Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album

Last updated

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album
SabrinaAlbumSoundtrack.png
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedOctober 27, 1998
Genre
Length56:54
Label Geffen
Producer
Various
Singles from Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album
  1. "So I Fall Again"
    Released: September 1998

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album is a soundtrack album for the television series Sabrina The Teenage Witch , released on October 27, 1998, by Geffen Records. The album mainly contains music by contemporary pop and alternative rock artists, such as the Spice Girls, Sugar Ray, and Britney Spears. Most of the songs on the soundtrack were either featured in the series or are by artists that made appearances in the series. The album also includes series actress Melissa Joan Hart's cover of "One Way or Another". The album was preceded by the release of the single "So I Fall Again" by Phantom Planet in September 1998.

Contents

The album was a commercial success, being certified Gold by the RIAA in the United States and double Platinum in Canada, and selling over 700,000 copies in those countries combined.

Background

The Spice Girls (pictured in 2008) perform the opening song to the soundtrack, "Walk of Life". Spice Girls in Toronto, Ontario.jpg
The Spice Girls (pictured in 2008) perform the opening song to the soundtrack, "Walk of Life".

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album was first announced by MTV on August 27, 1998. [1] The track list was revealed a few weeks later on September 15, 1998, the sequencing of which was slightly modified prior to its release. [2] [3] Geffen Records Artists and repertoire executive Craig Coburn headed the project, which generally consists of music by pop and alternative rock artists. [4] The album includes a number of songs that were previously unreleased, including a cover of "Abracadabra" by Sugar Ray, a remix of "Hey, Mr. DJ (Keep Playin' This Song)" by the Backstreet Boys, and "Soda Pop" by Britney Spears. [1] [5] The opening track to the album is "Walk of Life" by the Spice Girls, which had previously only been available in Europe as the b-side to their 1997 single "Too Much"; Coburn said the label was "thrilled" to have the song on the soundtrack. [4] [6] It also includes "Doctor Jones (Metro's 7" Edit)" by Aqua, which likewise had previously only been available in Europe. [4] [7] Melissa Joan Hart's cover of "One Way or Another", which was used in the Season 2 episode "The Band Episode", is also included. [8] In addition to Hart, the song features background vocals by series cast members Nate Richert and Lindsay Sloane. [9]

The album was preceded by the release of the single "So I Fall Again" by Phantom Planet in September 1998; the band performed the song on the show in the Season 3 episode "And the Sabrina Goes to..." which aired that November. [4] [8] The album was promoted through radio promotions and giveaways. One giveaway prize was a trip to see Phantom Planet perform at Universal Studios Hollywood with their performance being hosted by Hart. [4] Another promotion for the album was the "Sabrina Sing-A-Long Sweepstakes" in which the grand prize was a trip to Hollywood to have a song professionally recorded. [10] The sweepstakes was advertised in the Sabrina book series, the Archie comic books, and Sabrina CD-ROM games. [4] [10] The album tied-in with the third season of the show. The overarching plot of the season was for Sabrina to collect a number of clues to solve her "family secret" and the eighth clue was included as an audio interlude on the release. [11]

Critical reception

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album received mostly positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic described the album as a "sugar-coated collection". They wrote that europop was well-represented on the release, calling "Walk of Life" by the Spice Girls "some serious dub", and noted the inclusion of "interesting" cover songs. [12] Richard Harrington from The Washington Post praised Sugar Ray's cover of "Abracadabra", calling it the "obvious cover of the year with MTV and radio exposure clearly in mind". Harrington described the album as "a mix of bright chirpy dance-pop and pop-rock". [13]

In a mixed review, Rob Brunner from Entertainment Weekly described Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album as "bubbly ephemera" and went on to note "all this wholesome cheer would be strictly taboo in even the most good-natured teen coven." He criticized Matthew Sweet's cover of "Magnet & Steel", calling it "less than enchanting". [14] In a retrospective review, Chuck Eddy from Spin included the album on a list of "essential teen-pop soundtracks", and described "Soda Pop" by Britney Spears as "possibly her most preadolescent ditty ever". [15]

Commercial reception

Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album peaked at number 71 on the Billboard 200 chart in the issue dated December 12, 1998, and spent 16 weeks on the chart. [16] [17] In Canada, the album peaked at number 7 on the RPM Top 100 Albums chart in the issue dated February 1, 1999. [18] It remained in this position for two weeks and spent a total of 36 weeks on the chart. [19] [20] The album appeared at number 50 on the RPM year-end charts in 1999. [21] The album was certified Gold by the RIAA in the United States on December 7, 1998. [22] In Canada, the album was certified Platinum on January 21, 1999 and double Platinum on March 12, 1999. [23]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Walk of Life"
Spice Girls4:16
2."Abracadabra" Steve Miller Sugar Ray 3:43
3."Hey, Mr. DJ (Keep Playin' This Song)" (Radio Mix)
  • Timmy Allen
  • Larry Campbell
  • Jolyon Skinner
 Backstreet Boys 3:51
4."One Way or Another"
 Melissa Joan Heart 3:29
5."Kate"
 Ben Folds Five 3:13
6."Show Me Love" (Radio Edit)
Robyn3:29
7."Giddy Up"
'N Sync4:09
8."Slam Dunk (Da Funk)"
 Five 3:37
9."Magnet & Steel" Walter Egan Matthew Sweet 4:10
10."So I Fall Again"
 Phantom Planet 2:51
11."I Know What Boys Like" Chris Butler Pure Sugar3:53
12."Smash"
The Murmurs2:35
13."Doctor Jones" (Metro's 7" Edit)
 Aqua 3:37
14."Soda Pop"
 Britney Spears 3:43
15."Amnesia" (Radio Remix) Chumbawamba Chumbawamba3:12
16."Blah, Blah, Blah"
  • Nina Persson
  • Peter Svensson
 The Cardigans 3:12

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Sabrina The Teenage Witch: The Album
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [23] 2× Platinum200,000^
United States (RIAA) [22] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>...Baby One More Time</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Britney Spears

...Baby One More Time is the debut studio album by American singer Britney Spears. It was released on January 12, 1999, by Jive Records. Spears had been a child performer on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club from 1993 to 1994, and was looking to expand her career as a teen singer. After being turned away by several record companies, Spears signed with Jive for a multi-album deal in 1997. She travelled to Sweden to collaborate with producers Max Martin and Rami Yacoub, who had been writing songs with producer Denniz Pop and others, for ...Baby One More Time. Their collaboration created a pop, bubblegum pop, dance-pop, and teen pop record, with Spears later saying that she felt excited when she heard it and knew it was going to be a hit record. The album was completed in June 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Folds Five</span> American alternative rock band

Ben Folds Five was an American alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds, Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee. The group achieved success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes. Their single "Brick" from the second album, Whatever and Ever Amen (1997), gained airplay on many mainstream radio stations.

<i>Christina Aguilera</i> (album) 1999 studio album by Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera is the debut studio album by American singer Christina Aguilera. It was released on August 24, 1999, by RCA Records. After recording "Reflection", the theme song for the 1998 Disney film Mulan, RCA laid the foundation for the album immediately and started presenting Aguilera with tracks for her debut album, which they originally decided would have a January 1999 release. Its music incorporates dance-pop and teen pop genres, with a few songs featuring strong elements from soul and contemporary R&B. Contributions to the album's production came from a wide range of producers, including David Frank, Ron Fair, Guy Roche, Robin Thicke, Matthew Wilder and Aaron Zigman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wannabe</span> 1996 single by the Spice Girls

"Wannabe" is the debut single by the English girl group the Spice Girls, released on 26 June 1996. It was written by the Spice Girls, Matt Rowe and Richard "Biff" Stannard and produced by Rowe and Stannard for the group's debut album, Spice, released in November 1996. "Wannabe" is a dance-pop song that features Mel B and Geri Halliwell rapping. The lyrics, which address the value of female friendship over heterosexual relationships, became a symbol of female empowerment and the most emblematic song of the group's girl power philosophy. It was written and recorded quickly. The result was considered lacklustre by their label and was sent to be mixed by Dave Way. The Spice Girls were not pleased with the result, and the recording was mixed again, by Mark "Spike" Stent.

<i>Spice</i> (album) 1996 studio album by the Spice Girls

Spice is the debut studio album by English girl group the Spice Girls, released in Japan on 19 September 1996 and in the United Kingdom on 4 November 1996 by Virgin Records. The album was recorded between 1995 and 1996 at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London, and Strongroom Studios in Shoreditch, London, by producers Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard, and the production duo Absolute. Spice is a pop album that incorporates styles such as dance, R&B and hip hop. It is considered to be the record that brought teen pop back, opening the doors for a wave of teen pop artists. Conceptually, the album centered on the idea of Girl Power, and the hype surrounding the group was compared to Beatlemania.

<i>Spiceworld</i> (album) 1997 studio album by the Spice Girls

Spiceworld is the second studio album by English girl group the Spice Girls, released on 1 November 1997 by Virgin Records. Its music incorporates dance-pop music and production. The album became a commercial success worldwide, lengthening the so-called "Spicemania" of the time. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, with first-week sales of 190,000 copies and shipped 1.4 million copies in two weeks. The album also reached number one in 13 countries, while peaking inside the top three in Australia, Canada, France, Switzerland and the United States. Spiceworld has sold over 14 million copies worldwide, making it one of the world's best-selling albums by a girl group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goodbye (Spice Girls song)</span> 1998 single by Spice Girls

"Goodbye" is a song recorded by British girl group Spice Girls. It was written by the group, Richard Stannard, and Matt Rowe, while it was produced by the latter two. The song became the group's first song without the vocals of Geri Halliwell. It was released by Virgin Records on 14 December 1998 and was later included on their third studio album Forever (2000). "Goodbye" is a pop ballad that lyrically consists of the group's farewell to a friend, specifically Halliwell. The lyrics were also seen, by the media and fans alike, as the group's end, although the idea was dismissed by the members.

<i>Backstreet Boys</i> (1997 album) 1997 Backstreet Boys album

Backstreet Boys is the reissue of the 1996 album of the same name, released by the vocal-pop group Backstreet Boys in the United States on August 12, 1997. Its initial release contains six tracks from their first studio album, Backstreet Boys (1996) and five tracks from their second studio album Backstreet's Back (1997). Released a day after Backstreet's Back, both albums share nearly the same cover but with different titles. The album served as their debut in the United States, where their previous records were not released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">...Baby One More Time (song)</span> 1998 single by Britney Spears

"...Baby One More Time" is the debut single by American singer Britney Spears from her debut studio album of the same title (1999). It was written by Max Martin and produced by Martin and Rami. Released on September 29, 1998, by Jive Records, the song became a worldwide hit, topping the charts in over 20 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, where it earned quintuple and triple-platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), respectively, and was the latter's best-selling single of 1999. The song is one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 10 million copies sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(You Drive Me) Crazy</span> 1999 single by Britney Spears

"(You Drive Me) Crazy" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time (1999). Written and produced by Max Martin, Per Magnusson and David Kreuger with additional writing by Jörgen Elofsson and remix by Martin and Rami Yacoub, it was released as the album's third single on August 24, 1999, by Jive Records. It was featured on the soundtrack of the 1999 teen romantic comedy film Drive Me Crazy. The song garnered positive reviews from music critics, some of whom praised its simple formula and noted similarities to Spears's debut single, "...Baby One More Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">From the Bottom of My Broken Heart</span> 1999 single by Britney Spears

"From the Bottom of My Broken Heart" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her debut studio album, ...Baby One More Time (1999). It was released on December 14, 1999, by Jive Records as the fifth and final single from the album. After Spears recorded an unused song from Toni Braxton and sent it through Larry Rudolph to several labels, executives from Jive Records commented that it was very rare to hear someone so young who could deliver emotional content and commercial appeal, appointing the singer to work with producer Eric Foster White. The teen pop ballad was written and produced by White, and features Spears singing about the loss of a first love and how breaking up can be hard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucky (Britney Spears song)</span> 2000 single by Britney Spears

"Lucky" is a song by American singer Britney Spears from her second studio album, Oops!... I Did It Again (2000). It was released on July 25, 2000, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. After meeting with producers Max Martin and Rami Yacoub in Sweden, the singer recorded numerous songs for the album, including "Lucky". The song's narrative follows the story of the eponymous famous actress, who, despite seemingly having it all – fame, wealth, beauty – is truly lonely and unhappy on the inside. It received critical acclaim, with critics praising its melody and rhythm, and Spears' vocals.

<i>Sabrina the Teenage Witch</i> (1996 TV series) American television sitcom (1996–2003)

Sabrina the Teenage Witch is an American television sitcom created by Nell Scovell, based on the Archie Comics series of the same name. It premiered on September 27, 1996, on ABC to over 17 million viewers in its "T.G.I.F." lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genie in a Bottle</span> 1999 single by Christina Aguilera

"Genie in a Bottle" is a song by American singer Christina Aguilera from her self-titled debut studio album (1999). It was written by Pam Sheyne, Steve Kipner and David Frank, and produced by Kipner and Frank. The song was released on May 11, 1999, by RCA Records as the album's lead single. It is a teen pop song with elements from R&B. "Genie in a Bottle" uses sexual references to address the themes of self-respect and abstinence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C'est la Vie (B*Witched song)</span> 1998 single by B*Witched

"C'est la Vie" is a song by Irish girl group B*Witched. It served as their debut single and the lead single from their self-titled debut studio album (1998). Written by band members Edele Lynch, Keavy Lynch, Lindsay Armaou, and Sinéad O'Carroll, Ray "Madman" Hedges, Martin Brannigan and Tracy Ackerman, it was released by Epic and Glowworm Records on 25 May 1998.

<i>Aarons Party (Come Get It)</i> 2000 studio album by Aaron Carter

Aaron's Party (Come Get It) is the second studio album by American pop singer Aaron Carter. It serves as the follow-up to his international debut album. Aaron's Party was released in the fall of 2000 becoming his first album under Jive Records. It includes the singles "Aaron's Party (Come Get It)", "I Want Candy", "Bounce", and "That's How I Beat Shaq". The album was also certified 3× platinum by the RIAA for selling over 3 million copies in the United States, making it Carter's most successful album.

<i>Standing Hampton</i> 1982 studio album by Sammy Hagar

Standing Hampton is the sixth studio album by American rock vocalist Sammy Hagar, released on January 6, 1982, by Geffen. This is his first album after moving from Capitol Records to Geffen. It was his first album to achieve RIAA certification, eventually going platinum, and five of its singles charted in either the mainstream rock or pop singles charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amnesia (Chumbawamba song)</span> 1998 single by Chumbawamba

"Amnesia" is the second single from English rock band Chumbawamba's eighth studio album, Tubthumper (1997). The song's lyrics address the sense of betrayal that English leftists felt during the rise of New Labour. Released on 19 January 1998 by EMI, the song was met with favorable reception from critics, who regarded the song as a highlight from Tubthumper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSYNC</span> American boy band

NSYNC is an American vocal group and boy band formed by Chris Kirkpatrick in Orlando, Florida, in 1995 and launched in Germany by BMG Ariola Munich. The group consists of Kirkpatrick, Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and JC Chasez. Their self-titled debut album was successfully released to European countries in 1997, and later debuted in the U.S. market with the single "I Want You Back".

<i>Never Say Never</i> (Brandy album) 1998 studio album by Brandy

Never Say Never is the second studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released on June 9, 1998, by Atlantic Records. Atlantic consulted David Foster, as well as producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and his team to work with Norwood on the record; Jerkins went on to craft the majority of the album and would evolve as Norwood's mentor and head producer on her succeeding projects.

References

  1. 1 2 "Spice Girls On 'Sabrina' Soundtrack". MTV . August 27, 1998. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ben Folds, Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Cardigans Divine Tunes For "Sabrina" Soundtrack". MTV . September 15, 1998. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album (Canada Advance) (CD liner notes). Geffen Records. 1998. GEFD-98172.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 McCormick, Moira (October 10, 1998). "'Sabrina' Album Hopes To Cast Spell On Show's Teen Demo". Billboard . p. 72.
  5. ↑ Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album (Advance) (CD liner notes). Geffen Records. 1998. GEFD-A-25220.
  6. ↑ Spice Girls - Too Much (CD single). Virgin Records. December 15, 1997. VSCDX 1669.
  7. ↑ Aqua - Doctor Jones UK CD2 (CD single). Universal Records. January 1998. UMDX 80457.
  8. 1 2 Ruditis, Paul (2002). Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Official Episode Guide. Viacom Productions. pp. 74, 99.
  9. ↑ "SABRINA Soundtrack!". ABC. Archived from the original on May 8, 1999.
  10. 1 2 Odom, Mel (March 1998). Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Harvest Moon. Pocket Books. ISBN   978-0-671-02913-5.
  11. ↑ Sabrina the Teenage Witch: The Album (CD liner notes). Geffen Records. October 27, 1998. GEFD 25220.
  12. ↑ Various Artists - Sabrina the Teenage Witch [Original TV Soundtrack], AllMusic , retrieved August 28, 2023
  13. ↑ Harrington, Richard (December 2, 1998). "Drilling for Crude". The Washington Post . ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  14. ↑ Brunner, Rob (January 8, 1999). "Sabrina the Teenage Witch". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  15. ↑ Eddy, Chuck (August 8, 2012). "Bring It On: 8 Essential Teen-Pop Soundtracks". Spin . Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Billboard 200". Billboard . December 12, 1998. p. 86. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Billboard 200". Billboard . February 27, 1999. p. 84. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Top 100 CDs - February 1, 1999" (PDF). RPM . February 1, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Top 100 CDs - February 8, 1999" (PDF). RPM . February 8, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Top 100 CDs - July 5, 1999" (PDF). RPM . July 5, 1999. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 70, No. 8, December 13, 1999". RPM . December 13, 1999. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012.
  22. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  23. 1 2 "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada . March 12, 1999. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.