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Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship

 
Album Review: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
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Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship

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  • Artist: India.Arie
  • Rating: StarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: June 27, 2006
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

India.Arie's third album would've sounded much different if it had been recorded and released shortly after 2002's Voyage to India. It would've either been made just before or immediately after a major breakup, one that informs much of Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. This isn't a bitter breakup album; instead, it's largely a breakup album that instead involves forgiveness, closure, and -- of course -- the kind of soul searching that Arie's fans have come to expect. Arie's relationship was apparently very serious, as demonstrated in "These Eyes," where she demands respect and wonders what her and his children would've been like. Though songs like "Good Mourning" deal with the immediate aftermath ("Good morning silence, good morning to myself/Good morning to the pain in the center of my chest"), they also seem to revel in it as just another part of being alive ("Good morning acceptance, good morning inner strength/I'm loving every moment, even the inner strain"). The album is a major production. Many of its songs involve well over a dozen musicians, some of which -- Rachelle Ferrell, Keb' Mo', Victor Wooten, Rascal Flatts, Acoustic Soul accomplice Mark Batson -- are bound to make some listeners freak. It's clear that Arie has been listening to a lot of country music; while these songs are completely hers (with the exception of Don Henley's "Heart of the Matter," a song that easily fits into the scheme of the album), it wouldn't be surprising to hear a handful of them covered by contemporary country artists. Since a significant portion of the album is centered around heartbreak and moving on, some of Arie's fans might not ever connect fully connect with it, but it will certainly be of great assistance to any of her fans who find themselves coping with something similar. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Intro: Loving (Lyrics) India.Arie, Shannon Sanders India.Arie (1:30)
These Eyes (Lyrics) India.Arie, Mark Batson India.Arie (4:31)
The Heart of the Matter J.D. Souther India.Arie (5:15)
Good Mourning (Lyrics) Shannon Sanders, Drew Ramsey, India.Arie India.Arie (5:27)
Private Party India.Arie, Branden Burch India.Arie (3:52)
There's Hope (Lyrics) India.Arie, Branden Burch India.Arie (3:57)
Living (Interlude) India.Arie, Shannon Sanders India.Arie (1:23)
India' Song India.Arie India.Arie (5:26)
Wings of Forgiveness (Lyrics) India.Arie, Jared Gosselin, Philip White India.Arie (4:59)
Summer Drew Ramsey, Cindy Morgan, India.Arie Victor Wooten, India.Arie (3:14)
I Am Not My Hair (Lyrics) S. Sanders India.Arie (3:47)
Great Grandmother India.Arie (:34)
Better People (Lyrics) Drew Ramsey, India.Arie, Shannon Sanders India.Arie (3:08)
Outro: Learning (Lyrics) Shannon Sanders, India.Arie India.Arie (1:32)
I Choose (Lyrics) India.Arie India.Arie (4:45)
This Too Shall Pass (Lyrics) India.Arie (5:54)

Credits

Mark Batson (Piano), Anthony Payn (Assistant), Jon Alexander Graves (Assistant), Jon Cleary (Guitar), Philip White (Producer), Chimere Scott (Vocals (Background)), Joe Martino (Assistant), John Catchings (Cello), Charles "Akahdahmah" Jackson III (Wind Chimes), David Piltch (Bass (Acoustic)), Paul Pilsneniks (Engineer), Blue Miller (Guitar), Greg Fuqua (Vocal Engineer), Rachelle Ferrell (Vocals (Background)), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (?), Valencia Bruch, Annalee (Art Direction), India.Arie (Vocals), Charles "Akahdahmah" Jackson III (Gong), Shannon Sanders (Keyboards), Reen Nalli (Management), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Engineer), Branden Burch (Programming), Mark Batson (Producer), Jimmy "J Rok" English (Engineer), India.Arie (Engineer), Drew Ramsey (Producer), India.Arie (Rhythm Arrangements), Chenere (Vocals (Background)), Shannon Sanders (Engineer), Branden Burch (Drums), Charles "Akahdahmah" Jackson III (Shaker), Miles Mosely (Double Bass), India.Arie (Trumpet), Neal Cappellino (Engineer), Jimmy "J Rok" English (Guitar), Erik Rostad (Violin), Keith Sengbusch (Mixing), Jimmy "J Rok" English (Bass), Frank Macek (Producer), India.Arie (Liner Notes), Herban Shamen (Percussion Arrangement), Tony Love (Guitar), Mark Batson (Engineer), Shannon Sanders (Vocals (Background)), Charles "Akahdahmah" Jackson III (Percussion), Reen Nalli (Executive Producer), India.Arie (Vocals (Background)), India.Arie (Guitar (Acoustic)), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Roto Toms), Dru Castro (Engineer), Trevor Larence Jr. "Trev Beats" (Drums), Pierre Medor (Organ (Hammond)), J.D. Blair (Drums), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Gong), Rob Skipworth (Assistant), Drew Ramsey (Arranger), Alma Cielo (Violin), Jimmy Bruch (Photography), India.Arie (Piano), Destiny Muhammad "Harpist From The Hood" (Harp), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Drums), Mike Lawler (Organ), Phillip Ramos (Engineer), Moses Staimez (Guitar), Mark Batson (Drum Programming), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Rhythm Arrangements), Laurnea Wilkerson (Vocals (Background)), Steve Lotz (Assistant), Natthaphol Abhigantaphand (Assistant), David Davidson (Violin), Frank Macek (Vocal Producer), Norman Jean Roy (Photography), India.Arie (Vocal Producer), Victor Wooten (Bass (Upright)), Andre Burch (Engineer), Che Pope (Drum Programming), Double G (Conductor), Sylvia Rhone (Executive Producer), Christian Baker (Assistant), Jimmy "J Rok" English (Programming), Great Grandmother (Spoken Word), Sarah Killion (Engineer), Trina Broussard (Vocals (Background)), Jeanie Lim (Viola), Keb' Mo' (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dave Pensado (Mixing), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Guitar (Bass)), Branden Burch (Mixing), Jimmy "J Rok" English (Keyboards), Tony Terrebonne (Engineer), Sam Thomas (Engineer), Jared Gosselin (Producer), Matthew Johnson (Vocals (Background)), LaMarquis Mark Jefferson (Bass), Cekoya Tolbert (Vocals (Background)), Tammy Rogers King (Mandolin), Anthony Terrebonne (Engineer), Erik Rostad (Strings), Tammy Rogers King (Fiddle), Chris Johnson (Drum Programming), Bryan Brock (Percussion), Branden Burch (Producer), Laurie Ann Fessler (Vocals (Background)), Michael Rhodes (Bass), Phil Tan (Mixing), Double G (String Arrangements), Abe Laboriel, Jr. (Drums), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Mixing), Great Grandmother (Vocals), Shannon Sanders (Arranger), Ametria Dock (Vocal Arrangement), Tracy Kendrick (Engineer), Adrienne Woods (Cello), Keb' Mo' (Dobro), Bob Tucker (Engineer), John III Howard (Producer), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Conga), Frank Macek (Programming), Branden Burch (Engineer), Drew Ramsey (Guitar), Rob Wanda (Scratching), India.Arie (Producer), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Moog Synthesizer), Ricky Quinones (Guitar), Dru Castro (Vocal Engineer), Bonnie Raitt (Guitar), India.Arie (Executive Producer), Danny Duncan (Engineer), Mark Batson (Bass), Sarah Thomas (Producer), Ricky Lawson (Cymbals), Ametria Dock (Vocals (Background)), Frank Macek (Drums), Frank Macek (Engineer), Frank Macek (Mixing), Phillip Ramos (Assistant), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Percussion), Aaron Fessel (Engineer), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Producer), Lamar Carter (Percussion), Deronda Lewis (Vocals (Background)), Mark Batson (Keyboards), Kerisha Hicks (Vocals (Background)), F. Reid Shippen (Mixing), Valencia Bruch, Annalee (Design), Zack Horne (Assistant), William Harriet (Percussion), Michael Parnin (Engineer), Erik Jahner (Assistant), Frank Macek (Digital Editing), Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius" (Chimes), Frank Macek (Keyboards), Abraham Libbos (Music Preparation), Frank Macek (Bass), John III Howard (Drums), Marisa Kuney (Violin), Chris Johnson (Trumpet), Javier Solís (Percussion), Doctah B. (Percussion), Dru Castro (Producer), Robert Battaglia (Engineer), Alex Reverberi (Assistant), Branden Burch (Drum Programming), Branden Burch (Guitar), Aaron Fessel (Vocal Engineer), Branden Burch (Keyboards), Eric D. Jackson (Guitar), Drew Ramsey (Vocals (Background)), India.Arie (Arranger), John III Howard (Programming), Dre Bowman (Bass), Simon "Woodchuck" Durham (Bass), Shannon Sanders (Producer), Steve Mackey (Bass (Upright)), Darin James (Percussion), Tom Lea (Viola), Jimmy "J Rok" English (Producer), Greg Fuqua (Engineer)
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Wikipedia: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
Studio album by India.Arie
Released June 26, 2006 (UK)
June 27, 2006 (U.S.)
Recorded 2005–2006
Genre Soul, R&B
Label Motown
Producer India.Arie (also executive), Shannon Sanders, Mark Batson, Courtney Branch "Doctah B Sirius", Branden Burch, Dru Castro, Jimmy "J Rok" English, Jared Gosselin, John Howard III, Frank Macek, Sarah Thomas, Phillip White
Professional reviews
India.Arie chronology
Voyage to India
(2002)		 Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
(2006)		 Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
(2009)
Alternate cover
UK cover

Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is the third studio album by American soul/R&B singer India.Arie.

Contents

CD information

The album was released on June 27, 2006 (see 2006 in music) and sold 161,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release. It debuted and peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Arie's first number one on the Billboard 200 and second on the R&B chart. The album has sold 689,000 copies in the United States up to December 2008 [1].

In 2007, it was nominated for three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song for I Am Not My Hair, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for I Am Not My Hair.

In 2008 Beautiful Flower was nominated for Best R&B Song .

In 2009 she was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo/Group w/ Vocals for Words (Anthony David song), her duet with Anthony David .

Track listing

 This track listing should be modified to meet track listing standards.
Please improve this article if you can. (February 2009)
  1. "Intro: Loving" – 1:30
  2. "These Eyes" – 4:31
  3. "The Heart of the Matter" – 5:15
  4. "Good Mourning" – 5:27
  5. "Private Party" – 3:52
  6. "There's Hope" – 3:56
  7. "Interlude: Living" – 1:23
  8. "India's Song" – 5:26
  9. "Wings of Forgiveness" – 4:59
  10. "Summer" (featuring Rascal Flatts) – 3:14
  11. "I Am Not My Hair" – 3:49
  12. "Great Grandmother" – 0:34
  13. "Better People" – 3:43
  14. "Outro: Learning" – 1:32
  15. "I Choose" (featuring Bonnie Raitt) – 4:45
  16. "This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track) – 5:52

UK edition

  1. "I Am Not My Hair" (Urban A/C Mix) – 4:20
  2. "This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track) – 5:52

iTunes exclusive edition

  1. "I Am Not My Hair" (Yoruba Soul Remix)
  2. "This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track) – 5:52

NOTE: "I Am Not My Hair" (Yoruba Soul Remix) can be downloaded for free from iTunes by purchasing the India.Arie iTunes Collector's Edition gift card.

Target exclusive edition

  1. "Just for Today (Embrace the Mystery)" – 4:31
  2. "This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track) – 5:52

Circuit City exclusive edition

  1. "Simple Yes" – 4:48
  2. "This Too Shall Pass" (hidden track) – 5:52

Singles

"I Am Not My Hair"

Main article: I Am Not My Hair

"There's Hope"

Cover Information
There's Hope single.jpg
  • Released: June 26, 2006 (U.S. urban AC radio)[2]
  • Writers: India Arie Simpson, Branden Burch, Tony Harrington
  • Producers: Branden Burch, Tony Harrington
  • Director: —
  • Chart positions: #33 U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs,[3] #28 U.S. Hot Gospel Songs,[4] #95 U.S. Pop 100[3]

"The Heart of the Matter"

Main article: The Heart of the Matter (song)

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
Canadian Albums Chart 29
French Albums Chart 141
Swiss Albums Chart 25
UK Albums Chart 103
UK Urban Albums Chart 35
U.S. Billboard 200 1
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 1

References

  1. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2008-12-29). "India.Arie Readies Next 'Testimony'". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/india-arie-readies-next-testimony-1003925449.story. Retrieved 2009-01-03. 
  2. ^ "Urban AC – Week Of: June 26, 2006". Radio & Records. http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=06/26/2006&Format=12. Retrieved 2009-01-06. 
  3. ^ a b "Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dzfwxqudldke~T31. Retrieved 2009-01-06. 
  4. ^ "Hot Gospel Songs". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=398&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Gospel+Songs&ci=3084802&cdi=9300099&cid=07%2F14%2F2007. Retrieved 2009-01-06. 
Preceded by
Loose by Nelly Furtado		 U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album
July 9, 2006 - July 15, 2006		 Succeeded by
American V: A Hundred Highways by Johnny Cash
v • d • e
India.Arie
Albums
Acoustic Soul (2001) • Voyage to India (2002) • Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (2006) • Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics (2009)
Singles
"Video"  • "Brown Skin"  • "Little Things" • "I Am Not My Hair" (feat. Akon)  • "The Heart of the Matter"  • "There's Hope"  • "Beautiful Flower"  • "Words" (with Anthony David)  • "Chocolate High" (feat. Musiq Soulchild)

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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