The Return is the third studio album by American R&B artist Ruben Studdard. It was released on October 17, 2006, by J Records. A return to the R&B sounds of his debut album Soulful (2003), following his 2004 release, the gospel album I Need an Angel, Studdard reteamed with production duo The Underdogs and producer Harold Lilly to work on the album, while additional production was provided by Jim Jonsin, James Poyser, Steve Russell, and Stargate, among others.
The album was met with mixed reviews from critics who complained about the production and Studdard's performance but enjoyed his voice. The Return debuted and peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 71,000 copies. It was preceded by lead single "Change Me", which was released on July 31, 2006 and became his second number one hit on the US Adult R&B Songs chart. The Return would become Studdard's final album with J Records, after departing the label in 2007.
The album received mixed reviews from music critics. AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found Studdard's performance throughout the album to be lazy with no melodies guiding him, concluding that "when combined with the dull productions, the results are deadly boring."[3]About.com's Mark Edward Nero was also critical of Studdard's voice, saying that it had "no potency much of the time and almost sounds as generic as the vocals that accompany elevator music."[2]
Jody Rosen of Entertainment Weekly was more positive, saying that "The production's bland, but his sweet singing carries the day."[4] Chuck Arnold and Ralph Novak from People found that the "plus-size smoothie brings the most emotional heft to slow jams that show off his sensitive side, such as the first single "Change Me" and the Luther-like "Rather Just Not Know." But the hip-hop-tinged tracks fail to keep pace, especially when Studdard tries to get studly on the pseudo-thuggish "To Da Crib." R. Kelly he's not."[1]
Commercial performanceedit
The album debuted and peaked at number eight in the Billboard 200, with 71,000 copies sold in its first week of release.[5] It also reached number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[6] In March 2009, Billboard reported that the album had sold 238,000 copies by then.[7]
Controversyedit
Sony Music was accused of the unauthorized use of Louis Vuitton's copyrighted Toile as part of the disc's design. An undisclosed settlement was reached between Sony and LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton.[8]
^Katie Hasty (October 25, 2006). "Diddy Scores First No. 1 Album In Nine Years". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 16, 2007.
^ ab"Ruben Studdard Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
^Mitchell, Gail (March 25, 2009). "Ruben Studdard Reconnects With 'Love Is'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
^"Counterfeit Chic". Counterfeit Chic. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
^The Return (booklet). Ruben Studdard. J Records. 2006.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Ruben Studdard Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
May 03, 2024
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The Return is the third studio album by American R amp B artist Ruben Studdard It was released on October 17 2006 by J Records A return to the R amp B sounds of his debut album Soulful 2003 following his 2004 release the gospel album I Need an Angel Studdard reteamed with production duo The Underdogs and producer Harold Lilly to work on the album while additional production was provided by Jim Jonsin James Poyser Steve Russell and Stargate among others The ReturnStudio album by Ruben StuddardReleasedOctober 17 2006 2006 10 17 GenreR amp B 1 Length50 19LabelJ19ProducerKevin Cates Jim Jonsin Harold Lilly Happy Perez James Poyser Steve Russell Stargate Michael Flyte Stuckey Ruben Studdard The Underdogs VuduRuben Studdard chronologyI Need An Angel 2004 The Return 2006 Love Is 2009 The album was met with mixed reviews from critics who complained about the production and Studdard s performance but enjoyed his voice The Return debuted and peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 71 000 copies It was preceded by lead single Change Me which was released on July 31 2006 and became his second number one hit on the US Adult R amp B Songs chart The Return would become Studdard s final album with J Records after departing the label in 2007 Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Commercial performance 3 Controversy 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 6 Charts 7 ReferencesCritical reception editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAbout com nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 2 AllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 3 Entertainment WeeklyB 4 People nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 1 The album received mixed reviews from music critics AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found Studdard s performance throughout the album to be lazy with no melodies guiding him concluding that when combined with the dull productions the results are deadly boring 3 About com s Mark Edward Nero was also critical of Studdard s voice saying that it had no potency much of the time and almost sounds as generic as the vocals that accompany elevator music 2 Jody Rosen of Entertainment Weekly was more positive saying that The production s bland but his sweet singing carries the day 4 Chuck Arnold and Ralph Novak from People found that the plus size smoothie brings the most emotional heft to slow jams that show off his sensitive side such as the first single Change Me and the Luther like Rather Just Not Know But the hip hop tinged tracks fail to keep pace especially when Studdard tries to get studly on the pseudo thuggish To Da Crib R Kelly he s not 1 Commercial performance editThe album debuted and peaked at number eight in the Billboard 200 with 71 000 copies sold in its first week of release 5 It also reached number two on the Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums 6 In March 2009 Billboard reported that the album had sold 238 000 copies by then 7 Controversy editSony Music was accused of the unauthorized use of Louis Vuitton s copyrighted Toile as part of the disc s design An undisclosed settlement was reached between Sony and LVMH the parent company of Louis Vuitton 8 Track listing editThe Return track listingNo TitleWriter s Producer s Length1 The Return Of the Velvet Teddy Bear Harold LillyKevin CatesKenneth GambleLeon HuffLillyCates4 142 Change Me Harvey Mason Jr Damon ThomasSteve RussellTankAntonio DixonLuke BoydThe Underdogs3 503 Make Ya Feel Beautiful Shea TaylorShaffer SmithTaylor3 274 Get U Loose Mason Jr ThomasRussellBoydTankRussell3 545 Our Story James PoyserLillyPoyser3 506 One Side LillyMikkel S EriksenTor Erik HermansenStargateLilly a 3 557 What tha Business Is Scott StorchJason BoydStorchBoyd a 3 268 Rather Just Not Know SmithNathan PerezSteve O ValdezHappy Perez3 389 Ain t No Party LillyCainon LambLilly3 4010 Listen to Ya Heart Matthew McAllisterLillyAntoine CarrabyYomo SmithEric WrightMark GreenBryon McCaneCharles ScruggsAnthony HendersonSteven HowseStanley HowseVudu3 3511 I m Not Happy LillyRuben StuddardJames SchefferFrank RomanoCalvin PuckettJim Jonsin4 0912 To Da Crib StuddardCatesJohnathan EffingerCates3 3313 Blow Ya Mind StuddardMichael Flyte StuckeyStuckey3 02 Bonus trackNo TitleWriter s Producer s Length14 If Only for One Night Brenda RussellStuddard3 46 Notes a signifies a co producer Change Me features additional background vocals by Steve Russell and Tank Get U Loose features additional background vocals by Steve Russell and Tank Ain t No Party features additional background vocals by Mocha Sample credits The Return Of the Velvet Teddy Bear samples You re The Reason Why as performed by The Ebonys Listen to Ya Heart contains a portion of Foe tha Love of as performed by Bone Thugs n Harmony featuring Eazy E Personnel editAdapted from The Return liner notes 9 Chris Gehringer mastering Sterling Sound NYC Anita Marisa Boriboon art direction and design Christian Lantry photographer Vincent VJ Lake stylist Mylah Morales grooming Chris LeBeau photoshoot production Bre Scullark cover modelCharts editWeekly chart performance for The Return Chart 2006 Peakposition US Billboard 200 10 8 US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 6 2References edit a b c Chuck Arnold Ralph Novak November 6 2006 Picks and Pans Review Ruben Studdard The Return People Time Inc Archived from the original on December 1 2017 Retrieved November 26 2012 a b Mark Edward Nero Review Ruben Studdard s The Return About com Archived from the original on October 22 2006 Retrieved April 25 2010 a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine The Return Ruben Studdard AllMusic Retrieved April 25 2010 a b Jody Rosen October 20 2006 The Return Review Entertainment Weekly Time Inc Retrieved November 26 2012 Katie Hasty October 25 2006 Diddy Scores First No 1 Album In Nine Years Billboard Prometheus Global Media Retrieved March 16 2007 a b Ruben Studdard Chart History Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved July 15 2014 Mitchell Gail March 25 2009 Ruben Studdard Reconnects With Love Is Billboard Prometheus Global Media Retrieved July 19 2023 Counterfeit Chic Counterfeit Chic Retrieved March 7 2012 The Return booklet Ruben Studdard J Records 2006 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Ruben Studdard Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved July 15 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Return Ruben Studdard album amp oldid 1186446586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
