Art N’ Soul<div hidden>Art N Soul Art N Soul</div>
Art n' Soul was a mid-90s R&B trio from Oakland, California, featuring Sam "Tracy" Bostic (vocals/bass), Rodney Lattrel Evans (keyboards), and Dion Riley (drums), known for their soulful sound on their 1996 debut album Touch of Soul, which produced the R&B hit "Ever Since You Went Away" before the group disbanded around 1999, leaving a legacy of smooth, emotive music.
The group formed in the late 1980s, clicking instantly and writing music inspired by artists like Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. Their sound blended street vibes with polished musicality, focusing on emotion over bravado, notes Hip Online.
Key Members" Sam "Tracy" Bostic: Lead vocals and bass, also a producer for other artists before forming the group. Rodney Lattrel Evans: Keyboards. Dion Riley: Drums.
Their debut Album Touch of Soul was released in 1996 on Big Beat/Atlantic Records, the album was co-produced by Timothy Christian Riley of Tony! Toni! Toné!. It reached #36 on the R&B Albums chart, featuring singles "Ever Since You Went Away" (a #19 R&B hit) and "All My Luv".
Despite limited mainstream chart success, they left a mark in the R&B scene with their soulful melodies.
Touch Of Soul
Backing Vocals – Buz
Drum Programming, Keyboards – Lattrel
Drum Programming, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Keyboards, Organ [Hammond B-3], Drums, Backing Vocals – Timothy Christian Riley
Written-By – Lattrel, Timothy Christian Riley, Tracy 6:05
2 Stay With Me
Backing Vocals – Dion
Drum Programming, Keyboards – Timothy Christian Riley
Guitar [All], Bass – John "Jubu" Smith
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Saxophone – Vince Lars
Trumpet – Bill Ortiz
Written-By – John T. Smith, Timothy Christian Riley, Tracy 5:18
3 Special
Acoustic Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Backing Vocals – Buz
Bass – Derek "DOA" Allen
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Timothy Christian Riley
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Saxophone – Vince Lars
Strings – Claire Fischer
Trumpet – Bill Ortiz
Written-By – Fred Busby, Timothy Christian Riley 5:39
4 U Changed
Backing Vocals – Dion, Buz
Drum Programming, Keyboards – Lattrel
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Keyboards – Timothy Christian Riley
Written-By – Dion Riley, Buz, Timothy Christian Riley, Tracy 5:13
5 Ridin'
Backing Vocals – Buz, Lattrel, Ramone Chester
Bass, Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Drum Programming, Keyboards – Timothy Christian Riley
Drums, Backing Vocals – Dion
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Written-By – Buz, Timothy Christian Riley 4:29
6 Light The Candles (Interlude)
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Words By [Spoken] – Lattrel
Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Written-By – John T. Smith, Lattrel, Tracy 1:05
7 Nature Rise
Backing Vocals – Buz
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Timothy Christian Riley
Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Talkbox – Keith Crouch
Written-By – Timothy Christian Riley, Tracy 5:49
8 Touch Of Soul
Backing Vocals – Buz, LaDonna
Bass, Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Drums, Clavinet – Timothy Christian Riley
Keyboards, Bass [Synth], Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Saxophone – Vince Lars
Synth – Lattrel
Trumpet – Bill Ortiz
Written-By – D. Webster, Fred Busby, John T. Smith, M. Adams, M. Hicks, Raye Turner, S. Arrington, Timothy Christian Riley, T. Lockett, Tracy 4:26
9 A Sexy Solo (Interlude)
Instruments [All] – Timothy Christian Riley
Written-By – Timothy Christian Riley 1:38
10 All My Luv
Backing Vocals – Dion, Buz
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Lattrel
Electric Piano [Wurlitzer], Strings – Timothy Christian Riley
Guitar – James "Flatop" Jones
Keyboards, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Saxophone [Solo] – Vince Lars
Written-By – Lattrel, Tracy 5:04
11 Goin' On
Bass, Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Drum Programming, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Percussion – Dion (15)
Piano [Acoustic], Organ [Hammond B-3], Drums – Timothy Christian Riley
Strings – Lattrel
Trumpet [Solo] – Bill Ortiz
Written-By – John T. Smith, Tracy 4:32
12 That's How Love Goes
Backing Vocals – Fred "Buz" Busby
Drum Programming – Lattrel
Drum Programming, Keyboards – Timothy Christian Riley
Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Rap – Big Will
Saxophone – Vince Lars
Written-By – Timothy Christian Riley, Tracy 5:22
13 Dog N' Me
Backing Vocals – Fred "Buz" Busby
Bass, Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Drum Programming, Keyboards – Timothy Christian Riley
Drums – Dion
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Written-By – A. Green, Fred "Buz" Busby, Timothy Christian Riley, W. Mitchell 4:00
14 Light The Candles (Reprise)
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Tracy
Drum Programming, Keyboards, Words By [Spoken] – Lattrel
Guitar – John "Jubu" Smith
Written-By – John T. Smith, Lattrel, Tracy 0:56
Label: Big Beat – 92655-2
Format: CD, Album,
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: Hip Hop, Funk, Soul
Style: RnB, Swing
Art N' Soul's Touch of Soul is praised as a classic, authentic R&B album with live instrumentation, evoking late '70s/early '80s vibes, filled with heartfelt love & relationship tales, standout tracks like "Ever Since You Went Away," and notable for its smooth vocals, jazz-infused arrangements, and rich sounds of real drums, bass, organs, and guitars.
Reviewers highlight its emotional depth, capturing joy, sorrow, lust, and lost love, making it a beloved gem for soul fans, despite its perceived under-promotion.
Featuring rich, live instrumentation (real drums, bass, Fender Rhodes, wah-wah guitars) creating a creamy, dreamy, authentic soul sound, it explores universal themes of love, heartbreak, regret, lust, and reconciliation with palpable emotion.
Standout Tracks: "Ever Since You Went Away" was a significant hit, charting on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Nature Rise" offers a curvy, jazzy feel.
Considered a high-quality, classic soul album by fans, wishing for more from the group. Features smooth, refined R&B vocals that convey deep feelings. Seen as a musical treasure that captures the essence of classic soul.
In essence, Touch of Soul is celebrated for delivering classic, heartfelt R&B with real instruments and compelling storytelling, making it a standout release from the mid-'90s.