Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1'' is the debut studio album by American singer Jill Scott. It was released on July 18, 2000, by Hidden Beach Recordings. The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the
2001 Grammy Awards The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 21, 2001, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Several artists earned three awards on the night. Steely Dan's haul included Album of the Year for ''Two Against Nature''. U2 took ...
, whereas "Gettin' in the Way", "A Long Walk", and "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)" were nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. In 2010, the album was ranked number 70 on ''
Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York ...
''s list of "The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s".


Background

The track " He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)", dedicated to Scott's then-husband Lyzel Williams, became particularly popular at Scott's live and televised performances. It also received a club makeover as
dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
remixes of the song gained popularity and were later included on her 2001 live album '' Experience: Jill Scott 826+''. Gospel singers Karen Clark Sheard and her daughter
Kierra Kierra (kee-er-rah) is a female given name. The name may be a variant of the Irish name Kiara meaning "dark" or a variant of the Greek name Kira meaning "lord". US usage of the name reached a peak in 1995. Notable people with the name include: *Ki ...
also
covered Cover or covers may refer to: Packaging * Another name for a lid * Cover (philately), generic term for envelope or package * Album cover, the front of the packaging * Book cover or magazine cover ** Book design ** Back cover copy, part of co ...
the song with new gospel lyrics and ad-libs on the former's 2003 album ''
The Heavens Are Telling ''The Heavens Are Telling'' is an album by the multiple Grammy and Stellar award-winning gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard, released on November 4, 2003. In the USA, the album peaked at #3 on the ''Billboard'' Top Gospel Charts, #11 on the Billboa ...
''.
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
included the song as part of a
medley Medley or Medleys may refer to: Sports *Medley swimming, races requiring multiple swimming styles * Medley relay races at track meets Music *Medley (music), multiple pieces strung together People *Medley (surname), list of people with this nam ...
with "
Dangerously in Love 2 "Dangerously in Love 2" is a song written and produced by Beyoncé and Errol McCalla, Jr. The ballad was first recorded by Destiny's Child for their third studio album '' Survivor'' (2001), under the title "Dangerously in Love". The song later be ...
" during her Beyoncé Experience world tour in 2007. The song was also covered by the German
pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...
trio Monrose on their 2006 video release ''Popstars: The Making of Monrose''. The twelfth track, "The Roots (Interlude)", is an excerpt of the live version of
the Roots The Roots are an American hip hop band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy F ...
' 1999 song "
You Got Me You Got Me or U Got Me may refer to: Film * ''You Got Me!'' (film), a 2007 Filipino comedy Music Songs * "You Got Me" (The Roots song), 1999 * "You Got Me" (J.Williams song), 2010 * "You Got Me" (Ivy Quainoo song), 2012 * "You Got Me" (Mýa song), ...
", which was co-written, and originally recorded with vocals by Scott, but re-recorded with vocals by Erykah Badu at the insistence of MCA Records.


Critical reception

''Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1'' earned generally favorable reviews from music critics. '' Entertainment Weekly''s Jim Farber felt that the album "boasts the gutsiest voice of any neo-soul star. Though she plows the same jazzy field as Erykah Badu, Scott owns a stronger instrument and writes earthier material. Her honey molasses voice will coat all your senses." Steve Jones from '' USA Today'' called Scott "a deeply talented artist who marches to her own drummer. She tackles a variety of subjects, including love, politics and inspiration, with an earthiness, fervor and view of reality that vividly set her apart from her contemporaries. Answering the album title's question may not be simple, but what's sure is that Jill Scott is a singer worth repeated listenings." '' Los Angeles Times'' critic Soren Baker noted that "with an earthy vibe and a fresh presentation of modern soul music, this Roots collaborator subtly sizzles on her debut album. Scott’s gentle voice fluctuates between sensuous and sad as she details the satisfaction of love fulfilled and the messy heartbreak of failed relationships." ''
Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York ...
''s Sal Cinquemani called the album "passionately spiritual. Most of the tracks on the album avoid hip-hop clichés and sampling in favor of elevation and organic soul. With ''Who Is Jill Scott?'', Scott almost single-handedly revives the spirit in soul music." AllMusic editor William Ruhlmann rated the album four of five stars. He felt thatpProducer Jeff Townes "and his team of associates from the A Touch of Jazz production company set up sympathetic musical backgrounds for Scott that support her without requiring her to fit her spoken and sung excursions into strict meter. That gives her range to pursue her interests, which include a strong sense of her north Philadelphia neighborhood and such idiosyncratic concerns as food, with many meals listed in detail." '' Rolling Stone'' critic Barry Walters wrote: "Mixing song with recited poetry over live beats, Scott's debut recalls the heady lyrical gifts of Billie Holiday,
Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...
, Teena Marie and Nikki Giovanni, just to name a few. But this free spirit is about more than words: Jazzy, honey-dipped arrangements bypass samples in favor of real strings, woodwinds, horns and drummers who swing ..This long-player smells like classic soul spirit."


Accolades

The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the
2001 Grammy Awards The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 21, 2001, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Several artists earned three awards on the night. Steely Dan's haul included Album of the Year for ''Two Against Nature''. U2 took ...
, whereas "Gettin' in the Way", "A Long Walk", and "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)" were nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. In 2010, ''Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1'' was ranked number 70 on ''
Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York ...
''s list of "The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s".


Track listing

Notes * signifies a co-producer * Tracks 19–43 (and track 45 on the Japanese edition) consist of silence and last five seconds each; they are not listed on the album sleeve. * Track 44 includes the remix of "Love Rain" featuring Mos Def as a hidden track, starting at 5:02. Sample credits * "Slowly Surely" contains a sample of "Days Gone By (Egyptology)" by Moe Koffman. * "Watching Me" contains a sample of "No Stranger to Love" by Roy Ayers. * "Brotha" contains a sample of " Get Out of My Life" by Joe Williams with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis.


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Certifications


Notes


References

{{Authority control 2000 debut albums Albums produced by Dre & Vidal Hidden Beach Recordings albums Jill Scott (singer) albums