Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Billy Porter Presents: The Soul of Richard Rodgers may come as a bit of surprise to his theater fans, following two other Broadway-themed records that took on a more, shall we say, orchestra-pit-friendly demeanor. Even 2005's appropriately titled At the Corner of Broadway + Soul, a live album with relatively limited accompaniment, kept its footing in the showmanship and vibrato of the Great White Way. Here, Porter instead commits to a decidedly urban contemporary approach, in terms of both production and delivery. It's a sound that recalls the '80s and '90s, including, for longtime Porter fans, his Untitled debut from 1997. The record is also meaningfully a "Billy Porter Presents" rather than a "Billy Porter Sings" album; he is featured on five of its twelve tracks, mostly duets. Those and the rest of the set are loaded with high-powered guests, who share over a half-dozen Tony and Grammy Awards, and many more nominations, between them. (Porter himself won a Tony in 2013 for Best Actor in a Musical for Kinky Boots.) They include Hamilton original Broadway cast members Leslie Odom, Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Christopher Jackson. The latter two reimagine "If I Loved You" from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel with jazzy keyboards, funky bass, and a small chorus of soulful backing vocals. In a perhaps surprising move, given that it's often a highlight wherever it appears, Porter hands over Rodgers & Hart's "My Funny Valentine" to 2016 Tony winner Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), who does a smooth R&B rendition befitting the album's sultry tone. Among the more unexpected guests are Pentatonix, who open the track list with a stylized, syncopated soul twist on "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," backing Porter's lead. Porter also does a duet with India.Arie, "Carefully Taught," from South Pacific, that's one of a few socially conscious tunes in the rotation. Also from South Pacific, "I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," apparently selected for the phrase, is made into one. A duet between our presenter and Todrick Hall, it quickly trades the show tune's melody for some scathing and timely raps and vocal vamps directed at a certain reality star-turned-president ("Show him what the door is for"). A funky "Lady Is a Tramp" with rapper Zaire Park also takes liberties with the lyrics, and a solo Porter closes the album with a song he performed for Concert for America, which offered counterprogramming for Donald Trump's inauguration earlier in 2017. It's an R&B-styled reinvention of "Edelweiss" that maintains the original's sincerity and political subtext, with added commentary. For listeners not put off by the non-traditional takes or its 2017 context, the album delivers on talent and soul -- with gusto.
© Marcy Donelson /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
Pentatonix, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Pentatonix, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer - Christian Almiron, Keyboards - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Bass, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - James Sampliner, Arranger, Producer - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Ed Boyer, Mixing Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Leslie Odom Jr., Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Leslie Odom, Jr., Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Christian Almiron, Bass, Keyboards - Leslie Odom Jr. - Lorenz Hart, Composer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - James Sampliner, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Renée Elise Goldsberry, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Christopher Jackson, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Renee Elise Goldsberry, Christopher Jackson, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Christian Almiron, Bass - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - James Sampliner, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Erik Reichers, Mixing Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Brandon Victor Dixon, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Joshua Henry, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Brandon Victor Dixon, Joshua Henry, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Lorenz Hart, Composer - Christian Almiron, Bass, Keyboards - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer, Strings - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - James Sampliner, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer - John "Scrapper" Sneider, Arranger, Trumpet - Donald Hayes, Saxophone - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer - Erik Reichers, Mixing Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Patina Miller, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Patina Miller, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Christian Almiron, Bass, Keyboards - Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - Donald Hayes, Horn - James Sampliner, Arranger, Producer - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Cynthia Erivo, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Cynthia Erivo, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Christian Almiron, Bass, Keyboards, Producer - Lorenz Hart, Composer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Drums, Executive Producer, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - James Sampliner, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Erik Reichers, Mixing Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Todrick Hall, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Todrick Hall, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer - Amber Iman - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Bass, Drums, Executive Producer, Guitar, Horn, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Capathia Jenkins - James Sampliner, Arranger, Producer - Mykal Kilgore - Christian Almiron, Keyboards - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - Donald Hayes, Horn - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Deborah Cox, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Deborah Cox, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Christian Almiron, Bass, Keyboards - Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - James Sampliner, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Ledisi, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Zaire Park, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Ledisi feat. Zaire Park, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Lorenz Hart, Composer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Christian Almiron, Bass, Keyboards - James Sampliner, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer - Donald Hayes, Arranger, Horn - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Seneca "Purple Chrome", Recording Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
India.Arie, Associated Performer, Main Artist - Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - India.Arie, Billy Porter, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer - Christian Almiron, Keyboards - James Sampliner, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Bass, Drums, Executive Producer, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Porter, Arranger, Associated Performer, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Zaire Park, Associated Performer, Featured Artist - Billy Porter feat. Zaire Park, Associated Performer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Lorenz Hart, Composer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Arranger, Bass, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer - Christian Almiron, Bass, Keyboards - James Sampliner, Arranger, Keyboards, Producer - Donald Hayes, Arranger, Horn - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Billy Porter, Executive Producer, Main Artist, Producer - Richard Rodgers, Composer - Jamell Richardson, Guitar - Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer - Christian Almiron, Bass, Keyboards - Michael McElroy, Arranger - James Sampliner, Keyboards, Piano, Producer - Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer, Bass, Drums, Executive Producer, Keyboards, Mixing Engineer, Percussion, Producer, Strings - Suzi Dietz, Executive Producer - Bob Horn, Mixing Engineer - Sean Klein, Assistant Engineer - Kevin "Doctor Sound" Fazio, Recording Engineer - Gene Grimaldi, Mastering Engineer
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Billy Porter Presents: The Soul of Richard Rodgers may come as a bit of surprise to his theater fans, following two other Broadway-themed records that took on a more, shall we say, orchestra-pit-friendly demeanor. Even 2005's appropriately titled At the Corner of Broadway + Soul, a live album with relatively limited accompaniment, kept its footing in the showmanship and vibrato of the Great White Way. Here, Porter instead commits to a decidedly urban contemporary approach, in terms of both production and delivery. It's a sound that recalls the '80s and '90s, including, for longtime Porter fans, his Untitled debut from 1997. The record is also meaningfully a "Billy Porter Presents" rather than a "Billy Porter Sings" album; he is featured on five of its twelve tracks, mostly duets. Those and the rest of the set are loaded with high-powered guests, who share over a half-dozen Tony and Grammy Awards, and many more nominations, between them. (Porter himself won a Tony in 2013 for Best Actor in a Musical for Kinky Boots.) They include Hamilton original Broadway cast members Leslie Odom, Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Christopher Jackson. The latter two reimagine "If I Loved You" from Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel with jazzy keyboards, funky bass, and a small chorus of soulful backing vocals. In a perhaps surprising move, given that it's often a highlight wherever it appears, Porter hands over Rodgers & Hart's "My Funny Valentine" to 2016 Tony winner Cynthia Erivo (The Color Purple), who does a smooth R&B rendition befitting the album's sultry tone. Among the more unexpected guests are Pentatonix, who open the track list with a stylized, syncopated soul twist on "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," backing Porter's lead. Porter also does a duet with India.Arie, "Carefully Taught," from South Pacific, that's one of a few socially conscious tunes in the rotation. Also from South Pacific, "I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," apparently selected for the phrase, is made into one. A duet between our presenter and Todrick Hall, it quickly trades the show tune's melody for some scathing and timely raps and vocal vamps directed at a certain reality star-turned-president ("Show him what the door is for"). A funky "Lady Is a Tramp" with rapper Zaire Park also takes liberties with the lyrics, and a solo Porter closes the album with a song he performed for Concert for America, which offered counterprogramming for Donald Trump's inauguration earlier in 2017. It's an R&B-styled reinvention of "Edelweiss" that maintains the original's sincerity and political subtext, with added commentary. For listeners not put off by the non-traditional takes or its 2017 context, the album delivers on talent and soul -- with gusto.
© Marcy Donelson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:50:59
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Billy Porter
- Composer: Richard Rodgers
- Label: Masterworks
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
(P) 2017 Sony Music Entertainment
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.