Ruben Studdard Soulful CD

"Superstar" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Although Clay Aiken was the first of the AMERICAN IDOL second-year finalists out of the gate with his MEASURE OF A MAN album, winner Ruben Studdard subsequently presented his full-length debut with the appropriately named SOULFUL. Displaying a genuine love of R&B and soul, Studdard follows in the footsteps of his hero, Luther Vandross, on this charming set of songs.

Studdard starts off, oddly enough, by apologizing on the pleading slow jam "Sorry 2004." With the following "No Ruben," Studdard offers up his take on the "keeping-it-real" tune (a la Jennifer Lopez's "Jenny from the Block"), where he thanks everyone from the people at his local barbershop to the "brothers at the laundromat for the covers." No stranger to classic cover songs, Studdard also croons the Bee-Gees' "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" and the time-honored standard "For All We Know." Elsewhere, he reminds everyone that "material things come and go" on the synth- and beat-driven "Take the Shot," once again proving that this AMERICAN IDOL winner has his heart in the right place.

Live Recording

Personnel: Ruben Studdard (vocals, background vocals); Fred Hammond (vocals, drum programming, background vocals); Carl Sturken (guitar, keyboards); Joey Woolfalk, Kevin Hanson, Mark Jaimes, Michael Thompson (guitar); Alyssa Park, John Wittenberg, Barry Finclair, Ghislaine Fleischmann, Charlene Kwas, Bob Peterson, Mark Robertson , Sid Page, Elena Barere, Cenovia Cummins, Richard Sortomme, Igor Szwec, Emma Kummrow, Armen Garabedian, Josephina Vergara, Michele Richards, Berj Garabedian, Olga Konopelsky, Jonathan Dinklage, Charlie Bisharat (violin); Peter Nocella, Karie Prescott, Vince Lionti, Evan Wilson, Davis A. Barnett, Bob Becker (viola); Suzie Katayama, Larry Corbett, Richard Locker, Jennie Lorenzo, Dan Smith (cello); Lawrence Feldman (flute); Peter Gordon (French horn); Peter Murray , Rob Mounsey (piano, keyboards); James Poyser (piano); Greg Phillinganes, Noel Hall (keyboards); Steve Ferrera, Ricky Lawson (drums); Postmaster (programming); Tommie Walker (drum programming); Cindy Mizelle, Angela Fisher, Joseph Jr. Bereal, Crystal Drummer, Andrew Kennedy, Edward Lawson, Melissa Bereal, Kevin Milburn, Latanya Bereal, Eric Bell, Eric Dawkins, Harold Lilly, Bereal Powell, Cecilia, Anthony Wilkins, Maxi Anderson, Ashley Davis, Joel Bowers, Eric King (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: John Frye; Kevin "KD" Davis; Fred Hammond; Jon Smeltz; Al Hemberger; Andre Harris; Rich Keller; Rob Chiarelli; Serban Ghenea; Vidal Davis; Leslie Brathwaite.

Recording information: Brandon's Way, Hollywood, CA; Crackhouse Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Enterprise Studios; Face To Face Studios, Southfield, MI; Larrabee Studios, Los Angeles, CA; PatchWerk Recording Studios, Atlanta, GA; Quad Recording Studios, New York, NY; Right Track Studios, New York, NY; Sony Studios, New York, NY; South Beach Studios, Miami Beach, FL; The Loft, Bronxville, NY; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA; Underlab, Los Angeles, CA.

Editor: Dabling Harward.

Photographer: Kwaku Alston.

Arrangers: David Campbell ; James McMillan.

Personnel: Ruben Studdard, Fred Hammond (vocals); Fat Joe, Pretty Tony (rap vocals); Andre Harris, Vidal Davis, The Underdogs, Lil' Ronnie (various instruments); Carl Sturken (guitar, keyboards); Siete, Mark Jaimes, Joel Woolfalk, Michael Thompson (guitar); Peter Murray, Rob Mounsey (piano, keyboards); Greg Phillinganes, Noel Hall (keyboards); Nathan East, John Nevin (bass); Steve Ferrera, Ricky Lawson (drums); Tommie Walker (programming); Eric Dawkins, Harold Lilly, Cindy Mizelle, The Tribe Called Judah (background vocals).

Producers include: Clive Davis, The Underdogs, Harold Lilly, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti.

Mojo (Publisher) (p.103) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Studdard's Luther-like take on Leon Russell's 'Superstar' is arresting..."