You'd think two Grammy nominations in 2012 and a tied record with one of pop music's biggest luminaries would be enough for Katy Perry. But the recently-divorced pop singer is treating herself to one last dessert with the March 27 release of Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, an expanded edition of her hit 2010 album.
Expectations were high for the 27-year-old Perry when Teenage Dream was released almost two summers ago. After a number of false starts in her musical career - an unsuccessful gospel album in 2001 and two aborted pop albums (one of which saw her as the lead vocalist of The Matrix, the pop production team responsible for hits by Avril Lavigne, Liz Phair, Jason Mraz and Shakira), Perry struck gold with 2008's One of the Boys, which yielded three Top 10 hits including the coy chart-topper "I Kissed a Girl."
Teenage Dream, produced by a boatload of pop luminaries including Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Stargate and Tricky Stewart, amped up the hooks and cheeky lyrical content to great effect. The album was a chart-topper and, astoundingly, five singles ("California Gurls," the title track, "Firework," "E.T." and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)") have all topped the Billboard charts, tying Michael Jackson's record of five consecutive No. 1 singles from Bad in 1987 and 1988.
A sixth single, "The One That Got Away," "stalled" at No. 3, doubtlessly prompting one last go at the top of the charts with one of three as-yet-unnamed tracks that will feature on the reissue of the album. (Billboard has confirmed, just to be on the safe side, that any tracks from the reissue will not count toward the original Dream.)
The Complete Confection will also feature a set of familiar remixes, including Kanye West's take on "E.T.," a version of "Last Friday Night" featuring a rap verse from Missy Elliott and an acoustic version of "The One That Got Away" produced by Jon Brion. The album will close with a megamix of singles from the album overseen by producer Tommie Sunshine.
Not that she's really trying to beat Jackson at his own game, Perry said in a statement. "It was an incredible honor to tie the King of Pop's Billboard Hot 100 record, but I'm moving forward and had a few things left to get off my chest," Perry said. "So this is the complete special edition of my album for my fans."
Keep it here for when the track list is finalized and order links are available.
The Thorn says
If you were that close, wouldn't YOU try to get the crown? She still won't get the same album sales, but the crown would be quite the victory...