- Source: Old Soul (album)
Old Soul is the fourth studio album by Jamaican-American musician Stephen Marley. It was released on September 15, 2023.
Background
The lead single of the album, "Old Soul," was released on April 19, 2023. The song explores Marley's relationship with his family, key events in his life, and celebrates the history of Jamaican music. These themes are present throughout the album. The album was announced on August 18, 2023, with a release date of September 15. It features a mix of covers and original songs, including guest appearances from Eric Clapton, Bob Weir, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, and more.
Musically, Old Soul is a departure from Marley's previous work and marks his first studio album in seven years. He described it as "old school, eclectic, and healing." In September and October 2023, he embarked on the Old Soul: Unplugged Tour with special guest Mike Love.
Reception
Old Soul received critical acclaim. Daily Reggae praised the album, stating, "This is music that can only be created from the heart and soul, from a place of sincerity and deliberateness. Stephen Marley has a soothing, yet powerful voice carried by acoustic-inspired compositions across the album, and the production is equally smooth. There is absolutely no shortage of talent contained here."
Afropop Worldwide called it "a deeply personal album, showcased in the soulfully autobiographical title song." Marley's lyrics were praised for their maturity and authenticity.
Commercial performance
Old Soul debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, breaking Marley's streak of four No. 1 debuts on the weekly sales and streaming-driven listing. The album sold 500 copies in pure album sales and received 566,000 in audio and video streams in the US.