Songs in A Minor
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- Battery (New York)
- Doppler (Atlanta)
- The Hit Factory (New York)
- KrucialKeys (New York)
- Southside (Atlanta)
- Unique (New York)* Neo soul
- R&BTemplate:DurationJ* Arden Altino
- Miri Ben-Ari
- Kerry "Krucial" Brothers
- Jimmy Cozier
- Jermaine Dupri
- Kandi
- Alicia Keys
- Brian McKnightx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}
Songs in A Minor is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys. It was released on June 26, 2001, by J Records.
Keys began writing songs for the album in 1995 at age 14 and recording the album in 1998 for Columbia Records, but after they rejected it, she signed a recording contract with Clive Davis's Arista Records and eventually J Records. An accomplished, classically trained pianist, Keys wrote, arranged and produced the majority of the album herself. It is a neo soul album with elements of R&B, soul, jazz, hip hop, blues, classical, and gospel music. Lyrically, the songs explore the complexities and various stages of personal relationships. Despite the album's title, only one song, "Jane Doe," is actually written in the key of A minor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Songs in A Minor debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 236,000 copies in its first week. The album has since sold over 7 million copies in the United States and 12 million copies worldwide. It was also an immediate critical success and has since been regarded as a classic. The album earned Keys several accolades, including five Grammy Awards at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards. To promote the album, Keys embarked on her first headlining concert tour, entitled Songs in A Minor Tour.
In 2022, the album was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Recording and productionEdit
Keys began writing the songs that would constitute Songs in A Minor at age 14, "Butterflyz" being her first composition for the album.<ref name="gittins">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Pareles">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Boom"/> Keys had been accepted to Columbia University, which she attended after graduating from the Professional Performing Arts School at age 16.<ref name="Pareles"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She dropped out after four weeks to pursue her music career full time.<ref name="Pareles"/> She signed a demo deal with Jermaine Dupri and his So So Def label. Keys co-wrote and recorded a song titled "Dah Dee Dah (Sexy Thing)", which appeared on the soundtrack to the 1997 film Men in Black. She also contributed to the So So Def Christmas recordings.<ref name="PopMatters"/> Keys began producing and recording the album in 1998.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> She completed it that same year, but it was rejected by Columbia Records. Keys explained that the producers she was required to work with by the label would tell her to "just get in the booth and sing", which frustrated her.<ref name="Rebel">Template:Harvnb</ref> Her record contract with Columbia ended after a dispute with the label. Keys then performed for Clive Davis, who sensed a "special, unique" artist; he bought Keys' contract from Columbia and signed her to Arista Records, which later disbanded.<ref name="gittins"/><ref name="PopMatters">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Following Davis to his newly formed J Records label, Keys rented an apartment and struggled to create an album. She began writing the song "Troubles" and came to a realization: "That's when the album started comin' together. Finally, I knew how to structure my feelings into something that made sense, something that can translate to people. That was a changing point. My confidence was up, way up."<ref name="cover story">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Keys learned how to produce by asking questions of the producers and engineers; she wrote, arranged and produced a majority of the album.<ref name="Rebel"/><ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> She recorded the songs "Rock wit U" and "Rear View Mirror", which were featured on the soundtracks to the films Shaft (2000) and Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> One of the final songs Keys recorded was "[[Fallin' (Alicia Keys song)|FallinTemplate:'-]]".<ref name="cover story"/> A total of 32 songs were recorded for the album.<ref name="Kimpel">Template:Harvnb</ref>
Music and lyricsEdit
{{#invoke:Listen|main}}
Songs in A Minor is a neo soul album with classical piano references and arpeggios.Template:Sfn Keys incorporates classical piano with R&B, soul and jazz into the album's music.<ref name="PopMatters"/><ref name="Rebel"/><ref name="seattletimes">Template:Cite news</ref> With influences of classical piano, classic soul and East Coast hip hop,<ref name="PopMatters"/> Keys described the album as a "fusion of my classical training, meshed with what I grew up listening to [...] things I've been exposed to and drawn from and my life experiences".<ref name="hot product"/> Jane Stevenson of Jam! described the music as "old-school urban sounds and attitude set against a backdrop of classical piano and sweet, warm vocals".<ref name="Jam!">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> USA TodayTemplate:'s Steve Jones wrote that Keys "taps into the blues, soul, jazz and even classical music to propel haunting melodies and hard-driving funk".<ref name="USA Today">Template:Cite news</ref> John Mulvey of Yahoo! Music called the album "a gorgeous and ambitious melding of classic soul structures and values to hyper-modern production technique".<ref name="Yahoo!">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The album's opening track, "Piano & I", begins with a rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, combined with a hip hop beat.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> The introduction is followed by "Girlfriend", which was produced by Jermaine Dupri.<ref name="PopMatters"/> Commended for its "crisp production",<ref name="Slant Magazine">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the song samples Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Brooklyn Zoo".<ref name="PopMatters"/> Keys' cover of Prince's 1982 ballad "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" (retitled "How Come You Don't Call Me") was inspired by a long-term relationship with a partner.<ref name="PopMatters"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The music critic for PopMatters felt that the song was credible, but fell short from the original and Stephanie Mills's 1980s cover.<ref name="PopMatters"/> "[[Fallin' (Alicia Keys song)|FallinTemplate:'-]]", the gospel-driven lead single and often considered Keys' signature song,<ref name="hot product"/><ref name="Entertainment Weekly">Template:Cite magazine</ref> contains a sample of James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World".<ref name="PopMatters"/> The song earned Keys comparisons to Aretha Franklin.<ref name="NZ Herald">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
"A Woman's Worth", the second single released from the album, is a "gospel-tinged"<ref name="Ward NME"/> song that recommends that men show respect to their female partners.<ref name="iAfrica">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Jane Doe" is a funk-driven song, with backing vocals provided by Kandi Burruss.<ref name="PopMatters"/><ref name="iAfrica"/> "The Life", which elicits Curtis Mayfield's "Gimmie Your Love", describes Keys' "philosophy of life and struggle".<ref name="PopMatters"/> The song was compared to the work of the English band Sade.<ref name="Ward NME">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Mr. Man" contains elements of Latin American music<ref name="Ward NME"/> and was described as a "sexy and soulful duet", in which Jimmy Cozier "adds his spice".<ref name="iAfrica"/> The album ends with the hidden track "Lovin' U", which Christian Ward of NME compared to works of the musical group the Supremes.<ref name="Ward NME"/>
Marketing and touringEdit
Originally titled Soul Stories in A Minor, the album was retitled Songs in A Minor to expand its marketability, and not to cater exclusively to R&B and hip-hop radio stations and retailers.<ref name="Rebel"/> In advance of the album's lead single, "Girlfriend" was serviced to urban contemporary radio as a promotional single in early 2001 to "introduce" Keys to the general public.<ref name="PopMatters"/> Keys first performed "FallinTemplate:'" live at Davis' pre-43rd Annual Grammy Awards gala on February 20, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> At the time, "FallinTemplate:'" was solely available as the B-side on the 12-inch single issue of "Girlfriend",<ref name="patel">Template:Cite magazine</ref> before being released as the lead single from Songs in A Minor on April 10.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Its accompanying music video, directed by Chris Robinson, follows Keys as she visits her partner in prison, and further displays incarcerated women, insinuating that they were arrested attempting to protect their male partners involved in illicit activities.<ref name="PopMatters"/> The song went on to peak atop the US Billboard Hot 100,<ref name="hot100">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> becoming a worldwide top-10 hit and the second-best-performing single of 2001 in the US.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Keys further promoted the album through print media, having been interviewed for the spring 2001 issue of The Fader,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and photographed for the cover of the June 2001 issue of Dazed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Davis subsequently booked Keys for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and wrote a letter to Oprah Winfrey, persuading her to allow Keys to perform on the The Oprah Winfrey Show.<ref name="Kimpel"/> Winfrey agreed, and Keys performed on the show, alongside Yolanda Adams, India Arie, Mary Mary, and Jill Scott, on June 21.<ref name="mayfield">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The performance led to the album's pre-orders to double.<ref name="Rebel"/>
Having been postponed from its original June 12 release at the last minute,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Songs in A Minor was released on June 26, 2001, by J Records.Template:Efn Although originally set for a simultaneous international release, the album would be progressively issued worldwide in subsequent months, starting with the UK on July 23.<ref name="BPI"/><ref name="bmgau"/><ref name="oricon"/><ref name="snep"/> Despite "Jane Doe" receiving heavy unsolicited airplay,<ref name="reid">Template:Cite news</ref> "A Woman's Worth" was released as its second single on October 2,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> peaking at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="hot100"/> Robinson returned to direct the music video for "A Woman's Worth", which is a continuation of the video for "FallinTemplate:'" and depicts Keys attempting to help her partner acclimate to society after being released from prison.<ref name="reid"/> Keys continued promoting Songs in A Minor, as a supporting act on Maxwell's Now Tour from August to October,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and with televised performances on Good Morning America on July 13,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> on Saturday Night Live on September 29,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> at the VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards on October 23,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> at the 2001 Billboard Music Awards on December 4,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> on Last Call with Carson Daly on January 8, 2002,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards on February 27.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Internationally, she promoted the album by performing on Later... with Jools Holland in the UK on November 5, 2001,<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> on Wetten, dass..? in Germany on November 17,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and during the Sanremo Music Festival 2002 in Italy on March 8, 2002.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Keys embarked on her debut concert tour, the Songs in A Minor Tour, on January 22, 2002, initially touring North America until March 10.<ref name="tour">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Two days later, "How Come You Don't Call Me" was released as the third single from Songs in A Minor,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> failing to replicate the success of its predecessors by peaking at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="hot100"/> Afterwards, Keys commenced Good Morning AmericaTemplate:'s annual Summer Concert Series on May 31.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Songs in A Minor Tour resumed with the second North American leg on July 2.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Its August 10 concert at KeyArena in Seattle was partly recorded, with the live performances included on several reissues of Songs in A Minor.<ref name="r&u"/><ref name="collector"/> The tour was then expanded with a leg in Europe, from September to November 2002,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and ended with an Oceanian leg in December.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Girlfriend" was released as the fourth and final single from Songs in A Minor outside North America on November 25, 2002,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> peaking at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
AnniversariesEdit
On June 28, 2011, Songs in A Minor was re-released in two editions to commemorate its tenth anniversary of release.<ref name="MTV10th"/> Both editions feature previously unreleased material and a documentary chronicling the making of Songs in A Minor. At the BET Awards 2011 on June 26, Keys performed a medley of songs, including "Typewriter", "A Woman's Worth" with Bruno Mars and "Maybach Music" with Rick Ross and "FallinTemplate:'". On June 28, Keys performed "FallinTemplate:'", "Butterflyz" and "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" on Good Morning America.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> BET aired The Story So Far... Alicia Keys special, highlighting Keys' ten-year career through her BET moments, on June 28. On June 30, Keys performed Songs in A Minor in its entirety and told stories of its recording in a show titled Piano & I: A One Night Only Event With Alicia Keys at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.<ref name="MTV10th"/> In an interview for MTV, Keys called its tenth anniversary "incredibly surreal for me" and said of the album in retrospect: "This album is possibly the most precious to me as your first album only happens once, and so Songs in A Minor will always hold a special place in my life that's filled with amazing memories. I'm so proud the songs are still being enjoyed, and I'm crazy excited to share songs never heard before."<ref name="MTV10th">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Songs in A Minor, the album was yet again re-released on June 4, 2021, with four bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased "Foolish Heart" and "Crazy (Mi Corazon)".<ref name="20th"/>
Critical receptionEdit
Template:Music ratings Songs in A Minor received positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, it received an average score of 78, based on 10 reviews.<ref name="MC"/>
Reviewing the album in NME, Sam Faulkner described the balance between contemporary music and retrospective as "an act of pure genius".<ref name="NME"/> Q magazine hailed it as "a prime candidate to head up the nu-soul revolution ... with a voice that challenges Mary J. Blige's".<ref name="Qmag"/> Steve Jones of USA Today said that "Keys already has a musical, artistic and thematic maturity that many more experienced artists never achieve".<ref name="USA Today"/> The Washington PostTemplate:'s Richard Harrington wrote favorably of Keys' musical influences on the album and expressed that she has "vocal maturity and writing instincts beyond her years".<ref name="Washington Post">Template:Cite news (Transcription of original review at talk page)</ref> PopMatters critic Mark Anthony Neal praised Keys' performance on the album and called it "a distinct and oft-times brilliant debut from an artist who clearly has a fine sense of her creative talents".<ref name="PopMatters"/> Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice, said that the "grace and grit" of the first half warrant the "auspicious debut" label and that, after some "bores that threaten to sink the project midway through," Keys sustains the album with the songs at the end.<ref name="Christgau"/>
Keys' vocal performance was lauded;<ref name="Jam!"/><ref name="AllMusic"/><ref name="NME"/> Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine declared that Keys' displayed a "powerful range, proving she can belt along with the best of them".<ref name="Slant Magazine"/> Uncut called the album "frequently stunning" and said that Keys sings like "a young Aretha Franklin".<ref name="Uncut">Template:Cite magazine</ref> However, some found her lyrics to be sub-par to her singing and musical ability.<ref name="AllMusic"/><ref name="Rolling Stone"/> The New Zealand HeraldTemplate:'s Russell Baillie stated that Keys "might indicate abundant talent aligned to neatly reverential vintage soul style", but expressed that the songs "don't add up to anything particularly memorable".<ref name="NZ Herald"/> Entertainment WeeklyTemplate:'s Beth Johnson called the second half of the album slacked with "sad sack teen themes", but called it a promising album.<ref name="Entertainment Weekly"/> Rolling StoneTemplate:'s Barry Walters perceived her singing as more mature than her songwriting, but commended Keys for her "commanding presence" on the album.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> Los Angeles Times writer Robert Hilburn said that it "makes a convincing case that's she's going far—in both a commercial and creative sense".<ref name="LA Times"/>
In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine perceived the album's music as "rich enough to compensate for some thinness in the writing" and called it "a startling assured, successful debut that deserved its immediate acclaim and is already aging nicely".<ref name="AllMusic"/> Barry Walters wrote in a later article for Rolling Stone, "the album has aged well – excepting a drum-machine beat or two, it feels timeless."<ref name="RSreissue">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the Encyclopedia of Popular Music (2011), Colin Larkin said Keys had fused urban R&B, hip hop, and blues on what he called "a minor classic of modern soul".<ref name="Larkin">Template:Cite book</ref> Songs in A Minor is regarded as an influential and distinctive album of its era.<ref name="Boom">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="Jet">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
AccoladesEdit
Songs in A Minor led Keys to win five awards at the 44th Annual Grammy Awards: Song of the Year, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song for "FallinTemplate:'", Best New Artist, and Best R&B Album; "FallinTemplate:'" was also nominated for Record of the Year. Keys became the second female solo artist to win five Grammy Awards in a single night, following Lauryn Hill at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards (1999).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album also won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album.<ref>Stevens, Jim. 33rd Annual NAACP Image Award Winners Template:Webarchive. BlackFlix. Retrieved on June 11, 2010.</ref> Keys was also named Best New Artist at the 2002 World Music Awards.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "FallinTemplate:'" was ranked at number 37 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years in 2003<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was ranked the 413th greatest song of all time by Blender magazine.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album was ranked at number two on the Rolling Stone magazine's Top 10 of 2001, number 18 on The Village VoiceTemplate:'s 2001 Pazz & Jop list, number 27 on Mojo magazine's Best 40 Albums of 2001 and was also named one of Q magazine's 100 Greatest Albums Ever.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Q also listed the album as one of the best 50 albums of 2001.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2009, Rolling Stone named it the 95th best album of the past decade, while "FallinTemplate:'" ranked at number 62 on the magazine's "100 Best Songs of the Decade" list.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2012, Entertainment Weekly ranked Songs in A Minor the 57th best album of all time.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Commercial performanceEdit
Songs in A Minor debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 236,000 copies in its first week.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Through word of mouth and promotion, the album remained at number one on the chart, selling a further 221,000 copies in its fourth week.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album spent a total of three non-consecutive weeks at number one,<ref name="cover story"/> and became one of the best-selling albums of 2001.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> As of June 2014, the album had sold 6,348,000 copies in the United States.<ref name="grein">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Billboard ranked the album at number 32 on the Billboard 200 decade-end chart for the 2000s and at number 12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums decade-end chart.<ref name="BB200 decade end"/><ref name="R&B decade end"/> In 2001 the album was the 7th best-selling album globally, selling 6.7 million copies.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> By March 2008, Songs in A Minor had sold over 12 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On August 19, 2020, the album was certified septuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of seven million units in the United States.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Track listingEdit
Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing
- Notes
- All live tracks were recorded at KeyArena in Seattle, on August 10, 2002.<ref name="ruiam"/><ref name="collector"/>
- The 20th anniversary edition excludes the Ali version of "FallinTemplate:'" and "I Won't (Crazy World)" from vinyl pressings.<ref name="vinyl"/>
- In 2023, the digital deluxe edition was updated to include all additional tracks from the collector's and 20th anniversary editions.<ref name="digitaldeluxe"/>
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^[a]{{#if:| }} signifies an additional producer
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^[b]{{#if:| }} signifies a producer and remix producer
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^[c]{{#if:| }} signifies a remix producer
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^[d]{{#if:| }} signifies a co-producer
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^[e]{{#if:| }} signifies an additional producer and remix producer
- Sample credits
- "Girlfriend" contains an interpolation of "Brooklyn Zoo" by Ol' Dirty Bastard.
PersonnelEdit
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Songs in A Minor.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
MusiciansEdit
- Alicia Keys – vocals Template:Small; piano Template:Small; vocal arrangement Template:Small; keyboards Template:Small; background vocals Template:Small; all instruments Template:Small; arrangement Template:Small; all instruments except violin Template:Small; all instruments except bass Template:Small; digital programming Template:Small; piano concept Template:Small; string arrangements Template:Small
- Kerry "Krucial" Brothers – drum programming Template:Small; digital programming Template:Small
- Brian Cox – keyboards Template:Small
- Miri – violin Template:Small; keyboards Template:Small; additional strings Template:Small
- Cindy Mizelle – background vocals Template:Small
- Tammy Saunders – background vocals Template:Small
- Andricka Hall – background vocals Template:Small
- Tim Shider – bass Template:Small; bass concept Template:Small
- Paul L. Green – background vocals Template:Small
- Isaac Hayes – string arrangements, flute arrangements, Rhodes piano Template:Small
- The Isaac Hayes Orchestra – string arrangements, flute arrangements Template:Small
- Norman Hedman – percussion Template:Small
- Gerald G. Flowers – guitar Template:Small
- Vic Flowers – bass Template:Small
- Arty White – guitar Template:Small
- Kandi – background vocals Template:Small
- Brian McKnight – all instruments Template:Small
- Anthony Nance – drum programming Template:Small
- Rufus Jackson – bass Template:Small
- Jimmy Cozier – vocals Template:Small
- Arden Altino – additional keyboards Template:Small
- Cato – guitar concept Template:Small
- Richie Goods – upright bass Template:Small; bass Template:Small
- Reggie Flowers – additional fills Template:Small
- John Peters – organ Template:Small
- A & C Productions – strings Template:Small
TechnicalEdit
- Alicia Keys – production Template:Small; executive production
- Kerry "Krucial" Brothers – production Template:Small; recording Template:Small; additional production concepts Template:Small
- Gerry Brown – recording Template:Small; mixing Template:Small
- Jermaine Dupri – production Template:Small
- Brian Frye – recording Template:Small
- Phil Tan – mixing Template:Small
- Russ Elevado – mixing Template:Small
- Manny Marroquin – mixing Template:Small
- Kandi – production Template:Small
- Ralph Cacciurri – recording Template:Small
- Brian McKnight – production Template:Small
- Chris Wood – recording Template:Small
- Mary Ann Souza – recording assistance Template:Small
- Jimmy Cozier – production Template:Small
- Arden Altino – production Template:Small
- Miri Ben-Ari – production Template:Small
- Rick St. Hillaire – recording Template:Small
- Tony Maserati – mixing Template:Small
- Acar Key – recording Template:Small
- Clive Davis – executive production
- Peter Edge – executive production
- Jeff Robinson – executive production
- Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
ArtworkEdit
- Tony Duran – photography
- Alli – creative direction, art direction
- Nowhere – design, logo design
ChartsEdit
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
Weekly chartsEdit
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)<ref>Template:Cite magazine Template:Cbignore</ref> | 1 | |
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
1 |
| European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 5 | |
| Greek International Albums (IFPI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
5 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
44 |
| South African Albums (RISA)<ref name="risa"/> | 9 | |
| Spanish Albums (AFYVE)<ref name="salaverri">Template:Harvnb</ref> | 19 |
| Chart (2011) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
69 |
Year-end chartsEdit
| Chart | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
35 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
98 |
| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
7 |
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
3 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
18 |
| European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 28 | |
| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
98 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
21 |
| Global 20 (Billboard)<ref name="global">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 7 | |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
47 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
32 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
19 |
| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
38 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 13 | |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 3 | |
| Worldwide Albums (IFPI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
7 |
| Chart | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
14 |
| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
3 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
44 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
38 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
21 |
| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
41 |
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
8 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
21 |
| European Top 100 Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 10 | |
| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
45 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
37 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
50 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
28 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
85 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
28 |
| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
31 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 23 | |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 12 | |
| Worldwide Albums (IFPI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
43 |
| Chart | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
18 |
| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
153 |
Decade-end chartsEdit
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200<ref name="BB200 decade end">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 32 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref name="R&B decade end">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 12 |
Centurial chartsEdit
| Chart | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
76 |
All-time chartsEdit
| Chart | Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Female Albums (IRMA)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
47 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 107 | |
| US Billboard 200 (Women)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 31 |
CertificationsEdit
Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Summary Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom
Release historyEdit
| Region | Date | Edition(s) | Format(s) | Label(s) | Template:Abbr | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | June 26, 2001 | Standard | Template:Hlist | J | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||
| United Kingdom | July 23, 2001 | CD | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||
| Australia | September 3, 2001 | BMG | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||
| Germany | citation | CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |||||
| Japan | September 26, 2001 | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |||||
| France | October 15, 2001 | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |||||
| Japan | February 27, 2002 | Remix Plus | citation | CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |||
| United Kingdom | March 11, 2002 | Special | J | citation | CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||
| Germany | October 28, 2002 | Remixed & UnpluggedTemplate:Efn | Double CD | BMG | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||
| Japan | February 26, 2003 | CD | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||
| United States | December 9, 2003 | Standard | DVD-Audio | J | citation | CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |
| Germany | June 24, 2011 | Template:Hlist | Template:Hlist | Sony Music | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| Australia | June 27, 2011 | <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
| |||||
| France | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||
| United Kingdom | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||
| United States | June 28, 2011 | Template:Hlist | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }}
| ||||
| Standard | Vinyl | citation | CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||||
| Japan | July 3, 2011 | Template:Hlist | Template:Hlist | Sony Music Japan | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |
CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
| United Kingdom | September 19, 2011 | Standard | Vinyl | Sony Music | citation | CitationClass=web }}</ref>{{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | |
| Various | June 4, 2021 | 20th anniversary | Template:Hlist | Template:Hlist | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} | ||
| January 21, 2022 | Vinyl | {{safesubst:#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=|preview=Page using Template:Center with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | style }} |
See alsoEdit
- Alicia Keys discography
- List of best-selling albums by women
- List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2001
- List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 2001
- List of UK R&B Albums Chart number ones of 2001
- List of top 25 albums for 2002 in Australia
- New Zealand top 50 albums of 2001
- New Zealand top 50 albums of 2002
ReferencesEdit
NotesEdit
CitationsEdit
BibliographyEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Alicia Keys Template:NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album