Hurricane (Eric Benét album)
Hurricane |
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Studio album by Eric Benét |
Released |
June 21, 2005 |
Recorded |
2004-2005 |
Genre |
R&B, soul, quiet storm |
Length |
59:49 |
Label |
Friday, Reprise |
Producer |
Walter Afanasieff, Eric Benét, Michael Carney, Hod David, Andy Duncan, Dave Foster, Humberto Gatica, George Nash, Jr., Demonté Posey, Drew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders |
Eric Benét chronology |
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Singles from Hurricane |
- "I Wanna Be Loved"
Released: 2005
- "Hurricane"
Released: 2005
- "Pretty Baby"
Released: 2006
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Hurricane is the third studio album by American R&B recording artist Eric Benét, released June 21, 2005, on Friday Records, with distributing by Reprise Records.[5] It is the follow-up to his second album A Day in the Life (1999) and follows the shelving of his Better & Better project for Warner Bros. Records. Recorded at various recording studios, the album was written and produced by Benét with several other producers, including Walter Afanasieff, Michael Carney, Hod David, Dave Foster, George Nash, Jr., and Demonté Posey.
Background
Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording locations, including the Hit Factory in New York, New York, Bowery Digital, Chalice Studios, Ocean Way Studio, The Studio, Warner Bros. Sound Stage, and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, California, Chartmaker Studios, Drew's Groove Studios, Panic Room, and Soundstage Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Jade Studios and Jupiter Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, and Eastman Scoring Stage in Burbank, California.[2] Production was handled by Benét and several other record producers, including Walter Afanasieff, Michael Carney, Hod David, Dave Foster, George Nash, Jr., and Demonté Posey.[6]
Hurricane incorporates musical elements of gospel and contributions from jazz musicians Roy Hargrove, Chris Botti, and Viktor Krauss.[4] A departure from the jazzy, groove-based urban sound of Benét's previous work, the album features an adult contemporary style with sweeping strings, layered vocals, and nimble acoustic guitars.[7] According to Rashod D. Ollison of The Washington Post, "Hurricane is lush in spots, the overall sound more in the adult contemporary vein. More Christopher Cross, less R. Kelly".[7]
Reception
Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave it three-and-a-half out of four stars and commented that "The quiet storm is well performed but dull, yet the Prince-styled numbers are engaging, melodic, and nimble, strong showcases for Benet's mellow skills".[1] Mojo gave the album three out of five stars and called it "a very palatable collection of self-penned confessional songs".[2] Laura Checkoway of Vibe called it "an uneven mix of simplistic sentimentality", stating "Reflective and repentant at times, Hurricane is more likely to sing you to sleep than knock you off your feet".[3] The Washington Post commented favorably on the album's themes of "healing and redemption", and stated "The spiritual tone often brings out the best in [Eric Benet]'s supple tenor on 'In The End' and other tracks".[4]
Track listing
Writer(s) |
Producer(s) |
1. |
"Be Myself Again" |
Eric Benét, Hod David, Andrew Wyatt |
Eric Benét, Hod David |
3:21 |
2. |
"Pretty Baby" |
Benét, George Nash, Jr., Demonté Posey |
Demonté Posey, Eric Benét, George Nash, Jr. |
4:56 |
3. |
"Hurricane" |
Benét, David Foster |
David Foster, Humberto Gatica |
4:40 |
4. |
"Where Does the Love Go" |
Benét, David, Wyatt |
Hod David |
4:13 |
5. |
"My Prayer" |
Walter Afanasieff, Benét, John Lang |
Walter Afanasieff |
5:09 |
6. |
"Man Enough to Cry" |
Benét, Dean Parks |
David Foster, Humberto Gatica |
4:13 |
7. |
"I Know" |
Benét, Drew Ramsey, Shannon Saunders |
Drew Ramsey, Shannon Saunders |
3:43 |
8. |
"India" |
Benét, Parks, Danny Peck |
Walter Afanasieff |
4:08 |
9. |
"The Last Time" |
Benét, Amy Foster-Gillies, Foster |
David Foster, Humberto Gatica |
3:41 |
10. |
"In the End" |
Benét, Neal Larson, Linda Thompson |
Walter Afanasieff |
3:43 |
11. |
"Making Love" |
Benét, Michael Carney, Andy Duncan |
Andy Duncan, Eric Benét, Michael Carney |
4:23 |
12. |
"Cracks of My Broken Heart" |
Afanasieff, Benét, Tim Blixseth, Jonathan Clark |
Walter Afanasieff |
4:36 |
13. |
"I Wanna Be Loved" |
Benét, Posey |
Demonté Posey, Eric Benét |
4:38 |
14. |
"Still with You" |
Afanasieff, Benét, Blixseth |
Walter Afanasieff |
4:40 |
Personnel
Credits for Hurricane adapted from Allmusic.[6]
Musicians
- Spanky Alford – guitar, soloist
- Eric Benét – audio production, vocal bass, percussion, producer, vocals
- Chris Boardman – string arrangements
- Chris Botti – soloist, trumpet
- Randall Bowland – guitar
- David Campbell – string arrangements
- Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
- Larry Corbett – cello
- Nathan East – bass
- Larry Gold – string arrangements
- Anthony Johnson – drums
- Jef Lee Johnson – guitar
- Viktor Krauss – bass
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- Frank Lacy – horn
- Michael Landau – electric guitar
- Lucia Micarelli – violin
- Brian Frazier Moore – drums
- Dan Needham – drums
- Pino Palladino – bass
- Dean Parks – guitar
- Van Dyke Parks – arranger, conductor
- Tim Pierce – guitar
- James Poyser – keyboards
- William Ross – arranger, conductor
- Jacques Schwarz-Bart – horn
- Norbert Stachel – saxophone
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Production
- Walter Afanasieff – arranger, audio production, keyboards, producer, programming
- Steve B. – engineer
- Tim Blixseth – executive producer
- Lee Bridges – assistant
- Michael Carney – audio production, producer
- Hod David – audio production, bass, drums, guitar, mixing, producer
- Kevin "KD" Davis – mixing
- Rich Davis – production coordination
- Neil Devor – engineer
- Andy Duncan – audio production, engineer, guitar, mixing, producer
- Danny Duncan – engineer
- Olivia Fischa – make-up
- Dave Foster – arranger, keyboards, producer, string arrangements
- David Foster – audio production, keyboards
- Humberto Gatica – audio production, engineer, mixing, producer
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Dawn Haynes – stylist
- Kaori Kinoshita – assistant engineer
- Emanuel Kiriakou – digital editing, engineer, programming
- Manny Marroquin – mixing
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- George Nash, Jr. – audio production, producer
- Mike O'Connor – engineer
- Juan Patino – mixing, percussion
- Csaba Petocz – engineer
- Kathleen Philpott – design
- Demonté Posey – audio production, keyboards, organ, producer
- Drew Ramsey – audio production
- Alejandro Rodriguez – engineer
- Alex Rodriguez – assistant engineer
- Aldo Ruggiero – assistant
- Jochem van der Saag – programming
- Shannon Sanders – audio production, organ, piano, producer, programming, synthesizer
- F. Reid Shippen – mixing
- John Sneltz – engineer
- Jorge Vivo – engineer
- Stephen Walker – art direction, design
- Shelley Wiseman – production coordination
- Joe Wohlmuth – engineer
- Patrick Woodward – engineer, mixing
- Andrew Wyatt – engineer
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Charts
References
External links