Release Some Tension

Last updated

Release Some Tension
SWV - Release Some Tension.jpg
Studio album by
SWV
ReleasedAugust 12, 1997 (1997-08-12)
Recorded1996–1997
Genre
Length53:15
Label RCA
Producer
SWV chronology
New Beginning
(1996)
Release Some Tension
(1997)
A Special Christmas
(1997)
Singles from Release Some Tension
  1. "Can We"
    Released: February 11, 1997
  2. "Someone"
    Released: June 24, 1997
  3. "Lose My Cool"
    Released: September 16, 1997
  4. "Rain"
    Released: February 24, 1998

Release Some Tension is the third studio album by American R&B vocal group SWV. It was released by RCA Records on August 12, 1997. The album guest appearances by E-40, Puff Daddy, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Foxy Brown, Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim, Snoop Dogg and Redman. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States. [4]

Contents

The album features hits like "Rain", "Someone", and "Can We". Another single "Lose My Cool" was slated to be released as the album's third single but due to limited radio airplay it was shelved in favor of "Rain" which became one of their most notable hits. The second single "Someone" reached number 19 on the Billboard charts and was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies. [5] [6]

The album ultimately proved a commercial disappointment; with their future prospects uncertain, SWV would disband before the end of the year. The girls and others later claimed that the production of Release Some Tension had been unfairly rushed by SWV's label and that the girls had been forced to start recording while still in the middle of promoting their second album New Beginning (1996).

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [2]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]

AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found that "with their third album, SWV attempt to break away from the slick urban straitjacket and return to their hip-hop roots. In order to achieve their goal, the group hired a head-spinning array of producers and collaborators [...] Considering all the extra starpower, it's not all that surprising that SWV occasionally become overwhelmed by their guests, but that doesn't prevent Release Some Tension from being a solid album, particularly when it's propelled by funky singles [...]." [3] Entertainment Weekly wrote that the album "finds the sistas lifting their voices with rollicking dexterity and torchy soul, returning to what got them their multi-platinum status. Hip-hop phenoms Sean ”Puffy” Combs, Missy Elliott, and Redman add street cred and pop velocity." [2]

Track listing

Release Some Tension track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Someone" (featuring Puff Daddy)
  • J Dub
  • Combs
4:05
2."Release Some Tension" (featuring Foxy Brown)
  • Wiggins
  • Daniels [a]
4:05
3."Lose My Cool" (featuring Redman)
Pendleton4:38
4."Love Like This" (featuring Lil' Cease)Taylor3:46
5."Can We" (featuring Missy Elliott) Timbaland 4:51
6."Rain"Morgan4:25
7."Give It Up" (featuring Lil' Kim)
  • D-Dot
  • Lanz "Wet" Mitchell
4:41
8."Come and Get Some" (featuring E-40)Kinchen4:23
9."When U Cry"
  • Darryl Ellis
  • Paul Richmond
  • Ruben Locke Jr.
  • Patricia Deige Muldrow
  • Kevin Perez
  • Tony Pérez
  • K. Perez
  • T. Perez
4:31
10."Lose Myself"
  • Farrar
  • Dawn Beckman
  • Taylor
Taylor4:38
11."Here For You"
Taylor4:53
12."Gettin' Funky" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
  • Kinchen
  • Evans
4:19

Notes

Sample credits

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Release Some Tension
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [21] Gold50,000^
Japan (RIAJ) [22] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [23] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. Miles Marshall Lewis (1997). Vibe - SWV 'Release Some Tension'. Vibe Media Group via Vibe.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Tyehimba, Cheo (August 16, 1997). "Release Some Tension". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Release Some Tension at AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  4. "American certifications – S.W.V. – Release Some Tension". Recording Industry Association of America.
  5. "American certifications – S.W.V. – Someone". Recording Industry Association of America.
  6. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard . Vol. 110, no. 5. BPI Communications Inc. January 31, 1998. p. 76. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  7. Sullivan, Caroline (August 8, 1997). "Music: This week's pop CD releases". The Guardian .
  8. "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week . July 26, 1997. p. 27. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  9. Stovall, Natasha (October 16, 1997). "SWV: Release Some Tension : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone . Retrieved June 9, 2013.[ dead link ]
  10. "SWV ARIA Chart history (complete) to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 28, 2024 via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  11. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3307". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  12. "Dutchcharts.nl – SWV – Release Some Tension" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  13. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 14, no. 36. September 6, 1997. p. 13. Retrieved April 16, 2023 via World Radio History.
  14. "Offiziellecharts.de – SWV – Release Some Tension" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  15. "Swedishcharts.com – SWV – Release Some Tension". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  16. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  17. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  18. "SWV Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  19. "SWV Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  20. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  21. "Canadian album certifications – SWV – Release Some Tension". Music Canada . Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  22. "Japanese album certifications – SWV – Release Some Tension" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.Select 1997年09月 on the drop-down menu
  23. "American album certifications – S.W.V. – Release Some Tension". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved November 20, 2019.