Instant Vintage

1	Doing What I Can 4:19
2	Body Parts 3:49
3	Be Here 3:48
4	Still Ray 3:03
5	OPH 2:34
6	You're the One That I Like 3:13
7	Excuse Me 3:24
8	Charlie Ray 2:42
9	Different Times 5:01
10	Tick Tock 4:28
11	People 4:26
12	Tek No. 1 0:31
13	Faithful 4:05
14	Make My Day 1:39
15	Blind Man 4:36
16	Tek No. 2 2:10
17	Uptown 5:07
18	What's Life Like 2:49
19	Skyy, Can You Feel Me 14:33

Barnes & Noble

As the tongue-in-cheek title implies, Raphael Saadiq's solo debut, Instant Vintage, pays homage to old-school greats such as Marvin Gaye, Bobby Womack, and Smokey Robinson, whose socially conscious soul music informs the disc's every groove. Saadiq's influences are most apparent on songs such as "Body Parts," with its "Across 110th Street" vibe, and "Make My Day," which could be considered an artistic interpretation of Gaye's "Inner City Blues." Saadiq's references won't surprise his fans, who have followed him from pop giants Tony! Toni! Toné! to R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl, but with Instant Vintage, he does more than just lift from '70s classics. Here, he offers a complete smorgasbord of funk, soul, and R&B, soaring with urban radio-ready songs such as the Dr. Dre-inspired "Still Ray," which samples the hip-hop producer's piano-tapping instrumental "Still Dre." Although he's gone solo, Saadiq is still a team player, as he illustrates on the soulful, guitar-tinged first single, "Be Here," featuring D'Angelo, and on the melodic standout track "Excuse Me," a duet with Angie Stone. With Instant Vintage, Saadiq -- who calls his soulful, crowd-moving sound "gospel-delic" -- taps into his classic soul roots but instigates a new flowering on the fertile neo-soul tree. Elon D. Johnson

All Music Guide

After more than 20 years in the music business, Tony! Toni! Toné! founder Raphael Saadiq has gotten around to offering his solo debut, Instant Vintage. The apropos title reflects the old-school style that Saadiq has adopted for the album. However, he dubs the type of music -- a mix of samples, soul, gospel, and R&B -- "gospedelic." Saadiq has called upon some of neo-soul's most popular artists to help out on Instant Vintage. Angie Stone makes an appearance on the opening dancefloor-worthy track, "Doing What I Can," which briefly tells the story of Saadiq's career. D'Angelo lends a hand on the funkified "Be Here." Traces of 3T seep into Instant Vintage. Lush orchestration, hook-laden, danceable melodies, and gospel influences are evident throughout the recording. This album should be renamed "Instant Classic." ~ Christina Fuoco, All Music Guide

Vibe

Stylistic soul, big-fat beats, and razor-sharp strings...The string sections -- arranged by Saadiq, conducted by Ben Wright, performed by the South Central Chamber Orchestra, and inspired by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra -- elevate the spirit. Todd Inoue