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The first Faith Evans album without the Bad Boy logo on the sleeve and the word "faith" in the title, The First Lady thankfully offers nothing else in the way of a shake-up. The wait between 2001's Faithfully and this 2005 release was easily the longest in Evans' career. If there was any creative block during the time away, it doesn't show. In fact, The First Lady proves that she only gets better with time, as she goes through more ups and downs and continues to absorb her inspirations. At less than an hour in running time, it's her shortest album to date, which also helps make it her tightest. Where her first three albums are too lengthy, often bogged down with some lukewarm ballads, The First Lady is terrifically balanced in its distribution of club tracks, midtempo grooves, and slow jams -- with a knowing, timely homage to the late Lyn Collins thrown effectively into the mix -- and its tactful sequencing should give a lot of skip and delete buttons a break. Whatever dip in quality that transpires during the latter half of the album has more to do with the first half's excellence and numerous dimensions, including the punchy Neptunes production "Goin' Out," the sparkling "I Don't Need It," the uplifting "Again" (a good match with Fantasia's similarly affirming "Baby Mama"), and "Stop n Go" -- a gorgeous ballad with a devastating chorus. Evans, as always, does the bulk of the songwriting and some of the production with some key help. Jermaine Dupri, Chucky Thompson, Mario Winans, and the ubiquitous Bryan-Michael Cox also assist, but Carvin "Ransum" Haggins and Ivan "Orthodox" Barias deserve a lot of credit for their work on half of the songs. The First Lady is as well-rounded as an R&B album gets, regardless of the age it's part of. Like Teedra Moses' neglected Complex Simplicity, it smartly incorporates throwback aspects into state-of-the-art pop-soul.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Terrence Thornton, ComposerLyricist - The Neptunes, Producer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Pharrell, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andrew Coleman, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pusha T, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2004 Capitol Records, LLC
Jerry Harris, ComposerLyricist - Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - FAITH EVANS, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ivan Barias, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Venus Dodson, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, Inc.
Cynthia Biggs, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dexter Wansel, ComposerLyricist - Ivan Barias, Producer, Musician, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Carvin Haggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brad Todd, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
Frank Romano, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Smith, ComposerLyricist - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ivan Barias, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carvin Haggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Matt Cappy, Flugelhorn, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Brad Todd, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Johnnie Smith, Producer, Musician, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jay Shawn Smith, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
Chucky Thompson, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Don Davis, ComposerLyricist - Bettye Jean Crutcher, ComposerLyricist - George Benson, ComposerLyricist - FAITH EVANS, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Homer Banks, ComposerLyricist - Todd Russaw, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Kameelah Williams, ComposerLyricist - Raymond M. Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Donald Sebesky, ComposerLyricist - Stephanie Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Andre Johnson, Producer, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. All rights reserved
Bryan-Michael Cox, Producer, Additional Producer, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Johntá Austin, ComposerLyricist - PHIL TAN, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - JERMAINE DUPRI, Producer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Brad Todd, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
John Hanes, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Roberts, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ivan Barias, Producer, Musician, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Carvin Haggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brad Todd, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Todd Russaw, ComposerLyricist - Ben Briggs, ComposerLyricist - Laura Barraza, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
MANNY MARROQUIN, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MARIO WINANS, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - FAITH EVANS, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eric Hunter, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brad Todd, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Todd Russaw, ComposerLyricist - Tony Alperti, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
Bryan-Michael Cox, Producer, Musician, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brad Todd, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Patrice Stewart, ComposerLyricist - Todd Russaw, ComposerLyricist - Ben Briggs, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Brian Ellis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
Frank Romano, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ivan Barias, Producer, Musician, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Carvin Haggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Brad Todd, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Johnnie Smith, Producer, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
James Smith, ComposerLyricist - John Hanes, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Serban Ghenea, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Roberts, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ivan Barias, Producer, Musician, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Carvin Haggins, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Brad Todd, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Frank "Mumbles" Sutton, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Johnnie Smith, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
Russ Brown, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - FAITH EVANS, Producer, Co-Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Brad Todd, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ben Briggs, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Harley White Jr., AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Douglas Antoine, ComposerLyricist - Michael Jamison, ComposerLyricist - The Original Heads, Producer - William Prince, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rodney Morgan, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2005 Capitol Records, Inc. Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, California 90028. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Reproduction is a Violation of Applicable laws. Printed in U.S.A. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records, LLC
Album review
The first Faith Evans album without the Bad Boy logo on the sleeve and the word "faith" in the title, The First Lady thankfully offers nothing else in the way of a shake-up. The wait between 2001's Faithfully and this 2005 release was easily the longest in Evans' career. If there was any creative block during the time away, it doesn't show. In fact, The First Lady proves that she only gets better with time, as she goes through more ups and downs and continues to absorb her inspirations. At less than an hour in running time, it's her shortest album to date, which also helps make it her tightest. Where her first three albums are too lengthy, often bogged down with some lukewarm ballads, The First Lady is terrifically balanced in its distribution of club tracks, midtempo grooves, and slow jams -- with a knowing, timely homage to the late Lyn Collins thrown effectively into the mix -- and its tactful sequencing should give a lot of skip and delete buttons a break. Whatever dip in quality that transpires during the latter half of the album has more to do with the first half's excellence and numerous dimensions, including the punchy Neptunes production "Goin' Out," the sparkling "I Don't Need It," the uplifting "Again" (a good match with Fantasia's similarly affirming "Baby Mama"), and "Stop n Go" -- a gorgeous ballad with a devastating chorus. Evans, as always, does the bulk of the songwriting and some of the production with some key help. Jermaine Dupri, Chucky Thompson, Mario Winans, and the ubiquitous Bryan-Michael Cox also assist, but Carvin "Ransum" Haggins and Ivan "Orthodox" Barias deserve a lot of credit for their work on half of the songs. The First Lady is as well-rounded as an R&B album gets, regardless of the age it's part of. Like Teedra Moses' neglected Complex Simplicity, it smartly incorporates throwback aspects into state-of-the-art pop-soul.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:52:08
- Main artists: Faith Evans
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Capitol Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2005 Capitol Records Inc. ℗ 2005 Capitol Records Inc.
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