nellee Hooper (Maximum Joy, the Wild Bunch) with co-writer Rose Windross featured as lead vocalist. Before the end of the year, the group followed up with the Do'Reen showcase "Feel Free," written and produced by Jazzie B and Hooper. The singles respectively reached number 63 and 64 on the U.K. pop chart.

Soul II Soul achieved their breakthrough in early 1989 with singer Caron Wheeler, who had previously been in the reggae vocal group Brown Sugar and was also a high-profile background vocalist, as heard on (and seen in the videos for) Elvis Costello's "Everyday I Write the Book" and the Special A.K.A.'s "Free Nelson Mandela." Third Soul II Soul single "Keep On Movin'" entered the U.K. chart that March and peaked at number five before the full-length Club Classics, Vol. One landed the following month. On the heels of that chart-topping album was "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)," written by Wheeler, Jazzie B, Hooper, and group keyboardist Simon Law. The song topped the U.K. chart and also became the group's biggest international hit, reaching the Top Ten in numerous countries, including the U.S., where Club Classics, Vol. One was issued under the title Keep On Movin'. Soul II Soul subsequently won Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal ("Back to Life") and Best R&B Instrumental Performance (album track "African Dance"). Additionally, they were nominated beside fellow cosmopolitan Londoner Neneh Cherry for Best New Artist.

Club Classics, Vol. One was barely a year old when Soul II Soul offered their second album, Vol. II: 1990 - A New Decade. The record was released the same month as UK Blak, the solo debut of Caron Wheeler, who had left the group (and would return, leave, and return throughout the band's existence). Another number one LP in the U.K., Vol. II yielded the Top Ten U.K. hits "Get a Life" and "A Dream's a Dream," respectively featuring Marcia Lewis and Victoria Wilson-James, as well as "Missing You," a Top 40 entry fronted by Kym Mazelle. As with "Keep On Movin'" and "Back to Life," these singles also fared well on the R&B/hip-hop and dance charts in the U.S. Without Hooper, an increasingly in-demand collaborator across genres, Jazzie B handled the production for the group's third album on his own, and rounded up a mostly new crew of vocalists including Richie Stephens, Kofi, and Rick Clarke, the singers featured on the singles. Volume III: Just Right topped out at number three in the U.K., and the Clarke-assisted "Joy" became a number four pop hit. "Mood" was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Instrumental Performance, but not before 10/Virgin assembled Volume IV: The Classic Singles 88-93. The anthology was released in November 1993 and included a new single, the Melissa Bell collaboration "Wish" -- the ninth Soul II Soul track to peak within the Top 40 of the U.K. pop chart.

Soul II Soul made two more albums in the '90s. The first one, Volume V: Believe, arrived in July 1995, and was followed in September 1997 by Time for Change, released through Island instead of 10/Virgin. Penny Ford and Charlotte Kelly sang the U.K. Top 40 hits off the former, "Love Enuff" and "I Care," and Paul Johnson was the voice of "Represent," the Top 40 single from Time for Change. By the end of the decade, Soul II Soul had disbanded. Do'Reen died in 2002, struck by multiple vehicles while attempting to cross the A27 on foot. Since 2007, the group, still led by Jazzie B (who in 2008 was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire), has performed with various lineups that have included Wheeler and many of the other vocalists throughout their history. Jazzie B has also remained active as a DJ. Daddae Harvey died on September 10, 2024, he was 60 years old. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

Genres

: new jack swing

Total plays

290.7 million
Updated on 2025-03-25

Monthly listeners

1,482,524

Followers

320,012

Top Cities

  1. United Kingdom
    54,567 listeners
  2. Australia
    20,787 listeners
  3. Netherlands
    18,488 listeners
  4. United Kingdom
    18,885 listeners
  5. United Kingdom
    17,860 listeners

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Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Back To Life
Back To Life
148,876,978 3:40 1989-01-01
Every Little Thing I Do - no mix
Every Little Thing I Do - no mix
53,911,066 4:20 1999-02-14
Keep On Movin'
Keep On Movin'
32,121,177 6:03 1989-01-01
Get A Life
Get A Life
8,250,491 3:44 1990-01-01
Jazzie's Groove
Jazzie's Groove
4,878,539 2:50 1989-01-01
Keep On Movin'
Keep On Movin'
3,106,413 3:38 1993-01-01
Back to Life
Back to Life
3,010,965 2:60 1997-09-18
Fairplay
Fairplay
2,647,651 3:58 1989-01-01
Missing You
Missing You
2,217,906 5:26 1990-01-01
Camdino Soul
Camdino Soul
2,097,092 7:44 1997-01-01
Keep on Moving - Live from Metropolis
Keep on Moving - Live from Metropolis
1,517,112 5:59 2016-09-12
A Dream's A Dream
A Dream's A Dream
1,435,036 5:39 1990-01-01
Joy
Joy
1,339,430 4:32 1992-01-01
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) - One World Remix
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) - One World Remix
1,317,926 6:35 1995-05-18
African Dance
African Dance
1,254,155 6:08 1989-01-01
Happiness - Dub
Happiness - Dub
1,201,586 5:34 1989-01-01
Holdin' On
Holdin' On
1,182,129 3:52 1989-01-01
Our Time Has Now Come
Our Time Has Now Come
818,877 3:57 1990-01-01
Represent
Represent
764,949 6:50 1997-01-01
Feeling Free - Live From Westside Studios,United Kingdom/1989
Feeling Free - Live From Westside Studios,United Kingdom/1989
755,981 4:16 1989-01-01
Feel Free
Feel Free
746,563 5:05 1989-01-01
Dance
Dance
717,132 3:42 1989-01-01
Keep On Movin' - 2003 Remaster
Keep On Movin' - 2003 Remaster
702,053 5:59 2003-01-01
Move Me No Mountain
Move Me No Mountain
627,813 4:41 1992-01-01
Keep On Movin'
Keep On Movin'
575,136 3:37 1995-05-18
Love Enuff
Love Enuff
560,949 5:17 1995-01-01
Light Work (feat. Bloody Osiris, DD Osama, Soul II Soul & The Alumni Ensemble of Harlem)
Light Work (feat. Bloody Osiris, DD Osama, Soul II Soul & The Alumni Ensemble of Harlem)
532,356 2:33 2024-11-08
Love Come Through
Love Come Through
473,041 4:32 1990-01-01
Jazzie's Groove - Piano Version
Jazzie's Groove - Piano Version
472,943 4:05 1995-05-18
People
People
468,976 4:57 1990-01-01
Just Right
Just Right
438,658 3:00 1992-01-01
Courtney Blows
Courtney Blows
352,580 4:35 1990-01-01
Back To Life - Booker T Kings Of Soul Satta Dub
Back To Life - Booker T Kings Of Soul Satta Dub
348,024 6:26 2021-06-04
Zion - Live from Metropolis
Zion - Live from Metropolis
344,374 6:27 2016-09-12
Ambition (Rap)
Ambition (Rap)
322,794 3:50 1995-05-18
In The Heat Of The Night
In The Heat Of The Night
300,320 3:40 1990-01-01
Keep On Movin' - M Beat Bonus Mix
Keep On Movin' - M Beat Bonus Mix
278,766 4:23 1995-05-18
Back to Life - Live from Metropolis
Back to Life - Live from Metropolis
271,002 5:16 2016-09-12
I Feel Love
I Feel Love
267,233 6:43 1997-01-01
Take Me Higher
Take Me Higher
265,077 4:50 1992-01-01
Pleasure Dome
Pleasure Dome
254,417 4:37 1997-01-01
Dare To Differ
Dare To Differ
247,637 4:37 1997-01-01
A Dream's A Dream - Club Dub
A Dream's A Dream - Club Dub
244,436 4:26 1998-01-01
I Care - Live from Metropolis
I Care - Live from Metropolis
240,127 5:09 2016-09-12
1990 A New Decade
1990 A New Decade
237,106 4:03 1990-01-01
Wish - Juni Mix
Wish - Juni Mix
232,593 4:23 1993-01-01
Get A Life - Club Mix
Get A Life - Club Mix
228,214 4:30 1998-01-01
Intro - Live from Metropolis
Intro - Live from Metropolis
224,966 1:30 2016-09-12
Back 2 Life
Back 2 Life
218,272 1:16 1996-12-18
Game Dunn
Game Dunn
217,734 1:53 1995-01-01
Missing You - The Healer Mix
Missing You - The Healer Mix
211,654 4:51 1998-01-01
Storm
Storm
210,692 3:36 1992-01-01
Mood
Mood
209,530 3:48 1992-01-01
Love Enough - Live from Metropolis
Love Enough - Live from Metropolis
204,641 4:24 2016-09-12
Universal Love - Live from Metropolis
Universal Love - Live from Metropolis
202,913 3:54 2016-09-12
Time (Untitled)
Time (Untitled)
200,652 6:06 1990-01-01
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) [Masters At Work House Remix] [Feat. Caron Wheeler]
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) [Masters At Work House Remix] [Feat. Caron Wheeler]
189,851 7:22 2012-01-01
Back To Life - Klatch Deep House Remix
Back To Life - Klatch Deep House Remix
189,162 5:45 1989-05-29
Sunday
Sunday
188,740 4:38 1995-01-01
Fairplay - Live from Metropolis
Fairplay - Live from Metropolis
187,438 5:00 2016-09-12
Ride On
Ride On
149,747 4:13 1995-01-01
Jazzie's Groove - New Version
Jazzie's Groove - New Version
149,178 5:02 1993-01-01
How Long
How Long
146,445 3:60 1995-01-01
Feeling
Feeling
142,776 5:49 1995-01-01
Everywhere
Everywhere
138,217 3:51 1992-01-01
Time For Change
Time For Change
134,890 4:16 1997-01-01
Universal Love
Universal Love
125,612 4:46 1995-01-01
Keep On Movin' - Booker T Mix
Keep On Movin' - Booker T Mix
124,192 4:45 2022-02-11
Love Ain't Around
Love Ain't Around
121,745 4:48 1997-01-01
Zion
Zion
115,203 4:09 1995-01-01
Kiss The Girl
Kiss The Girl
110,555 4:18 1991-08-21
Joy - Club Mix 7'' Edit
Joy - Club Mix 7'' Edit
110,351 3:48 1998-01-01
Thank You
Thank You
108,011 5:22 1997-01-01
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Thunder Dub
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Thunder Dub
107,555 8:00 2021-04-14
B Groove
B Groove
106,991 2:43 1995-01-01
Pride
Pride
106,823 4:43 1995-01-01
Don't You Dream
Don't You Dream
104,351 4:19 1995-01-01
I Care
I Care
101,779 4:48 1995-01-01
Fairplay
Fairplay
100,417 6:05 1998-01-01
I Care - 12'' Master
I Care - 12'' Master
99,678 5:38 1998-01-01
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Tribe Vocal Mix
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Tribe Vocal Mix
93,769 7:06 2020-10-16
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Mix
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Mix
93,749 10:33 2020-08-19
Be A Man
Be A Man
92,931 3:38 1995-01-01
Believe
Believe
92,184 4:09 1995-01-01
Missing You - Live from Metropolis
Missing You - Live from Metropolis
91,513 6:01 2016-09-12
Move Me No Mountain - Club Mix
Move Me No Mountain - Club Mix
90,918 4:22 1998-01-01
Direction
Direction
86,031 3:47 1992-01-01
Get a Life - Live from Metropolis
Get a Life - Live from Metropolis
83,476 4:44 2016-09-12
Love Enuff - Todd Terry House Mix Edit
Love Enuff - Todd Terry House Mix Edit
83,130 3:37 1998-01-01
Jazzie's Groove - Live from Metropolis
Jazzie's Groove - Live from Metropolis
78,358 5:09 2016-09-12
Freaky Toe - Spacemonkeyz Mix Ft. Audio Satellite - Remix
Freaky Toe - Spacemonkeyz Mix Ft. Audio Satellite - Remix
77,834 5:26 2022-06-24
Intelligence
Intelligence
77,414 5:18 1992-01-01
Just Right - Club Mix
Just Right - Club Mix
77,190 5:51 1998-01-01
Future
Future
76,351 4:35 1992-01-01
Keep On Movin' - Booker T Satta Dub
Keep On Movin' - Booker T Satta Dub
68,090 6:49 2022-04-08
Do You Love Enuff - Genius Mix by Dillinger
Do You Love Enuff - Genius Mix by Dillinger
65,995 5:56 2021-03-05
Keep On Movin' - Zepherin Saint Go Go Mix
Keep On Movin' - Zepherin Saint Go Go Mix
65,578 5:34 2022-03-16
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Edit
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Edit
62,077 5:08 2020-09-23
Feel Free (feat. Doreen) - 12''
Feel Free (feat. Doreen) - 12''
61,873 5:01 1998-01-01
Move Me No Mountain - Radio Mix
Move Me No Mountain - Radio Mix
56,333 3:24 1993-01-01
Back To Life - DJ Fen Strippers Remix
Back To Life - DJ Fen Strippers Remix
55,729 5:04 2021-05-19
Just Right - Extended Album Mix
Just Right - Extended Album Mix
41,804 3:54 1993-01-01
Keep On Movin' - Mafia And Fluxy Mix
Keep On Movin' - Mafia And Fluxy Mix
38,232 5:03 1993-01-01
Nothing Compares To You - Mafia and Fluxy Remix
Nothing Compares To You - Mafia and Fluxy Remix
35,372 4:01 2023-12-15
A Dream's A Dream - Remastered
A Dream's A Dream - Remastered
32,590 5:38 2003-01-01
Missing You - Noodles & Wonder Remix
Missing You - Noodles & Wonder Remix
31,169 6:28 2021-04-02
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) - Bonus Beats
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) - Bonus Beats
28,804 3:26 1993-01-01
Nothing Compares to you - Booker T House Mix
Nothing Compares to you - Booker T House Mix
26,814 5:39 2024-08-16
African Dance - 2003 Digital Remaster
African Dance - 2003 Digital Remaster
26,405 6:05 2003-01-01
Fairplay - Ethnic Boys Mix
Fairplay - Ethnic Boys Mix
25,365 5:35 1993-01-01
Limit Is The Sky
Limit Is The Sky
25,067 5:13 1997-01-01
Love Enuff - Maserati New York Mix
Love Enuff - Maserati New York Mix
24,952 5:15 1995-01-01
Move Me No Mountain - 2003 Digital Remaster
Move Me No Mountain - 2003 Digital Remaster
23,610 4:41 2003-01-01
Keep On Movin' - Copyright Salsa Mix
Keep On Movin' - Copyright Salsa Mix
23,361 7:39 2022-04-08
Get Away
Get Away
22,982 4:48 1997-01-01
Represent - Katt Mix
Represent - Katt Mix
14,914 6:44 1997-01-01
Love Enuff - Todd Terry House Mix
Love Enuff - Todd Terry House Mix
14,387 7:05 1995-01-01
Muru Ako
Muru Ako
10,804 3:18 2020-09-22
Nothing Compares to you - Ed Colman's House Reshape
Nothing Compares to you - Ed Colman's House Reshape
10,076 4:55 2024-10-14
Nothing Compares To Dub - Mafia and Fluxy Dub
Nothing Compares To Dub - Mafia and Fluxy Dub
9,080 4:01 2023-12-15
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Club Edit
Back To Life - Zepherin Saint Club Edit
8,405 8:25 2020-10-16
Love Enuff - 4 Wheel Drive Mix
Love Enuff - 4 Wheel Drive Mix
7,463 4:24 1995-01-01
Back To Life - DJ Fen Garage Dub Remix
Back To Life - DJ Fen Garage Dub Remix
6,938 4:48 2021-06-04
Love Enuff - Todd Terry Dub Mix
Love Enuff - Todd Terry Dub Mix
6,630 6:31 1995-01-01
Dellali - get ready with my
Dellali - get ready with my
5,962 5:12 2025-02-02
Get A Life
Get A Life
4,600 1:16 1998-06-10
Back 2 Life Part II
Back 2 Life Part II
3,504 0:57 1998-06-10
Back 2 Lyfe
Back 2 Lyfe
2,929 3:01 2020-04-02
Jazzie's Groove
Jazzie's Groove
2,422 1:01 1998-06-10
Nothing Compares to you - Booker T House Instrumental
Nothing Compares to you - Booker T House Instrumental
1,658 5:39 2024-08-16
Nothing Compares to you - Ed Colman's House Reshape Mix
Nothing Compares to you - Ed Colman's House Reshape Mix
1,347 3:38 2024-10-14

New releases

Nothing Compares to you (Ed Colman's House Reshape)
Nothing Compares to you (Ed Colman's House Reshape)
2024-10-14
[Funki Dred Records]
Nothing Compares to you (Booker T House mixes)
Nothing Compares to you (Booker T House mixes)
2024-08-16
[Funki Dred Records]
Nothing Compares To You (Mafia and Fluxy Remix)
Nothing Compares To You (Mafia and Fluxy Remix)
2023-12-15
[Funki Dred]
Blaq Spirit ElectricMELT 1996-2010, Vol. 2
Blaq Spirit ElectricMELT 1996-2010, Vol. 2
2023-04-28
[M2KR MELT2000 Revisited]
Keep On Movin'
Keep On Movin'
2022-04-08
[Funki Dred Records]
Keep On Movin' (Zepherin Saint Go Go Mix)
Keep On Movin' (Zepherin Saint Go Go Mix)
2022-03-16
[Funki Dred Records]
Keep On Movin' (Booker T Mix)
Keep On Movin' (Booker T Mix)
2022-02-11
[Funki Dred Records]
Back To Life
Back To Life
2021-06-04
[Funki Dred Records]
Back To Life (DJ Fen Strippers Remix)
Back To Life (DJ Fen Strippers Remix)
2021-05-19
[Funki Dred Records]
Back To Life (Zepherin Saint Thunder Dub)
Back To Life (Zepherin Saint Thunder Dub)
2021-04-14
[Funki Dred Records]
Missing You (Noodles and Wonder Remix)
Missing You (Noodles and Wonder Remix)
2021-04-02
[Funki Dred Records]
Do You Love Enuff (Genius Mix by Dillinger)
Do You Love Enuff (Genius Mix by Dillinger)
2021-03-05
[Funki Dred Records]
Back To Life (Remixes)
Back To Life (Remixes)
2020-10-16
[Funki Dred Records]
Back To Life (Zepherin Saint Edit)
Back To Life (Zepherin Saint Edit)
2020-09-23
[Funki Dred Records]
Back To Life (Zepherin Saint mix)
Back To Life (Zepherin Saint mix)
2020-08-19
[Funki Dred Records]
Origins (Live from Metropolis)
Origins (Live from Metropolis)
2016-09-12
[Metropolis Recordings]
Back To Life: The Collection
Back To Life: The Collection
2015-01-01
[UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
5 Album Set (Club Classics Vol 1/Volume II/Volume III/Volume V/The Club Mix Hits)
5 Album Set (Club Classics Vol 1/Volume II/Volume III/Volume V/The Club Mix Hits)
2013-01-01
[Virgin Catalogue]
Classic Masters
Classic Masters
2003-01-01
[Virgin Records]
The Club Mix Hits
The Club Mix Hits
1998-01-01
[Virgin Catalogue]
Time For Change
Time For Change
1997-01-01
[UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
Club Classics Vol. One
Club Classics Vol. One
1995-05-18
[Virgin]
Love Enuff
Love Enuff
1995-01-01
[UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
Volume V - Believe
Volume V - Believe
1995-01-01
[UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
Volume IV - The Classic Singles 88-93
Volume IV - The Classic Singles 88-93
1993-01-01
[Ten Records]
Volume III - Just Right
Volume III - Just Right
1992-01-01
[Ten Records]
Volume II - 1990 A New Decade
Volume II - 1990 A New Decade
1990-01-01
[Ten Records]
Back To Life (Klatch Deep House Remix)
Back To Life (Klatch Deep House Remix)
1989-05-29
[UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)]
Club Classics Vol. One
Club Classics Vol. One
1989-01-01
[Ten Records]
Keep On Movin'
Keep On Movin'
1989-01-01
[Virgin]