Get Lifted netted John Legend a major hit ("Ordinary People") that will be heard on adult contemporary stations and throwback-oriented programs as long as they exist, platinum status, and three Grammy titles -- including the potential kiss of death that is Best New Artist. If Legend hadn't linked up with Kanye West or any other connected industry figure, he'd probably be well into a string of independent albums and would likely have a fanatical cult following through persistent touring. It doesn't take much exposure to his songs to sense this alternate scenario. No one can deny that Legend has had considerable help from his collaborators, and he continues to get that support this time out -- there's West, will.i.am, Sa-Ra, Raphael Saadiq, Plant Life's Jack Splash, and a massive crew of session musicians, but it's already evident that Legend only needs a piano to get by. Even with its many producers, Once Again is much more focused than Get Lifted, and the quality of its songs is equally high. Legend's obviously doing everything in his power to not fall off. He pours so much of himself into each one of these songs, whether they're about flings with groupies or breakups with long-term girlfriends, that the album can begin to wear around the eighth track. The songs flit back and forth between easygoing, butterflies-of-love-type sentiments and deep drama, with both sides expressed through similar levels of intensity. As much as anyone else, Legend would benefit from the recent (and generally welcomed) return of the 40-minute R&B album. If the album is missing something, it's a snappy, unapologetically swaggering track in the vein of Get Lifted's "Used to Love U," or perhaps a song or two that doesn't seem intent on displaying impressive musicality, but there are enough undeniably bright spots to please those who have already been won over. While Once Again might not get as much attention as its predecessor, it's more assured and sounds nothing like an experiment to see what sticks. Legend now knows exactly where he fits, and he's not holding back in the least. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
David Torn (Guitar), Steve Williamson (Clarinet), Stephen Barber (String Arrangements), Art Baron (Trombone), Doyle Bramhall (Guitar), Chris Bruce (Guitar), Karen Dreyfus (Viola), Larry Eagle (Drums), Ron Fair (Piano), Diva Goodfriend Koven (Flute (Alto)), Michael Harmon (Engineer), Keith Harris (Keyboards), Earl Harvin (Drums), Eric Hudson (Piano), Eric Hudson (Guitar (Bass)), Eric Hudson (Producer), Chris Jennings (Assistant), Jeanne LeBlanc (Celli), Tony Maserati (Engineer), Tony Maserati (Mixing), Harvey Mason, Sr. (Drums), Billy Mims (Assistant), Jamie Muhoberac (Keyboards), Sandra Park (Violin), Sandra Park (Concert Master), David Piltch (Guitar (Bass)), Herb Powers (Mastering), David Sonenberg (Management), Craig Street (Producer), Patrick Warren (Keyboards), Shelley Woodworth (Oboe), Ethan Donaldson (Assistant), Julie Landsman (French Horn), Raphael Saadiq (Guitar), Raphael Saadiq (Guitar (Bass)), Raphael Saadiq (Producer), Ken Lewis (Producer), Ken Lewis (Engineer), Ken Lewis (Sampling), Erwin Gorostiza (Art Direction), Didi Gutman (Keyboards), Andrew Dawson (Engineer), Danny Clinch (Photography), Helen Campo (Flute (Alto)), Chris Woehrle (Logo Design), Jerry Freeman (Horn), Anthony Gallo (Engineer), will.i.am (Bass), will.i.am (Drums), will.i.am (Producer), will.i.am (Engineer), will.i.am (Drum Programming), Kanye West (Producer), Kanye West (Executive Producer), Kawan "KP" Prather (A&R), Anthony Kilhoffer (Engineer), Lenesha Randolph (Vocals (Background)), Sharon Yamada (Violin), Sasha Allen (Vocals (Background)), Juli Knapp (A&R), Tatsuya Sato (Engineer), Elizabeth Dyson (Cello), Elizabeth Dyson (Celli), Lisa Kim (Violin), Kebbi Williams (Horn), Seth Friedman (Management), Nick Cords (Viola), Krystof Kuznik (Violin), Soo Hyun Kwon (Violin), Jung Sun Yoo (Violin), Shafiq Husayn (Producer), Shafiq Husayn (Musician), Chris Rob (Organ), Tom Craskey (Bass), Tom Craskey (Guitar), Tom Craskey (Piano), Tom Craskey (Vocals), Tom Craskey (Producer), Dave Tozer (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dave Tozer (Piano), Dave Tozer (Producer), Dave Tozer (Engineer), Dave Tozer (Drum Programming), Héctor Castillo (Engineer), Héctor Castillo (String Engineer), Tom Gloadly (Assistant), Dan Ichimoto (Art Direction), Dan Ichimoto (Design), Richard L. Owens (Horn), Padraic Kerin (Engineer), Daniele Luppi (Arranger), Steve Tirpak (Trombone), Steve Tirpak (Trumpet), Steve Tirpak (Flugelhorn), Ryan Kennedy (Assistant), Sharief Hobley (Guitar), Katherine Fong (Violin), John Legend (Organ), John Legend (Piano), John Legend (Keyboards), John Legend (Vocals), John Legend (Vocals (Background)), John Legend (Producer), John Legend (Executive Producer), John Legend (Vocal Arrangement), John Legend (Vocal Producer), Glenn Standridge (Engineer), Robert Ozuna (Drums), Sa-Ra Creative Partners (Producer), Sa-Ra Creative Partners (Engineer), Sa-Ra Creative Partners (Musician), James Tanksley (Assistant), Sarah OBoyle (Violin), Wen Qian (Violin), Caterina Szepes (Violin), Ichiho Nishiki (Assistant), Corey Hogan (Horn), Tara Michel (Vocals (Background)), Ronald Stephens (Grooming), Taz Arnold (Producer), Taz Arnold (Musician), Josh Sadlier-Brown (Engineer), Jack Splash (Producer), Jack Splash (Drum Programming), Chuck Brungardt (Engineer), Alex Venguer (Assistant), Rob "Fonksta" Bacon (Guitar), Charlene Roxborough (Stylist), Devo Springsteen (Producer), Jason Freeman (Horn), Bobby Ozuna (Drums), Josh Kramer (Assistant), Hyomin Kang (Assistant), Gelly Kusuma (Assistant), Chris Allen (Assistant), Vaughn Anthony (Vocals (Background)), Stephen Barbera (String Arrangements), Mark Biobdi (Drums), Evan Conquest (Guitar), Evan Conquest (Engineer), Quincy Jackson (Marketing), Kurn Lu (Violin), Andy Marcinkowski (Assistant), Droa Mohar (Assistant), Sandra Parl (Violin), Sandra Parl (Concert Master), Shawnelle Prestidge (Grooming), Charlie Stavish (Assistant), Alex Vengeur (Assistant), Chris Woehale (Logo Design), Veronique Zanettin (Prop Design), Tom Gloady (Assistant)
Singles from the album include "Save Room", "Heaven", "P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)", "Stereo", "Another Again", "Slow Dance", "Show Me" and "Each Day Gets Better". Once Again has been certified platinum by the RIAA, after shipping over one million copies.
