PRE-ORDER 20TH ANNIVERSARY 2LP NOW
Alicia Keys' 2001 debut Songs in A Minor quickly established the singer-songwriter-pianist as a musical force with which to be reckoned. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 1, going on to sell roughly 12 million copies worldwide and earning five Grammy Awards for the young artist as well as a 7x Platinum certification. The LP was the breakthrough success for Clive Davis' J Records label, proving without a doubt that the golden-eared hitmaker hadn't lost his touch. This Friday, Songs in A Minor will mark its 20th anniversary with a new, expanded digital reissue; an expanded edition is also available now for pre-order on 2-LP vinyl with a release date of December 3. Both versions premiere the previously-unreleased outtakes "Foolish Heart" and "Crazy (Mi Corazon)" while the digital edition also features the version of "Fallin'" from the Ali soundtrack and "I Won't (Crazy World)," both of which were included on the 10th anniversary 2-CD physical deluxe edition.
The first single released from the album, "Fallin'," spent six weeks atop the Hot 100, also topping the Mainstream Top 40, Adult R&B, and Hot R&B charts. It was followed up by "A Woman's Worth" which went to No. 1 on the Adult R&B survey and reached the top 10 of the Hot 100, Rhythmic, and Hot R&B charts. Both songs reflected the album's all-encompassing style which incorporated classical, jazz, hip-hop, and classic R&B textures into its modern soul sound. No less an architect of classic soul than Isaac Hayes dropped by, appearing on the track "Rock Wit U."
Keys was among the numerous producers of the album alongside Jermaine Dupri, Brian McKnight, Jimmy Cozier, Candi, Arden Altino, Miri Ben-Ari, and Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. While most of the album was self-written by Keys - who had begun the writing process at just 14 years of age - it did notably feature a cover of Prince's "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" Retitled "How Come You Don't Call Me," it was the LP's third single to chart. The final single release was "Girlfriend" which interpolated Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Broken Zoo." It placed on the Hot R&B chart.
Songs in A Minor was first reissued with a Remixed and Unplugged bonus disc and then in 2011 as a 2-CD Collector's Edition featuring live tracks, demos, edits, and more. This new 2-LP Expanded Edition is available for pre-order now at Keys' online store. It will be pressed on black and green blended vinyl and housed in a deluxe jacket with pop-up imagery. Vinyl Me Please also has an anniversary exclusive of Songs in A Minor - a new pressing of the original album only on green "galaxy" vinyl. A new website has been launched by Sony Music and the Modern English company where fans are invited to share memories about their experiences with the album and Keys' music. The Tidal streaming service will also feature Keys' catalogue beginning on June 5, and the artist has offered exclusive video commentary to Tidal's presentation of Songs in A Minor.
You'll find the track listing and pre-order links for the new Songs in A Minor below. The Expanded Edition will begin streaming on Friday, June 4.
Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor: 20th Anniversary Edition (J Records 80813-20002-2, 2001 - reissued 2021)
2-LP Expanded Edition (Black and Green Blended Vinyl): Alicia Keys Shop
2-LP Original Album (Green Galaxy Vinyl): Vinyl Me Please
Side A
- Piano & I
- Girlfriend
- How Come You Don't Call Me
- Fallin'
- Troubles
Side B
- Rock wit U
- A Woman's Worth
- Jane Doe
- Goodbye
Side C
- The Life
- Man
- Never Felt This Way
- Butterflyz
Side D
- Why Do I Feel so Sad
- Caged Bird
- Lovin U
- Foolish Heart (previously unreleased bonus track)
- Crazy (Mi Corazon) (previously unreleased bonus track)
The Weekend Stream: March 25, 2023
The Weekend Stream: June 5, 2021
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So there's no cd release ? or is it coming out later ?
Unfortunately like a lot of anniversary re-issues, it seems this one is another vinyl only .. (although, as pointed out in Joe's article, there was a cd re-issue in 2011.. it seems nowadays it's preferred to put out vinyl rather than cd editions .. look at Simon & Garfunkel's "Botw" re-issued in gold vinyl only, Rod Stewart's early sets re-issued as a vinyl set .. and regretfully many, many others ..
I worry about the future of cds .. especially the cd remasters .. some of my favourite artists finished them just when they were getting interesting (such as Uriah Heep stopping before "The Wizard's birthday", ELO stopping before "Time" and lately Chris Rea stopped before "God's great banana skin").
And then there's the box-sets (such as those by the Band) which feature multiple formats (yep including vinyl, cd and blu-ray) .. why? If you don't have a record deck you're hardly likely to want the vinyl version .. can't they give us separate format releases then everybody's happy .. after all Jethro Tull, and even the Alan Parson's Project, do this magnificently and at a very reasonable price.
Let's just hope this vinyl trend doesn't obliterate the cd ...
Yeah, cause i'm DEFINATELY not into vinyls anymore. Be such a shame to only be in that format.
No CD version has been announced.
The 20th anniversary also has 20 tracks on the ''MP-3'' release. It has the 4 major tracks ''FALLIN'' [THE ALI VERSION], ''I WON'T'' [CRAZY WORLD], ''FOOLISH HEART'' and ''CRAZY'' [MI CORAZON].