Unmasked (Ira Losco album)

Last updated
Unmasked
Ira Losco Unmasked.jpg
Studio album by
Released6 December 2006
Recorded2006
Genre Unplugged
Length38:52
Label None
Producer
Ira Losco chronology
Accident Prone
(2005)
Unmasked
(2006)
Fortune Teller
(2008)
Singles from Unmasked
  1. "Winter Day"
    Released: December 2006
  2. "Arms Of The Ones... ..."
    Released: March 2007

Ira Losco's first unplugged album (her third studio album) is Unmasked: the unplugged album. [1] It was recorded in 2006, produced by Howard Keith (at Jagged House), and released on 6 December 2006. Unmasked includes various unplugged renditions of Losco's previous hit songs, unique arrangements of some 80s classics, and some new original material.

Contents

Concept and idea

The idea for an unplugged album was born after Losco's supporting tour in Germany. The producer of the album, Howard Keith, said "Whilst touring her electric set in Germany Ira Losco had an opportunity of also doing 4 unplugged shows with Katie Melua who is now a multi platinum respected artist. The experience was very positive, and her set was so well received, that I thought it would be a great idea to record an unplugged album. I ran this thought by Ira, who loved the idea and we started working on it. The result speaks in volumes..." [1] Losco said that "The whole concept was to allow the instruments and voice top take prominence in this record... I wanted to really explore my voice and its different tones... Lyrically I wanted to expose my true emotions.. vulnerability is truly beautiful through music." [1]

Songs

Unmasked includes special unplugged arrangements for some of Losco's previous songs, including the hit singles "Love Me Or Hate Me", "Accident Prone", and "Driving One Of Your Cars".

The album also features unplugged cover versions of some '80s classics, including Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", Soft Cell's "Bedsitter", and The Cure's "Love Song".

Two original songs are found in this album, which were both released as singles. The first was "Winter Day", which received positive reviews, and was a hit in the local radio airplay charts. [2] The second single from Unmasked was "Arms of the Ones... ...", released in March 2007.

"The songs speak of the injustices in the world especially in times of war. It is an appeal and a wake-up call to those who by their actions and decisions cause conflicts over and over and thus affecting the lives of innocent people and children. Ira Losco claims to have been inspired to write the song after recently being in contact with War Child International, whom she is now supporting." [2]

Track listing

NoTitleLength
1"Winter Day"3:19
2"Driving One Of Your Cars"4:26
3"Time After Time"4:28
4"Love Me Or Hate Me"3:24
5"Don't Wanna Talk About It"4:34
6"Accident Prone"4:12
7"Bedsitter"3:28
8"Love Song"3:49
9"Get Out!"3:50
10"Arms Of The Ones... ..."3:22

Charts

Chart (2006)Peak
position
Malta Album Sales Chart [3] 1

Related Research Articles

<i>MTV Unplugged</i> Music program aired by MTV

MTV Unplugged is an American television series on MTV showcasing musical artists usually playing acoustic instruments. The show aired regularly from 1989 to 1999 and less frequently from 2000 to 2009, when it was usually billed as MTV Unplugged No. 2.0. Since 2009, MTV Unplugged specials have aired occasionally, sometimes online only. Episodes and specials have tended to showcase one artist or group, playing a combination of their hit songs and covers.

Patti Page American country-pop singer

Clara Ann Fowler, known professionally as Patti Page, was an American singer and actress. Primarily known for pop and country music, she was the top-charting female vocalist and best-selling female artist of the 1950s, selling over 100 million records during a six-decade-long career. She was often introduced as "the Singin' Rage, Miss Patti Page". New York WNEW disc-jockey William B. Williams introduced her as "A Page in my life called Patti".

You Oughta Know 1995 single by Alanis Morissette

"You Oughta Know" is a song by Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, released as the lead single from her third studio album, Jagged Little Pill (1995) on July 6, 1995. After releasing two studio albums, Morissette left MCA Records Canada and was introduced to manager Scott Welch. Morissette began working on new music after moving from her hometown of Ottawa to Toronto, but made little progress. In Los Angeles, she met producer Glen Ballard, with whom she wrote songs including "You Oughta Know".

Layla Song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon

"Layla" is a song written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon, originally recorded by Derek and the Dominos, as the thirteenth track from their only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970). Its contrasting movements were composed separately by Clapton and Gordon. The piano part has also been controversially credited to Rita Coolidge, Gordon's girlfriend at the time.

For Real

For Real is an American R&B and soul quartet, that formed in 1990. In the latter part of that decade they were nominated for a Billboard Music Award and a Soul Train Music Award. The ladies have now reunited and are touring.

Ill Be There (Jackson 5 song) 1970 single by The Jackson 5

"I'll Be There" is the first single released on Third Album by The Jackson 5. It was written by Berry Gordy, Hal Davis, Bob West, and Willie Hutch.

Ruff Endz is an American R&B duo, consisting of members David "Davinch" Chance and Dante "Chi" Jordan from Baltimore, Maryland. They are best known for their hit singles "No More" and "Someone to Love You." Originally part of a quartet, the two left the group in 1994 to form the duo.

Lovesong (The Cure song) 1989 single by the Cure

"Lovesong" is a song by English rock band the Cure, released as the third single from their eighth studio album, Disintegration (1989), on 21 August 1989. The song saw considerable success in the United States, where it reached the number-two position in October 1989 and became the band's only top-10 entry on the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, the single charted at number 18, and it peaked within the top 20 in Canada and Ireland.

Miki Howard American singer-songwriter

Alicia Michelle "Miki" Howard is an American singer and actress who had a string of top 10 hit songs in the mid-1980s and early 1990s, including "Baby, Be Mine" (1987), "Come Share My Love" (1986) and "Love Under New Management" (1990). "Ain't Nobody Like You" (1992) and "Ain't Nuthin' in the World" (1989) both peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Singles chart.

"The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a 1967 song written by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, originally released by P. P. Arnold in May 1967. Stevens's own version originally appeared on his album New Masters in December 1967.

Im Not in Love 1975 song by British band 10cc

"I'm Not in Love" is a song by British group 10cc, written by band members Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman. It is known for its innovative and distinctive backing track, composed mostly of the band's multitracked vocals. Released in the UK in May 1975 as the second single from the band's third album, The Original Soundtrack, it became the second of the group's three number-one singles in the UK between 1973 and 1978, topping the UK Singles Chart for two weeks. "I'm Not in Love" became the band's breakthrough hit outside the United Kingdom, topping the charts in Canada and the Republic of Ireland as well as peaking within the top ten of the charts in several other countries, including Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Norway and the United States.

<i>The High Road</i> (album)

The High Road is the second studio album by American singer JoJo, released on October 17, 2006, by Da Family Entertainment, Blackground Records, and Universal Records. Recording sessions for the album took place between late 2005 and mid-2006 in California, New York City, Miami, and Atlanta. Several special editions of the album were marketed in different countries, ranging from five bonus tracks that were being used for different international countries’ version of the album or for specific physical outlets, with one of the tracks being “Leave ”, her debut single from her first album. JoJo co-wrote two out of the 17 tracks from the album.

I Cant Hear You No More

"I Can't Hear You No More" is a composition written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was originally recorded as "I Can't Hear You" in 1964 by Betty Everett. The most successful version was the 1976 top 40 single by Helen Reddy.

No More "I Love Yous" 1986 single by the Lover Speaks

"No More 'I Love You's'" is a song written by British musicians David Freeman and Joseph Hughes and originally recorded by them as the Lover Speaks. It was released in 1986 as the lead single from their self-titled debut album. The song was covered by the Scottish singer Annie Lennox and became a commercial success for her in 1995, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Fortune Teller</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Ira Losco

Fortune Teller is the third studio album by Maltese recording artist Ira Losco. She began working on the album in summer 2007 and on 9 May 2008, announced its release date at a press conference was made by Losco. Fortune Teller was produced by Losco and Howard Keith.

<i>Accident Prone</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Ira Losco

Accident Prone is Ira Losco's second studio album, which was released on November 16, 2005. Howard Keith produced this album, which was recorded in 2005. To date, this album is the fans' favourite album. It was a number 1 hit in the local album sales charts, and seven tracks from it were released as singles. Losco's second album features "powerful guitars, edgy riffs and strong melodies".

The discography of Ira Losco, a Maltese singer, contains five studio albums and forty-three singles. She represented Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn, Estonia with the song "7th Wonder", the song went on to finish second in the Final which was won by Marie N from Latvia with the song "I Wanna". She represented her country for the second time at Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden with the song "Walk on Water" and finished 11th in the grand final.

<i>Renditions of the Soul</i> 2009 studio album by Nina

Renditions of the Soul is the fifth studio album by Filipina singer Nina, released in the Philippines on August 27, 2009 by Warner Music. The album contains a selection of the most requested songs from her "all-male hits special" weekly acoustic radio show of the same title, which aired on Wave 89.1 during Friday and Sunday evenings. The idea and concept of the project came from Nina herself, and she approached the station's manager to carry it out. She is co-executive producer of the album, with Warner head manager Jim Baluyut, and produced all the tracks herself. All the tracks are the actual recordings from Nina's Renditions of the Soul radio sessions.

Weak in the Presence of Beauty (song)

"Weak in the Presence of Beauty" is a song written by Michael Ward and Rob Clarke, and originally recorded by their band, Floy Joy. It was released in 1986 as the lead single from their album of the same name. In 1987, English singer Alison Moyet released a version of the song which was a hit across Europe and Australasia.

Fuck Apologies 2016 single by JoJo featuring Wiz Khalifa

"Fuck Apologies", alternatively titled "No Apologies" for the radio edit, is a song by American singer JoJo featuring Wiz Khalifa from JoJo's third studio album, Mad Love (2016). It was released on July 28, 2016, by Atlantic Records as the album's lead single and impacted American contemporary hit radio on August 16, 2016. The song was written by JoJo and Khalifa with Taylor Parks, Oscar Holter, Matt Friedman, and Whiskey Water and was produced by Holter and Friedman.

References

  1. 1 2 3 ":: IRA LOSCO :: Music Artist ::" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  2. 1 2 Ira Losco – Latest News
  3. Exotique