Joss Stone
Joscelyn Eve Stoker, known professionally as Joss Stone, was born on April 11, 1987, in Dover, Kent, England. She struggled with dyslexia, which impacted her school performance, but discovered her singing talent early. At age 13, she auditioned for the BBC show Star for a Night, performing songs by Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston.
Stone rose to fame in 2003 with her debut album The Soul Sessions, a collection of soul covers that earned a Mercury Prize nomination. Her 2004 follow-up Mind Body & Soul topped the UK Albums Chart, making her, at 17, the youngest female solo artist to achieve that feat. She has released subsequent albums like Colour Me Free! (2009) and LP1 (2011), selling over 14 million records worldwide as one of the top soul artists of the 2000s.
Stone won a Grammy in 2007 for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. She received three Grammy nominations in 2005, including Best New Artist, and holds a Guinness World Record as the youngest BRIT Award solo winner at 17 for British Female Solo Artist. Other honors include British Urban Act at the BRITs.
Stone debuted in film with roles in Fantastic Four (2005), Eragon (2006), and James Bond 007: Blood Stone (2010). Known for performing barefoot and early nose piercings, she resides in Devon, UK, near her family.
As of 2023, Stone is married to Cody DaLuz since October 26, and they have four children.
The Soul Sessions
Acoustic Guitar – Angelo Morris
Written-By – Harlan Howard 3:35
2 Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me?) Pt. 1
Guitar – Angelo Morris
Percussion – Ignacio Nunez
Tambourine – Mike Mangini
Written-By – Willie Garner 4:20
3 Fell In Love With A Boy
Backing Vocals – Angie Stone
Bass – Adam Blackstone
Guitar – Kirk Douglas
Keyboards – James Poyser, Kamal
Producer, Drums – Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson
Written-By – Jack White 3:38
4 Victim Of A Foolish Heart
Guitar – Angelo Morris
Written-By – Charles Buckins, George Jackson 5:31
5 Dirty Man
Acoustic Guitar – Jimmy Farkus
Guitar – Angelo Morris
Written-By – Bobby Miller 2:59
6 Some Kind Of Wonderful
Organ – Angelo Morris
Written-By – John Ellison 3:56
7 I've Fallen In Love With You
Arranged By [Strings] – John Angier
Backing Vocals – Deanna Carroll, Taneka Duggan
Bass – Steve Greenwell
Cello – Alan Stepansky, Leanne LeBlanc, Jenny Turner, Sarah Seiver
Drums – Ahmir '?uestlove' Thompson
Guitar – Mark Ciprit
Keyboards – Danny Pierre
Saxophone – Sam Furnace
Viola – Dawn Hannay, Karen Dreyfus, Robert Rinehart, Tom Rosenfeld
Violin – Liz Lim, Fiona Simon, Jenny Strenger, Jung Sun Yoo, Laura Seaton, Lisa Kim, Myung Hi Kim, Rob Shaw, Sandra Park, Sarah Kim, Sharon Yamada, Soo Hyun Kwon
Written-By – Carla Thomas 4:29
8 I Had A Dream
Written-By – Jon B. Sebastian 3:01
9 All The King's Horses
Organ – Angelo Morris
Written-By – Aretha Franklin 3:03
10 For The Love Of You (Pts. 1 & 2)
Keyboards – Angelo Morris
Written-By – Christopher Jasper, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley, Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley 7:33
Label: S-Curve Records – SC 42234
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2003
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Soul-Jazz, Contemporary R&B
Joss Stone's debut album, The Soul Sessions, is widely regarded as an impressive and surprising debut, showcasing a then 16-year-old British singer with a remarkably mature, rich, and gritty soul voice that belies her age. The album, a collection of classic 1960s and 70s soul covers, generally received positive reviews, though some critics found it lacked the "bite" of original material.
The consensus among reviewers is that Stone possesses a stunning and powerful voice with a natural soul inflection, often compared favorably to established soul divas. Her delivery is praised for being convincing, sincere, and smooth.
Produced by veteran Miami soul musicians like Betty Wright and Timmy Thomas, the album is a meticulous re-creation of the classic 70s soul sound. This authentic production was a major selling point, distinguishing her from contemporary pop acts of the time.
The album features covers of obscure and well-known soul tracks, including Harlan Howard's "The Chokin' Kind" and a re-imagined version of The White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a Girl" (retitled "Fell in Love with a Boy"). The latter track was often highlighted as a fresh and successful juxtaposition that blended well into the album's sound.
Critics lauded the album as an accomplished achievement, a pleasant journey back in time, and an excellent showcase for her raw talent. It was a commercial success, peaking high on both UK and US charts.
Some reviewers noted that, as a covers album, it felt a bit like an "artistic compromise" or a "covers band" performance lacking the personal touch of self-penned songs. A few felt her youth meant she couldn't fully inhabit the deep emotional experiences of some songs compared to seasoned veterans.
Ultimately, The Soul Sessions succeeded in establishing Joss Stone as a major new vocal talent and a force in the neo-soul genre, a success that her subsequent albums have often been measured against.
The Soul Sessions is considered a significant debut that established Joss Stone as a notable talent in soul and R&B music.