Ch. 1 Vs. 1

by Cynthia Erivo

Overview

The first solo album from the star of The Color Purple's Broadway revival, Harriet, and Genius: Aretha offers highly emotional and polished adult pop that integrates a little gospel, blues, soul, and folk. If Cynthia Erivo's voice wasn't so nuanced -- it can shift from conveying grief to bliss with little apparent exertion -- the rarely ceasing sense of gravity in her lyrics would be taxing. During only the first few songs, she sings of dying inside (after doom scrolling), self-immolation (the result of "playing with fire"), and the death of a baby in his mother's arms (from an unspecified cause). There's never any mistaking the songs for the work of anyone but an actress who happens to have a capital-V voice, as they're all suitable for a stage or big-screen production. The closing sequence -- consisting of a deeply moving piano ballad addressed to her absent father, a triumphant self-empowerment anthem, and a reassuring tribute to her mother and sister -- is undeniably powerful. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	02/25/2022
Label:	Verve
UPC:	0602438278268
Rank:	70871

Tracks

Disc 1

1. What in the World
2. Alive
3. Hero
4. The Good
5. Day Off
6. A Window
7. I Might Be in Love With You
8. Sweet Sarah

Disc 2

9. Tears
10. You're Not Here
11. Glowing Up
12. Mama

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cynthia Erivo   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jamie Hartman   Vocals (Background)
Kaveh Rastegar   Bass,Guitar (Electric)
Jack Splash   Bass,Drums,Keyboards,Percussion
Gabriel Saientz   Piano
Harold Lilly   Vocals (Background)
Ted Zimmerman   Trumpet
Carlos Guzman   Guitar (Bass)
Aaron Redfield   Drums
Jesse Shatkin   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
Dwayne Bennett   Organ (Hammond)
David Chiverton   Drums
Judy Kang   Cello
Eric Escanes   Guitar (Electric)
Kevin Garrett   Keyboards,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Dave Fernandez   Saxophone
Will Wells   Bass,Organ,Piano,Clapping,Keyboards,Tambourine,Keyboard Bass,Synthesizer Bass,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Peter Barquet   Guitar (Bass)
Stint   Bass,Guitar
Joseph Carson   Cello,Piano
Shakka Phillip   Bass,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Al Cleveland III   Drums
Alex Sutton   Bass,Beatbox,Beat Box,Keyboards,Percussion,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Electric)
Yakob   Organ,Piano
Wayne Perry   Trombone
Dwayne Bennell   Keyboards,Organ (Hammond)
Dave Ott   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Dahlia Ambach Caplin   A&R
Mike Viola   A&R
Jamie Hartman   Composer
Kaveh Rastegar   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording
Jack Splash   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Horn Arrangements
Manny Marroquin   Mixing
Harold Lilly   Composer
Chris Galland   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
David Kutch   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Chris Tabron   Mixing
Ryan Rogers   Creative Director
Phil English   Engineer,Recording
Jesse Shatkin   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Programming,Drum Programming,String Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Rafaela Hernandez   Producer,Release Coordinator
Ian Mercel   Engineer,Recording
Kevin Garrett   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Additional Production
Terrell Mullin   Photography
Anthony Dolhai   Engineer,Recording
Will Wells   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Programming,Vocal Producer,Drum Programming,Executive Producer,String Programming
Peter Barquet   Assistant Engineer
Cynthia Erivo   Composer,Horn Arrangements,Executive Producer
Stint   Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,String Programming
Anthony Ramos   Composer
Sean Douglas   Composer
Joseph Carson   Engineer,Recording,Drum Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Shakka Phillip   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Programming,Drum Programming,String Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Samuel Dent   Engineer,Recording
Brandon Peralta   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Jeremie Inhaber   Mixing Engineer
Alex Sutton   Engineer,Recording,Drum Programming,Synthesizer Programming
Claire Rose Autran   Composer
Nathan Cimino   Engineer
Zach Pereyra   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Anthony Vilchis   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Courage   Producer
Xela   Producer
Gabe Fox-Peck   Engineer,Recording
Terrance Radeliff   Design