Sparkle (Sparkle album)

Sparkle
Studio album by Sparkle
Released May 19, 1998
Recorded 1997-1998
Genre R&B
Label Interscope, Rockland
Producer R. Kelly(Exec.)
Professional reviews

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Sparkle chronology
Sparkle
(1998)		 Told You So
(2000)

Sparkle is the self-titled debut album by R&B singer, Sparkle. It was released on May 19, 1998 through Interscope Records and was entirely produced by her mentor R. Kelly. The album was a success in large part to the Sparkle-R.Kelly duet "Be Careful", which peaked at 3 on the Rhythmic Top 40 and 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. The album itself peaked at 3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold on December 7, 2000.

In addition to "Be Careful", "Time to Move On" and "Lovin' You" were also released as singles, but neither made it to the Billboard charts.

Entertainment Weekly (6/19/98, p.74) - "Unlike her wannabe-diva peers, this R.Kelly protegee remembers what the 'B' in R&B stands for....R.Kelly surrounds her with blaxploitation-vintage wah-wah guitars, haunting strings, and blue-collar blues; the resulting soul digs far deeper than Kelly's usual bump'n' grind..." - Rating: B+

Track listing

  1. "Good Life"- 3:46 (Featuring Cam'ron and Nature)
  2. "Time to Move On"- 4:03
  3. "Lean on Me"- 4:22
  4. "I'm Gone"- 5:14
  5. "Turn Away"- 4:43
  6. "What About"- 4:47
  7. "Be Careful"- 5:17 (Featuring R. Kelly)
  8. "Nothing Can Compare"- 4:09
  9. "Quiet Place"- 1:39
  10. "Lovin' You"- 4:08
  11. "Straight Up"- 4:46
  12. "Vegas"- 4:08
  13. "No Greater"- 3:04
  14. "Play On"- 5:07
  15. "Plenty of Good Lovin"- 3:24

Samples

"Time to Move On" sampled "Intimate Friends" by Eddie Kendricks

"Lovin' You"- "Loving You" by Minnie Riperton

"Good Life"- "Good Times" by Chic

Credits

Jason Bacher- Assistant Engineer

Percy Bady- Keyboards

Rick Behrens- Assistant Engineer, Engineer, Mixing Assistant

Chris Brickley- Assistant Engineer, Engineer, Mixing Assistant, Programming

Cam'ron- Rap

Lafayette Carthon, Jr.- Keyboards

Trey Fratt -Assistant Engineer

Stephen George -Engineer, Mixing, Programming

Keith Henderson- Guitar

Cynthia Jernigan -Vocals (Background)

Mark Johnson -Mixing Assistant

R. Kelly- Arranger, Executive Producer, Mixing, Performer, Producer, Songwriter, Vocals (Background)

Jeff Lane- Mixing Assistant

Ron Lowe -Assistant Engineer, Engineer, Mixing Assistant

Mr. Lee -Mixing, Programming

Nature -Rap

Joshua Shapera-Engineer

Sparkle -Vocals (Background)

Martin Stebbing -Engineer, Programming

Ed Tinley- Assistant Engineer

Tone & Poke -Mixing

Jeff Vereb- Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant

Recorded at Chicago Recording Company, Battery Studios, Chicago Trax, Chicago, Illinois.