UK Blak

UK Blak
Studio album by Caron Wheeler
Released May 15, 1990
Recorded 1990
The Church Studios (London), Grove Studio (Ocho Rios, Jamaica), Calliope Productions (NYC), The Apollo Center (NYC), Red Buss Recording Studios, Livingstone Studio, Unit 3 studios
Genre
Label EMI
Producer
Caron Wheeler chronology
UK Blak
(1990)		 Remix Only For Japan
(1991)
Caron Wheeler studio album chronology
UK Blak
(1990)		 Beach of the War Goddess
(1993)
Singles from UK Blak
  1. "Livin' in the Light"
    Released: 14 February 1990
  2. "UK Blak"
    Released: 13 September 1990
  3. "Blue (Is the Colour of Pain)"
    Released: 21 January 1991
  4. "Don't Quit"
    Released: 5 May 1991
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

UK Blak is the debut studio album by British singer Caron Wheeler.[2] It was released on May 15, 1990 by EMI Records. During the tour of Soul II Soul's first studio album, Club Classics Vol. One (1989), Wheeler bega that they would produce solo albums to be released. Recording sessions for the album took place from January 1990 to March 1990 at several studios, during the hiatus from her group Soul II Soul. As executive producer of the album, Wheeler took a wider role in its production, co-writing a majority of the songs, choosing which ones to produce and sharing ideas on the mixing and mastering of tracks. The album includes the single "Livin' in the Light", which reached the UK Top 20, plus three further singles, "UK Blak", "Blue (Is the Colour of Pain)" and "Don't Quit".

Background

In 1990, Wheeler left Soul II Soul to pursue a solo career, and shortly after leaving the group she secured a contract with RCA/EMI Records. The album charted well in the UK Albums Chart with the help of the first single "Livin' in the Light".

In the album liner notes, it is said that "This album was made with loving thoughts of Martin Shure, and inspired by Skakti Gawain and Marvin Gaye."[3]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."UK Blak"  Caron Wheeler / Carl MacKintoshCarl MacKintosh4:22
2."Livin' in the Light (The Remix)"  Caron Wheeler / N. P. HailBlacksmith4:35
3."Blue (Is the Colour of Pain)"  Caron Wheeler / Mark Brydon / A. DustMark Brydon4:56
4."No Regrets"  Caron Wheeler / Tim Atkins / Peter Trotman / Karl AtkinsBlacksmith3:51
5."This Is Mine (featuring MC Mell"O")"  Caron Wheeler / Tim Atkins / Peter Trotman / Karl Atkins / M. HenryBlacksmith4:01
6."Don't Quit"  Jimmy HaynesJimmy "Senya" Haynes4:22
7."Enchanted (featuring Raymond Simpson)"  Caron Wheeler / Raymond SimpsonRaymond Simpson4:26
8."Never Lonely"  Caron Wheeler / Raymond Simpson / B.A. Bramble / S.D. GaimThe Twilight Firm4:10
9."Song for You"  Jimmy HaynesJimmy "Senya" Haynes4:11
10."Somewhere"  Caron Wheeler / Derek JohnsonDerek Johnson4:13
11."Proud"  Caron Wheeler / R. Guthrie / Wycliffe Johnson / Cleveland BrowneWycliffe Johnson / Cleveland Browne4:48
12."Kama Yo"  Caron Wheeler / B.A. Bramble / S.D. GaimThe Twilight Firm5:06
13."Jamaica"  Caron Wheeler / Wycliffe Johnson / Cleveland BrowneWycliffe Johnson / Cleveland Browne3:58
14."Livin' in the Light (The Original Story)"  Caron Wheeler / N. P. HailAfrika Baby Bam (The Jungle Brothers)5:45
Total length:1:02:40

Personnel

  • Caron Wheeler – lead vocals (All tracks), backing vocals (tracks 1-14), producer (tracks 1, 4-7), executive producer, vocal producer (1, 4-7), songwriter (1-14)
  • Aniija – mbira
  • Karl Atkins – keyboards (track 2), songwriter (track 4, 5)
  • Tim Atkins – drum programming (track 2, 4, 5), songwriter (track 4, 5)
  • Afrika Baby Bam – producer (track 2, 14), programming (14), songwriter (track 2, 14)
  • Trevor Bedford – additional recording engineer (track 1)
  • Rick Bell - saxophone (track 14)
  • Blacksmith – producer (track 2, 4, 5)
  • Bolaii Adeola Badeio – backing vocals (tracks 12)
  • Boy George – songwriter (track 3)
  • Brian Bramble – bass, drum programming, synthesizer programming (track 8, 12)
  • Clevie Browne - drums and producer (track 11, 13), songwriter (track 13)
  • Danny Browne – guitar (track 11, 13)
  • Mark Brydon – producer and songwriter (track 3)
  • Ray Carless – saxophone (track 8)
  • Clinton Clarke – trombone (track 8)
  • Colin – assistant recording engineer (track 2, 5)
  • Victor Cross – keyboards (track 3)
  • DJ Devastate – additional programming (track 8, 12)
  • Pandit Dinesh – percussion (track 6, 8, 12)
  • Adam Fuest – recording engineer (track 2, 4, 5, 8, 10-13)
  • Roger Guthrie – saxophone (track 11)
  • Lee Hamblin – recording engineer (track 6, 7)
  • Jimmy "Senya" Haynes – producer and songwriter (track 9)
  • Mickey Isley – assistant engineer (track 14)
  • Derek Johnson – guitar (track 1, 5, 10)
  • Wycliffe Johnson – keyboards, producer, songwriter (track 11, 13)
  • Ben Jones – tape op (track 3)
  • Mr. Lawnee – scratches (track 14)
  • Gregg Mann – mixing (track 14)
  • Carl McIntosh – producer and songwriter (track 1)
  • MC Mell'O' - rap and songwriter (track 5)
  • Dick "TCB" Meaney – assistant recording engineer (track 4, 6-13)
  • Gordon Milne – recording engineer (track 1)
  • Clifton "Bigga" Morrison – keyboards (track 1)
  • Mike Gee – bass (track 14)
  • Robert Power – recording engineer (track 14)
  • Errol Reid – keyboards (track 7)
  • Arabella Rodriguez – mixing (track 1, 3, 6, 7, 9)
  • Dr. Shane Faber – keyboards and recording engineer (track 14)
  • Ray Simpson – lead vocals, backing vocals, keyboards, drum programming (track 7)
  • Simon Stirling – strings arrangement (track 6)
  • Stephen Steward – recording engineer (track 11, 13)
  • Stevie G – bass, drum programming, synthesizer programming (track 8, 12)
  • Robert Sithole – flute (track 12)
  • Towa Tei – producer (track 14)
  • Henry "Buttons" Tenyue – brass (track 1)
  • Patrick Tenyue – brass (track 1)
  • Peter Trotman – bass (track 2, 4), songwriter (track 4, 5), vocal arrangement (track 5)
  • The Twilight Firm – producer (track 1, 8, 12)
  • Carl Ward – producer (track 7)
  • Sheila Watts – harp (track 7)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1990) Peak
position
Dutch Albums Chart 75
Swedish Albums Chart 43
UK Albums Chart[4] 14
U.S. Billboard 200[5] 133
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[6] 30

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7] Silver 60,000^

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/uk-blak-mw0000308686
  2. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "UK Blak - Caron Wheeler". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  3. ↑ Wheeler, Caron (13 May 1990). "UK Blak CD Liner Notes: DIDY 009232 / CDP 593497". EMI Records.
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 598. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  5. ↑ Caron Wheeler - Chart History | Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved on November 26, 2016
  6. ↑ Wynn, Ron. "Caron Wheeler: Chart History". billboard.com. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  7. ↑ "British album certifications – Caron Wheeler – UK Blak". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 26, 2016. Enter UK Blak in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
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