Lost & Found (Ledisi album)

Lost & Found
Studio album by Ledisi
Released August 28, 2007
Recorded 2007
Genre
Length 59:53
Label Verve Forecast
Producer Ledisi, Sundra Manning, Rex Rideout, Jamey Jaz, Luther "Mano" Hanes, Lorenzo Johnson
Ledisi chronology

Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue
(2002)		 Lost & Found
(2007)		 Turn Me Loose
(2009)

Lost & Found is the third studio album by American R&B and jazz singer-songwriter Ledisi, released August 28, 2007 on Verve Records. It is her major-label debut after releasing two independent albums with her producing partner and keyboardist Sundra Manning on their label LeSun Records.[1] In comparison to Ledisi's previous works Soulsinger (1999), an album of original R&B and neo soul-oriented songs, and Feeling Orange but Sometimes Blue (2002), a set of jazz standards and originals, Lost & Found features a slicker production and calmer vocals.[1] The album charted at number 78 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[2]

Reception

Commercial performance

Ledisi stated that she was unsure of wanting to stay within the music industry. In response, Ledisi wrote the song "Alright" to express her life.[3] "Alright" became the lead single and debuted at number 45 on the US Billboard Hot R&B chart. The album's second single "In The Morning" debuted at number 49 on the Billboard Hot R&B chart.[4] Other songs from the album charted but were not released as singles. "Think of You" charted at number 71 on the Hot R&B chart, "Joy" charted at number 103 on the Hot R&B chart and number 29 on the Adult R&B Airplay.[5][6]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com [7]
Allmusic [8]
The Baltimore Sun (favorable)[9]
Billboard (favorable)[10]
Ebony (favorable)[11]
Montreal Mirror (9/10)[12]
Toronto Star [13]
USA Today [14]
Vibe (favorable)[15]
Washington Post (favorable)[16]

The album was rated 4.5 of 5 stars by Allmusic.[8] Dan Quellette of Billboard.com stated,

"During the last decade, Ledisi has consistently wowed audiences in tiny clubs and concert halls, which raises two questions: First, why did a major take so long to sign her; second, would her in-person effervescence translate to disc? On her Verve Forecast debut and third CD overall, Ledisi dispels any doubts with 15 R&B originals that showcase her prowess as a powerhouse vocalist as well as her songwriting maturity. The CD opens and closes with Ledisi live on the funky "Been Here," between which she gets soulfully cool, upbeat grooving and ecstatically unrestrained. Highlights include the spanking-beat "Today," the smoothly lyrical "Get to Know You," the scat-charged "Upside Down" and the album's balladic gem, "Lost and Found (Find Me)." — Dan Ouellette[17]

Mariel Concepcion of Billboard.com reviewed Ledisi's performance at the Highline Ballroom and gave a more favorable review.

"Ledisi's performance at New York City's Highline Ballroom was emotional both for performer and audience; it was like a religious experience. The crowd, spread out throughout the bi-level, supper-club styled venue, stood up, stomped, waved their hands, clapped along and even cried to the Grammy-nominated singer's music.

Clad in a back sequined dress and red leather pumps, the New Orleans-born, Oakland-bred singer performed a compact set of just under a dozen songs. She was backed by a live band from Washington DC and three background singers.

"If you're living and breathing, you're alright. Ya'll better learn how to love yourselves," Ledisi said before breaking into her hit single, "It’s Alright," off her 2007's Grammy-nominated "Lost And Found" (Verve). When she sang the words, "Wish I had some money to pay my bills, but it’' alright," the audience clapped in unison to show their agreement.

Before transitioning to the next song, she spoke directly to those in the audience who might be in "dysfunctional relationships." "Ladies, some of y'all don't know how to let go," she said. "[You're] waiting late at night for him to call you, for his voice to answer the phone so you can tell him how much you need him and want him for the 150th time. Wondering, will he be there in the morning?" Then she began belting out the first lines of the sensual "In The Morning,".[18]

Track listing

  1. Been Here (Intro)
  2. Joy
  3. You and Me
  4. Best Friend (Ledisi Young, Luther Hanes, Errol Cooney)
  5. Alright
  6. Think of You
  7. Today (Ledisi Young, Luther Hanes)
  8. Get to Know You (Ledisi Young, Lorenzo Johnson)
  9. Upside Down (Ledisi Young, Sundra Manning)
  10. In the Morning
  11. I Tried
  12. Lost and Found (Find Me)
  13. We Are One (featuring Rahsaan Patterson)
  14. The One (Ledisi Young, Jamey Jaz, John Smith)
  15. Someday (Ledisi Young, Luther Hanes, Rick Watford)
  16. Been Here (Outro)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hildebrand, Lee. At Long Last, Ledisi Hits a High Note. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  2. ↑ Ledisi discography albums (allmusic)
  3. ↑ Ledisi - Soul Survivor
  4. ↑ Ledisi discography singles (allmusic)
  5. ↑ Artist Chart History - Ledisi
  6. ↑ Searchable database Ledisi - Joy
  7. ↑ Nero, Mark Edward. Review: Lost & Found. About.com. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chisling, Matthew. Review: Lost & Found. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  9. ↑ Ollison, Rashod D. "Review: Lost & Found". The Baltimore Sun: August 30, 2007.
  10. ↑ Quellette, Dan. "Review: Lost & Found". Billboard: 55. September 1, 2007.
  11. ↑ Henderson, Shirley. "Review: Lost & Found". Ebony: 50D. September 2007.
  12. ↑ Dee, Gerard. Review: Lost & Found. Montreal Mirror. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  13. ↑ Infantry, Ashante. Review: Lost & Found. Toronto Star. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  14. ↑ Jones, Steve. Review: Lost & Found. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  15. ↑ Burrell, Jalylah. "Review: Lost & Found". Vibe: 128. September 2007.
  16. ↑ Joyce, Mike. Review: Lost & Found. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2009-10-02.
  17. ↑ Lost & Found Review
  18. ↑ Ledisi / February 15, 2008 / New York (Highline Ballroom)

External links