Seal (1994 album)

Seal
Seal
Studio album by Seal
Released	23 May 1994
Recorded	1993–1994
Studio	Sarm West (London)
Genre	Progressive soul[1]; pop; dance[2];
Length	50:29
Label	Zang Tumb Tuum; Sire (US);
Producer	Trevor Horn
Seal chronology
Singles from Seal
	"Prayer for the Dying"; Released: 9 May 1994 [3]; "Kiss from a Rose"; Released: 18 July 1994; "Newborn Friend"; Released: 24 October 1994; "I'm Alive"; Released: 1995; "Don't Cry"; Released: 27 November 1995;

Seal (sometimes referred to as Seal II to avoid confusion with the 1991 album of the same name) is the second eponymous studio album by British singer Seal. The album was released in 1994 on ZTT and Sire Records and features the worldwide smash hit single "Kiss from a Rose".

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Christgau's Consumer Guide	[5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[6]
Entertainment Weekly	A[2]
Knoxville News Sentinel	[7]
Los Angeles Times	[8]
NME	4/10[9]
Rolling Stone	[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[11]

The image on the cover has since become nearly synonymous with Seal, in that it has appeared on several singles covers and was reused for his greatest hits album.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bring It On"	Chris Bruce Lisa Coleman Wendy Melvoin Carmen Rizzo Augustus Isidore Seal	3:58
2.	"Prayer for the Dying"	Isidore Seal	5:30
3.	"Dreaming in Metaphors"	Isidore Seal	5:52
4.	"Don't Cry"	Seal	6:17
5.	"Fast Changes"	Isidore Seal	5:42
6.	"Kiss from a Rose"	Seal	4:47
7.	"People Asking Why"	Seal	4:45
8.	"Newborn Friend"	Seal	4:05
9.	"If I Could" (duet with Joni Mitchell)	Seal	4:16
10.	"I'm Alive"	Coleman Melvoin Rizzo Isidore Seal	4:02
11.	"Bring It On (Reprise)"	Bruce Coleman Melvoin Rizzo Isidore Seal	1:15

Personnel

Seal – vocals
Gus Isidore, Jamie Muhoberac, Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin – principal musicians
Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, Andy Duncan, Andy Newmark, Anne Dudley, Anthony Pleeth, Barry Wilde, Ben Cruft, Betsy Cook, Bill Benham, Bob Smissen, Boguslaw Kostecki, Carmen Rizzo, Charley Drayton, Chris Bruce, Chris Laurence, D'Influence, David Oladunni, David Theodore, Derek Watkins, Dick Morgan, Eddie Roberts, Garfield Jackson, Gavyn Wright, George Robertson, Gota Yashiki, Harvey Mason, Helen Liebmann, Ian Thomas, Jackie Shave, Jeff Beck, Jim McLeod, John Pigneguy, Jonathan Evans-Jones, Judd Proctor, Katie Wilkinson, Laurence Cottle, Luís Jardim, Maciej Rakowski, Mark Berrow, Mark Mann, Martin Loveday, Mike Brittain, Mike De Saulles, Nick Busch, Pandit Dinesh, Patrick Kiernan, Paul Kegg, Perry Montague-Mason, Peter Oxer, Phil Spalding, Pino Palladino, Richard Cottle, Rita Manning, Roger Garland, Roger Smith, Sam Maitland, Sarah Webb, Seal, Tim Weidner, Tony Stanton, Trevor Horn, Wilfred Gibson, William Orbit – musicians
Anne Dudley, Wil Malone – string arrangements
Eric Caudieux – programming
Graeme Perkins – orchestration
Nick Knight – cover photography

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Seal II*
Chart (1994–96)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[12]	2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[13]	8
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14]	3
European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)[15]	6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[16]	25
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[17]	4
Scottish Albums (OCC)[18]	19
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[19]	33
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20]	15
UK Albums (OCC)[21]	1
US Billboard 200[22]	15

Year-end charts

1994 year-end chart performance for *Seal II*
Chart (1994)	Rank
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[23]	82
European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)[15]	56
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24]	97
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25]	30
UK Albums (OCC)[26]	37
US Billboard 200[27]	92

1995 year-end chart performance for *Seal II*
Chart (1995)	Rank
Australian Albums (ARIA)[28]	81
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[29]	28
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[30]	90
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[31]	19
UK Albums (OCC)[32]	46
US Billboard 200[33]	56

Certifications

Certifications and sales for *Seal II*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34]	Platinum	70,000^{^}
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[35]	Gold	100,000^*
Germany (BVMI)[36]	Gold	250,000^{^}
Netherlands (NVPI)[37]	Gold	50,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38]	Platinum	15,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)[39]	2× Platinum	600,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)[40]	4× Platinum	4,000,000^{^}
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[41]	Platinum	1,000,000^*
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

Himes, Geoffrey (28 October 1994). "Two Who Revive Progressive Soul". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
Bernard, James (3 June 1994). "Seal". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
"Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 7 May 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
Wilson, MacKenzie. "Seal [1994] – Seal". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG Book '90s: S". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan. ISBN 0312245602. Retrieved 30 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
Larkin, Colin (2011). "Seal". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
Campbell, Chuck (17 June 1994). "McLachlan Explores Love At Its Darkest". Knoxville News Sentinel.
Hunt, Dennis (5 June 1994). "Seal; 'Seal' (Sire/Warner Bros.)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
Sutherland, Mark (28 May 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 33. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
Wright, Christian (6 October 1994). "Seal: Seal (1994)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
Hunter, James (2004). "Seal". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 723. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
"Australiancharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Austriancharts.at – Seal – Seal II" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Dutchcharts.nl – Seal – Seal II" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"1994 in Review: Sale Charts" (PDF). Music & Media 1994 In Review. 24 December 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2022 – via World Radio History.
"Offiziellecharts.de – Seal – Seal II" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Charts.nz – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Swedishcharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Swisscharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Seal Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
"Top RPM Albums: Issue 2686". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"Top Selling Albums of 1994". RIANZ. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"Top 100 Albums 1994" (PDF). Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 11. Retrieved 20 May 2022 – via World Radio History.
"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums 1995 (page 2)". imgur.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"Top RPM Albums: Issue 2839". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"Top Selling Albums of 1995". The Official NZ Music Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"Top UK Albums Chart – Year-End 1995". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 246.
"Brazilian album certifications – Seal – Seal II" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.
"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Seal; 'Seal')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
"Dutch album certifications – Seal – Seal" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Seal in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1995 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
"New Zealand album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recorded Music NZ.
"British album certifications – Seal – Seal". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Seal in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
"American album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recording Industry Association of America.
"IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 February 2020.

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[1] Himes, Geoffrey (28 October 1994). "Two Who Revive Progressive Soul". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 June 2021.

[EW-2] Bernard, James (3 June 1994). "Seal". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2012.

[3] "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 7 May 1994. p. 25. Retrieved 25 June 2021.

[4] Wilson, MacKenzie. "Seal [1994] – Seal". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 June 2012.

[5] Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG Book '90s: S". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan. ISBN 0312245602. Retrieved 30 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[6] Larkin, Colin (2011). "Seal". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.

[7] Campbell, Chuck (17 June 1994). "McLachlan Explores Love At Its Darkest". Knoxville News Sentinel.

[8] Hunt, Dennis (5 June 1994). "Seal; 'Seal' (Sire/Warner Bros.)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 August 2016.

[9] Sutherland, Mark (28 May 1994). "Long Play". NME. p. 33. Retrieved 6 September 2023.

[10] Wright, Christian (6 October 1994). "Seal: Seal (1994)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2012.

[11] Hunter, James (2004). "Seal". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 723. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.

[ac_Australia_Seal-12] "Australiancharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[ac_Austria_Seal-13] "Austriancharts.at – Seal – Seal II" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[ac_Netherlands_Seal-14] "Dutchcharts.nl – Seal – Seal II" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[EuropeAlbum-15] "1994 in Review: Sale Charts" (PDF). Music & Media 1994 In Review. 24 December 1994. p. 12. Retrieved 20 May 2022 – via World Radio History.

[ac_Germany4_Seal-16] "Offiziellecharts.de – Seal – Seal II" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[ac_New_Zealand_Seal-17] "Charts.nz – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[ac_Scotland_-18] "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[ac_Sweden_Seal-19] "Swedishcharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[ac_Switzerland_Seal-20] "Swisscharts.com – Seal – Seal II". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[ac_UK2_-21] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[ac_Billboard200_Seal-22] "Seal Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 May 2020.

[CANYE94-23] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2686". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[24] "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[25] "Top Selling Albums of 1994". RIANZ. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[26] "Top 100 Albums 1994" (PDF). Music Week. 14 January 1995. p. 11. Retrieved 20 May 2022 – via World Radio History.

[27] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[aria95-28] "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums 1995 (page 2)". imgur.com. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[CANYE95-29] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2839". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[30] "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1995". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[31] "Top Selling Albums of 1995". The Official NZ Music Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[32] "Top UK Albums Chart – Year-End 1995". Official Charts. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[33] "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2022.

[AustraliaalbumCertRef-34] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 246.

[BrazilSealSeal_IIalbumCertRef-35] "Brazilian album certifications – Seal – Seal II" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil.

[GermanySealSealalbumCertRef-36] "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Seal; 'Seal')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.

[NetherlandsSealSealalbumCertRef-37] "Dutch album certifications – Seal – Seal" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Seal in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1995 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".

[New_ZealandSealSealalbumCertRef-38] "New Zealand album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recorded Music NZ.

[United_KingdomSealSealalbumCertRef-39] "British album certifications – Seal – Seal". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Seal in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.

[United_StatesSealSealalbumCertRef-40] "American album certifications – Seal – Seal". Recording Industry Association of America.

[EuropeSealSealalbumCertRef-41] "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2 February 2020.

Seal
Discography
Studio albums	Seal (1991) Seal (1994) Human Being (1998) Seal IV (2003) System (2007) Soul (2008) Seal 6: Commitment (2010) Soul 2 (2011) 7 (2015) Standards (2017)
Live albums	Live in Paris (2005)
Compilations	Best 1991–2004 (2004) Hits (2009)
Unreleased albums	Togetherland (2001)
Singles	"Crazy" (1990) "Future Love Paradise" (1991) "The Beginning" (1991) "Killer" (1991) "Violet" (1992) "Prayer for the Dying" (1994) "Kiss from a Rose" (1994) "Newborn Friend" (1994) "I'm Alive" (1994) "Don't Cry" (1996) "Fly Like an Eagle" (1997) "Human Beings" (1998) "This Could Be Heaven" (2001) "Les Mots" (2001) "My Vision" (2002) "Get It Together" (2002) "Love's Divine" (2003) "Waiting for You" (2003) "Walk On By" (2004) "Killer 2005" (2005) "Amazing" (2007) "The Right Life" (2008) "A Change Is Gonna Come" (2008) "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (2008) "I Can't Stand the Rain" (2009) "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (2009) "Secret" (2010)
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