Beverley Knight’s new album, Soul UK, is a collection of covers that pays homage to a certain period of the 1980s/1990s which was hailed as an emergence for UK soul in its own right.
Most of the tracks on the album were mainstream hits at the time of their release, with the inclusion of certain underground hits. As Beverley put it, “It’s not just about who are the shining stars, but which songs can hit you in the middle of your chest” It’s clear from Beverley’s song choices that she wants to remind people that the UK has a rich history of creating soul music, stretching back for decades. By focusing on the songwriting, this album serves not only to entertain but to educate a new generation on a highly influential era of British soul that they may only have scant knowledge of.
For those of you not old enough to remember the original songs, here’s a quick guide to the tracks that helped define an era.
