Born to Sing | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 3, 1990 | |||
Recorded | August–December 1989 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | R&B [1] | |||
Length | 50:59 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Producer |
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En Vogue chronology | ||||
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Singles from Born to Sing | ||||
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Born to Sing is the debut studio album by American vocal group En Vogue. It was released by Atlantic Records on April 3, 1990, in the United States. Conceived after their contribution to band founders Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy's 1988 compilation project FM2 for Atlantic, [2] it was chiefly produced by Foster and McElroy, with additional contribution from Hughie Prince, Don Raye, and former the Independents members Marvin Yancy and Chuck Jackson, through song covers. Musically, Born to Sing contains a range of contemporary genres, blending a mix of soft hip hop soul, pop, contemporary early-1990s R&B, rap, and new jack swing.
Upon release, the album received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented the band's vocal performances and their commercial appeal as well as Foster and McElroy's modern production. It became a commercial success as well. While initial sales were slow, the album reached the top thirty of the US Billboard 200 and was certified 3× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over 3 million copies in the United States. Born to Sing experienced similar success in the United Kingdom and Canada, where it was certified silver and gold respectively.
The album produced four major single releases, including "Lies", "You Don't Have to Worry", and their debut song "Hold On", all of which peaked to number-one on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart. At the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards, the full album earned a nomination in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category. Born to Sing also garnered a Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo at the 1991 Soul Train Music Awards, while "Hold On" received the award in the Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo category, and won the Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Single.
In the late-1980s, Oakland-based production and songwriting duo Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy were looking for singers to sing on their 1988 compilation project FM2 for Atlantic Records. [2] During the audition process, they conceived the idea of a modern-day girl trio in the tradition of the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Ronettes and other commercially successful female bands which had flourished in the late 1950s and early 1960s. [3] Foster and McElroy envisioned an entertainment unit with interchangeable but not identical parts in which every member would qualify to take the lead on any given number. [2] Thus, their plan was to recruit singers who possessed strong voices, noticeably good looks, and intelligence. [4] Approximately 3000 women attended the auditions held in 1988, [2] with Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones making the final cut. [5] Originally conceived as a trio, Foster and McElroy decided to refashion their group as a quartet after Terry Ellis auditioned late due to a delayed flight from Houston, Texas. [6] At first, they named the group "4-U" but soon shifted to the more mature-sounding "Vogue"; upon learning that another group already used the name, they changed it again to "En Vogue". [7]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Chicago Tribune | [8] |
Christgau's Consumer Guide | [9] |
Los Angeles Times | [10] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
Born to Sing received generally positive reviews from music critics. In his review for AllMusic, Jose F. Promis called the work "a winner" though remarking that he felt tracks such as "Just Can't Stay Away" and "Part of Me" were duds. [1] Los Angeles Times writer Dennis Hunt found that "unlike most female groups, these four R&B singers can really sing– and do some passable rapping too [...] En Vogue admirably performs a batch of mostly well-crafted ballads and medium-tempo songs. Grating, dissonant vocal blends do spoil a few otherwise strong songs." [10] BBC Music's Daryl Easlea called Born to Sing "immediate and infectious. The group's vocal blend and succulent choice of songs was designed for maximum commerciality, a silky antidote to the gangsta rap that was then so prevalent in the US." [12]
Spin magazine writer Kevin Westenberg felt that "those girls are some of the bad-dest things around; they are phenomenal in harmonizing. That's the kind of stuff you don't even hear anymore. You used to hear it in the Moonglows or the Five Keys. As a matter of fact, I can't think of a girl group of that era that could sing that perfect." [13] Jan DeKnock, writing for the Chicago Tribune , found that "throughout the ups and downs of this promising but ultimately frustrating album, it's evident that each voice in the new four-woman group was clearly born to sing. And at times, [...] En Vogue's tasty harmonies are supported by an equally intoxicating groove. But then there are such wasted offerings as "Hip Hop Bugle Boy," a silly 54-second "updating" of the `40s classic "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"; and "Party," a one-minute rap that goes nowhere." [8] The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that, "what carried Born to Sing wasn't the vocalizing so much as Foster and McElroy's slick New Jack grooves." [11]
In the United States, the album peaked at twenty-one on the Billboard 200 and reached the third spot on Billboard 's R&B Albums chart. [14] It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in June 1990 and platinum by October that same year. [15] Born to Sing was ranked 53rd on the Billboard 200 year-end chart, [16] and also ranked eleventh on the R&B Albums year-end chart. [17] Within its first two years of release, it sold 1.7 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. [18] In Canada, the album peaked at number 30 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart during the week of September 1, 1990. [19] On March 28, 1991, Born to Sing was certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), denoting shipments of over 50,000 copies. [20]
All songs written and produced by Denzil Foster & Thomas McElroy, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Party" | 1:10 | ||
2. | "Strange" |
| 4:39 | |
3. | "Lies" (featuring Debbie T.) |
| 4:16 | |
4. | "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" |
|
| 0:54 |
5. | "Hold On" | 5:03 | ||
6. | "Part of Me" |
|
| 5:58 |
7. | "You Don't Have to Worry" | 3:47 | ||
8. | "Time Goes On" |
| 5:05 | |
9. | "Just Can't Stay Away" |
| 5:10 | |
10. | "Don't Go" | 5:45 | ||
11. | "Luv Lines" |
| 4:04 | |
12. | "Waitin' on You" | 5:08 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "Hold On" (Extended Version) |
| 5:15 |
14. | "Lies" (The Extended Avant Garde Remix) |
| 5:55 |
15. | "You Don't Have to Worry" (Club New Breed Remix) | 7:13 | |
16. | "Don't Go" (Radio Edit) | 3:54 | |
17. | "Desperately" (Foster & McElroy featuring En Vogue) | 4:45 | |
18. | "You Don't Have to Worry" (Lo Cal Mix) | 4:00 | |
19. | "Lies" (Kwame's Bone Age Remix) |
| 4:39 |
20. | "Hold On" (Dub Version) |
| 3:56 |
21. | "Mover" | 3:45 |
Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.
En Vogue
Musicians
Production
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [20] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [27] | Silver | 60,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [15] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single "Hold On", taken from their 1990 debut album Born to Sing. The group's 1992 follow-up album Funky Divas reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, and included their second US number two hit "My Lovin' " as well as the US top 10 hits "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and "Free Your Mind".
Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy are an American R&B record production and songwriting duo, releasing recordings under the names Foster & McElroy and Fmob. They have written and produced songs for musicians such as Club Nouveau, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Alexander O'Neal, Regina Belle, and Swing Out Sister. Their music has been sampled in hit songs by the Luniz, Puff Daddy, Ashanti, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Jessica Simpson, and others. Foster & McElroy are best known as the founders of the group En Vogue, listed by Billboard as one of the Top 10 Girl Groups of All Time. In addition to producing music for various television shows, they are also credited for songs in numerous movie soundtracks including The Great White Hype, Lean on Me, and Who's That Girl.
Funky Divas is the second studio album by American recording group En Vogue, released by Atlantic Records division East West on March 24, 1992, in the United States. Conceived after the success of their Grammy Award–nominated debut album Born to Sing (1990), En Vogue reteamed with their founders Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy to work on the entire album. As with Born to Sing, the pair borrowed from contemporary R&B, new jack swing, and hip hop, while also incorporating classic soul, blues and doo-wop elements, particularly on its on two Sparkle cover versions, as well as, in the case of "Free Your Mind," heavy metal sounds. The album became the quartet's second album to earn a Grammy Award nomination in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category, while winning the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and the Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards.
Terry Lynn Ellis is an American singer. She is best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue which formed in 1989.
Maxine Jones, is an American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman, best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. She sang lead vocals on the group's signature singles "My Lovin' " and "Don't Let Go (Love)", both of which garnered international success and sold over a million copies. Throughout her career, Jones has sold over 20 million records with En Vogue. Her work has earned her several awards and nominations, including two American Music Awards, a Billboard Music Award, four MTV Video Music Awards, and four Soul Train Music Awards.
Soul Flower is the sixth studio album by the American recording group En Vogue. Released through 33rd Street and Funkigirl Records and distributed by Bayside Entertainment on February 24, 2004 in the United States, the album marked the band's debut with the label as well as their first full-length release to feature vocals by new band member Rhona Bennett who had joined remaining founding members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron the year before following the departure of Amanda Cole, resulting into the partial re-recording of several songs on Soul Flower that Cole had originally lent her voice to.
Electric Café is the seventh studio album by American female vocal group En Vogue. It was released worldwide on April 6, 2018. Their first studio album in fourteen years, it marked their first full-length release through eOne Music and their own label, En Vogue Records. Material for Electric Café was originally conceived between 2014 and 2018. The trio reteamed with their founders Foster & McElroy to work on the majority of the album, with additional contribution coming from musicians Raphael Saadiq, Dem Jointz, Taura Stinson, Kid Monroe, Ne-Yo, and Curtis "Sauce" Wilson. Rapper Snoop Dogg appears as a guest vocalist. Musically, Electric Café contains a range of genres, blending a mix of neo soul, pop, and contemporary R&B with electronic dance music.
"Hold On" is a song by American girl group En Vogue, released in early 1990 as the first single from their debut album, Born to Sing (1990). It was produced by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, and written by the former two and all members of the group. It peaked at number five in the United Kingdom and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. In the latter country, the song reached number one on the Billboard Dance Club Play, 12-inch Singles Sales, and Hot Black Singles charts. En Vogue performed "Hold On" at the 2008 BET Awards with Alicia Keys. In 2017, it was ranked number four on Spin magazine's ranking of "The 30 Best '90s R&B Songs".
"Lies" is a song from American R&B/pop group En Vogue. It is the second single from their debut hit album, Born to Sing. Written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, it became the group's second single to top the Billboard R&B singles chart. It peaked at number thirty-eight and was also their second US Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit.
"You Don't Have to Worry" is a song by American girl group En Vogue from their debut album, Born to Sing (1990). The song was released as the third single from the album on October 31, 1990, and was the group's third consecutive number-one single on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
"Don't Go" is a song by American group En Vogue. It was written by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy for their debut album Born to Sing (1990). One of the first recordings for its parent album, the song is a mid-tempo ballad informing the male lover that his female counterpart still cares for him and does not want him leave. It features a lead vocal progression by Terry Ellis displaying her vocal range. Released as the album's fourth and final single in April 1991, "Don't Go" peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Something He Can Feel" is a song composed by Curtis Mayfield for the 1976 motion picture Sparkle. The song, a love ballad in a Chicago-/Philly-soul style, became a number-one hit on the Billboard's R&B singles chart in the United States twice with two separate recordings: a 1976 version by Aretha Franklin from the film's soundtrack, and a 1992 cover by girl group En Vogue.
"Love Don't Love You" is a song by American R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue, released in February 1993 by Eastwest Records as the final single from their second album, Funky Divas (1992). The song was both written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, and became the group's fifth consecutive top-40 single from the album in the United States. It peaked at numbers 36 and 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. The song is led by group members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron.
Remix to Sing is a 1991 EP by American female vocal group En Vogue. It is their first remix album which was released on November 26, 1991, by East West Records. The EP features remixes of songs from their platinum debut album Born to Sing. Also included are the three hit singles; "Hold On", "You Don't Have to Worry" and "Lies" which all peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart.
EV3 is the third studio album by American female vocal group En Vogue. It was released by East West Records on June 17, 1997, in the United States. Recorded after a lengthy break during which the group members became mothers or put out solo records, the album was En Vogue's first project to include a diverse roster of collaborators including credits from Babyface, David Foster, Diane Warren, Andrea Martin, Ivan Matias, and Organized Noize along with regular contributors Foster & McElroy. It marked their first album without Dawn Robinson, who decided to leave the group late into the recording of EV3 to focus on her solo career. Her absence meant much of the album had to be rerecorded to account for En Vogue's altered sound.
Best of En Vogue is the first greatest hits compilation album by the American R&B/pop group En Vogue. It was released in 1999 on East West Records. The album comprises nearly all of their hit singles released between the years of 1990 and 1998.
"Runaway Love" is a song by American R&B/pop group En Vogue, released in September 1993 by Eastwest Records as the first single from the group's extended play (EP) Runaway Love. After the huge success of their second album, Funky Divas (1992), the single was released. It was written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster. Group members Cindy Herron and Terry Ellis share lead vocals, Dawn Robinson leads on the bridge, and spoken intro is by Maxine Jones. Elroy and Foster contributed vocals and spoken rap, their known as the alias FMob group. In the US, the song reached numbers 51 and 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100.
The Gift of Christmas is the fifth studio album and the Christmas album by American female recording group En Vogue, released on October 8, 2002 by Discretion Enterprises following their departure from Elektra Records. Produced and arranged by long time collaborators Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, featuring additional production by Timothy Eaton, it is the group's first Christmas album and their only record to feature vocals from Amanda Cole who remained two years with the group. The Gift of Christmas features original Christmas tunes as well as cover versions of classic holiday songs.
Life, Love & Pain is the debut album by R&B group Club Nouveau. It was released in late 1986 with production by Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy and Jay King. The album reached number one on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and number six on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. Led by the hit single, a cover of the Bill Withers classic "Lean on Me", which went to number one on both Hot 100 and Dance charts and number two on the R&B chart, this was the only album that Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy would contribute to, as the duo left the group to form its own production team and focus on working with other acts, notably En Vogue and Tony! Toni! Toné!. Twelve-inch singles from the album were handled by then-WB subsidiary Tommy Boy Records.
"Ooh Boy" is a song recorded by American recording group En Vogue. It was written by Jamie Brewer, Kisha Griffin, Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy for their sixth studio album Soul Flower (2004), while production was helmed by Foster and McElroy. An uptempo R&B song with a funky disco groove, it features lead vocals from Rhona Bennett and Terry Ellis. "Ooh Boy" was released as the second and final single from the album, serving as its lead single. The song reached the top thirty of the US Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. In support of the song, En Vogue performed it on several US television shows such as Soul Train and On Air with Ryan Seacrest.