Feel My Soul

Feel My Soul is the debut album by singer Jennifer Holliday, released in October 1983 on Geffen Records. The album reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 31 on the Top Albums chart. Feel My Soul was Grammy nominated within the category of Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female.

Overview
Feel My Soul was produced by Maurice White, founder and leader of the funk band Earth, Wind and Fire.

Critical reception
Johnny Loftus of Allmusic gave 3 out of 5 stars exclaiming " Producer Maurice White doesn't take too many risks with Feel My Soul -- he wisely keeps the focus on his star's voice." Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote "Feel My Soul is a confident, sophisticated album bursting with spirit and intelligence. While it mutes Miss Holliday's bluster somewhat, it doesn't seriously dampen her emotional fire." Phyl Garland of Stereo Review commented "Feel My Soul, Holliday's album debut, puts her to the test as a solo performer. With a showcase production by Maurice White, who also shaped Deniece Williams's auspicious first release a few years ago, it proves that Holliday's promise was no illusion." With his 3 out of 5 stars rating Jack Lloyd of the Philadelphia Inquirer stated "Brought up on gospel music, Holliday possesses a powerful voice, and many gospel influences are evident on the album, produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. At times, it seems here that Holliday is trying too hard to demonstrate the dynamic capabilities of her voice, but it is clear that she will be heard from for some time to come."

Personnel

 * Jennifer Holliday - lead vocals, backing vocals
 * Crystal Wilson, Jeanette Hawes, Maurice White, Wanda Vaughn (aka "The Cornbread Choir") - backing vocals
 * Caleb Quaye, Carlos Rios - guitar
 * Roland Bautista - guitar Solo on track 3
 * Nathan East - bass
 * Bill Meyers, David Foster, Edwin Hawkins, Wayne Vaughn - keyboards
 * Robbie Buchanan - synthesizers, synth solo on track 1
 * Greg Phillinganes - synthesizers and synth solo on track 7
 * Fred White, Ricky Lawson - drums
 * Paulinho Da Costa - percussion
 * Maurice White and Wanda Vaughn - backing vocal arrangements
 * Bill Meyers - string and horn arrangements on tracks 1-3, 7
 * Jerry Hey - horn arrangements on tracks 4, 5, 8
 * Jeremy Lubbock - string arrangements on tracks 4 and 9