2nd Chance

2nd Chance
Studio album by Karen Clark Sheard
Released July 30, 2002
Genre Urban Contemporary Gospel
Gospel
R&B
Length 59:40
Label Elektra
Producer Donald Lawrence, J Moss, Timbaland, Tim & Bob, Walter Millsap III, Missy Elliott, Nisan Stewart, Richard Smallwood
Karen Clark Sheard chronology
Finally Karen
(1997)		 2nd Chance
(2002)		 The Heavens Are Telling
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Christianity Today [2]

2nd Chance is the second album of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, released on July 30, 2002. The release was much ballyhooed for several reasons. Sheard was only the 2nd gospel artist signed to Elektra Records, and this was her debut for the label. It was also her first release since the success of her Grammy-nominated debut Finally Karen, and a long bout with illness had delayed any releases from her since. The album peaked at #2 on the Billboard Gospel Charts, #3 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian Charts, and #82 on the Billboard 200[3].

In 2001, Clark-Sheard was faced with a life-threatening crisis when a blood vessel burst during a scheduled hernia surgery. Her doctors only gave her a 2% chance of survival due to her complications. After the blood clot was surgically removed, Clark-Sheard fell into a coma. The coma lasted three and a half weeks [4], but Clark-Sheard says she made a miraculous [5][6] recovery. Despite citing hernia surgery, fans continue to speculate Clark-Sheard underwent a gastric bypass operation which led to complications of hernia and brain aneurysm since after the ordeal Sheard returned in 2001 looking 1/3 of her size.

Though the release performed well on the charts and Clark-Sheard's vocals were in excellent form, the slick contemporary R&B production was not openly-embraced by Sheard's core audience of traditional gospel music listeners. The 2003 followup release The Heavens Are Telling returned to the formula of her hugely successful, well-received, and Grammy-nominated debut Finally Karen by offering half of the album as a collection of live tracks, and half as a collection of upbeat studio productions.

Contents

Track listing

  1. Be Sure – 3:56
  2. Only Call On Jesus – 4:09
  3. I've Been Changed – 4:03
  4. If I Can't Say A Word – 5:30
  5. I'll Be Right There – 4:40
  6. Higher Ground (featuring Missy Elliott, Yolanda Adams, Kim Burrell, Dorinda Clark Cole, Mary Mary, and Tweet) – 5:01
  7. Brand New Day (featuring Yolanda Adams) – 4:04
  8. So Good – 4:05
  9. 2nd Chance – 4:15
  10. A Secret Place – 5:30
  11. I Won't Let Go – 5:12
  12. Sacrifice (featuring Kierra "Kiki" Sheard) – 4:31
  13. It's Not Over – 4:39
  14. Smell You Later – 12:40

Chart history

Chart (2002) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 82
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 27

References

  1. ^ Allmusic Review
  2. ^ Christianity Today Review
  3. ^ "Charts & Awards for Karen Clark Sheard". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p64830. 
  4. ^ Taylor, LaTonya (February 20, 2006). "Back From The Dead". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2006/karenclarksheard-0206.html. 
  5. ^ Gospel City Interview
  6. ^ Christian Music Planet

External links