The London Sessions (Mary J. Blige album) explained

The London Sessions
Type:studio
Artist:Mary J. Blige
Cover:The London Sessions.jpg
Recorded:July 2014
Studio:RAK, London, UK
Length:45:34
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Think Like a Man Too
Prev Year:2014
Next Title:Strength of a Woman
Next Year:2017

The London Sessions is the twelfth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It was released on November 24, 2014, by Capitol Records and Matriarch Records. On October 26, 2014, the album leaked in its entirety to the Internet, with Billboard calling it "superb" and "objectively her best since 2005's The Breakthrough".[1]

Background

In June 2014, Blige released a full-length soundtrack album for the comedy film Think Like a Man Too. The project followed her gold-selling holiday album A Mary Christmas, which became a top ten success in United States, but it underperformed commercially: Think Like a Man Too debuted and peaked at number 30 on the Billboard 200, with 8,688 copies sold in its first week, becoming the lowest sales debut of any of Blige's studio albums.[2] "Suitcase", the only single released from the album, reached the top 30 on Billboards Adult R&B Songs chart only.[3] In February 2014, amid the production for the soundtrack album, Blige recorded vocals for a remix version of "F for You", a song by British electronic garage-house duo Disclosure.[4] The remix, while retaining most of the original track from their album Settle, was re-recorded for release as a single and became a top ten hit on the UK Dance Chart. Inspired by its response, Blige initially hoped to record an EP with the duo,[5] in July 2014, it was announced Blige would move to London to experiment with a new sound.[6] Blige spent a month in London recording her album in RAK studios with a host of young British acts, including Disclosure, Naughty Boy, Emeli Sandé and Sam Smith. The results were ten new songs, co-written and recorded by the singer in one month in postcodes W6, NW8 and NW5.[7]

During an interview with The Guardian, American executive producer of the album Rodney Jerkins spoke on the musical direction stating, "You have so much different music here. Variety births the next generation. In California the music kind of all feels the same. That 90s house vibe you have right now – it feels fresh. Dancin', celebratin' – feelin' good about life. We're making a Mary Blige record, but she can introduce new styles to the world." In the same interview Blige shared about the project's vision saying, "Our idea was to become part of London... to really embrace the culture – to really live in it. Not that I haven't been here before, but I've never had the chance to really soak in it the way I have this time. To make records from the London-scene perspective. The music is free over here the way it used to be in the States. Artists are just free to do what they love. Listening to the radio you can hear the freedom. The music is living and breathing – you can hear that from Adele's last album. It was massive – a big deal. But she did what she loved."[8] Rodney Jerkins revealed a film crew is making a documentary of Blige's creative process in London with a new documentary, and he plans to drop in audio clips from it between tracks.[9]

Composition

"Right Now" was described by Disclosure member Howard Lawrence as, "start[ing] with some chords I made on Jimmy Napes' piano.We took that and gave it a Disclosure-y feel with some drums that (brother) Guy made. Mary leaves the instrumental side to us and gets much more involved when it comes to writing vocals."[10]

Tom Horan of The Observer spoke on the Naughty Boy produced and Emeli Sandé co-written track "Pick Me Up" stating, "[it] mixes sub-bass with clarinet and a percussion sound that recalls early 00s UK garage". The Sam Smith penned "Therapy" was described as a doo-wop track.[11]

Sam Romans spoke on a song he produced for the album saying, "I'm doing a track at the moment with Naughty Boy – a soul track – and he was saying it's amazing how a Pakistani singer from Watford and a Jewish producer are making something that would be described as black music. That is the interesting thing about England."

Promotion

Mary J. Blige embarked on live performances prior to the release of The London Sessions. On September 23, 2014 Blige performed "Right Now" and "Therapy" on Later... with Jools Holland.[12] It was announced Blige would perform at London's iTunes Festival on September 25 as the main act.[13] During the 70 minute concert, Blige introduced three previously unreleased songs from the album: "Doubt", "Not Loving You" and "When You're Gone".[14] It was announced on October 23, 2014 Blige would be a performer on the American Music Awards singing a rendition of "Therapy" airing live on November 23, 2014.[15] During an episode of Grey's Anatomy on October 23, 2014, a snippet of lead single "Therapy" was played and on November 6, 2014 "Not Loving You" and "Long Hard Look" were also included in scenes of the show.[16] [17] On October 29, 2014 Blige invited critics and media outlets to a private screening of the Sam Wrench directed documentary for the album at New York City's SoHo House.[18] On November 6, 2014 Blige was invited to perform at the White House for 'Salute the Troops' and sang a rendition of "When You're Gone".[19] Blige was a guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on November 14, 2014 and performed "Right Now".[20] As a guest on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon and the Wendy Williams Show on December 1 and 2 respectively, Blige performed a rendition of "Therapy".[21] [22] On December 2, 2014 Blige celebrated the release of the album at the iHeart Radio Theater in New York City. The event was broadcast on all Urban iHeart radio formats. From the album, Blige performed "Doubt", "Therapy" and "Right Now".[23] As a featured artist in 'A Very GRAMMY Christmas', Blige performed a rendition of "When You're Gone".[24]

Singles

The first single, "Therapy", was co-written by Sam Smith and borrows from doo-wop with its simple beat, minimal instrumentation, and backing harmonies. The song was made available for download on September 23 via iTunes.[25] On September 22, 2014, Blige debuted second single "Whole Damn Year" on Power 105's The Breakfast Club.[26] The song debuted on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart at number 27 and Adult R&B Songs chart as greatest gainer of the week at number 15.[27] The song was scheduled to be released October 21, 2014 as a digital download.

"Right Now" was released as the album's lead single in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2014 and overall third single from the London Sessions.[28] [29] The songs audio was released to Mary J. Blige's YouTube account on September 25, 2014.[30] [31] The Mike Ho directed music video, which premiered on Blige's VEVO account on October 24, 2014.[32] The song was met with positive feedback from numerous online music sites. MTV.com stated, "Mary J. Blige may be a music industry veteran, but lately she’s been in the habit of teaming up with some of the scene’s newest artists—and it’s paying off in a major way. Disclosure also produced the song, so it veers away from the traditional R&B and soul tones that inhabit most of Blige’s work, and the title of the track alone evokes its own of-the-moment feeling. “Right Now” is the most innovative thing we’ve heard from Blige in a while."[33]

"Doubt" was released as the fourth single on February 17, 2015.[34]

Critical reception

Upon release, The London Sessions received positive reviews from music critics. Ally Carnwath from The Observer felt that while "collaborations between US R&B royalty and UK acts have become relatively common [...] it’s hard to think of one as heartfelt and classy as this." He noted that "Blige’s co-writers [...] find striking ways to frame Blige’s voice without distracting from its richness and emotional range."[35] Neil McCormick from The Daily Telegraph described Blige's album "a transatlantic adventure", that "is as much a triumph for Britain as it is for her." He found that "Blige’s presence confers regal honour on a new wave of British talent" with the "impressive results channeling the cool understatement and spacy melodiousness you find in such class Brit acts as Jessie Ware and Katy B."[36] Noting "self-conscious nods towards Amy Winehouse", The Guardian writer Tim Jonze found that "Blige has the vocal charisma to lift up several piano ballads, and when genuine infusions of the current London scene occur it neatly refreshes her sound."[37]

Jamieson Cox, writing for Time magazine, found that The London Sessions is "proof positive that [Blige] is still a creative force with great instincts" and called the album a "thrilling [...] record that somehow straddles the line between a comforting, casual experience and a foray into uncharted, dynamic terrain". He felt that "the album’s most exciting and lingering tracks are the ones where Blige cedes control and morphs into one of the world’s most skilled dance vocalists".[38]

Accolades

PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
News.com[39] AustraliaBest Albums in 201420148
iTunesUnited KingdomBest of 2014: R&B Albums1
ABC News[40] United StatesThe Year in Review: The 50 Best Albums of 201410
Billboard[41] The 10 Best R&B Albums of 20141
Chicago Tribune[42] Top Albums of 20144
Complex[43] The Complex Staff Lists their Favorite Songs and Albums of 2014 (Edwin Ortiz)8
eMusic[44] The 25 Best R&B Albums of 201411
Fuse[45] 40 Best Albums of 201423
Houston Chronicle[46] The Best Albums of 20147
iTunesBest of 2014: R&B Albums8
Los Angeles Times[47] Times Music Critics' Consensus Top 10 List (Mikael Wood/Gerrick Kennedy)4/6
The New York Times[48] Ben Ratliff's Top 10 Albums and Songs of 20144
NPR[49] NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums of 2014
Rolling Stone[50] 20 Best R&B Albums of 20146
Time[51] Top 7 Most Underrated Pop Albums of 2014
Vintage Vinyl News[52] Top 55 Best Albums by a Veteran Artist for 201412

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number one on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, with 55,000 albums sold and 2,000 shifted in album-equivalent units. It became her 13th top ten entry on the Billboard 200 and her tenth number one entry on Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums.[53] [54] In its second week of sales, the album dropped to number 25 on the chart, selling 26,000 copies, bringing the total copies to 81,000 copies.[55] In its third week of sales, the album dropped to number 46 on the chart, selling 22,000 copies, bringing the total copies to 109,000 copies.[56]

Track listing

Notes

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2014)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[57] 111
Italian Albums (FIMI)[58] 67
scope="row"

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)Position
US Billboard 200[59] 164
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[60] 18

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormat(s)LabelRef
United KingdomNovember 21, 2014Digital downloadCapitol
November 24, 2014CD
United StatesDecember 2, 2014

External links

Notes and References

  1. Horowitz. Steven. Leak Peek: Mary J. Blige's 'The London Sessions'. Billboard. 29 October 2014. 3 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141103214953/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6296904/mary-j-blige-the-london-sessions-leak-peek. live.
  2. Mendizabal. Amaya. J.Lo Tops R&B/Hip Hop Albums, T.I. & Iggy Team Up for a Top 10 Hit. June 27, 2014. Billboard. June 26, 2014. June 30, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140630031955/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6140804/jlo-tops-rbhip-hop-albums-ti-iggy-team-up-for-a-top-10-hit. live.
  3. Web site: Urban/UAC Future Releases . All Access Music Group . https://web.archive.org/web/20140730071722/http://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases . July 30, 2014 . dead .
  4. Web site: Disclosure Tease Mary J. Blige 'F For You' Video. www.mtv.co.uk. 2021-01-11. 2021-01-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113120115/http://www.mtv.co.uk/disclosure/news/disclosure-tease-mary-j-blige-f-for-you-video. live.
  5. Cady. Drell. Behind Mary J. Blige's Dance-Music Makeover. 2014-11-13. Rolling Stone. 2014-10-28. 2014-10-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20141031211926/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/mary-j-blige-dance-makeover-london-sessions-20141028#ixzz3IrZiF3cR. live.
  6. Web site: Mary J. Blige To Record New Album 'The London Sessions'. 2014-08-31. 2014-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083435/http://www.vibe.com/article/mary-j-blige-new-album-london-sessions. live.
  7. Web site: Mary J Blige: Mitch Winehouse 'gave me the chance to hug Amy through him'. Harriet Gibsone. the Guardian. 29 August 2014. 16 December 2016. 1 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170301134712/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/29/mary-j-blige-mitch-winehouse-gave-me-the-chance-to-hug-amy-through-him. live.
  8. Web site: Mary J Blige interview: 'The UK is a better place to make music than the States'. Tom Horan. the Guardian. 31 August 2014. 16 December 2016. 10 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170210074451/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/31/mary-j-blige-interview-uk-london-sessions. live.
  9. Web site: Mary J. Blige recording new album, filming documentary. Latoya West. 2 September 2014. 3 September 2014. 15 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230115170232/https://www.lohud.com/story/entertainment/people/suburbarazzi/2014/09/02/mary-j-blige-recording-new-album-filming-documentary/14958483/. live.
  10. Web site: Disclosure, Sam Smith Working On Mary J. Blige's New Album - MTV UK. MTV UK. 2014-09-03. 2021-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023202846/http://www.mtv.co.uk/disclosure/news/disclosure-sam-smith-working-on-mary-j-bliges-new-album#ww8TbkutRZzZP4hg.99. live.
  11. Web site: Mary J. Blige Talks Doing 'The London Sessions' With Naughty Boy, Disclosure And Sam Smith - Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 31 August 2014 . 2014-08-31. 2023-01-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20230115170237/https://www.idolator.com/7533416/mary-j-blige-the-london-sessions-naughty-boy-disclosure-sam-smith-jimmy-napes. live.
  12. Watch Mary J. Blige Perform New Songs 'Therapy' & 'Right Now'. Billboard. 24 September 2014. 21 April 2020. 9 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609204146/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6259350/mary-j-blige-performs-therapy-right-now. live.
  13. Web site: iTunes Festival 2014. 2014-09-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140913013707/http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/2014/itunes-festival-2014/mary-j.-blige . 2014-09-13 .
  14. Web site: MTV Review: Mary J. Blige Hits London For iTunes Festival. 26 September 2014. 11 January 2021. 13 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113154957/http://www.mtv.co.uk/mary-j-blige/news/review-mary-j-blige-hits-london-for-itunes-festival-in-camden. live.
  15. Sam Smith, 5 Seconds of Summer & Mary J. Blige Set to Perform at AMAs. Billboard. 23 October 2014. 21 April 2020. 9 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200609223033/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6296323/ama-2014-sam-smith-5-seconds-of-summer-mary-j-blige. live.
  16. Web site: Mary J. Blige. ABC. 2014-11-06. 2014-10-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20141027233035/http://abc.go.com/music-lounge/artists/mary-j-blige. live.
  17. Web site: Grey's Anatomy. TuneFind.
  18. Web site: Mary J. Blige's 'The London Sessions' Documentary Screening: A Recap - Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. Music News, Reviews, and Gossip on Idolator.com. 30 October 2014 . 2014-11-06. 2023-01-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20230115170237/https://www.idolator.com/7568632/mary-j-blige-the-london-sessions-documentary-screening-recap. live.
  19. Web site: Willie Nelson, Common, Mary J. Blige help White House salute US troops, veterans, families. 2014-11-07. 2014-11-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20141107062822/http://www.newser.com/article/a76202cd9d0a4467a2b282cc1ed7e262/willie-nelson-common-mary-j-blige-help-white-house-salute-us-troops-veterans-families.html. live.
  20. Web site: Mary J. Blige Performs "Right Now" On 'The Ellen Degeneres Show': Watch. November 14, 2014. idolator. January 11, 2021. January 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230115170237/https://www.idolator.com/7570535/mary-j-blige-right-now-performance-ellen-degeneres-show. live.
  21. Web site: Mary J. Blige Performs 'Therapy' on 'Fallon'. Rap-Up. 2021-01-11. 2021-01-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20210113124658/https://www.rap-up.com/2014/12/02/mary-j-blige-performs-therapy-on-fallon/. live.
  22. Web site: Mary J. Blige "The London Sessions" | the Wendy Williams Show . 2014-12-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141215052722/http://www.wendyshow.com/2014/12/02/mary-j-blige-london-sessions/#.VI4_hmeBGM8 . 2014-12-15 . dead .
  23. Web site: Breaking Music News, Celeb and Entertainment News and Gossip. 2014-12-15. 2014-12-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20141213122325/http://news.iheart.com/articles/iheartradio-live-485840/mary-j-blige-celebrates-the-london-13003638/. live.
  24. Web site: Ariana Grande, Pharrell, Sam Smith & Mary J. Blige Holiday Spirit For 'A Very GRAMMY Christmas'. . December 5, 2014. January 13, 2023. October 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221013203045/https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/ariana-grande-pharrell-sam-smith-mary-j-blige-holiday-spirit-for-a-very-grammy-christmas/. live.
  25. Web site: Rap-Up.com -- Mary J. Blige Announces 'The London Sessions' Release Date. Rap-Up.com. 2014-09-10. 2014-09-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20140913020745/http://www.rap-up.com/2014/09/09/mary-j-blige-announces-the-london-sessions-release-date/. live.
  26. Web site: Rap-Up.com -- New Music: Mary J. Blige – 'Whole Damn Year' + 'Therapy'. Rap-Up.com. 2014-10-06. 2014-10-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20141009145520/http://www.rap-up.com/2014/09/22/new-music-mary-j-blige-whole-damn-year/. live.
  27. Chart Highlights: Taylor Swift Tops Adult Pop Songs, Sam Smith Rules Adult R&. Billboard. 29 September 2014. 21 April 2020. 10 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201110104246/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/6266654/chart-highlights-taylor-swift-tops-adult-pop-songs-sam-smith. live.
  28. Web site: Renowned for Sound - News: Mary J Blige Announces Details Of New Album 'The London Sessions'. 2014-09-24. 2014-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20141003055058/http://renownedforsound.com/index.php/news-mary-j-blige-announces-details-of-new-album-the-london-sessions/. live.
  29. http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/mary-j-blige-unveils-disclosure-produced-song-right-now-3102/
  30. Web site: Mary J. Blige, Disclosure, and Sam Smith Collaborate on "Right Now". Pitchfork. 5 September 2014. 21 April 2020. 24 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210124005555/https://pitchfork.com/news/56582-mary-j-blige-disclosure-and-sam-smith-collaborate-on-right-now/. live.
  31. Web site: Mary J Blige Talks Working With Disclosure, The Making Of 'The London Sessions'. 8 September 2014. Capital XTRA. 9 September 2014. 24 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141024142743/http://www.capitalxtra.com/news/mary-j-blige-interview/. live.
  32. Web site: Premiere: Mary J. Blige Takes London In The Video For Disclosure-Produced "Right Now". Reggie Ugwu. BuzzFeed. 23 October 2014 . 2017-09-16. 2016-09-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20160918110210/https://www.buzzfeed.com/reggieugwu/premiere-mary-j-blige-right-now. live.
  33. Web site: Mary J. Blige Is Right Here 'Right Now' On New Disclosure-Produced Track. MTV News. 2014-09-08. 2014-09-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20140908001205/http://www.mtv.com/news/1922481/mary-j-blige-right-now-disclosure-sam-smith/. dead.
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