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Donell Jones first gained attention as a songwriter and producer for such smooth urban soul groups as Usher, Silk, Brownstone, and 702, which led Babyface to sign the singer/songwriter to LaFace. His debut album was a solid R&B hit, sketching out a jazzy, soulful variation on Babyface's smooth urban-pop, which he fills in with his second album, Where I Wanna Be. On the surface of things, Jones may sound similar to a lot of his peers, but there's a greater sense of musical sophistication in his music. There are light touches of jazz, suave electric pianos, and an easy seductiveness to the entire production. Where I Wanna Be is actually a savvy update of early-'80s quiet storm -- it's a little sexier and a little sleeker, but the spirit is more reminiscent of that era than the late '90s (with the noticeable exception of Jones' tendency to oversell his vocals slightly). At times, the album relies more on style than substance, but it's crafted well, so the slips into filler aren't painful at all. Actually, the very fact that the infrequent bits of filler are enjoyable is a testament to Jones' talents as a performer and record-maker -- he knows how to deliver the weaker moments with elegance. And those moments don't arrive all that often on Where I Wanna Be. For much of the album, Jones hits the right tone -- balancing mood, song, and performance quite alluringly. It gets him and the listener where they wanna be.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Erick Ferrell, 2nd Engineer - Balewa Muhammed, Composer - Balewa Muhammed, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Performer - Donell Jones, Background Vocal - Edward Ferrell, Composer - Edward Ferrell, Lyricist - Edward Ferrell, Producer - Edward Ferrell, Arranger - Gary Peterkin, 2nd Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Mixing Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Acoustic Baritone Guitar - Veronica McKenzie, Composer - Veronica McKenzie, Lyricist - Eddie F., Performer - Darren Lighty, Composer - Darren Lighty, Lyricist - Darren Lighty, Producer - Darren Lighty, Arranger - Darren Lighty, Performer - Andrew Cardenas, Recording Engineer - Clifton Lighty, Composer - Clifton Lighty, Lyricist - Anthony Hamilton, Composer - Anthony Hamilton, Lyricist
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
D. Harrison, Re-Mixer - D. Harrison, Misc. Prod. - Ted Wohlsen, Recording Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Melvin Lewis, Composer - Melvin Lewis, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Performer - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Producer - Eric "E-Ballad" Williams, Composer - Eric "E-Ballad" Williams, Lyricist - Eric "E-Ballad" Williams, Arranger - Eric "E-Ballad" Williams, Co-Producer - A. Smith, Re-Mixer - A. Smith, Misc. Prod. - Mike Alvord, Recording Engineer - Wesley "Big Wes" Hogges, Composer - Wesley "Big Wes" Hogges, Lyricist - Wesley "Big Wes" Hogges, Co-Producer - J. Jonah, Re-Mixer - J. Jonah, Misc. Prod. - Thomas Martin, Composer - Thomas Martin, Lyricist
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Kyle West, Composer - Kyle West, Lyricist - Mike Alvord, Recording Engineer - Shawn Grove, Recording Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Rich Keller, Recording Engineer - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Producer - Donell Jones, Arranger - Donell Jones, Performer
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Ted Wohlsen, Recording Engineer - Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Melvin Lewis, Composer - Melvin Lewis, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Performer - Eric "E-Ballad" Williams, Composer - Eric "E-Ballad" Williams, Lyricist - Eric "E-Ballad" Williams, Producer - Eric "E-Ballad" Williams, Arranger - Joshua A. Buttler, Mixing Engineer - Mike Alvord, Recording Engineer - Wesley "Big Wes" Hogges, Composer - Wesley "Big Wes" Hogges, Lyricist - Wesley "Big Wes" Hogges, Producer - Kent Lawrence, Composer - Kent Lawrence, Lyricist
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Sheldon Goode, Composer - Sheldon Goode, Lyricist - Sheldon Goode, Producer - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Mixing Engineer - Andrew Cardenas, Recording Engineer - Andrew Cardenas, Mixing Engineer - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Producer - Donell Jones, Arranger - Donell Jones, Performer
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Composer - Sheldon Goode, Lyricist - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Rich Keller, Recording Engineer - Andrew Cardenas, Recording Engineer - Joylan Skinner, Composer - Joylan Skinner, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Producer - Donell Jones, Arranger - Donell Jones, Performer
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Composer - Sheldon Goode, Lyricist - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Rich Keller, Recording Engineer - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Producer - Donell Jones, Arranger - Donell Jones, Performer
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Adam Gazzola, Recording Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Rich Keller, Recording Engineer - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Producer - Donell Jones, Arranger - Donell Jones, Performer
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Rich Keller, Recording Engineer - Donell Jones, Arranger - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Producer - Donell Jones, Performer
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Balewa Muhammed, Composer - Balewa Muhammed, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Performer - Edward Ferrell, Composer - Edward Ferrell, Lyricist - Edward Ferrell, Producer - Edward Ferrell, Arranger - Sheldon Goode, Mixing Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Veronica McKenzie, Composer - Veronica McKenzie, Lyricist - Darren Lighty, Composer - Darren Lighty, Lyricist - Darren Lighty, Producer - Darren Lighty, Arranger - Andrew Cardenas, Mixing Engineer - Andrew Cardenas, Recording Engineer - Clifton Lighty, Composer - Clifton Lighty, Lyricist - Anthony Hamilton, Composer - Anthony Hamilton, Lyricist
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Adam Gazzola, Recording Engineer - Mike Alvord, Recording Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Rich Keller, Recording Engineer - Ted Wohlsen, Recording Engineer - Donell Jones, Arranger - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Performer - Donell Jones, Producer
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Serban Ghenea, Mixing Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Composer - Sheldon Goode, Lyricist - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Rich Keller, Recording Engineer - Donell Jones, Composer - Donell Jones, Lyricist - Donell Jones, Producer - Donell Jones, Arranger - Donell Jones, Performer
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Balewa Muhammed, Composer - Balewa Muhammed, Lyricist - Edward Ferrell, Composer - Edward Ferrell, Lyricist - Edward Ferrell, Producer - Edward Ferrell, Arranger - Sheldon Goode, Recording Engineer - Sheldon Goode, Mixing Engineer - Donell Jones featuring Left-Eye, Performer - Veronica McKenzie, Composer - Veronica McKenzie, Lyricist - Darren Lighty, Composer - Darren Lighty, Lyricist - Darren Lighty, Producer - Darren Lighty, Arranger - Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Composer - Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Lyricist - Andrew Cardenas, Recording Engineer - Clifton Lighty, Composer - Clifton Lighty, Lyricist - Inga Willis, Composer - Inga Willis, Lyricist - Anthony Hamilton, Composer - Anthony Hamilton, Lyricist
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
Album review
Donell Jones first gained attention as a songwriter and producer for such smooth urban soul groups as Usher, Silk, Brownstone, and 702, which led Babyface to sign the singer/songwriter to LaFace. His debut album was a solid R&B hit, sketching out a jazzy, soulful variation on Babyface's smooth urban-pop, which he fills in with his second album, Where I Wanna Be. On the surface of things, Jones may sound similar to a lot of his peers, but there's a greater sense of musical sophistication in his music. There are light touches of jazz, suave electric pianos, and an easy seductiveness to the entire production. Where I Wanna Be is actually a savvy update of early-'80s quiet storm -- it's a little sexier and a little sleeker, but the spirit is more reminiscent of that era than the late '90s (with the noticeable exception of Jones' tendency to oversell his vocals slightly). At times, the album relies more on style than substance, but it's crafted well, so the slips into filler aren't painful at all. Actually, the very fact that the infrequent bits of filler are enjoyable is a testament to Jones' talents as a performer and record-maker -- he knows how to deliver the weaker moments with elegance. And those moments don't arrive all that often on Where I Wanna Be. For much of the album, Jones hits the right tone -- balancing mood, song, and performance quite alluringly. It gets him and the listener where they wanna be.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:55:45
- Main artists: Donell Jones
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Arista - LaFace Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
(P) 1999 LaFace Records LLC
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