| 23am | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | December 1, 1997(EU) December 16, 1997(US) | |||
| Recorded | Plus XXX Studios, Paris | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 60:56 | |||
| Label | Deconstruction Arista | |||
| Producer | Robert Miles | |||
| Robert Miles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Music Week | [2] |
| Q | [3] |
23am is the second studio album by composer Robert Miles, released in late 1997 via Deconstruction and Arista labels.
The composition of 23am began from the Dreamland tour, during which Miles collected audio samples from virtually every city visited. [4] Aside from being based on his experiences of these travels (in the liner notes Miles emphasizes the influence seeing in person so many problems that society has brought onto itself had), [5] Miles has also said that the album reflects the human life cycle from birth to death. [6]
23am also contains four vocal songs, a ratio of vocals to instrumentals that is almost equal to that of Dreamland. They seem to have been less an afterthought for this album, though, and were written in Italian and then translated into English. Two tracks on the album, including its first single "Freedom", feature vocals by disco icon Kathy Sledge of the chart-topping group Sister Sledge. [7]
The structures and instrumental arrangements on 23am are more complex than those on the earlier Dreamland , involving real instruments such as the saxophone and trumpet as an addition to the synthesizers. The music is also much less beat-driven; the main sections of a number of the vocal-based songs are structured like pop songs, while the segueing interludes between songs are generally structureless, with no beats at all. Ultimately it can be said that 23am is more artistic and less dance-oriented than its predecessor, Dreamland. At the same time, however, 23am was less successful than Dreamland.
All tracks are written by Roberto Concina (Robert Miles), except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Introducing" | 3:25 | |
| 2. | "A New Flower" (vocals: Barbara Prunas; Robert Miles) | 5:58 | |
| 3. | "Everyday Life" (vocals: Nancy Danino) | Roberto Concina; Frank Musker | 10:29 |
| 4. | "Freedom" (vocals: Kathy Sledge) | Concina; Musker | 5:51 |
| 5. | "Textures" | 3:14 | |
| 6. | "Enjoy" (vocals: Kathy Sledge) | Concina; Musker | 5:55 |
| 7. | "Flying Away" | 4:59 | |
| 8. | "Heatwave" | 5:56 | |
| 9. | "Maresias" | 5:48 | |
| 10. | "Full Moon" (vocals: Nancy Danino) | Concina; Musker | 6:59 |
| 11. | "Leaving Behind..." | 2:21 |
The Toasters are one of the original American third wave of ska bands. Founded in New York City in 1981, the band has released nine studio albums, primarily through Moon Ska Records.
Roberto Concina, known professionally as Robert Miles, was an Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ. His 1995 composition "Children" sold more than 5 million copies and topped the charts worldwide.
We Are Family is the third studio album by the American R&B vocal group Sister Sledge, released on January 22, 1979, in the United States and on April 30, 1979, in the United Kingdom by Cotillion Records. The album was written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the band Chic, and includes four hit singles: the title track, "He's the Greatest Dancer", "Lost in Music" and "Thinking of You", all of which have been sampled, remixed, and reissued in the decades after the album's release. The album reached number one on the Top R&B Albums chart and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, making it the band's most commercially successful album. In 2013, NME named it among the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Milagro is the seventeenth studio album by Santana, released in 1992. Milagro, which means "miracle" in Spanish, was dedicated to the lives of Miles Davis and Bill Graham, and was Santana's first album on the Polydor label after twenty-two years with Columbia Records. The album reached 102 in the Billboard 200.
"You're Makin' Me High" is the lead single from American singer Toni Braxton's second studio album, Secrets (1996). The mid-tempo song represents a joint collaboration between the Grammy Award-winning producer Babyface and Bryce Wilson. The beat of the song was originally for singer-songwriter Brandy, with Dallas Austin pegged to write a lyric to override; however, Braxton had Babyface write lyrics for the song. It was ultimately issued in the United States as a double A-side with "Let It Flow", the airplay hit from the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale.
"One and One" is a song written by Billy Steinberg, Rick Nowels and Marie-Claire D'Ubaldo. The song was performed by Edyta Górniak. It was covered by Robert Miles in 1996.
"My Heart Is Calling" is a song recorded by the American recording artist Whitney Houston for the 1996 film The Preacher's Wife. It was released on June 10, 1997, as the third and final single by Arista Records from the accompanying soundtrack. The song was written and produced solely by Babyface. Musically, the song is an R&B ballad, with gospel music and funk influences, and the lyrics speak about meeting someone special. "My Heart Is Calling" received mainly positive reviews from music critics, who commended Houston's soulful performance. It peaked at number 77 on the United States Billboard Hot 100, and number 35 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. There was no music video made for the song.
Love Somebody Today is the fourth studio album by the American R&B vocal group Sister Sledge, released on March 16, 1980, by Cotillion Records. The album includes three singles: "Got to Love Somebody", "Reach Your Peak", and "Let's Go on Vacation", which all charted on the US Pop and R&B/Soul charts from late 1979 until 1980.
"Another Star" is a song written and performed by Stevie Wonder from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. It is the final track on side four of the double LP. The flute player Bobbi Humphrey appears in the last section of the song.
No Night So Long is a studio album by American singer Dionne Warwick. It was released by Arista Records on July 18, 1980, in the United States. Her second album for the label, Warwick worked with producer Steve Buckingham on the album which was recorded during the spring of that year.
"Fable" is a song by Italian musician Robert Miles, released in May 1996 as the second single from his debut album, Dreamland (1996). The song features uncredited vocals from Fiorella Quinn. Like "Children", the single received universal acclaim. It was a hit in several countries, reaching number one in Italy and entering the top 10 in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and UK. In 1997, the song charted on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, on which it peaked at number one for one week. The music video for "Fable" was directed by Maria Mochnacz.
Come 2 My House is the ninth studio album by American R&B/funk singer Chaka Khan released on the NPG Records label in 1998.
Walk the Way the Wind Blows is the third studio album by American country music singer Kathy Mattea. It was released in 1986 on Mercury Records. This album produced Mattea's first Top Ten country hit in "Love at the Five and Dime", which reached #3 on the Billboard country charts. Following this song were three more Top Ten hits: the title track at #10, "You're the Power" at #5, and "Train of Memories" at #6.
"A Rose Is Still a Rose" is a song recorded by American singer Aretha Franklin. It was written and produced by singer Lauryn Hill for Franklin's album of the same name (1998). The song focused on a motherly figure giving advice to a younger woman who keeps getting into bad relationships. Throughout "A Rose Is Still a Rose", Franklin advises that in spite of everything and despite the woman's "scorned roses and thorn crowns," the woman is "still a rose". Elements of the song "What I Am" by Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians were sung throughout the song by Hill herself.
Together is the second studio album by the American R&B vocal group Sister Sledge, released on August 9, 1977, by Cotillion Records. The album was the group's first release on the Cotillion label after parting from Atco Records.
"Freedom" is a song by Swiss-Italian musician Robert Miles featuring American singer-songwriter Kathy Sledge, known from the group Sister Sledge. The song was released on 10 November 1997 via Deconstruction label as the lead single from Miles' second album, 23am (1997). It peaked at number two in Italy and was a top 10 hit also in Spain, while reaching the top 20 in Finland, Scotland and the UK.
"Take Me Back to Love Again" is a 1992 song by American singer-songwriter Kathy Sledge. It was written by Kenny Harris and Mark Holden, and was the first single from Sledge's first solo album, Heart (1992). The producers were Charles Farrar and Troy Taylor. The single went to number-one on the US Billboard dance chart for one week. It did not make the Billboard Hot 100 but went to number 24 on the Billboard soul singles chart. In Europe, it peaked at number 62 on the UK Singles Chart and number 12 on the UK Dance Singles Chart.
"Here We Go Again" is a song by American singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin. It was written by Trina Broussard, Jermaine Dupri and Trey Lorenz for Franklin's thirty-fourth studio album, A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998), while production was helmed by Dupri and Manuel Seal. The song is built around replayed portions of "The Glow of Love" (1980) by Italian-American post-disco group Change. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Mauro Malavasi, David Romani and Wayne K. Garfield are also credited as songwriters. The song was the second single released from A Rose Is Still a Rose in June 1998 and reached number 76 on the Billboard Hot 100, also becoming Franklin's fifth number one on the US Dance Club Songs.
Bet Cha Say That to All The Girls is the seventh studio album by American R&B and pop girl group Sister Sledge. It was released in 1983 on the Cotillion Records label. Singles from the album included "B.Y.O.B ", "Gotta Get Back to Love", "Thank You for the Party". The album peaked at number 169 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 35 on the Top R&B Albums chart in 1983.
A Sentimental Christmas is the first Christmas album by American Christian singer-songwriter Kathy Troccoli. It was released on September 28, 1999, by Reunion Records. The album features holiday favorites, plus a duet with Andy Williams on his signature Christmas classic "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and an original song "Only Always" written by Troccoli and Jeff Franzel. Troccoli co-produced the album with Larry Day. A Sentimental Christmas debuted and peaked at number 40 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.
