The 8-piece Midlands-based Soul band Stone Foundation celebrate an incredible 25 years of success with the release ofthe retrospective anthology ‘Standing In The Light’ on 30 June 2023 through 100 Percent Records. With this collection, the band will be looking to continue their rich vein of success, their last four albums all charted UK Top 40 (Album Chart) and UK Top 10 (Independent Chart & also Vinyl Chart), including of course 2022’s ‘Outside Looking In’. The Mirror described them as “Majestic, optimistic soul. Faultless”.
‘Standing In The Light’ will feature the very best of the band’s output across that quarter century, and ten studio albums. The band will also bring the story right up to date with the inclusion of two brand new tracks – Stone Foundation are happy to celebrate the road travelled, but the foot remains on the accelerator. The album is available on a range of physical formats: 2CD [33 tracks] / 2LP [22 tracks] / 5CD boxset [78 tracks, many archive/unreleased] as well as Digital [replicating 2CD tracklisting].
This announcement was preceded by the release of the single ‘B What U R’ and the album will follow the release of another single with ‘Summer Feeling’ landing on 27 March on Digital and 7” format. The band are big advocates of the 7” format, having had a string of #1 hits on the Vinyl Singles Chart making them one of the most successful artists on that chart in the 2010s.
Known for their collaborative spirit and inclusive approach, the band team up regularly with Paul Weller who sings lead on a number of their songs. He has worked with them frequently across the last decade, on both the Stone Foundation catalogue and his own solo work. ‘Standing In The Light’ boasts an enviable list of collaborators from the best of British (Weller, Mick Talbot, Dr Robert, Graham Parker and more) to the finest American soul voices (Durand Jones, Melba Moore, Bettye LaVette, William Bell, Nolan Porter & more).
‘Standing In The Light’ is yet another big step forward for this constantly evolving band. Along the way they have always ploughed their own furrow and made their own luck. Yet they have enjoyed national airplay from BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio 2, rave reviews from a huge range of publications, played Glastonbury and sold out headline shows at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire and the Electric Ballroom. Stone Foundation have recently opened for Madness, The Specials, Jamiroquai, Mavis Staples and Paul Weller. They have just announced a 25th Anniversary Tour for October / November 2023, including 2-night residency at Islington Assembly Hall; they never do less than 50 shows per year.
The band are established, but never the establishment. Stone Foundation may be ten studio albums in and marking 25 years together with this release, but still feel like the underdog. ‘Standing In The Light’ might just provide the spotlight they deserve.
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