Through all the twists and turns taken by Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson during her 20-year career as an entertainer -- including a stint on Kids Incorporated, background vocals for Martika, two albums with adult contemporary/dance-pop group Wild Orchid, and superstardom with Black Eyed Peas -- she has always sounded as if she is trying really, really hard. That has been the lone consistent characteristic of her output, and it remains in effect throughout The Dutchess. The album has all the characteristics of a release fronted by someone who has been itching to go solo and prove herself, once and for all, as a versatile force all her own. Fergie does cartwheels and handstands, juggles three objects at once, balances books on her head, hangs upside down, rides a unicycle with her hands in the air -- all these things while wearing different outfits. The whole process, produced mostly by fellow Pea will.i.am, is mildly entertaining. There's throwback hip-hop ("Fergalicious," done to the tune of J.J. Fad's "Supersonic"), throwback soul ("Here I Come," done to the tune of the Temptations' "Get Ready"), reggae ("Mary Jane Shoes"), ska-punk ("Mary Jane Shoes"), scat ("Mary Jane Shoes"), vaguely torchy midtempo fluff ("Velvet"), and a classy string-drenched ballad (the appropriately titled "Finally"), among several other passable switch-ups, along with "London Bridge" -- which is terrific, provided you can block out the lyrics or prevent yourself from trying to decipher its meaning. One of the more convincing songs on the album, "Big Girls Don't Cry," sounds exactly like a 2006 version of Wild Orchid, with Fergie's Taylor Dayne kid-sister act in full effect. [A clean version of the album was also released.] ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Rita Marley (Vocals (Background)), Jay Anderson (Vocals), Jay Anderson (Vocals (Background)), Afro Rican (Engineer), Bruce Dukov (Violin), Sid Page (Violin), I-Threes (Vocals (Background)), Charlie Bisharat (Violin), Darius Campo (Violin), Josh Chervokas (Engineer), Larry Corbett (Celli), Brian Dembow (Viola), William Derella (Management), Ron Fair (Conductor), Ron Fair (Producer), Ron Fair (Executive Producer), Ron Fair (String Arrangements), Ron Fair (Vocal Producer), Ron Fair (String Conductor), Julie Gigante (Violin), Bernie Grundman (Mastering), Keith Harris (Bass), Keith Harris (Drums), Keith Harris (Keyboards), Keith Harris (Producer), Keith Harris (Engineer), Keith Harris (Drum Programming), Keith Harris (Keyboard Bass), Trey Henry (Bass), Trey Henry (Engineer), Tiffany Hu (Violin), David Low (Celli), Tony Maserati (Mixing), Helen Nightengale (Violin), Gary Novak (Drums), Katia Popov (Violin), Barbara Porter (Violin), Jack Joseph Puig (Mixing), Michele Richards (Violin), Tim Roberts (Mixing Assistant), Anatoly Rosinsky (Violin), Allen Sides (Mixing), Allen Sides (String Engineer), David Sonenberg (Management), Phil Tan (Mixing), Cecilia Tsan (Celli), Josephina Vergara (Violin), Serban Ghenea (Mixing), Matt Funes (Viola), Suzie Katayama (Celli), J. Curtis (Guitar), Lisa Sutton (Violin), Julian Peploe (Package Design), Julian Peploe (Illustrations), Natalie Leggett (Violin), Robb Boldt (Producer), Robb Boldt (Engineer), Robb Boldt (Drum Programming), Robb Boldt (Keyboard Programming), Simeon Speigel (Guitar (Acoustic)), Ellen Von Unwerth (Photography), Madeleine Smith (Sample Clearance), Stefanie Ridel (Vocal Producer), Nico Carmine Abondolo (Bass), Armen Anassian (Violin), Phillipe Levy (Violin), Anthony Kilhoffer (Engineer), Mike Hartnett (Guitar), Neil Tucker (Assistant Engineer), Mike Fratantuno (Bass), Roberto Cani (Violin), Printz Board (Synthesizer), Printz Board (Trumpet), Printz Board (Producer), Printz Board (Engineer), Printz Board (Fender Rhodes), Printz Board (Drum Programming), Printz Board (Moog Bass), Thomas Dienner (Viola), Vicky Miscolczy (Viola), Liane Mautner (Violin), Timothy Loo (Celli), Simeon Spiegel (Engineer), Tal Herzberg (Engineer), Tal Herzberg (Digital Editing), Sarah Thornblade (Violin), John Hanes (Digital Editing), John Hanes (Editing), Jason Schweitzer (Engineer), Dean Nelson (Mixing Assistant), Chuck Prada (Percussion), Dante Santiago (Music Coordinator), Jason Villaroman (Engineer), Jason Villaroman (Assistant Engineer), Demacio Castellon (Engineer), Ethan Willoughby (Engineer), Ethan Willoughby (Mixing), Dru Castro (Engineer), Fergie (Vocals (Background)), Padraic Kerin (Engineer), Padraic Kerin (Digital Editing), Padraic Kerin (Editing), Andrew Duckles (Viola), Becky Bunnell (Violin), Songa Lee (Violin), Elvis Williams (Keyboards), Ryan Kennedy (Mixing Assistant), John Legend (Piano), John Legend (Producer), Anthony Caruso (Assistant Engineer), I.Am Will (Bass), I.Am Will (Arranger), I.Am Will (Drums), I.Am Will (Keyboards), I.Am Will (Engineer), I.Am Will (Executive Producer), I.Am Will (Drum Programming), Justin Siegel (A&R), Shoshana Claman (Violin), Joe Peluso (Engineer), Joe Peluso (Assistant Engineer), Travis Daniels (Engineer), Josh Houghkirk (Mixing Assistant), Stephanie Cooper Willoughby (Production Coordination), Mike "Angry" Eleopoulos (Engineer), William Durst (Mixing Assistant), Venus Brown (Piano), Venus Brown (A&R), Theresa Jones Bailey (Vocals (Background)), Melissa Bolton (Sample Clearance), John Brault (Assistant Engineer), Mike Harnett (Bass), Mike Harnett (Guitar), Michael Markarian (Management), Lyn Weiner (A&R)
![Dutchess [Clean]](http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/drh500/h589/h58946jtwf0.jpg)
