Jordin Sparks (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Jordin Sparks
Type = studio
Artist = Jordin Sparks


Released = start date|2007|11|20
(see release history)
Recorded = June—October, 2007
Genre = Pop, R&B
Label = Jive
Length = 45:17
59:48 (Deluxe Version)
Producer = Stargate, Jeberg, Cutfather, Robbie Nevil, The Underdogs, Erik "Bluetooth" Griggs, Bloodshy & Avant, Espionage, Emanuel Kiriakou, Klas Ahlund, Stephen Lipson
Reviews = * Allmusic rating|3|5 [http://wm06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fxfixz9hldte~T1 link]
* Associated Press (Favorable) [http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071122/FEAT05/711220336/1023 link]
* "Billboard" (Positive) [http://billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ifdb433cd9235b85672cd3d83e48c12e8 link]
* "Entertainment Weekly" B+ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20160380,00.html link]
* "Rolling Stone" rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/17304374/review/17313206/jordin_sparks?rating=11 link]
* "Slant Magazine" rating|3|5 [http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1237 link]
* "The Arizona Republic" rating|3|5 [http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/1108cdspin1109sparks.html link]
* "The Boston Globe" (Positive) [http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2007/11/20/american_idol_winner_makes_satisfying_debut/ link]
* "The New York Times" (Favorable) [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/arts/music/26choi.html?_r=2&ref=music&oref=slogin&oref=slogin link]
* "Us Weekly" rating|3|4 [http://www.usmagazine.com/node/13303 link]
Last album = "Jordin Sparks (EP)"
(2007)
This album = "Jordin Sparks"
(2007)
Next album = TBA
(2009)
Misc = Singles
Name = Jordin Sparks
Type = Studio
Single 1 = Tattoo
Single 1 date = August 27, 2007
Single 2 = No Air
Single 2 date = February 11, 2008
Single 3 = One Step at a Time
Single 3 date = June 10, 2008
Single 4 = Permanent Monday
Single 4 date = October 21, 2008 Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = studio


Lower caption = Australian, UK, and iTunes Deluxe Version cover

"Jordin Sparks" is the major-label debut album from sixth season "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks. It was released on November 20, 2007 in United States and November 27, 2007 in Canada and Christian music stores. It has produced four top twenty singles, with "Tattoo" reaching the top ten (number 8) on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and "No Air" reaching the top three.

Background

On August 17, 2007, it was announced Sparks had signed to 19 Recordings/Jive Records/Zomba Label Group, becoming the first "Idol" to join the label group, the second being David Archuleta the following year. [cite web | title = Archuleta signed with Jive| url=http://www.zombalabelgroup.com/news.html##201643| last=|publisher=Jive ] All past "Idol" winners and runner-ups are or were signed with the RCA Label Group’s J (Fantasia, Ruben Studdard), Arista (Justin Guarini, Taylor Hicks, Blake Lewis) or RCA (Kelly Clarkson, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Katharine McPhee, Diana DeGarmo and idol successor David Cook) labels, with the exception of Carrie Underwood signed to Arista Nashville. Sparks has stated that she recorded some songs for the album but the bulk of the recording was done in Los Angeles after the tour was over.cite web |title=Season Six "Idol" Stars Prepping Debut Albums|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003625142|accessdate=2007-09-20 |date=August 13, 2007 |publisher=Daily News|author=Graff, Gary] She said the album would be "Top 40, radio-friendly, uplifting stuff" hopefully mixing "the pop rock sound of inaugural "Idol" Kelly Clarkson with the R&B edge of Beyoncé".cite web |title="Idol" Sparks Juggling Touring, Recording|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003606307|accessdate=2007-09-20 |date=July 2, 2007 |publisher=Daily News|author=Graff, Gary] [ [http://music.aol.com/artists/aim-celebrity-interview/jordin-sparks Jordin Sparks AIM Interview - AOL Music ] ]

Jordin confirmed on her MySpace that the official tracklisting as well as the release would carry bonus tracks at Wal-Mart, Sony, and the iTunes Store.

An exclusive video of the photoshoot for "Jordin Sparks" was posted on Sparks' YouTube channel in October, where snippets of "Permanent Monday", "Overcome" and "One Step at a Time" could be heard.

Chart performance

The album entered the Billboard 200 at number ten, and has sold 927,000 copies. [http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/2008/09/kristy-lees-alb.html] ] It was released in the UK on April 14, 2008 but did not enter the UK album charts until July 2008, where it peaked at number 17.

ingles

The first single released was "Tattoo", which was released to U.S. radio on August 27, 2007. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20320480/ Jordin Sparks signs with Jive Records group - Access Hollywood - MSNBC.com ] ] The song became the album's first top ten hit, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single released was "No Air", a duet with Chris Brown, [ [http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691 Release Date] ] which reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. On February 28, 2008 Billboard stated that "No Air" was the top digital sales gainer after selling 73,000 downloads. [ [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003717308 Flo Rida Starts Tenth Week Atop Hot 100 ] ] Both "Tattoo" and "No Air" have been certified platinum by the RIAA.RIAA search for Jordin Sparks. [http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS RIAA Gold & Platinum] . Accessed April 22, 2008.] "No Air" has also reached number 1 in both the Australian and New Zealand singles charts. The album's third single, "One Step at a Time" was released on June 10, 2008, [ [http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16691 FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more! ] > [http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/idol/entries/2008/08/31/831_jordin_spar.html Access Atlanta] ] . A fourth single, "Permanent Monday", is being sent to radio in October.

Reception

Critical response to the album has been generally favorable. "Billboard" stated Jordin brought "a first effort that's all over the map—and works" while sounding "like exactly what she should be singing at this age and juncture in her career." [ [http://billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3ifdb433cd9235b85672cd3d83e48c12e8 Jordin Sparks ] ] "Entertainment Weekly", gave the album a B+, mentioned her debut "is as much effervescent fun as any post-Idol bow" and added "Idol has crowned winners with even bigger voices, but it hasn't given us one who's any easier on the ears." [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20160380,00.html Jordin Sparks | Music Review | Entertainment Weekly ] ]

Tracklisting

# "Tattoo" (M.S.Eriksen,T.E.Hermansen,A.Ghost,I.Dench) — 3:54
# "One Step at a Time" (R.Nevil,L.Evans,J.Jeberg,M.Hansen) — 3:26
# "No Air" (duet with Chris Brown) (H.Mason Jr.,D.Thomas,J.Fauntleroy Ⅱ, E.Griggs) — 4:24
# "Freeze" (M.S.Eriksen,T.E.Hermansen,A.Ghost,I.Dench,J. Sparks) — 4:13
# "Shy Boy" (C.Karlsson,P.Winnberg,H.Jonback,K.Ahlund) — 3:22
# "Now You Tell Me" (F.Storm,E.Lind,A.Bjorklund) — 3:07
# "Next To You" (featuring Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D.) (L.Robbins,E.Kiriakou,J.Cates) — 3:17
# "Just for the Record" (J.Austin,M.S.Eriksen,T.E.Hermansen,E.Lind,A.Bjorklund) — 3:56
# "Permanent Monday" (E.Kiriakou,L.Robbins,W.Afanasief) — 4:12
# "Young and in Love" (C.Karlsson,P.Winnberg,H.Jonback,C.Dennis) — 3:24
# "See My Side" (C.Karlsson,P.Winnberg,K.Ahlund,R.Carlsson) — 3:44
# "God Loves Ugly" (C. Black) — 4:15

Bonus Tracks (edition bonus tracks released November 20, 2007)

#

"This Is My Now" (S. Krippayne, J. Peabody) — 3:51
#

"Virginia Is for Lovers" (M.S.Eriksen,T.E.Hermansen,A.Ghost,I.Dench,J. Sparks) — 3:25 (Digital Bonus Track)
#

"Save Me" — 3:40 (K. Livingston, J. Sparks) (Digital/Christan Store bonus track)
#

"Worth the Wait" (J.Cates, E.Kiriakou, L.Robbins, J.Sparks) — 3:37 (Digital/Wal-Mart bonus track)
#

"Overcome" — 3:42 (Leaked track) note: possible B-Side for "Permanent Monday" or future single.

Album covers

There are two available covers of the album, one for the US and Canada, and one for the UK and Australia, although the US and Canada cover was available in the UK (in stores and on iTunes) until "No Air" came out in that country. The US/Canada cover was originally released in Australia until No Air was released, in which the new cover was released.

Release history

*^A Current single.
*^B To be released October 2008.

Personnel

*Vocals – Jordin Sparks
*Featuring vocals from: Chris Brown (Jive)
*Background vocals – Tracie Ackerman, Sherree Ford Brown, Cathy Dennis, James Fauntleroy, and Chau Phan
*Guitar — Dave Rainger, Henrik Jonback, Corky James, Andrew Hey, and Ian Dench
*Bass — Henrik Jonback, Alex Al, and Emanuel Kiriakou

Production

*Producers: Stargate, Jeberg, Cutfather, Robbie Nevil, The Underdogs, Erik "Bluetooth" Griggs, Bloodshy & Avant, Espionage, Emanuel Kiriakou, Klas Ahlund, Stephen Lipson
*Vocal Producer: Andrew Wyatt
*Mastering: Tom Coyne
*Engineers: Mikkel S. Eriksen, Matty Green, Dabling Harward, Andrew Hey, Adam Kagen, Emanuel Kiriakou, Robert Smith, Brian Sumner, Pat Thrall, Tim Weidner and Eric Rennaker
*Assistant Engineers: Jeremy Garrett, Clint Lawrence, Mike Laza, and Eric Rennaker
*Mixing: Henrik Edenhed and Serban Ghenea
*Mixing Assistant: Josh Houghkirk and Nik Karpen
*A&R: Nancy Roof and Jeff Fenster
*Photography: Mary Ellen Matthews

References

External links

* [http://www.jordinsparks.com/ Jordin Sparks Jive Records ]
* [http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jordin_sparks/artist.jhtml Jordins MTV Page]