{{short description|2001 studio album by India Arie}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox album | name = Acoustic Soul | type = studio | artist = India Arie | cover = IndiaArieAcousticSoul.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2001|3|27}} | recorded = 2000–2001 | studio = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|Various}}|{{plainlist| * Electric Lady (New York City){{efn|Tracks 1, 5, 9 and 15}} * Sound Kitchen (Franklin, Tennessee){{efn|Track 2}} * Music Mill (Nashville, Tennessee){{efn|Tracks 3 and 7}} * Access (Atlanta, Georgia){{efn|Tracks 4–6, 12, 13 and 16}} * Blues House{{efn|Tracks 7, 8 and 14; vocals on track 11}} * New Reflections (Nashville, Tennessee){{efn|Tracks 8 and 11}} * The Studio (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania){{efn|Strings on track 10}} * Worldbeat{{efn|name=Track 10|Track 10}} * Battery (New York City){{efn|name=Track 10}} }}}} | genre = R&B | length = 61:16 | label = Motown | producer = * India Arie * Mark Batson * Carlos "6 July" Broady * Blue Miller * Bob Power | next_title = Voyage to India | next_year = 2002 | misc = {{Singles | name = | type = studio | single1 = Video | single1date = February 6, 2001 | single2 = Brown Skin | single2date = June 11, 2001<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-06-08.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1405|page=51,59,63|date=June 8, 2001|access-date=December 10, 2022}}</ref> | single3 = Strength, Courage & Wisdom | single3date = October 16, 2001<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2001/RR-2001-10-12.pdf|title=Going For Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|pages=53,63|date=October 12, 2001|access-date=December 10, 2022}}</ref> | single4 = Ready for Love | single4date = 2002 }} }} '''''Acoustic Soul''''' is the debut studio album by American singer India Arie. It was released on March 27, 2001, by Motown. The album received seven nominations at the 44th Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best R&B Album. ''Acoustic Soul'' was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on December 17, 2003, denoting shipments in excess of two million copies in the United States.<ref name="RIAA"/>

==Critical reception== Upon its release, the album received acclaim from music critics.<ref name="Acclaim">{{cite web |last1=Shellberg |first1=Tim |title=India.Arie revives her 'acoustic soul' |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/article_cefb48c5-697b-580d-a3c8-49be9aea26c7.html |website=The Times of Northwest Indiana |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=June 27, 2003}}</ref>{{Album ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AM review">{{cite web |last1=Duffy |first1=John |title=Overview: India Arie — Acoustic Soul |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/acoustic-soul-mw0000001036 |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 31, 2022}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Billboard'' | rev2Score = Favorable<ref name="Billboard review">{{cite magazine |last1=Hall |first1=Rashaun |title=Spotlight: India.Arie — Acoustic Soul |magazine=Billboard |date=March 31, 2001 |volume=113 |issue=13 |page=19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev3Score = A<ref name="EW Review">{{cite magazine |title=Music Capsule Review: India.Arie (2009) — Acoustic Soul |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,280582,00.html |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421130803/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,280582,00.html |archive-date=April 21, 2009 |date=March 30, 2001}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Mixmag'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>"India.Arie: Acoustic Soul". ''Mixmag'': 179. June 2001.</ref> | rev5 = ''NME'' | rev5Score = 9/10<ref>Evans, Diana (2001-04-05). [https://www.nme.com/reviews/artistKeyname/4684 "Album Reviews – India.Arie : Acoustic Soul"]. ''NME''. Retrieved on August 12, 2009.</ref> | rev6 = ''PopMatters'' | rev6Score = Favorable<ref>Bottomley, Maurice (2001-03-26). [https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/indiaarie-acoustic/ "India.Arie: Acoustic Soul"]. PopMatters. Retrieved on August 12, 2009.</ref> | rev7 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev7Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/indiaarie/albums/album/207483/review/5944476|title=India.Arie: Acoustic Soul : Music Reviews|last=Masuo|first=Sandy|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=2001-06-05|access-date=2013-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002750/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/indiaarie/albums/album/207483/review/5944476|archive-date=2007-10-01|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev8 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' | rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Cross">{{cite book|last=Cross|first=Charles R.|author-link=Charles R. Cross|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|chapter=India.Arie|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/404 404]}}</ref> | rev9 = ''USA Today'' | rev9Score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref>"[https://archive.today/20130728060126/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/70083908.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+27,+2001&author=Edna+Gundersen;Elysa+Gardner;Steve+Jones;Brian+Mansfield&pub=USA+TODAY&edition=&startpage=D.10&desc=Old+97's+No.+5;+generic+Sasha;+'Acoustic'+India Old 97's No. 5; generic Sasha; 'Acoustic' India]". ''USA Today'': D.10. March 27, 2001.</ref> | rev10 = ''The Village Voice'' | rev10Score = Mixed<ref>Green, Tony (2001-07-03). [http://www.villagevoice.com/2001-07-03/music/who-isn-t-jill-scott/ "Who Isn't Jill Scott?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017084025/http://www.villagevoice.com/2001-07-03/music/who-isn-t-jill-scott/ |date=October 17, 2012 }}. ''The Village Voice''. Retrieved on August 12, 2009.</ref> | noprose = yes }}

==Track listing== {{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Intro | writer1 = India Arie | length1 = 0:50

| title2 = Video | writer2 = {{hlist|Arie|Shannon Sanders|Carlos Broady}} | extra2 = {{hlist|Carlos "6 July" Broady|Arie}} | length2 = 4:09

| title3 = Promises | writer3 = {{hlist|Arie|Blue Miller}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Miller|Arie}} | length3 = 4:37

| title4 = Brown Skin | writer4 = {{hlist|Arie|Sanders|Mark Batson}} | extra4 = {{hlist|Batson|Arie}} | length4 = 4:56

| title5 = Strength, Courage & Wisdom | writer5 = Arie | extra5 = {{hlist|Batson|Arie}} | length5 = 4:57

| title6 = Nature | writer6 = {{hlist|Arie|Batson}} | extra6 = {{hlist|Batson|Arie}} | length6 = 4:24

| title7 = Back to the Middle | writer7 = {{hlist|Arie|Miller}} | extra7 = {{hlist|Miller|Arie}} | length7 = 5:11

| title8 = Ready for Love | writer8 = {{hlist|Arie|Miller}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Miller|Arie}} | length8 = 4:28

| title9 = Interlude | writer9 = Arie | length9 = 1:24

| title10 = Always in My Head | writer10 = {{hlist|Arie|Miller}} | extra10 = {{hlist|Bob Power|Arie}} | length10 = 4:40

| title11 = I See God in You | writer11 = Arie | extra11 = {{hlist|Broady|Arie}} | length11 = 3:17

| title12 = Simple | writer12 = {{hlist|Arie|The Unit|Batson}} | extra12 = {{hlist|Batson|Arie}} | length12 = 3:26

| title13 = Part of My Life | writer13 = Tony Harrington | extra13 = {{hlist|Batson|Arie}} | length13 = 4:03

| title14 = Beautiful | writer14 = {{hlist|Arie|Kerisha Hicks|Miller}} | extra14 = {{hlist|Miller|Arie}} | length14 = 4:05

| title15 = Outro | writer15 = Arie | length15 = 1:18

| title16 = Wonderful (Stevie Wonder Dedication) | note16 = bonus track | writer16 = {{hlist|Arie|Cornelius Barnes|Batson}} | extra16 = {{hlist|Batson|Arie}} | length16 = 5:31 }} {{Track listing | headline = Japanese edition bonus track

| title17 = Butterfly | length17 = 4:07 }} {{Track listing | headline = UK edition bonus tracks

| title17 = Strength, Courage & Wisdom | note17 = live | length17 = 5:57

| title18 = Brown Skin | note18 = Bedroom Rockers Remix | length18 = 3:36 }} {{Track listing | headline = Special edition bonus disc

| title1 = Video | note1 = DJ Dodge Remix

| title2 = Video | note2 = Urban Wolves/Dream Team Remix (featuring Super Cat)

| title3 = Brown Skin | note3 = Bedroom Rockers Radio Remix

| title4 = Brown Skin | note4 = E-London Club Remix

| title5 = Brown Skin | note5 = Mind Trap Mix

| title6 = Strength, Courage & Wisdom | note6 = Remix

| title7 = Strength, Courage & Wisdom | note7 = live from Paradiso }}

'''Sample credits''' * "Video" contains an interpolation of "Fun" by Brick. * "Nature" contains an interpolation of "Quiet Storm" by Mobb Deep.

==Personnel== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Musicians=== *India Arie&nbsp;– vocals, acoustic guitar *Mark Batson&nbsp;– organ, synthesizer, bass, percussion, drums, keyboards, programming, Mellotron, Fender Rhodes *Carlos "6 July" Broady&nbsp;– programming *John Catchings&nbsp;– cello *Larry Goldings&nbsp;– organ, Wurlitzer, string contractor *Steve Grossman&nbsp;– percussion, drums *Tony Harrell&nbsp;– keyboards *Kerisha Hicks&nbsp;– background vocals *Judeth Insel&nbsp;– viola *Avery Johnson&nbsp;– bass *Bashiri Johnson&nbsp;– percussion *Doug Kahan&nbsp;– bass *Terry MacMillan&nbsp;– percussion *Blue Miller&nbsp;– acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar, programming, vocals, background vocals *Bob Power&nbsp;– bass, guitar, conductor, programming *Marlene Rice&nbsp;– violin *Ralph Rolle&nbsp;– drums *Joyce Simpson&nbsp;– background vocals *David Spak&nbsp;– percussion *Laurneá Wilkerson&nbsp;– background vocals *Nioka Workman&nbsp;– cello {{col-2}}

===Technical=== *Producers: India Arie, Mark Batson, Carlos "6 July" Broady, Blue Miller, Bob Power *Executive producer: Kedar Massenburg *Engineers: Kevin Haywood, Avery Johnson, Jim Lightman, Blue Miller, Mark Niemiec, Bob Power, Lovis Scalise, Mike Tocci *Mixing: Kevin Haywood, George Karras, Jim Lightman, Chris Mazer, Blue Miller, Bob Power, Mike Shipley, Alvin Speights, Dave Way *Mastering: Chris Athens *Programming: Mark Batson *Assistant producer: Jason Breckling *String arrangements: Mark Batson *String engineer: Jon Smeltz *Creative director: Sandy Brummels *Product manager: Liz Loblack *Art direction: Annalee Valencia *Design: Annalee Valencia *Photography: Kwaku Alston, Michael Benabib {{col-end}}

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''Acoustic Soul'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2001–2002) ! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position |- {{album chart|Australia|36|artist=India.Arie|album=Acoustic Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- ! scope="row"| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.aria.com.au/Issue627.pdf |title=ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 4th March 2002 |magazine=The ARIA Report |issue=627 |date=March 4, 2002 |page=19 |access-date=January 24, 2020 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080222222433/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20020306-0000/www.aria.com.au/Issue627.pdf |archive-date=February 23, 2008}} {{cbignore}}</ref> | 4 |- ! scope="row"|Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/prev_051001_ALBUMS.html|title=Albums : Top 100|website=Jam!|date=May 19, 2001|access-date=April 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214203849/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicCharts/prev_051001_ALBUMS.html|archive-date=December 14, 2004}}</ref> |align="center"|21 |- ! scope="row"|Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/RANDB.html|title=R&B : Top 50|website=Jam!|date=July 18, 2001|access-date=January 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010723225054/http://www.jamshowbiz.com:80/JamMusicCharts/RANDB.html|archive-date=July 23, 2001}}</ref> |style="text-align:center;"|9 |- {{album chart|Netherlands|48|artist=India.Arie|album=Acoustic Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- ! scope="row"| European Albums (''Eurotipsheet'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/00s/2001/MM-2001-07-14.pdf|title=European Hot 100 Albums|magazine=Eurotipsheet|volume=19|issue=29|date=14 July 2001|page=12|oclc=29800226|via=World Radio History}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|98 |- {{album chart|Germany|50|id=3743|artist=India.Arie|album=Acoustic Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|19|artist=India.Arie|album=Acoustic Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|43|artist=India.Arie|album=Acoustic Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|85|artist=India.Arie|album=Acoustic Soul|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- {{album chart|UK2|55|date=20010708|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- {{album chart|UKR&B|10|date=20010708|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|10|artist=India.Arie|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|3|artist=India.Arie|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2019}} |} {{col-2}}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ 2001 year-end chart performance for ''Acoustic Soul'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2001) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-1_2001.html |title=Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2001 |website=Jam! |date=January 8, 2002 |access-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031212202406/http://jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-1_2001.html |archive-date=December 12, 2003}}</ref> | 95 |- ! scope="row"|Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021122000500/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_r&b.html|date=January 8, 2002|archive-date=November 22, 2002|url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2001_r&b.html|title=Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2001|website=Jam!|accessdate=January 22, 2023}}</ref> |22 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2001 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918211516/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/top-billboard-200-albums |archive-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref> | 97 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2001 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916013038/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums |archive-date=September 16, 2020}}</ref> | 39 |}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ 2002 year-end chart performance for ''Acoustic Soul'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2002) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-albums-2002.htm |title=ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Urban Albums 2002 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=May 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402015222/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-urban-albums-2002.htm |archive-date=April 2, 2019}}</ref> | 19 |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-2_2002.html |title=Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2002 |website=Jam! |date=January 14, 2003 |access-date=March 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906184132/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/200-2_2002.html |archive-date=September 6, 2004}}</ref> | 136 |- ! scope="row"| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_r&b.html |title=Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2002 |website=Jam! |date=January 14, 2003 |access-date=March 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031012032620/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_r&b.html |archive-date=October 12, 2003}}</ref> | 26 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2002/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2002 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919102446/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2002/top-billboard-200-albums |archive-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> | 96 |- ! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2002/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums |title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2002 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915142346/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2002/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums |archive-date=September 15, 2020}}</ref> | 49 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Acoustic Soul''}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=South Africa|artist=India Arie|title=Acoustic Soul|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2001|certyear=2002|certref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mi2n.com/print.php3?id=32544 |title=Mi2N: Music Divas & Rock Bands Top South African Certifications |work=Music Industry News Network |date=May 2, 2002 |access-date=August 26, 2019 |archive-date=May 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531184732/http://www.mi2n.com/print.php3?id=32544 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=India.Arie|title=Acoustic Soul|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2001|certyear=2003|date=December 17, 2003|refname="RIAA"|salesamount=1,860,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3iYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA168 |title=Best of Next |magazine=Vibe |volume=11 |issue=9 |date=September 2003 |page=168 |issn=1070-4701 |via=Google Books}}</ref>}} {{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true}}

==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release history for ''Acoustic Soul'' ! scope="col"| Region ! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format |- ! scope="row"| United States | March 27, 2001 | rowspan="3"| CD |- ! scope="row"| United Kingdom | October 22, 2001 |- ! scope="row"| Japan | December 11, 2001 |- ! scope="row"| United States | July 17, 2007 | CD (special edition) |}

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

===Further reading=== * {{cite book| author = Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard | title = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | others = Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2004 | isbn = 0-7432-0169-8}}

==External links== * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/2q3n/ Album review] at BBC Online * [http://entertainment.ie/album-review/India-Arie---Acoustic-Soul/1294.htm Album review] at Entertainment.ie * [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jun-24-ca-13972-story.html Album review] at ''Los Angeles Times''

{{India.Arie}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2001 debut albums Category:Albums produced by Mark Batson Category:Albums recorded at Electric Lady Studios Category:India Arie albums Category:Motown albums