Do It for Love (Alesha Dixon album)

Last updated

Do It for Love
Aleshadixondoitforlove.jpeg
Studio album by
Released9 October 2015
Recorded2014–2015 [1]
Genre
Label Precious Stone
Producer
Alesha Dixon chronology
The Entertainer
(2010)
Do It for Love
(2015)
Singles from Do It for Love
  1. "The Way We Are"
    Released: 21 June 2015
  2. "Tallest Girl"
    Released: 18 September 2015
  3. "People Need Love"
    Released: 11 December 2015
  4. "Stop"
    Released: 24 May 2016

Do It for Love is the fourth studio album by English singer Alesha Dixon. It was released by Precious Stone Records, Dixon's own label, on 9 October 2015 in the United Kingdom. Her first release with independent label Precious Stone following her departure from Asylum Records, Dixon spent a year recording the album, which saw her taking a more active role in selecting co-workers and collaborators for Do It for Love. Chris Ballard, Bert Elliott, Alex James, Count Justice, Harry Sommerdahl, and Arno Spires were consulted to work with her.

Contents

The album earned generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics who called it a smorgasbord of modern EDM and pop production. Upon release, Do It for Love peaked at number 81 on the UK Albums Chart. It was preceded by is lead single, "The Way We Are" which was released digitally on 21 June 2015. [2] The album's second and third singles were, respectively, "Tallest Girl" and the new version of "People Need Love," reworked by Ash Rowes. All singles failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart.

Background

In December 2014, Dixon announced that she would be releasing a new single in either March or May 2015. [3] [1] In March 2015, she confirmed that her new single "The Way We Are", would be released on 21 June via her own record label Precious Stone Records. [4] [5] It marked Dixon's first single release in over four years, following 2011's "Every Little Part of Me," [6] as well as her first regular release after her departure from Asylum Records. [7] Commenting on what motivated her two found her own label, Dixon told Billboard in 2020: "It was quite a scary time. I just wanted to put my own team together and do it all on my terms. I called it Do It for Love because I wanted to do it for that reason and no other. The first single out, I made it chart ineligible because I didn't want a chart position. I didn't want to be judged. I spent a year making a record that was like a dream come true. It's such a personal record. I didn't want to have some chart position or sad, negative kind of perspective on that chart position to ruin what was a passion project for me." [7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
PressPlayOK Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Renowned for Sound (mixed) [9]

Christopher Bohlsen from Renowned for Sound wrote that the album is "seemingly designed to be a comeback record, a smorgasbord of modern EDM and pop production." He felt while the "album’s first half [tends] to be the strongest of the bunch, as they bring thumping UK Garage style to the songs, all of which would feel completely at home in a club," none of the songs of the second half impact the same way. Bohlsen cinclued that "ultimately, Do It For Love is a good pop record, if not a great one, and whilst it has some very catchy and inventive songs, it also has a fair bit of filler in the second half, a trend that seems to have largely recessed in recent years." [9] PressPlayOK found that Do It For Love "seems a wise title, as money really won’t be a concern here. Which is an absolute shame, because even her downtempo jams like "Top of the World." She’s got a familiar, comfortable UK pop sound, the sort of album Louise would probably make these days [...] Dixon certainly does way better than anyone ever expected." [8]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stop" (featuring Wretch 32)
DaBeatfreakz2:53
2."Tallest Girl"
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
3:19
3."Count on You"
  • Dixon
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
3:07
4."Top of the World"
  • Elliott
  • Justice
3:09
5."Do It for Love"
  • Dixon
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
2:58
6."The Way We Are"
  • Dixon
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
2:45
7."People Need Love"
  • Dixon
  • Mauli B
  • Tom Strahle
  • Amanuel Dermont
  • U. Ebele
  • O. Ebele
  • DaBeatfreakz
  • Dermont Music
4:08
8."The Gift"
  • Dixon
  • Chris Ballard
  • Arno Spires
  • Ballard
  • Spires
3:35
9."Broken"
  • Dixon
  • C. Ballard
  • Russ Ballard
  • A. Spires
  • C. Ballard
  • A. Spires
3:10
10."Azura (Blue Sky)"
  • Dixon
  • C. Ballard
  • A. Spires
  • Azuka Ononye
  • C. Ballard
  • A. Spires
3:11
11."Love with Life"
  • Dixon
  • C. Ballard
  • A. Spires
  • C. Ballard
  • A. Spires
3:09
12."The Way We Are" (Rap Mix)
  • Dixon
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
  • James
  • Sommerdahl
2:44

Charts

Chart (2015)Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [10] 81
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [11] 11
UK Digital Albums (OCC) [12] 99

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, and reference
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef
United Kingdom9 October 2015
  • CD
  • digital download
Precious Stone [13]

Related Research Articles

Mis-Teeq

Mis-Teeq were a British girl group, consisting of Alesha Dixon, Su-Elise Nash and Sabrina Washington. They had two top-ten albums and seven consecutive top-ten singles, with chart-topping success on the UK Singles Chart as well as across Europe, Asia, Australasia and the US, selling over 12 million records globally. The group had originally been a quartet with Zena McNally who left in 2000.

Xenomania is an English songwriting and production team founded by Brian Higgins and based in Kent, England. Formed by Higgins with his Creative Director Miranda Cooper and Business Director Sarah Stennett of First Access Entertainment, Xenomania has written and produced for renowned artists such as Cher, Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Pet Shop Boys, The Saturdays and Sugababes. In particular, all but one of Girls Aloud's studio albums have been entirely written and produced by Xenomania. Sugababes' "Round Round" and Girls Aloud's "Sound of the Underground" have been credited with reshaping British pop music for the 2000s. Gabriella Cilmi's "Sweet About Me" and Girls Aloud's "The Promise" were named Best Single at the ARIA Music Awards of 2008 and the 2009 BRIT Awards, respectively.

<i>Mariah Carey</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer-songwriter and record producer Mariah Carey, released on June 12, 1990, by Columbia Records. Its music incorporates a range of contemporary genres with a mix of slow ballads and up-tempo tracks. Originally, Carey wrote four songs with Ben Margulies, which solely constituted her demo tape. After Carey was signed to Columbia, all four songs, after being altered and partially re-recorded, made the final cut for the album. Aside from Margulies, Carey worked with a range of professional writers and producers, all of whom were hired by Columbia CEO, Tommy Mottola. Mariah Carey featured production and writing from Rhett Lawrence, Ric Wake and Narada Michael Walden, all of whom were top record producers at the time. Together with Carey, they conceived the album and reconstructed her original demo tape.

Alesha Dixon

Alesha Anjanette Dixon is an English singer, rapper, songwriter, and dancer. Dixon rose to fame in 2001 as a member of the all-female R&B/garage/rap trio Mis-Teeq. The group disbanded in 2005 and Dixon pursued a music career as a solo artist, signing a recording contract to Polydor Records. She began recording her debut solo studio album, Fired Up, in 2005, releasing her debut single "Lipstick", followed by "Knockdown", after which she was dropped from Polydor.

Sabrina Washington

Sabrina Fredrica Washington is an English singer, songwriter, businesswoman, dancer and television personality who originally rose to fame as the lead singer of British garage/R&B girl group, Mis-Teeq.

Alesha Dixon discography

Alesha Dixon, a British R&B singer has released three studio albums, nine lead singles and thirteen music videos. Dixon was also a member of the popular music group Mis-Teeq, together with whom she released four albums and several successful singles.

The Boy Does Nothing 2008 single by Alesha Dixon

"The Boy Does Nothing" is a song performed by English singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon. It is the lead single from her second studio album, The Alesha Show (2008). The song was written by Alesha along with the help of Brian Higgins, Miranda Cooper, Carla Marie Williams, and other members of Xenomania. The single was her first since 2006 after "Knockdown" was released in October of that year. It was also her first since signing with her new record label Asylum Records.

<i>The Alesha Show</i> 2008 studio album by Alesha Dixon

The Alesha Show is the second studio album by English singer Alesha Dixon. It was released by Asylum Records on 24 November 2008 in the United Kingdom. Her first album to be released domestically following the cancellation of her debut album Fired Up (2006), Dixon used her full name for the first time while releasing The Alesha Show after previously being credited mononymously. Producers on the album include Brian Higgins and Xenomania as well as Steve Booker, Harvey Mason, Jr., Kuk Harrell, Stephen Lipson, Soulshock & Karlin, Alex da Kid, and Al Shux.

Breathe Slow 2009 single by Alesha Dixon

"Breathe Slow" is a song performed by English singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon. It is the second single from her second studio album, The Alesha Show, released by Asylum Records, a part of Atlantic Records, on 9 February 2009. The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart. The song was nominated at the BRIT awards 2010 in the Best British single category.

To Love Again (song)

"To Love Again" is the first single from a re-release of Alesha Dixon's second album, The Alesha Show, entitled The Alesha Show - Encore released by Asylum Records. The song is produced by John Shanks and written by Gary Barlow, and is one of four new tracks that appears on the re-release. Bimbo Jones has done a club remix for the song. The first week sales raised from the song were donated to Children in Need.

Drummer Boy (Alesha Dixon song) 2010 single by Alesha Dixon

"Drummer Boy" is song by English singer-songwriter Alesha Dixon. It was released on 3 September 2010 as the lead single from her third studio album, The Entertainer. The first teasers for the song surfaced on Dixon's fansite in late July, and Dixon announced, via her various social networking sites, that the song would receive its radio play premiere on 23 July on BBC Radio 1 with Fearne Cotton. "Drummer Boy" debuted on the Irish Singles Chart at number twenty-three on 10 September 2010. The single peaked at Number 15 on the UK Singles Chart, making it Dixon's lowest peaking lead single from an album to date.

Take Control (Roll Deep song)

"Take Control" is the third single from London-based collective Roll Deep's album, Winner Stays On, and preludes the album release by a week. The song, which features vocals from singer Alesha Dixon, released in the UK on 31 October.

<i>The Entertainer</i> (Alesha Dixon album) 2010 studio album by Alesha Dixon

The Entertainer is the third studio album by English singer Alesha Dixon. It was first released by Asylum Records on 29 November 2010 in the United Kingdom. A tougher album with lots of different layers, Dixon worked with a variety of musicians on the album, including a larger number of American producers such as Jim Beanz, Busbee, Toby Gad, Rodney Jerkins, and The Stereotypes as well as British DJ Naughty Boy and frequent collaboratots such as the Danish duo Soulshock & Karlin. Originally planned to be named Unleashed, The Entertainer was decided upon instead.

Radio (Alesha Dixon song)

"Radio" is a song by English recording artist Alesha Dixon from her third album, The Entertainer. The song is The Entertainer's second single, after "Drummer Boy" and was released on 28 November, coinciding with the album's release. One of the remixes features rapper Wiley, a member of grime band Roll Deep, whom Dixon collaborated with previously whilst featuring on their single, "Take Control". Dixon performed "Radio" for the first time on Strictly Come Dancing on 14 November.

Every Little Part of Me

"Every Little Part of Me" is a song by English recording artist, Alesha Dixon. "Every Little Part of Me" is the third and final single released from Dixon's third studio album, The Entertainer. The single features guest vocals from fellow English R&B singer, Jay Sean. The single was released on 27 February 2011. The single was written by Alan Sampson, Jay Sean, Anthony Hannides and Michael Hannides. The single was produced by Slick & Magic.

<i>Our Version of Events</i> 2012 studio album by Emeli Sandé

Our Version of Events is the debut studio album by Scottish recording artist Emeli Sandé. The album was released on 13 February 2012 by Virgin Records, following Sandé's winning of the Critic's Choice Award at the BRIT Awards 2012. Though Our Version of Events is her first release, Sandé has been active in the industry since 2009, most notable appearing on singles by Chipmunk and Wiley. The album features R&B, soul and pop music.

<i>Jackie</i> (Ciara album) 2015 studio album by Ciara

Jackie is the sixth studio album by American singer Ciara, and was released on May 1, 2015, through Sony Music Entertainment. Following her departure from her previous record label, and the release of her self-titled fifth studio album, Ciara embarked on a hiatus in order to focus on her relationship with American rapper Future, which provoked Ciara to start work on her sixth album which was predominantly inspired by her then-fiancé. In May 2014, Ciara gave birth to her first child and shortly thereafter called off the engagement. Following the public break-up, Ciara postponed the album and began to record new music, while concentrating on motherhood.

The Way We Are (song) song by English recording artist, Alesha Dixon

"The Way We Are" is a song by English recording artist Alesha Dixon. It is the lead single from her fourth studio album, Do It for Love (2015). The song marks as a return to Dixon's UK garage-style earlier work with the girl group Mis-Teeq. The single was debuted on Britain's Got Talent at the fourth semi final; the live performance of the song subsequently gained over 4 million views on YouTube and the music video of Dixon's single has also amassed over 4 million views.

Boyfriend (Tegan and Sara song)

"Boyfriend" is a song written and recorded by Canadian musical duo Tegan and Sara for their eighth studio album, Love You to Death (2016). The twins co-wrote the track with its producer, Greg Kurstin, who had previously worked with them on the majority of their breakthrough album, Heartthrob (2013). Released to digital retailers April 8, 2016 through Vapor Records and Warner Bros. Records, "Boyfriend" serves as the album's lead single and their first non-soundtrack single in nearly three years.

<i>Mad Love</i> (JoJo album) 2016 studio album by JoJo

Mad Love is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter JoJo. The album was released on October 14, 2016, through Atlantic Records. Incorporating a base core of R&B, pop and soul music, JoJo wanted the album to take fans through a journey from beginning to end while not only being for her, but relatable to all the fans who stuck by her though her years in limbo, and to serve as the "soundtrack to peoples' lives". It serves as her first major official release in a decade following 2006's The High Road. A deluxe edition of the album featuring 4 bonus tracks was released simultaneously alongside the eleven-track standard edition. JoJo co-wrote every song on the album while also vocal producing every song. The album was JoJo's only album release under Atlantic Records, as she left in August 2017 to form her own label under Warner Records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Alesha Dixon interview: "It's time for the MC to resurface!"". Official Charts Company. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015. the album's called Do It For Love and I've been working on it since last August
  2. "iTunes - Music - The Way We Are - Single by Alesha Dixon". iTunes Store. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  3. "Alesha Dixon confirms new single for 2015: 'I'm really pleased with it'". Digital Spy . 11 December 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  4. Rigby, Sam (10 April 2015). "Alesha Dixon to debut new single on Britain's Got Talent live shows". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. "Alesha Dixon released 'The Way We Are', her best song since 2008". Direct Lyrics. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  6. "'Britain's Got Talent' Judge Alesha Dixon Storms Performance Of New Song 'The Way We Are' On Semi-Final". HuffPost . 27 May 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  7. 1 2 Carley, Brennan (12 January 2020). "Alesha Dixon, the Newest 'America's Got Talent' Judge, Is Finally Cracking America". Billboard . Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  8. 1 2 "REVIEW: Alesha Dixon – Do It For Love". pressplayok.com. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  9. 1 2 Bohlsen, Christopher. "Album Review: Alesha Dixon – Do It For Love". Renowned for Sound . Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  10. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  11. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  12. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  13. "iTunes - Music - Do It For Love by Alesha Dixon". iTunes Store (GB).