Outrun the Sky
Outrun the Sky | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 28, 2004 | |||
Length | 45:06 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
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Lalah Hathaway chronology | ||||
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Singles from Outrun the Sky | ||||
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Outrun the Sky is the third
Background
In 2003, Hathaway signed with
Hathaway took an active hand in the production of Outrun the Sky,
Promotion
Originally recorded for the all-star tribute album Forever, for Always, for Luther (2004), Outrun the Sky was preceded by Hathaway's rendition of the same titled Luther Vandross song. Also serving as the album lead single, it became her first number one hit on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart.[5] Follow-up "Better and Better," produced by Mike City, reached number 21 on the same chart.[5] A third single, "How Many Times," also produced by City, failed to chart.[1]
Following the release of the album's first two singles, Hathaway went on the Daughters of Soul tour, put together by
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [7] |
Orlando Sentinel | [8] |
Outrun the Sky earned generally positive reviews from music critics.[9] AllMusic editor David Jeffries responded that "it's her warm voice, smooth delivery, and allegiance to fad-free R&B that keeps the faithful patiently waiting. Delivering on all counts, Outrun the Sky is a fan's dream and the singer's best showcase since her debut."[7] He called the album a "showcase" on which Hathaway not only does "cover a wider spectrum of tones and moods but she also producers and writes most of the highlights of the album."[7] Jim Abbott of the Orlando Sentinel wrote "Outrun the Sky is worth the wait for fans of old-school singing without the self-indulgent histrionics that American Idol contestants confuse with emotion. Although these 13 songs lack the distinctive punch needed to rival Alicia Keys — the gold standard for modern R&B; — the album is filled with subtle charm."[8]
Mark Anthony Neal from PopMatters found that Outrun the Sky was in the spirit of Hathaway's previous album The Song Lives On but "finds its place. There are obvious attempts to garner some support from urban radio [...] but Hathaway'’s strength throughout her career has been the ballad. No longer feeling the need to compete with some of her R&B peers, Hathaway makes the transition here to song stylist — think Nancy Wilson — adding a level of depth by writing many of the project's songs."[10] SoulTracks critic Chris Rizik noted that "while her 1999 disc with Joe Sample, The Song Lives On, was a career album that couldn't be replicated, with Outrun the Sky Lalah Hathaway has created a classy and welcome addition to her discography that should be gobbled up by her patient, devoted fans."[11]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "How Many Times" |
| Mike City | 3:40 |
2. | "Back Then" |
|
| 4:50 |
3. | "Your Favorite Song" | Flowers | City | 4:07 |
4. | "Forever, for Always, for Love" | Luther Vandross |
| 5:52 |
5. | "Better and Better" | Flowers | City | 4:04 |
6. | "Outrun the Sky" | Hathaway | Hathaway | 3:06 |
7. | "If U Ever" |
|
| 3:48 |
8. | "In the End" |
|
| 4:15 |
9. | "Admit It" |
|
| 5:34 |
10. | "Stronger" |
|
| 5:47 |
11. | "We Were 2" |
|
| 8:10 |
12. | "More" |
|
| 5:11 |
13. | "Boston" | Hathaway | Hathaway | 5:37 |
Total length: | 45:06 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies additional producers
Personnel
- Lalah Hathaway – vocals, backing vocals (2, 7, 8)
- Mike City – other instruments (1, 3), all instruments (5)
- Chris Parks – keyboards (2, 8, 9), guitars (2, 6-13), bass (2, 6-13), drum programming (2, 8, 9)
- Rex Rideout – keyboards (4), programming (4)
- Sundra Manning – Hammond B3 organ(4)
- Tim Carmon – Rhodes piano (6, 7, 10-13), organ (6, 7, 10-13), Hammond B3 organ (9)
- David Delhomme – keyboards (6, 7, 10-13), guitars (6, 7, 10-13)
- Erick Walls – guitars (1, 3)
- Ray Fuller – guitars (4)
- John "Jubu" Smith – guitars (6, 7, 10-13), additional guitars (9)
- Sekou Bunch – bass (4)
- Doug Livingston – pedal steel guitar (6, 10)
- Michael White – drums (4)
- Poogie Bell – drums (6, 7, 10-13)
- Lenny Castro – percussion (4)
- Ricky Rodriguez – percussion (6, 7, 10-13)
- Brandon Fields – saxophones (4)
- Nick Lane – trombone (3), horn arrangements (4)
- Lee Thornburg – trumpet (4)
- Vivian Sessoms – backing vocals (2, 8)
- Kenya Hathaway – backing vocals (7, 10)
- Jenny Douglas-McRae – backing vocals (8)
Production
- George Nauful – executive producer, A&R direction
- Raymond A. Shields II – executive producer, management
- Pat Shields – A&R coordination, marketing
- Jack Frisch – art direction, design
- Kate Garner – photography
- Katrina Porter – hair stylist
- Kim Todd – make-up
- Marie Flemings – clothing
Technical
- Steve Hall – mastering at Future Disc (Hollywood, California)
- Jim Morgan – recording (1)
- Dave Pensado – mixing (1, 3, 5)
- Chris Parks – recording (2, 8, 9)
- Craig Burbidge – mixing (2, 6-13)
- Franny Graham – recording (3, 5)
- Steve Sykes – recording (4)
- Ray Bardani – mixing (4)
- Anthony Jeffries – recording (6, 7, 10-13)
- Ethan Wiloughby – mix assistant (1)
- Jason Merritt – mix assistant (4)
- Mark Green – additional engineer (4)
- Rex Rideout – additional engineer (4)
Charts
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
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US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[12] | 34 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
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United States | September 28, 2004 |
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[1] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Mitchell, Gail (September 25, 2004). "A Decade Later: Lalah's Third CD". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "eJams: Lalah Hathaway". eJams. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07.
- ^ a b Outrun the Sky (CD liner). Lalah Hathaway. Mesa/Blue Moon. 2004.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c Nathan, David (2004). "Lalah Hathaway: There Are Some Voices..." Soulmusic.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ Moody, Shelah (October 20, 2005). "Lalah Hathaway grateful for her father's gifts". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c Jeffries, David. "(Outrun the Sky > Overview)". AllMusic. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ a b Abbott, Jim (2004-10-08). "LALAH HATHAWAY MAKES THE MOST OF HER EMOTIONS". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ Mitchell, Gail (January 10, 2005). "Donny Hathaway's Daughter, Lalah Hathaway, Wins New Fans With CD, 'Outrun The Sky'". Jet . Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ Neal, Mark Anthony (October 19, 2004). "Lalah Hathaway: Outrun the Sky". PopMatters. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ Rizik, Chris. "Lalah Hathaway – Outrun the Sky (2005)". SoulTracks. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
- ^ "Lalah Hathaway Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2023.