Soul Provider

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r2244|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

|rev2 = Robert Christgau

|rev2score = C−[http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=michael+bolton Robert Christgau Consumer Guide]

|rev3 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev3score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite book | last = Brackett | first = Nathan |author2=Christian Hoard | title = The Rolling Stone Album Guide | publisher = Simon and Schuster | year = 2004 | location = New York City, New York | page = [https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/n103 90] | isbn = 0-7432-0169-8 | url = https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac| url-access = registration | quote = rolling stone michael bolton album guide. }}

}}

Soul Provider has received generally mixed reviews from critics. AllMusic retrospectively described it as "more of the same", but noted that due to this album, Bolton "was now stoking the romantic fires in bedrooms across America". Robert Christgau gave the album a negative review, declaring Bolton to be "indistinguishable from pop metal except in the wattage of his guitar parts and the shamelessness of his song doctors." The Rolling Stone Album Guide described the album as the beginning of Bolton's descent into overdone and disrespectful covers, though they added that some of the self-penned performances on the album showed potential.

{{Track listing

| headline = Soul Provider track listing

| total_length = 47:04

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Soul Provider

| writer1 = Michael Bolton, Andrew Goldmark

| extra1 = Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff

| length1 = 4:28

| title2 = Georgia on My Mind

| writer2 = Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell

| extra2 = Bolton and Susan Hamilton

| length2 = 4:58

| title3 = It's Only My Heart

| writer3 = Bolton, Diane Warren

| extra3 = Michael Omartian

| length3 = 4:33

| title4 = How Am I Supposed to Live Without You

| writer4 = Bolton, Doug James

| extra4 = Omartian

| length4 = 4:48

| title5 = How Can We Be Lovers?

| writer5 = Bolton, Warren, Desmond Child

| extra5 = Bolton and Desmond Child

| length5 = 3:55

| title6 = You Wouldn't Know Love

| writer6 = Bolton, Warren

| extra6 = Bolton

| length6 = 3:54

| title7 = When I'm Back on My Feet Again

| writer7 = Warren

| extra7 = Bolton, Guy Roche, Walter Afanasieff

| length7 = 3:47

| title8 = From Now On

| note8 = featuring Suzie Benson

| writer8 = Bolton, Dean Pitchford, Eric Kaz

| extra8 = Bolton

| length8 = 4:07

| title9 = Love Cuts Deep

| writer9 = Bolton, Warren, Child

| extra9 = Bunetta and Chudacoff

| length9 = 3:49

| title10 = Stand Up for Love

| writer10 = Bolton, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil

| extra10 = Bolton, Barry Mann, Omartian

| length10 = 4:44

| title11 = Forever Eyes

| note11 = bonus track

| writer11 = Bolton, Bob Halligan Jr.

| length11 = 4:23

}}

{{Div col}}

• Michael Bolton – lead vocals, backing vocals (5, 6, 10)
• Robbie Buchanan – keyboards (1, 8, 9)
• Brad Cole – keyboards (1, 9)
• Richard Tee – keyboards (2)
• Eric Rehl – additional synthesizer (2), synthesizers (5)
• Michael Omartian – keyboards (3, 4), drums (3), synthesizers (10), backing vocals (10)
• Walter Afanasieff – additional keyboards (5, 7), percussion (5), synthesizers (7), drums (7)
• Gregg Mangiafico – keyboards (5)
• Phillip Ashley – keyboards (6), additional keyboards (8)
• Guy Roche – additional keyboards (6), arrangements (7)
• Diane Warren – keyboards (7)
• Louis Biancaniello – additional keyboard programming (7)
• Ren Klyce – additional synthesizer programming (7)
• Dan Shea – additional synthesizer programming (7)
• Barry Mann – keyboards (10)
• Dann Huff – guitar (1, 9)
• Steve Lukather – guitar (3, 11)
• Michael Landau – guitar (4, 6, 8, 10), additional guitar (7)
• John McCurry – electric guitar (5), acoustic guitar (5), additional guitar (6)
• Chris Camozzi – guitar (7)
• Schuyler Deale – bass (2)
• Neil Stubenhaus – bass (4, 6, 8-10), additional intro bass (7)
• Hugh McDonald – bass (5)
• Peter Bunetta – drum programming (1)
• Chris Parker – drums (2)
• John Keane – drums (4, 6, 8, 10)
• Bobby Chouinard – drums (5)
• John Robinson – drums (9)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (9)
• Kenny G – saxophone solo (1)
• Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone (2)
• Jerry Peterson – saxophone solo (9)
• Jeff Pescetto – backing vocals (1)
• Sharon Robinson – backing vocals (1)
• Leslie Smith – backing vocals (1)
• Terry Brock – backing vocals (2)
• Jocelyn Brown – backing vocals (2)
• Robin Clark – backing vocals (2)
• Milt Grayson – backing vocals (2)
• Vicki Sue Robinson – backing vocals (2)
• Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (2)
• Richard Marx – backing vocals (3)
• Joe Turano – backing vocals (3, 6)
• Kyf Brewer – backing vocals (5)
• Joe Cerisano – backing vocals (5)
• Desmond Child – backing vocals (5)
• Patricia Darcy – backing vocals (5)
• John Fiore – backing vocals (5, 6)
• Kate McGunnigle – backing vocals (5)
• Lou Merlino – backing vocals (5)
• Bernie Shanahan – backing vocals (5)
• Myriam Naomi Valle – backing vocals (5, 6)
• Suzie Benson – lead vocals (8)
• Jeanette Hawes - backing vocals (9)
• Wanda Vaughn – backing vocals (9)
• Syreeta Wright – backing vocals (9)

{{Div col end}}

• Producers – Peter Bunetta and Rick Chudacoff (Tracks 1 & 9); Michael Bolton (Tracks 2, 6-8 & 10); Susan Hamilton (Track 2); Michael Omartian (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Desmond Child (Track 5); Guy Roche (Track 7); Barry Mann (Track 10)
• Assistant producer on Track 7 – Walter Afanasieff
• Production coordination on Tracks 3 & 4 – Janet Hinde
• Production manager on Track 5 – Steve Savitt
• Production coordination on Track 7 – Doreen Dorian
• Engineers – Daren Klien (Tracks 1 & 9); Rick Kerr (Track 2); David Albert (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Terry Christian (Track 3, 4, 6-8 & 10); Doug Carlton (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Kevin Becka (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Sir Arthur Payson (Track 5); Jay Healy (Tracks 6 & 8); Guy Roche (Track 7); Richard Piatt (Track 7)
• Additional recording – Jeff Balding, Gerry E. Brown, Mark Ettel and Gary Wagner (Tracks 1 & 9); Kevin Becka (Track 8)
• Assistant engineers – Bryant Arnett (Tracks 1 & 9), Laura Livingston (Tracks 1 & 9), Richard McKernon (Tracks 1 & 9), Marnie Riley (Tracks 1, 8 & 9), Steve Satkowski (Tracks 1 & 9); Tim Leitner, Paul Logus, Tony Van Horn and Michaek White (Track 2); Keith Goldstein, Roy Hendrickson, John Herman, Mike Krowiak, Danny Mormando and Joe Pirrera (Track 5); Kevin Becka (Tracks 6 & 7), Dary Sulich (Tracks 6 & 8), Rich Travali (Tracks 6 & 8), Tony Friedman (Track 7)
• Mixing – Mick Guzauski (Tracks 1, 7 & 8); Rick Kerr (Track 2); Terry Christian (Tracks 3, 4 & 10); Sir Arthur Payson (Track 5); David Thoener (Track 6); Gerry E. Brown (Track 9)
• Remix – Mick Guzauski (Track 4); David Frazer (Track 5); Arne Frager (Track 7)
• Mixed at Conway Studios (Hollywood, CA); Right Track Recording, The Hit Factory and Record Plant (New York City, New York)
• Remixed at The Plant (Sausalito, California)
• Mastered by Vlado Meller at CBS Records Studio (New York City, New York)
• Art direction and design – Christopher Austopchuk
• Photography – Glen Erler

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{{certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Soul Provider}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|artist=Michael Bolton|title=Soul Provider|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1989|certref={{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}|accessdate=July 16, 2019}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Canada|artist=Michael Bolton|title=Soul Provider|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=1993|relyear=1989|accessdate=July 12, 2019}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Netherlands|artist=Michael Bolton|title=Soul Provider|award=Gold|certyear=1991|relyear=1989|accessdate=July 12, 2019}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=New Zealand|artist=Michael Bolton|title=Soul Provider|award=Gold|id=1990-05-25|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|relyear=1989}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=album|artist=Michael Bolton|title=Soul Provider|relyear=1988|certyear=1990|award=Gold|certref={{cite book|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/x263f6daopkswo8|title=Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990|publisher=Iberautor Promociones Culturales|language=Spanish|isbn=8480486392}}|accessdate=August 16, 2019}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Sweden|artist=Michael Bolton|title=Soul Provider|award=Platinum|certyear=1990|relyear=1989|accessdate=2 May 2022}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Michael Bolton|title=Soul Provider|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=1992|relyear=1989|id=6147-2655-2|accessdate=July 12, 2019}}

{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Michael Bolton|title=Soul Provider|award=Platinum|number=6|certyear=1994|relyear=1989|accessdate=July 12, 2019}}

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{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|52306|Michael Bolton – Soul Provider}}

{{Michael Bolton}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Michael Bolton albums

Category:1989 albums

Category:Albums produced by Michael Omartian

Category:Albums produced by Desmond Child

Category:Columbia Records albums