Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida

Last updated

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
AidaConceptAlbum.jpg
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
Released23 March 1999
Recorded1998–99
Genre Pop, theatrical
Length65:16
Label Rocket
Producer Phil Ramone (executive)
Elton John chronology
The Big Picture
(1997)
Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida
(1999)
The Muse
(1999)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida is a 1999 concept album that contains songs with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice from (but predates the main production of) the 2000 musical Aida .

Contents

Background

The album features Elton John performing the songs along with pop, country and R&B stars Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, Shania Twain, Boyz II Men, Spice Girls, James Taylor, LeAnn Rimes, Kelly Price, Lulu, Angelique Kidjo, and Dru Hill. Additionally, two tracks, "A Step Too Far" and "Elaborate Lives", feature the voices of Aida cast-members-to-be Heather Headley and Sherie Rene Scott. The album was certified gold in April 1999 by the RIAA.

Prior to the recordings being performed by other artists, John also recorded each song as a solo full production demo. These tracks did not make the album and have never been officially released but are readily available on YouTube.

"Written in the Stars" was released as a single, reaching No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The single was certified gold in April 1999 by the RIAA. "The Messenger" makes its only appearance here, as it would be cut from the Broadway production and consequently left off the cast album.

This record is sometimes known as the "concept album" for Aida, both because it came before the production and to distinguish it from the 2000 release of Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida: Original Broadway Cast Recording, a conventional original cast recording of the Broadway production.

Track listing

  1. "Another Pyramid" – Sting
  2. "Written in the Stars" – Elton John/LeAnn Rimes
  3. "Easy as Life" – Tina Turner featuring Angelique Kidjo
  4. "My Strongest Suit" – Spice Girls
  5. "I Know the Truth" – Elton John/Janet Jackson
  6. "Not Me" – Boyz II Men
  7. "Amneris' Letter" – Shania Twain
  8. "A Step Too Far" – Elton John/Heather Headley/Sherie Scott
  9. "Like Father Like Son" – Lenny Kravitz
  10. "Elaborate Lives" – Heather Headley
  11. "How I Know You" – James Taylor
  12. "The Messenger" – Elton John/Lulu
  13. "The Gods Love Nubia" – Kelly Price
  14. "Enchantment Passing Through" – Dru Hill
  15. "Orchestral Finale" – Elton John

Personnel

Additional personnel

  • Rob Albano – assistant engineer
  • Glenn Barratt – mixing
  • Joe Bates – assistant engineer
  • Lee Blaske – string arrangements
  • Paul Bogaev – producer
  • Andy Bradfield – mixing
  • Mark Browne – assistant Engineer
  • Adrian Bushby – engineer
  • Ralph Cacciurri – assistant engineer
  • Steve "Barney" Cahse – engineer
  • Barney Chase – engineer
  • Peter Collins – producer
  • Jake Davies – programming
  • Mike Dy – assistant engineer
  • Frank Filipetti – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Dave Fisher – assistant engineer
  • Jan Folkson – programming
  • Jon Gals – mixing
  • Jason Groucott – mixing assistant
  • Michael Hanna – arranger
  • Delroy "Dr. Marshall" Harrison – engineer
  • Jean Hébrail – arranger, producer, engineer
  • Steve Hodge – engineer, mixing
  • John Holbrook – engineer, mixing
  • Jimmy Jam – arranger, multi instruments, producer
  • Pete Karem – assistant engineer
  • Thom "TK" Kidd – engineer
  • Angélique Kidjo – arranger
  • Matt Knobel – engineer
  • Nathaniel Kunkel – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Robert John "Mutt" Lange – producer
  • Pete Lewis – engineer
  • Terry Lewis – arranger, multi instruments, producer
  • Patrick Lindsay – mixing
  • Kevin Lively – assistant engineer
  • Lord-Alge – mixing
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Mike Malak – engineer
  • Terry Manning – engineer
  • Steve Mazur – mixing assistant
  • Garfield McDonald – engineer
  • Chris Montan – producer
  • Nathan Morris – arranger
  • Wanya Morris – arranger
  • Rob Murphy – assistant engineer
  • Jake Ninan – assistant engineer
  • Richard Pandiscio – artwork, art Direction
  • Todd Parker – assistant engineer
  • Dave Pensado – mixing
  • Greg Pinto – assistant engineer
  • Phil Ramone – producer, executive producer
  • Chris Ribando – assistant engineer
  • Tim Rice – lyricist, liner notes
  • Alexander Richbourg – drum programming
  • Olle Romo – engineer
  • Sisqó – arranger
  • Ivy Skoff – producer
  • Xavier Smith – assistant engineer, mixing assistant
  • Richard Stannard – producer
  • Shawn Stockman – arranger
  • Pat Thrall – programming, digital editing, electronic editor
  • Fred Vaughn – choir arrangement
  • Stephanie Vonarx – assistant engineer
  • Paul Waller – programming
  • Ron Warshow – assistant engineer
  • James "Big Jim" Wright – arranger

Charts

Chart (2011)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [2] 9
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [3] 26
French Albums (SNEP) [4] 24
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [5] 23
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [6] 12
Scottish Albums (OCC) [7] 44
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [8] 13
UK Albums (OCC) [9] 29

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) [10] Gold25,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway) [11] Gold25,000*
United States (RIAA) [12] Gold500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. Stephen Thomas Erlewine (23 March 1999). "Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida" - Elton John,Tim Rice | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  2. "Austriancharts.at – Elton John – Aida" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  3. "Ultratop.be – Elton John – Aida" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  4. "Lescharts.com – Elton John – Aida". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – Elton John – Aida" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  6. "Norwegiancharts.com – Elton John – Aida". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  7. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  8. "Swisscharts.com – Elton John – Aida". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  9. "Elton John | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  10. "Austrian album certifications – Elton John – Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  11. "Norwegian album certifications – Elton John – Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  12. "American album certifications – Elton John – Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida". Recording Industry Association of America.