What makes Sweet Revival by Ronnie Foster notable?

Sweet Revival is significant for its seamless fusion of jazz and soul, influencing subsequent musicians within both genres. The album features covers of popular songs like Me and Mrs. Jones and Back Stabbers, which helped it resonate with a wider audience, contributing to Foster's growing reputation as a skilled arranger and performer. Released in 1972, Sweet Revival was Ronnie Foster's debut album, showcasing his talents as a keyboardist and composer. At this point in his career, he was beginning to establish himself in the music scene after working with notable artists like George Benson and Donald Byrd.

How many songs are on Sweet Revival?

Sweet Revival has 10 tracks, running approximately 45 minutes.

Sweet Revival

Ronnie Foster · 1972

45 min · 10 tracks · jazz

A rich blend of jazz and soul, marked by smooth grooves and emotive melodies that evoke both warmth and introspection.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Me and Mrs. Jones — This track stands out for its soulful interpretation, highlighting Foster's ability to infuse emotional depth into familiar melodies while showcasing his intricate keyboard work.
→
Back Stabbers — Foster’s rendition transforms the original's narrative into a jazz-funk groove, displaying his skill in reimagining popular tunes through an improvisational lens.
→
Where Is the Love? — This track captures a reflective mood with its lush arrangements and poignant melodies, embodying the thematic heart of the album's exploration of love and longing.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

Foster's debut blends jazz and soul effectively, with strong musicianship but less distinctiveness in composition.

What we noticed

The album opens with a title track that establishes a smooth groove, followed by tracks that alternate between upbeat and more introspective tempos.
The covers included are reinterpreted with a jazz sensibility, blending familiar melodies with Foster's unique keyboard style.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Where Is the Love?

The song questions the absence of affection shifts from a personal inquiry to a broader societal commentary.

This transition allows for a deeper reflection on love's complexities beyond individual relationships, enhancing the song's emotional weight.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Sweet Revival 3:52
2 Lisa's Love 5:20
3 Back Stabbers 3:20
4 Me and Mrs. Jones 4:23
5 Alone Again (Naturally) 4:05
6 Where Is the Love? 5:26
7 Some Neck 4:43
8 It's Just Gotta Be That Way 3:49
9 Superwoman 5:00
10 Inot 5:03

What to play next

Listen next

Two Headed Freap

1972

Go back to

The Two Headed Freap

Full Ronnie Foster discography Artists like Ronnie Foster

jazz soul

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata