Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and record producer Raphael Saadiq has announced the release of his fifth studio album Stone Rollin' on March 18, 2011 on Columbia Records. Known for defying the confines of working within one genre, this standard bearer for "old school" R&B returns with a new release that celebrates the classic sounds of 60's and 70's soul with a futuristic twist.
Featuring ten new tracks, Stone Rollin' is the follow up to Saadiq's 2008 solo album The Way I See It, which boasted four Billboard R&B chart singles and was nominated for three GRAMMY Awards including Best R&B Album. The album was also selected by iTunes as their 'Album of the Year' in 2008. With the release of The Way I See It, Raphael Saadiq truly made his mark as a touring artist, striking a universal chord with audiences around the world through multiple performances at festival dates throughout Europe and the States -- including Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, SXSW and Voodoo Experience-- as well as a recent opening slot on the Dave Matthews Band's amphitheater tour. Now with his new collection Stone Rollin', Saadiq nods to his heroes like Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Little Walter and Sly Stone, while merging his own contemporary twist, one born out of a combination of his recent touring experiences, as well as inspiration derived from indie acts that hold regular rotation in his ipod. The end result is a collection that showcases Saadiq's gifted musicality and the stellar production skills that have become the artist's signature.
Raphael Saadiq says of the recording "Both the attraction and reaction to my music from my listeners has giving me all that I need to continue pushing the envelope and making music that wakes and rocks the soul of many, Its Ready, I'm Ready, and I know the world is Ready, Lets all go Stone Rollin."
Recorded at his studio complex the Blakeslee Recording Company in Los Angeles, Raphael Saadiq played bass, mellotron, keys, guitar, percussion and even drums on most of the tracks. Opening with the stomping "Heart Attack," the album's other standout cuts include the stunning "Go To Hell," featuring his studio squad of musicians who are melodically complimented by an angelic choir, the evocative Dixieland number "Day Dreams," featuring Robert Randolph who plays steel guitar on the track, and "Just Don't," which includes a guest appearance from one of Saadiq's indie rock favorites Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano (Little Dragon). Also making an appearance on that same song is one of Saadiq's idols Larry Dunn (Earth, Wind and Fire), who plays piano and contributes an epic Moog solo.
Since Raphael Saadiq's early days with the groundbreaking 80's soul trio Tony! Toni! Tone! he has carried the torch for old school R&B and in the process has established his place as one of music's most highly regarded recording artists and producers. In addition to releasing a series of critically acclaimed solo albums that have garnered multiple awards and nominations, Saadiq has also worked behind the scenes as an award winning producer, collaborator and sideman for some of music's biggest acts including D'Angelo, John Legend, Joss Stone, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, Stevie Wonder, the Bee Gees, The Isley Brothers, Mary J. Blige, TLC, Whitney Houston, Snoop Dogg, Earth, Wind and Fire and more. Now, at the peak of his creativity, Saadiq is finally ready to soak up the spotlight alone.
