The Light of the Sun
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The Light of the Sun is the fourth studio album by American singer Jill Scott. It was recorded after Scott's four-year break from her music career and departure from her former label, Hidden Beach Recordings. The Light of the Sun was recorded at several studios and produced primarily by Scott and JR Hutson, a songwriter and producer who had previously worked on her 2007 record The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3. Music journalists noted The Light of the Sun for its neo soul sound, element of improvisation, and Scott's themes of emotion and womanhood.
The Light of the Sun was released on June 21, 2011, by Scott's
Background
Following her 2007 album,
In 2009, Scott left her former record label
Recording
The album was recorded at several recording studios, including Fever Recording Studios in North Hollywood, 9th Street Studios and Threshold Sound & Vision in Santa Monica, Studio 609 and The Studio in Philadelphia, The Boom Boom Room in Burbank and The Village Studios in West Los Angeles.[7] Scott worked with producers Terry Lewis, JR Hutson and Justice League for the album.[8] Scott had first worked with Hutson on her previous album The Real Thing.[2]
In an interview for HitQuarters, Hutson said of Scott's approach to The Light of the Sun, "She's now in charge of a lot of different things and with it comes a lot of trials and tribulations, and I think her goal is to just give people a very realistic glimpse of where she is in her life right now."[9] Scott has noted songs such as "Hear My Call" and "Quick" as reflective of the "darkest moments" in her life and has said that much of the album's music developed from studio jams and freestyle sessions.[10][11] In an interview for Metro, she said of the "largely improvised" recording process:
I went into a studio with no lyrics, nothing written out. I got together a great group – featuring Adam Blackstone on bass and Randy Bowland on guitar – and just put them in a studio and got them to play while I improvised lyrics. From the first note, you could hear little tunes emerging, and that would inspire me to freestyle lyrics. We call it 'going in'. You go inside yourself, inside your spirit, and you explore. It's exhausting. When we were done, there was a lot of whooping and hugging and high-fiving. It's that kind of record.[4]
Release and promotion
The album was released in the United States on June 21, 2011,
The album's first single, "
Scott promoted the album with her
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.5/10[26] |
Metacritic | 73/100[27] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[28] |
The Guardian | [29] |
The Independent | [30] |
MSN Music (Expert Witness) | A−[31] |
Paste | 9/10[32] |
Rolling Stone | [1] |
Slant Magazine | [33] |
Time Out | [34] |
Uncut | [35] |
The Light of the Sun received generally positive reviews from critics. At
In a mixed review, Andy Gill from
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | " Paris Strother | Hutson | 4:40 | |
7. | "Hear My Call" |
| Hutson | 3:48 |
8. | "Some Other Time" |
| Mateen | 2:18 |
9. | "Quick" |
| Campbell | 1:50 |
10. | "Making You Wait" |
| Hutson | 4:08 |
11. | "Until Then (I Imagine)" |
| Campbell | 3:41 |
12. | "Missing You" |
| Hutson | 4:13 |
13. | "When I Wake Up" |
| 4:13 | |
14. | "Womanifesto" | Scott | Scott | 2:03 |
15. | "Rolling Hills" |
|
| 4:47 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
16. | "The Light Of The Sun" | Scott | 6:26 |
17. | "Love Soul Bounce" | Scott | 3:34 |
18. | "I Love You" | Scott | 2:56 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
16. | "Escape" | Scott | 3:25 |
17. | "Easy" | Scott | 3:48 |
Notes
- ^a signifies a co-producer
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[40]
- The A Group – background vocals
- Nathaniel Alford – engineer
- Yameen Allworld – background vocals
- Sherlen Archibald – publicity
- Ashaunna Ayars – marketing
- Todd Bergman – assistant
- Michelle Bishop – violin
- Adam Blackstone – bass guitar, electric bass, keyboards, producer
- Randy Bowland – 7-string electric guitar, guitar, producer
- Bruce Buechner – engineer, production engineer
- Luke Burland – publicity
- Sandra Campbell – project coordinator
- Warryn Campbell – instrumentation, producer, programming, vocal arrangement
- Chris Chambers – publicity
- Jeff Chestek – string engineer
- Sean Cooper – sound design
- Eli Davis – production coordination
- Kimre Davis – production coordination
- Aaron Draper – background vocals, percussion
- Dré – producer
- Corte Ellis – background vocals
- Luis Eric – horn
- Teresa Evans – production coordination
- Rick Friedrick – assistant
- Larry Gold – string arrangements, string conductor
- Steven Gomillion – photography
- Robert Greene – make-up
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Andre Harris – engineer
- Donald Hayes – horn
- J.R. Hutson – A&R, background vocals, engineer, executive producer, instrumentation, keyboards, producer, scratching
- Bruce Irvine – engineer
- Liza Joseph – A&R
- Brandon Kilgour – engineer
- Emma Kummrow – violin
- Dennis Leupold – photography
- Damien Lewis – assistant
- Jennie Lorenzo – cello
- Glen Marchese – engineer, mixing
- Khari Mateen – instrumentation, producer
- Luigi Mazzocchi – violin
- George "Spanky" McCurdy – drums, producer
- Susan Moses – stylist
- Jairus Mozee – bass, guitar
- Peter Nocella – viola
- Rickey Pageot – keyboards
- Charles Parker – violin
- Vanessa Parr – engineer
- Dave Pensado – mixing
- Rebecca Proudfoot – A&R
- Zachariah Redding – assistant
- Lacy Redway – hair stylist
- Tim Reid – marketing
- James Chul Rim – engineer, vocal engineer
- "V" Roane – background vocals
- John Roberts – drums, horn
- Montez Roberts – assistant engineer, engineer
- James Darrell Robinson – drums, producer
- Eric Rousseau – sound design
- Jill Scott – A&R, art direction, background vocals, executive producer, producer, vocal arrangement
- Phillip "Logann" Scott III – engineer
- Paris Strother – keyboards
- Sean Tallman – engineer
- Phil Tan – mixing
- Vidal – producer
- Courtney Walter – design
- Ayana Webb – background vocals
- Kelvin Wooten – bass guitar, drum programming, guitar, keyboards, piano, producer
- Eric Wortham – keyboards, producer
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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See also
- List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2011
- List of Billboard number-one R&B albums of 2011
References
- ^ a b c Dolan, Jon (June 21, 2011). "The Light of the Sun by Jill Scott". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mitchell, Gail (June 24, 2011). Jill "Scott: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ a b c Jurek, Thom (June 21, 2011). "The Light of the Sun - Jill Scott". AllMusic. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Lewis, John (June 26, 2011). "Jill Scott: My new album was almost completely improvised in the studio". Metro. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ Belloni, Matthew (February 7, 2010). "Jill Scott Sued By Label". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "Hidden Beach Presents: The Original Jill Scott From The Vault Vol. 1" (Press release). Hidden Beach Recordings. July 14, 2011. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ Jill Scott - Light Of The Sun CD Album. CD Universe. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ Hildebrand, Lee (August 9, 2010). "Multitalented Jill Scott focuses on musical tour". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ "Interview With JR Hutson". HitQuarters. May 10, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Gerrick D. (June 29, 2011). "Jill Scott debuts at No. 1 and discusses how she 'stopped believing in love'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ Blue Babe Foundation (June 2011). "JILL SCOTT BIO". Press release. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ Kelley, Frannie (June 12, 2011). "First Listen: Jill Scott, 'The Light Of The Sun'". NPR. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (June 22, 2011). "Jill Scott Aiming for First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ (June 27, 2011). "This Week's New Music Releases: June 27 2011". NME. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (June 29, 2011). "Jill Scott Celebrates First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ Jacobs, Allen. "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/3/2011". Hip Hop DX. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
- ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015.
- Amazon.com. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ "So in Love – Jill Scott". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Hoye, Sarah (March 24, 2011). "Jill Scott returns to her roots for new music video" Archived 2011-05-05 at the Wayback Machine. CNN. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ "Jill Scott's 'Shame' Video World Premiere" Archived 2011-04-18 at the Wayback Machine. Essence. April 13, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ "Shame by Jill Scott (Released 1 June 2011"). HMV Digital. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (June 2, 2011). "Jill Scott Sets 'Summer Block Party' Tour Dates". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (June 2, 2011). "Jill Scott To Tour With Doug E. Fresh, DJ Jazzy Jeff & More". HipHopDX. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
- ^ "VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
- ^ "The Light Of The Sun by Jill Scott reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
- ^ a b The Light of the Sun Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic. Metacritic. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Wood, Mikael (June 15, 2011). "The Light of the Sun review - Jill Scott Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (June 24, 2011). "Jill Scott: The Light of the Sun – review". The Guardian. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
- ^ a b Gill, Andy (June 24, 2011). "Album: Jill Scott, The Light Of The Sun (Blues Babe/Warner Bros)". The Independent. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (July 19, 2011). Jill Scott/Dave Alvin. MSN Music. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
- ^ Gleason, Holly (June 27, 2011). "Jill Scott: The Light of the Sun". Paste. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ Baxley, Jaymie (June 20, 2011). "Jill Scott: The Light of the Sun". Slant Magazine. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ Sless-Kitain, Areif (July 27, 2011). "Jill Scott - The Light of the Sun". Time Out. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
- ^ "Review: The Light of the Sun". Uncut. London. August 2011. p. 98.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (June 20, 2011). "New Music From Jill Scott, Chris Dingman and Justin Moore". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ Friskics-Warren, Bill (June 27, 2011). "Quick spin: ‘The Light of the Sun’ by Jill Scott". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ Kot, Greg (June 30, 2011). "Jill Scott album review; Light of the Sun reviewed". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ Easlea, Daryl (June 27, 2011). "Review of Jill Scott - The Light of the Sun". BBC. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- Warner Bros. Recordsid=527941-2.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Jill Scott – The Light of the Sun" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums in Canada". Jam!. June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on December 26, 2004. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jill Scott – The Light of the Sun" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Jill Scott – The Light of the Sun". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "Jill Scott Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Jill Scott Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
External links
- Official website
- The Light of the Sun at Discogs (list of releases)