In the Blood is the second album by British-American dance band Londonbeat, released in September 1990. It includes the single "I've Been Thinking About You", which reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1990 and number one on a number of world charts, including the US Billboard Hot 100 the following year.
The album reached number 21 on the US Billboard 200 and number 34 in the UK Albums Chart.
Critical reception AllMusic editor Jim Smith said, "Whether they're sensitive balladeers making a soulful dance single ("I've Been Thinking About You"), or lewd, jilted lovers making a soulful dance single ("She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)"), Londonbeat's pleasant harmonies and pumping flow are undeniably catchy. Although their lyrics are sometimes criminally obtuse, In the Blood is a better album, musically, than it's ever been given credit for." Marisa Fox from Entertainment Weekly encouraged, "Check out the foot-stomping "She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)", inspired by Edwin Starr’s "Twenty-Five Miles"; the churning "It’s in the Blood"; and the exuberant "She Said She Loves Me". Londonbeat's powerful dance rhythms and soulful blues songs recapture the long-lost spirit of early R&B." Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel highlighted "I've Been Thinking About You" ("Cannibalistic"), "She Said She Loves Me" ("a touch of Prince"), "Getcha Ya Ya" ("zydeco flavor[ed]"), "This Is Your Life" ("a pretty acoustic number with beautiful harmonies"), "Crying in the Rain" ("echoes the Philly sound of the Dramatics") and "No Woman No Cry". He concluded that the band "shows a lot of promise".
Tom Harrison from The Province wrote, "Virtually perfect balance of old-style soul and modern production techniques resulting in a crafty contemporary dance music that embraces the reggae classic "No Woman No Cry", the Africa-via-New Orleans gumbo of "Getcha Ya Ya", the retro Philly soul of "She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)" and more. With its second record, Londonbeat jumps ahead of such U.K. contemporaries as the Christians and Brother Beyond." David Bauder from St. Petersburg Times said, "It's not hard to cringe at the thought of a disco version of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry", with sampled sounds of whales and dolphins. What's hard is making that idea work. Londonbeat pulls it off, as well as most everything else, in its impressive American debut. [...] In the Blood is a deft mix of dance and hip-hop beats that doesn't skimp on soulful melodies. Led by the hit single, "I've Been Thinking About You", this disc is brimming with clever hooks."
Track listing UK version
"Step Inside My Shoes" available on CD versions only. It was also the B-side of the "No Woman, No Cry" single. On the LP release, track 8 begins side B.
US version
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1990–1991) PeakpositionFinland (Suomen virallinen lista)17 French Albums (SNEP) Select "LONDON BEAT" from the drop-down menu and click "OK". 35
Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 49 Chart (1991) Position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 50 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) 38
Certifications
Personnel Londonbeat Jimmy Helms – lead vocals and backing vocals, flugelhorn Jimmy Chambers – backing vocals George Chandler – backing vocals William Henshall – guitars, synthesizers, drum machine and sampler
Additional personnel Martyn Phillips - synthesizers, additional guitar, drum machine, drums and strings arrangements John Turnbull - lead guitar Ian Green - synthesizers, rhythm guitar and bass Louis Jardim - drums and percussions Danny Cummings - percussions Bobbie Clarke - drums Dave Winthrop - saxophone Mark Pinder - trumpet Gerraint Watkins - accordion Wilfred Gibson - strings arrangements
References