Album of the Day

Born in England to Nigerian and Brazilian parents, Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel would find fame more simply as Seal. As his eponymous Sire debut was a hit, the soul singer risked a bit of confusion by titling his 1994 follow-up SEAL as well (it's sometimes called “SEAL II”), but that collection proved an even bigger smash. Benefiting from lush production by Trevor Horn, the album features 11 heartfelt songs written or co-written by Seal, including “Prayer For The Dying,” “Don't Cry” and “Kiss From A Rose,” a track released to modest success until its inclusion in the Batman Forever soundtrack, after which it topped the U.S. singles chart (on this day in 1995) and won Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year. With guest artists like Joni Mitchell and Jeff Beck helping frame Seal's superb vocals, this 1994 album stands as the singer's finest hour.