1998 Rewind: Remembering Kelly Price’s Soul of a Woman

I’ve been very vocal about my love for the year 1998 – I believe it’s one of the last great years in R&B and hip-hop history. Since 2023 marks 25 years since those magical 12 months, 1998 Rewind will look back at some of the best (and most underrated) albums of that time.

Ever since the start of this series, there has been ONE album that I’ve looked forward to revisiting. This is finally the time. In August 1998, I purchased what would soon become my all-time favorite R&B album. Not Miseducation, not Never Say Never, not a 112 or Dru Hill joint, not a reissue of Songs in the Key of Life or What’s Going On, not even a CD from the mighty King Keef himself. It was Kelly Price’s debut album, a LP that has captivated me for over two decades. Timothy Hall slides in from the Soul in Stereo Cypher on Facebook to chat about an album that often flies under the radar but will always be special to me.

Let’s head back to the glorious year of 1998. Tell us about your first experience with this album.

Tim: Kelly Price’s Soul Of A Woman debut album was released a few weeks before the start of my senior year in high wchool. This album took Kelly from in-demand background singer, vocal arranger/producer and rap song “hook girl” into R&B stardom status. The lead/1st single “Friend Of Mine” debuted on radio 3 months before the album was released. “Friend Of Mine” was a jolt to the R&B genre, with Kelly’s soul-piercing vocals and subject matter for the single giving a glimpse into the depths that very Soul Of A Woman would encompass when it was released.

Hearing the album in it’s totality, felt like I was reading from the pages of Kelly’s personal journal, or sitting in on her therapy sessions.

Edd: I could write 20,000 words on this album – and if you’re an OG on this site, you know I have many times in the past. For now, I’ll keep it short.

I first heard the “Friend of Mine” single in early summer 1998 and was instantly blown away – not just by Kelly’s vocal power, but her boundless emotion. She belted every note with unabashed FURY. At this point, I hadn’t realized that Kelly was already voice behind some of my favorite hits, specifically several Bad Boy era records. I thought she was a totally new artist and, in the days without Google, I was obsessed with finding out who this incredible artist was.

After weeks of stalking, I finally found her single at Camelot music and I was shocked – her face wasn’t even on the single cover! Just a giant K and P, with some sunglasses. This Kelly Price woman was a mystery wrapped in an enigma! I wouldn’t lay eyes on my new fave until the video for the “Friend of Mine Remix” dropped, but by then I already had the album and was utterly, totally obsessed with her vocal prowess.

In my eyes, this was OUR Aretha Franklin, a timeless voice for our generation. And instantly, that mysterious woman, whose face I never saw but whose voice moved me with every note, would be the architect of what would become my favorite R&B album ever.

Time to talk about best song. What’s your pick?

Tim: “Her”

“Her” is the best song, it also should’ve been the second single. Every aspect of this song is perfection.

Edd: “Her”

First of all, ranking the songs on this album was pure torture. It’s like asking me to rank my nonexistent kids, or, more importantly, ranking the flavors of Sour Patch kids. An impossible task. Even the last song on my list (shout out to Cease-A-Leo) beats most of what I’ve heard in 2023. But in terms of BEST, it’s an extremely close call between the OG “Friend of Mine” and the majestic “Her.” I’ll give the slight edge to Her, due to her masterful mix of her low register in the beginning and the Super Saiyan power she unleashes at the end. It’s an incredible roller-coaster of emotion and vocal prowess.

What’s your choice for best video?

Tim: “Friend of Mine Remix”

“Friend Of Mine Remix” is hands down the best and most iconic video off of the album.

Edd: “Friend of Mine Remix”

There’s only one choice here. The videos for “Secret Love Remix” and the title track have almost been lost to time. But no one will ever forget the proper debut of MR BIGGS, Kelly’s murderous godfather and his forever beef with the king of prison karaoke night (and before you aht-aht me, yes, I know Mr. Biggs was first mentioned in the “Down Low Remix” but he went from background menace to proper character here). It’s a video that became so historic that Kelly herself was a bit overshadowed … but more on that later.

This album is a vocal masterclass. Which song boasted Kelly’s best performance?

Tim: “Friend Of Mine” and “Her”

“Friend Of Mine” and “Her” are where you’ll find Kelly’s voice on it’s fullest display. Gut punching anddd heart wrenching vocals.

Edd: “Friend of Mine”

Tim is right – this is really between “Friend of Mine” and “Her.” Flip a coin and you’ll still land on the right answer. I guess I’ll go “Friend of Mine,” mainly because I’m still amazed that she could go all out for THAT long without losing control of her voice.

What’s the most underrated song?

Tim: “Take Me to a Dream”

“Take Me To A Dream” would have to be the most underrated song off this. It’s a simple stripped down ballad with a guitar, a piano, strings and Kelly’s voice (which softly soars on this song).

Edd: “Don’t Say Goodbye”

Again, no wrong answer for this one (and “Take Me to a Dream” is a stellar pick). I’ll say “Don’t Say Goodbye,” mainly because I thought it had potential as a Midnight Love-ish single. It’s pretty understated (before Kelly goes KELLY near the end) but you know what they say about the quiet ones – they go the hardest.

“Friend of Mine” vs “Secret Love” – which song was remixed best?

Tim: “Friend of Mine Remix”

“Friend Of Mine Remix” Is the far better remix off this album. The “Secret Love” (So-so Def Remix) seemed like a weird pairing, just by looking at the title, upon listening that weirdness is confirmed, at least for me.

Edd: “Friend of Mine Remix”

Confession: It really annoyed me that nearly all the singles from this project were lesser remixes of superior songs. I love a good So So Def remix and understand why they aimed for radio but it pales in comparison to the original “Secret Love.” And while I was never the biggest fan of the “Friend of Mine Remix” (it’s good – just not nearly as good as what preceded it) it’s way above “Secret Love” Part Deux. It wins easily.

Soul of a Woman was a success; it went platinum and peaked at No. 2 on the R&B charts, with “Friend of Mine” going to No. 1. But what kept it from going further?

Tim: I think a better pick for the second single could’ve possibly pushed the album into multi-platinum territory.

Edd: I agree with Tim. Instead of pulling Kelly outside of her comfort zone, I think rolling with a stronger single – like “Her” or “You Complete Me” with the red-hot 112 – would have given this album a much longer shelf life. But realistically, we have to remember just how hot the competition was for R&B during this era. Just two weeks after this release, we’d get Lauryn Hill’s landmark debut and down the line major albums from Deborah Cox, Whitney Houston, Dru Hill and ALL THREE of Bad Boy’s R&B acts. And we can’t forget about Monica and Brandy doing the thing just a few months prior. R&B was ON FIRE in 1998 and it’s a testament to Kelly’s talent that both “Friend of Mine” and the album itself both had brief moments to shine in such a crowded marketplace.

Is this Kelly’s best album?

Tim: This is Kelly’s best album (it’s a tie between this debut and her self-titled Kelly album that I give this honor to).

Edd: Come on, playa. Kelly is good. Mirror Mirror is good. Priceless is even better than both (put it back on streaming you cowards!) But Soul of a Woman is my favorite album OF ALL TIME, I think you know my answer to this one.

Is Soul of a Woman an R&B classic?

Tim: It’s also an R&B classic. If anybody tells you otherwise their “music ears” need to be tested.

Edd: Sigh, and this is the moment where I go from Kelly Price’s No. 1 Stan to your Unbiased Music Reviewer. Let’s go back to my criteria for determining a classic album. A “classic” is defined as an album that a) is of exceptional quality, b) is a turning point in an artist’s career forward and c) has widespread impact on its genre. Kelly has the first two locked up: I have no problem giving Soul of a Woman the coveted five-star review, and it’s absolutely her most defining release. But did it make a widespread impact on the genre? Sadly, I can’t say that it did. In fact, as I mentioned above, the biggest impact it made in R&B culture was its famous remix cementing Ron Isley’s Mr. Biggs character as a fixture for years to come, along with Robert Kelly’s fascination with soap-opera-esque R&B that began with his “Down Low” remix. Great for them, but I can’t credit Kelly (Price, not pee) with that.

So no, it breaks my heart, but I cannot call Soul of a Woman a classic. But I can proudly call it an album that hasn’t left my rotation in 25 years, one that I know every single ad-lib, inflection and run. I’ve screamed myself hoarse many a night trying to keep up with Kelly and I don’t regret it one bit. It’s not the best album ever created, not the highest ranked album of all time – not even for 1998 – but it’s MY favorite. Keep your classic labels, that’s all that matters to me.

We’ve talked enough, it’s your turn. What do you think about Kelly Price’s debut? Let us know below.