Pru (album)

Pru
An image of a woman with a long black dress who is hunched over. The words "PRU" appear against a gold background along with red writing.
Studio album by Pru
Released November 7, 2000 (2000-11-07)
Genre
Length 58:00
Label Capital Records
Producer
  • Roy Lott (exec.)
  • Pru
  • Ben Garrison
  • Rick Williams
Singles from Pru
  1. "Candles"
    Released: September 4, 2000
  2. "Aaroma (of a Man)"
    Released: June 2001

Pru is the eponymous, debut studio album by American singer Pru. It was released on November 7, 2000, through Capitol Records. It was executive produced by Capital Records executive Roy Lott, who had signed Pru to Warner/Chappell Music Publishing after feeling drawn to her songwriting and voice on her demo tape. For the album, she primarily collaborated with Ben Garrison, The Characters, and Rick Williams.

According to Lott, Pru was part of Capitol Records' attempts to attract a wide audience through her crossover appeal. Music critics described the album as encompassing multiple genres, with several commentators connecting the singer with a movement of neo soul performers. Apart from the sound, Pru was also noted for using poetry as an inspiration for writing music.

After its release, critics wrote generally positive reviews of the album, praising its composition and Pru's voice. They also compared her favorably to contemporary artists. The album peaked at number 176 on the Billboard 200 chart. Capitol Records executives had devised an intensive marketing strategy to further promote the album and increase Pru's visibility. Two singles were released, "Candles" and "Aaroma (of a Man)". "Candles" peaked at number 68 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart; both singles received positive responses from music commentators.

Background and recording

Prudencesa Renfro, professionally known as Pru,[1] was signed by Warner/Chappell Music Publishing by Capitol Records' executive Roy Lott.[2] Lott said that he was drawn to her songwriting and voice.[2] Jack Ponti, a manager with Cazzy Dog Management, had helped Pru to produce a demo to secure the record deal. Even though Lott noted her potential as an artist, he said that "[h]er lyrics were the thing that stood out the most for me, and it really was the challenge". He worked closely with her to match her lyrics to the most appropriate sound, serving as the executive producer for her debut album Pru.[3]

Prior to securing a record deal, Pru had found inspiration for her music in artists such as Cassandra Wilson and Dianne Reeves.[2] She wrote song lyrics and poetry while attending high school and Texas Southern University,[3] coupling her lyrics with the music of other artists such as Michael Jackson, Rachelle Ferrell, Sade, Naughty by Nature, The Isley Brothers, and Miles Davis.[3] While discussing her approach to songwriting, Pru elaborated: "From a word, I can get a whole picture, a visual. The song becomes a poem, almost like a thesis."[3] She interpreted her music as a form of poetry, citing the track "Hazy Shades" as an example of a poem turned into a song.[4]

Pru stated that she wanted her songs to offer some variety to contemporary R&B, and described the material as the opposite of "the repetitious things that are playing on the radio".[4] On her official website, the singer identified her style as "[m]usic for the [s]oul".[5] Though AllMusic gives the singer songwriting credit on twelve of the tracks,[2] Pru is only credited for co-writing "Aaroma" on the album's liner notes.[6] The record was completed at Studio 57 and Weight Room, and mixed by Mike Shipley and Tony Maserati.[6] Following the release of the album, Pru spoke highly of her experiences with the producers and felt that they "la[id] a good bed around the lyrics and the melodies".[4]

Composition and sound
"Smooth Operator"
A sample of Pru's cover of Sade's "Smooth Operator"; the track was noted for its influences from Latin music, primarily in its use of percussion and flutes.[7]
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Pru consists of thirteen songs. Music critics identified a variety of different musical genres on the album.[7][8] Tucson Weekly's Margaret Regan wrote that Pru's material was an example of new age music,[9] while Janine Coveney of Billboard referenced the singer's sound as "alterna-soul/pop music".[3] AllMusic's Ed Hogan noted that the songs combined hip hop music, Latin music, contemporary R&B, rock music, and trip hop.[7]

Pru called the opening track "Prophecy of a Flower" the album's focal point, saying that "everything else falls a little to the left and to the right of that".[3] The R&B and soul song's lyrics incorporate words from the he loves me... he loves me not game.[3][8] The second track "183 Miles" combines hip hop and country music, with its lyrics revolving around a love story. Sampling The Miracles' 1965 song "The Tracks of My Tears", "Candles" is a "midtempo groove" that features the titular object as a metaphor for "stress (burned at both ends) and healing (lit for mediation)".[3] The Miracles' single directly inspired the lyrics and instrumentation for the track.[2] Hogan, however, interpreted the song as a "juxtaposition of the original message from 'The Track of My Tears'".[7]

"Aaroma", the fourth track, features Pru offering a "sexy challenge" to the listener.[3] She adapted one of the song's lyrics "if a man came my way and I didn't doubt him" directly from one of her poems. While discussing the meaning of the title, the singer said it derived from an "old southern saying: 'I could smell you coming'".[10] "Hazy Shade" is a ballad that Hogan described as "recall[ing] 'blue light in the basement' old skool slow jams". Preceded by a "Salsa Interlude",[8] Pru's cover of Sade's 1984 single "Smooth Operator" features a stronger Latin-inspired instrumental than the original, which includes "popping percussion and fluttery flute runs".[7] The ending of the ninth track "Can't Compare Your Love" showcases an "influence [from] the spoken word scene", and the following song "Sketches of Pain" deliberately plays with the title of Miles Davis' 1960 album Sketches of Spain. The twelfth track "What They Gone Do?" features a "brassy two-step" in its instrumentation.[8]

Release and promotion

On August 19, 2000, Pru was first announced as an untitled album scheduled for release the following month.[11] Pushed back to October 24, 2000, the album was developed under the working title Inside A Poem — a reference to Pru's poetic style of songwriting.[3] Retitled Pru, Capitol Records released the record on November 7, 2000, as an audio CD, cassette, and digital download,[12][13][14] as well as an "enhanced audio CD," which contains multimedia computer files.[6]

Prior to the album's release, Pru performed along with a band that included members of The Family Stand at the Los Angeles venue Luna Park and the New York City club S.O.B. She would later sing in Chicago, Houston, and Atlanta to promote the album further.[3] She also toured with the Family Stand and members of Sade.[2] While discussing the album's promotion, Linton said: "Pru is a live performance artist and, being new, we wanted people to get their first impression of her in that environment".[3]

According to Billboard magazine, Capitol Records had an "aggressive retail marketing plan" for the album, including the release of an electronic press kit and promotion through "non-retail accounts".[3] Lott told Billboard magazine that Pru would act as a primary part of Capitol Records' attempt to attract a wide audience with her crossover appeal. David Linton, Capitol Records senior vice president of R&B promotion and marketing, identified R&B, adult contemporary music, and top 40 music as potential "bases" for the singer.[3] Along with the two singles "Candles" and "Aaroma (of a Man)", the record was promoted as featuring "Smooth Operator" and "183 Miles".[15]

Singles

Released as the lead single from Pru, "Candles" was sent to rhythmic radio stations in the United States during the week of September 4, 2000. Lott said the song was chosen as Pru's debut single because he felt that its allusions to The Miracles' song would appeal to listeners of all ages. It was promoted further by its inclusion on a back-to-school CD sampler from retailer Delia's.[3] Director Dave Meyers shot the accompanying music video,[3] which was released on November 25, 2001.[16] The video premiered on MTV in February 2001, following roughly two months of rotation on BET.[10] "Candles" reached number 68 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart where it spent fourteen weeks,[17] and peaked at number 65 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay Billboard chart where it spent ten weeks.[18] For both chart appearances, Billboard credited the song as appearing on The Sound of Style: Capital Records Fall 2000 Collection.[17][18]

Critical response to "Candles" was positive. David Dickinson, a music director at WHUR-FM, felt the single would be appropriate for radio and praised its production and Pru's voice.[3] A writer from Billboard magazine praised the lyrics and Pru's vocal performance, contrasting the artist's "cool, literate sensibility [against] the blatant sexual overtones" from other contemporary R&B female singers. However, the writer doubted that hip-hop and mainstream R&B stations would play the song, believing it to be better suited for adult R&B radio.[19]

"Aaroma" was released as the album's second single under the new title "Aaroma (of a Man)". A writer from Billboard magazine compared the song's lyrics positively to those in Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart" (1996).[20] Another reviewer from the same publication pointed to the track as one of the strongest on the album.[10] According to a Billboard article published on June 16, 2001, dance and R&B remixes of the song were commissioned from Hani al-Badir and Carlos "Six July" Broady respectively; the remixes were scheduled to be added to a re-release of the album. The music video for the single was filmed in June 2001.[21]

Reception

An image of a woman with a fedora and a suit holding blue feathers while staring forward with a neutral expression.
Pru was frequently compared to neo soul artists, such as Erykah Badu.

On its release, Pru received positive feedback from music critics. Ed Hogan praised Pru's experimentation with musical genres as representative of her "open-minded, whimsical influence," and listed "Candles" and "Hazy Shades" as the album's highlights.[7] Despite its many influences, Colin Ross felt the album never sounded uneven or disjointed. He commended the singer for communicating a range of emotions, acting "innocent, self-assured, uncertain, elated and vulnerable" throughout the tracks, highlighting the instrumentation and lyrics as the album's standouts.[8] A Billboard writer described Pru as "sparkl[ing] with colorfully imaged songs about love won, lost and anticipated". USA Today's Steve Jones praised the performer for the "remarkable depth in her poetics about joy and heartbreak". Jones wrote that the album demonstrated that Pru was a "singer with a vision".[10] Ebony's Lynn Norment described her as possessing a "rich, earthy voice and lyrical talent," responding positively to the artist's influences from scripture and poetry.[22] A writer for Sister 2 Sister commended Pru for her ability to convey emotion to the listener, identifying "Prophecy of a Flower" as their favorite track from the album.[23] The Houston Press Craig D. Lindsey praised Pru's music and live performances, and described her songs as "soulful, earthy and organic" and the antithesis of the "tongue-in-cheek, cynical 'Bills, Bills, Bills'-type junk".[1] The album was called "[a]rtful ... stunning ... sexy" by a reviewer from People.[5]

Several media outlets compared Pru to other artists, with a Billboard reviewer writing that the singer was "[p]icking up the lyrical gauntlet" from contemporary neo soul performers.[24] The singer's voice was compared to Lauryn Hill, Macy Gray, and Erykah Badu by AllMusic's Stacia Proefrock.[2] She was classified as part of an "emerging school of poetics" by Colin Ross, who said that she was "subtlety changing the landscape of contemporary R&B lyricism".[8] A Billboard reviewer also placed the singer as a member of "the new soul movement," and compared her work to that of Angie Stone, Amel Larrieux, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu.[19] A writer from the journal Today's Black Woman felt that Pru was part of the neo soul genre, along with Erykah Badu and Jill Scott. The reviewer continued by saying these singers incorporated "traditional R&B as well as its new millennium, hip-hop inspired modern counterpart" in their music.[25] Pru responded positively to the comparisons, saying: "What I think is being classified as the neo-soul classic movement has artists that are individually different in their own right, but aren't different from modern R&B."[4]

Pru reached a peak position of number 176 on the Billboard 200, spending two weeks on the chart,[26] and peaked on Billboard's R&B Albums at number 16, spending 32 weeks on the chart.[27]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Pru. All tracks are produced by Ben Garrison, The Characters, Pru, and Rick Williams.[6]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Prophecy of a Flower"
  • Ben Garrison
  • Rick Williams
4:31
2."183 Miles"Williams5:18
3."Candles"
  • Charles Farrar
  • Troy Taylor
4:26
4."Aaroma"
  • Garrison
  • Andrew Hale
  • Stuart Matthewman
  • Prudensca Renfro
  • Williams
4:20
5."Hazy Shades"Williams4:55
6."Salsa Interlude"
  • Mark Fineberg
  • Williams
0:41
7."Smooth Operator"
4:41
8."Got Me High"
  • Farrar
  • Taylor
3:51
9."Can't Compare Your Love"
  • Taylor
  • Williams
5:49
10."Sketches of Pain"Taylor4:28
11."Reason Why"Camus Mare Celli4:29
12."What They Gone Do?"Williams5:13
13."Until the End"Williams5:14
Total length:58:00

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Pru and AllMusic.[6][28]

  • Kwaku Alston – photography
  • Marc Anthony – guitar
  • Linda Cobb – art direction, design
  • Leah Coloff – cello
  • Jeff Crews – assistant engineer, engineer
  • Loren Dawson – violin
  • Daphaney Epps – backing vocals
  • Mark Fineberg – flute, horn
  • Ben Garrison – African percussion, arranger, drum programming, engineer, producer, vocal percussion
  • Ben "Hollowell" Garrison – engineer
  • Genvieve – make-up
  • Lisa Gutkin – violin
  • Roy "Royalty" Hamilton – keyboards
  • Chaz Harper – engineer
  • Lamenga Kafi – backing vocals
  • David Laurence – viola
  • Roy Lott – executive producer
  • Tony Maserati – mixing
  • Ozzie Melendez – horn
  • Mika Mukawa – assistant engineer, engineer
  • Jack Ponti – direction, management
  • Nikki Ponti – production coordination
  • Pru – arranger, primary artist, producer, vocals
  • Hernán Santiago – assistant engineer, engineer
  • Todd Schwartz – horn
  • Mike Shipley – mixing
  • Maggie Sikkens – A&R
  • Troy Taylor – Fender rhodes, organ, piano, synthesizer, backing vocals, Wurlitzer
  • Rick Williams – arranger, bass, guitar, producer, songwriter, vocal percussion
  • Basia Zamorska – stylist

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[26] 176
US R&B Albums[27] 38

Release history

Country Date Format Label Ref.
United States November 7, 2000 CD Capitol [12]
Cassette [13]
Digital download [14]

References

  1. 1 2 Lindsey, Craig D. (December 7, 2000). "The Diva Decision". Houston Press. Voice Media Group. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Proefrock, Stacia. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Coveney, Janine (September 30, 2000). "Capitol Lights 'Candles' to Expose World to Artist Pru". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Harkness, Geoff (January 18, 2001). "Seven Questions with Pru". Lawrence.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Pru". AOL Hometown. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005. Note: Information taken from artist's official website.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Pru (Inlay cover). Pru. Capitol Records. November 7, 2000.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hogan, Ed. "Album Review". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ross, Colin (November 6, 2000). "Pru self-titled". PopMatters. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017.
  9. ↑ Regan, Margaret (October 9, 2008). "Beautiful Movement". Tucson Weekly. 10/13 Communications. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Fiasco, Lance (June 5, 2001). "Pru Records New Single Version Of 'Aaroma (Of A Man)'". idobi Radio. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Upcoming Titles". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. August 19, 2000. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Pru". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Pru". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017.
  14. 1 2 "Pru". iTunes Store (US). Archived from the original on March 31, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Pru". Vibe. Eldridge Industries. January 2001. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  16. ↑ "The Clip List". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. November 25, 2000. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  17. 1 2 "Candles". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. February 10, 2001. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  18. 1 2 "Candles". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. December 30, 2000. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  19. 1 2 Paoletta, Michael (November 4, 2000). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  20. ↑ "The Dance Trax Hot Plate". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. June 23, 2001. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  21. ↑ Mitchel, Gail (June 16, 2001). "Virgin Signs Teddy Riley; Capitol's Pru Records New 'Aaroma'; Universal Promotes Fatherhood". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  22. ↑ Norment, Lynn (January 2001). "Sounding Off". Ebony. John H. Johnson. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Pru's That Lady". Sister 2 Sister. Jamie Foster Brown. 2001. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Spotlight". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. November 18, 2000. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Profile on Pru: An Artist of Vision, Substance & Soul". Today's Black Woman. TBW, Incorporated. 2001. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017.
  26. 1 2 "Pru". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. February 3, 2001. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017.
  27. 1 2 "Pru". Billboard. Eldridge Industries. February 3, 2001. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017.
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