For Life (album)

For Life
Studio album by Soul for Real
Released	September 24, 1996
Recorded	1995–1996 The Hit Factory Daddy's House Recording Studios New York City, New York
Genre	R&B, soul
Length	58:51
Label	Uptown, Universal
Producer	Heavy D. & Tony Dofat, Chucky Thompson, Sean Combs & Stevie J., Tim & Bob, Chris Kringle, Rhano & Rheji Burrell, Dave Cintron
Soul for Real chronology
Candy Rain (1995) For Life (1996) Heat (1999)

Professional ratings
Review scores
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Allmusic	link

For Life is the second studio album by Soul for Real, released on September 24, 1996. The album was released quickly after their debut studio album Candy Rain. During that time, Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell left the label to become the president at Motown Records.^[1] MCA Music Entertainment Group CEO Doug Morris promoted Heavy D. as the new president of Uptown several months before the release of For Life.^[2] As a result, Uptown was moved from its parent company MCA Records to the newly launched Doug Morris label Universal Records.

The first single released was the Chucky Thompson produced first single "Never Felt This Way", followed by the Sean "Puffy" Combs & Stevie J. produced second single "Love You So". Despite getting good reviews, the album was met with the sophomore jinx. This album would be the first of a long line of R&B albums that were underpromoted while being released under Universal Records. For Life would be their last album recorded for a major label, as they would go independent for their next album.

Track listing

1. Stay (Tony Dofat, Louise Francis, Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple)
2. Never Felt This Way (Dwight Meyers, Nicole Johnson)
3. You Just Don't Know (Dwight Meyers, Tony Dofat, Erik Milteer, Felicia Adams)
4. Love You So (Sean Combs, Steven Jordan, Marvin Scandrick, Michael Keith, Quinnes Parker, Daron Jones)
5. Let's Stay Together (Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Al Jackson, Jr.)
6. Good to You (Nicole Johnson)
7. Being With You (Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson)
8. Leavin' (Dwight Meyers, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Curt Gaddy, Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple)
9. Where Do We Go (Sean Combs, Steve Jordan, Marvin Scandrick, Michael Keith, Quinnes Parker, Daron Jones)
10. I'm Coming Home (Dwight Meyers, Faith Evans)
11. Your Love Is Calling (Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple)
12. I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye (Faith Evans, Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell)
13. Can't You Tell (Acapella) (Chris Dalyrimple, Brian Dalyrimple, Andre Dalyrimple, Jason Dalyrimple)

Samples

• "Stay" contains a sample of "Mind Power", as performed by James Brown
• "You Just Don't Know" contains a sample of "Take Some Leave Some", as performed by James Brown
• "Love You So" contains a sample of "Blues & Pants", as performed by James Brown

Personnel

• Keyboards and drum programming: Tony Dofat, Chucky Thompson, Stevie J., Chris Kringle, Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Dave Cintron
• Guitar: Rob Bacon, Jon Shriver
• Background vocals: Soul for Real, Erik Milteer, Monifah
• Recording engineer: Carl Nappa, Jon Shriver, Lane Craven, Tony Dofat, Andy Grassi, Ian Dalsemer, Bill Esses, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell
• Mixing: Jon Shriver, Chucky Thompson, Tony Dofat, Paul Logus, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Jamey Staub, Prince Charles Alexander, Carl Nappa
• Mastering: Chris Gehringer
• Photography: Daniela Federici
• Art direction: Nicole L. Dollison
• Design: Eric Altenburger, Elizabeth Barrett

References