Finally (CeCe Peniston album)

Last updated
Finally
CeCeFinally1992.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 30, 1992 (1992-01-30)
Length48:58
Label A&M
Producer
CeCe Peniston chronology
Finally
(1992)
Finally / We Got a Love Thang: Remix Collection
(1992)
Singles from Finally
  1. "Finally"
    Released: September 30, 1991
  2. "We Got a Love Thang"
    Released: January 12, 1992
  3. "Keep On Walkin'"
    Released: May 5, 1992
  4. "Inside That I Cried"
    Released: September 11, 1992 (US)
  5. "Crazy Love"
    Released: December 8, 1992 (US)

Finally is the debut album by American singer CeCe Peniston, released on January 30, 1992, by A&M Records. Prior to the release of this album, Peniston released her debut single "Finally", which topped the US Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play chart on October 26, 1991, peaking eventually at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number two in the UK Singles Chart. [1] The album yielded two additional singles which achieved dance number one status in the US; "We Got a Love Thang", co-written by Chantay Savage, and "Keep On Walkin'", written in collaboration with Kym Sims. Both songs entered the UK Singles Chart top 10 and the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 in the US. [2] Despite the success of the singles, the album itself climbed only to number seventy on the US Billboard 200. However, during its thirty-six weeks long presence in the chart it sold over 554,000 copies in the US. [3] The album peaked at number ten on the UK Albums Chart. The total worldwide sales of the album surpassed 3,000,000 units. [4] Two further tracks were released from the album which were more in the R&B field; "Inside That I Cried" charted at number ten in the US R&B chart and at number forty-two in the UK, while "Crazy Love" peaked at number thirty-one in the US and at number forty-four in the UK. [5] The album was part of the resurgence of dance music in the United States during the mid-1990s. [6]

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Calgary Herald C [8]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Entertainment Weekly B− [10]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [12]

Finally received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Craig Lytle from AllMusic lauded the album in his review as "outstanding", and it being a "solidly produced collection". Giving the set four out of five stars, he wrote that the album warranted an additional single release. [7] Amy Linden from Entertainment Weekly stated that Peniston has "a good enough voice" (which she stressed as a novelty among dance-music dollies), but apart from its title single, plus the funky ode "Virtue", she ranked the rest of album a B− for being "mainly standard issue and pretty dull". [10] Elena Oumano from Los Angeles Times wrote, "Like Patti LaBelle, CeCe Peniston scales a broad range of vocal peaks with electrifying ease, but where LaBelle stoops to played-out histrionics, Peniston’s operatic soul vibrates with freewheeling, youthful gusto on this debut album. While this exuberance works best when matched to a hammering house mix, Peniston’s heroic gymnastics ring genuine even in ballads. She just seems to feel more than ordinary folk. But that astonishing voice demands exceptional material; “Lifeline” and other pedestrian vehicles seem all the weaker for Peniston’s formidable gift." [11]

Accoladees

Finally was nominated for Best R&B/Soul Album – Female at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards, but lost to What's the 411? by Mary J. Blige.[ citation needed ]

Chart performance

Initially, Finally entered the albums charts overseas. On February 2, 1992, the album debuted in the UK Albums Chart at number ten, its peak, spending nineteen weeks in total on the chart. [13] On February 15, the album appeared for the first time in the Canadian Albums Chart at number sixty, as well as on the US Billboard 200 at number ninety-nine. In both countries, the album reached its peak position in its fourth week on the chart; number twenty in Canada, where it spent twenty-two weeks in the chart, [14] and number seventy in the US, where it spent thirty-six weeks on the chart, of which eighteen were within the Top 100. [15] In the Dutch MegaCharts, the album began its twelve-week run on February 22 at number ninety, reaching number thirty-one. [16] In Billboard's component chart, the album debuted on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart on March 7 at number eighty-eight, and climbed to number thirteen on August 8, spending fifty-two weeks in the chart. [17] In addition, the album charted for two weeks in Austria, peaking there at number thirty-eight, its debut, on March 8. [18]

Track listing

Finally track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."We Got a Love Thang"
Steve "Silk" Hurley 5:29
2."Finally"
4:03
3."Inside That I Cried"
  • Jackson
  • Malik Byrd
  • Otto D'Agnolo
Steve Lindsey5:51
4."Lifeline"
Morales4:52
5."It Should Have Been You"Darryl Thompson
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
5:50
6."Keep On Walkin'"Hurley4:30
7."Crazy Love"
Daniel Abraham4:48
8."I See Love"Byron Drew Counts4:46
9."You Win, I Win, We Lose"
  • Jackson
  • Danny Moore
4:02
10."Virtue"
  • Delgado
  • Moore
  • Jackson
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Gail "Sky" King [a]
4:47
Total length:48:58
UK double vinyl edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Finally" (12″ Choice Mix)
  • Peniston
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Linnear
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Morales [a]
7:04
12."Finally" (12″ Original Mix)
  • Peniston
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Linnear
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Morales [a]
7:04
13."Finally" (7″ Choice Mix)
  • Peniston
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Linnear
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Morales [a]
4:08
14."Finally" (Somedub Mix)
  • Peniston
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Linnear
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Morales [a]
7:07
15."Finally" (Momo Dub Mix)
  • Peniston
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Linnear
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Morales [a]
7:04
16."Finally" (Journey Mix)
  • Peniston
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Linnear
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Morales [a]
7:02
1992 UK CD and CS edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Finally" (Somedub Mix)
  • Peniston
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Linnear
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Morales [a]
7:07
1997 UK reissue bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
11."Finally" (Classic Funk Radio Mix)
  • Peniston
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Linnear
  • Delgado
  • Jackson
  • Morales [a]
3:26

Notes

Personnel

Technical

Performers and musicians

Charts

Chart performance for Finally
Chart (1992)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [19] 95
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [20] 38
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [14] 20
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [21] 31
UK Albums (OCC) [22] 10
US Billboard 200 [23] 70
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [24] 13

Promo EP

The Heart & Soul of CeCe Peniston (Four Selections from Finally)
The heart and soul of ccp.jpg
EP by
Released1992
Recorded1991
Genre Dance, R&B
Length18:06
Label A&M
Producer Steve Hurley, Daniel Abraham, DeVanté Swing, Felipe Delgado, Rodney K. Jackson

Along with the release of Peniston's single "Keep On Walkin'", a four-track promo EP titled The Heart and Soul of CeCe Peniston (Four Selections from Finally) was issued in the United States in support of Finally.

Apart from her third US Dance number-one hit "Keep On Walkin'", the EP also featured "Crazy Love", which was also promoted with a single, as well as two other songs from Finally—"I See Love", and "You Win, I Win, We Lose" (with background vocals by Malaika).

The artwork of the EP included altered pictures on its front and back cover.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Keep On Walkin'" Steve Hurley, Marc Williams, Kym Sims 4:30
2."Crazy Love"George Lyter, Michael O'Hara, Denise Rich 4:48
3."I See Love"Byron Drew Counts4:46
4."You Win, I Win, We Lose" Rodney K. Jackson, Danny Moore4:02
Total length:18:06

Personnel

Recording details

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CeCe Peniston</span> American singer

Cecilia Veronica "CeCe" Peniston is an American singer and former beauty queen. In the early 1990s, she scored five number one hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play. Her signature song "Finally" reached the number 5 spot on the Hot 100 and number 2 in the UK Top 75.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finally (CeCe Peniston song)</span> 1991 single by CeCe Peniston

"Finally" is a song by American singer-songwriter CeCe Peniston, released in September 1991 as her debut single from her first album of the same name (1992). It received critical acclaim, becoming Peniston's first hit song, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1992. It is also her only US top-ten hit to date. Prior to that, the track was a major success on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, where it spent two weeks at number one in late 1991. In addition, a dance remix of the song, the "Choice Mix", peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart in March 1992. The remix appeared on many dance music compilations in the early '90s. Its music video was directed by Claude Borenzweig. Billboard ranked "Finally" among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time" in 2023.

<i>Remix Collection</i> (CeCe Peniston album) 1994 remix album by CeCe Peniston

Remix Collection is a rare CD only released in Japan containing special alternate versions of songs from CeCe Peniston's first two albums Finally and Thought 'Ya Knew. Many of these versions were exclusively available on vinyl and were never released on CD. The album featured nine alternate versions previously available only on vinyl and was issued on CD in Japan in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CeCe Peniston discography</span>

American recording artist CeCe Peniston entered the music industry as a backup vocalist on the Overweight Pooch's album Female Preacher, released in July 1991 on A&M Records. Shortly before that, she was featured on the B-side to 12-inch single "I Can't Take the Power" by male rapper Marvelous JC. Besides her vocal performance on the Pooch's only charting track, "I Like It", she was given a credit for co-writing two compositions; "Kickin' Da Blues" and the titular "Female Preacher". Soon after, the singer pursued a solo career. By now, Peniston has released four studio albums including one as a member of The Sisters of Glory, two remix collections, one live album, four compilations and one live extended play (EP). Her singles discography features twenty-nine physical releases, twenty-one digital-only, seven promotional recordings and twenty-six other appearances; regardless of their format. She has also been included on one video album and has made fourteen music videos.

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Good News in Hard Times is the album released by American gospel group The Sisters of Glory, released on August 22, 1995, by Warner Bros. Records. The set included solo performances by five female singers from different musical backgrounds: Thelma Houston, CeCe Peniston, Phoebe Snow, Lois Walden, and Albertina Walker.

<i>The Best Of</i> (CeCe Peniston album) 0000 compilation album by CeCe Peniston

The Best Of is the first compilation album by American recording artist CeCe Peniston, released on March 2, 1998, by A&M Records in the overseas. It contains thirteen versions of her hit singles from 1991 to 1997. As the compilation was the singer's closing release under her contract with A&M, it didn't feature any new material. To increase the appeal of the product, the label included alternate, dancefloor remixed takes of Peniston's popular songs from her previous studio albums. Finally (1992), Thought 'Ya Knew (1994) and I'm Movin' On (1996).

<i>Thought Ya Knew</i> 1994 studio album by CeCe Peniston

Thought 'Ya Knew is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter CeCe Peniston, released on January 10, 1994, by A&M Records, and on February 10 in Japan. For this album, Peniston once again collaborated with Chicago-based producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, along with other producers Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin from Denmark, David Morales, Sir Jinx, and on one track also with the multiple Grammy Award-nominee Brian McKnight.

<i>Im Movin On</i> (CeCe Peniston album) 1996 studio album by CeCe Peniston

I'm Movin' On is the third studio album recorded by American singer CeCe Peniston, released on September 9, 1996, by A&M Records. Taking Peniston's work deeper foray into mainstream R&B genre, A&M consulted a number of pop musicians to record with her, including Dave Hall, Gordon Chambers, and Andrea Martin. Other collaborated include DJ Steve "Silk" Hurley, Damon Thomas, Danny Sembello, Darryl Pearson, and Jorge "G-Man" Corante.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somebody Else's Guy</span>

"Somebody Else's Guy" is a 1984 song written and popularized by Jocelyn Brown. On the US soul chart, the single peaked at number two and stalled at number 75 on the Hot 100, but in the UK it made the pop top 20. On the disco chart, "Somebody Else's Guy" peaked at number 13. It was the title track of Brown's debut solo album, released the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep Givin' Me Your Love</span> 1994 single by CeCe Peniston

"Keep Givin' Me Your Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter CeCe Peniston, originally from her second studio album, Thought 'Ya Knew (1994). While in the US, it was issued as the fifth single release in 1995, in the UK the song was released as the second single in April 1994. After peaking at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart, it reached at number four on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in March 1995 and was Peniston's first song that failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, stopping at number one on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. The song was also classified the Billboard Hot Dance Breakouts number one in the category of Maxi-Singles Sales on March 4 and the Billboard Hot Dance Breakouts number three for the category of Club Play Singles on January 21, 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hit by Love</span> 1994 single by CeCe Peniston

"Hit by Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter CeCe Peniston, released in July 1994 as the fourth single from her second album, Thought 'Ya Knew (1994). The song was her fifth number-one hit on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart. Issued in Europe with "I'm Not Over You" on B-side, it peaked at number 33 on the UK Singles Chart and number 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm in the Mood (CeCe Peniston song)</span> 1993 single by CeCe Peniston

"I'm in the Mood" is a song by American singer and songwriter CeCe Peniston, released in December 1993 as the first commercial single from her second studio album, Thought 'Ya Knew (1994). The composition scored the singer her fourth number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and also entered the top 10 of the Billboard Hot R&B chart, peaking at number seven. On the Billboard Hot 100, the song peaked at number 32 and made number 16 on the UK Top 75. In a 2011 interview for Boy Culture, TypePad's blogging service, Peniston disclosed that she had actually expected a better reception of the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crazy Love (CeCe Peniston song)</span> 1992 single by CeCe Peniston

"Crazy Love" is a song by American musician CeCe Peniston, released on her debut album, Finally on A&M Records. The title was first issued in the UK as the fourth single from the album, peaking at number forty-four, while in the US, it reached number thirty-one on the R&B chart in February 1993 after its peak at number ninety-seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inside That I Cried</span> 1992 single by CeCe Peniston

"Inside That I Cried" is a song by American singer CeCe Peniston, released as the fifth and last single from her debut album, Finally (1992), on A&M Records. The single release includes "Hitmix", a medley of her songs "Finally", "We Got a Love Thang", "Keep On Walkin'", "Lifeline" and "It Should Have Been You", all taken from the album. "Inside That I Cried" reached the top 10 of the American Billboard Hot R&B Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 94 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 42 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep On Walkin' (song)</span> 1992 single by CeCe Peniston

"Keep On Walkin'" is a song by American musician CeCe Peniston, recorded for her debut album, Finally (1992), on A&M Records. Written by Steve Hurley, Marc Williams and Kym Sims, it was released in May 1992 as the singer's third single from the album and was her third number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The single additionally peaked at number three on the US R&B chart, number 15 on the Hot 100, and number 10 in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Got a Love Thang</span> 1992 single by CeCe Peniston

"We Got a Love Thang" is a song by American singer-songwriter CeCe Peniston, originally released in January 1992 as the second single from her debut album, Finally (1992). The song was co-written by Chantay Savage, and became the second number one hit for the artist, remaining on the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for two weeks. In the United Kingdom, the title scored number six, while on the Billboard Hot 100, it reached number twenty. The song contains a sample of the drum break from "Rock with You" by Michael Jackson.

<i>Female Preacher</i> 1991 studio album by Overweight Pooch

Female Preacher is the debut, and to date the only album recorded by Tonya Davis, a US rapper better known as Overweight Pooch, which was released in 1991 on A&M Records. Although the record indicated that Pooch had some potential, her album didn't go far commercially.

Felipe "Waxx" Delgado is an American DJ, songwriter and producer from the south side of Chicago, Illinois later based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is primarily known for his discovery of House Music/R&B Diva, CeCe Peniston, also a founder and pioneer of Arizona Hip Hop/R&B and Dance, and his collaborative works with friend, also from Chicago, fellow producer Rodney K. Jackson. In 1990, he founded the Wax Museum Productions, and co-founded Heat City Records with Jackson in 1995. In 2013 Delgado was contacted by TV One, Unsung executives to co-star in an hour documentary alongside Peniston and others, about her legendary music career from Phoenix spring of 2013, Episode was aired on November 27, 2013 for Unsung's 6th season.

<i>Divas of Disco</i>

Divas of Disco is a live video album recorded on April 25, 2007, at Avalon, Hollywood, performed by CeCe Peniston, Thelma Houston, Linda Clifford, A Taste of Honey and France Joli. The whole concert was issued on CD in 2010.

References

General

Specific

  1. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-10-26.pdf
  2. 'CeCe Peniston, US Dance Chart History' Billboard
  3. To review the original source, you will have to subscribe to billboard.biz website to access the billboard.biz link.
  4. Hutson, Wendell (2009-06-17). "CeCe Peniston Looking Forward To A Come Back". Chicago Defender . Real Times. BNET.com . Retrieved 2010-09-23. Peniston was signed, under the A&M Record label when she put out her 1991 debut album 'Finally', which sold over 3 million copies.
  5. 'CeCe Peniston, US R&B Singles Chart History' Billboard
  6. "Look What We Got: CeCe Peniston's Debut Album 'Finally' Turns 25". Albumism. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
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  11. 1 2 Oumano, Elena (1992-02-16). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2023-01-23.
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