Stone Love

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This article is about the Angie Stone album. For the Kool & the Gang song, see Stone Love (song). For the Jamaican sound system, see Stone Love Movement.
Stone Love
Studio album by
Angie Stone
ReleasedJuly 6, 2004 (2004-07-06)
Studio
Length54:43
LabelJ
Producer
Angie Stone chronology
Mahogany Soul
(2001) 		Stone Love
(2004) 		Stone Hits: The Very Best of Angie Stone
(2005)
Singles from Stone Love
  1. "I Wanna Thank Ya"
    Released: May 4, 2004[1]
  2. "U-Haul"
    Released: July 27, 2004[2]
  3. "Stay for a While"
    Released: October 12, 2004[3]

Stone Love is the third studio album by American singer Angie Stone. It was released by J Records on July 6, 2004, in the United States. Originally conceived as a collaborative but introspective album which Stone planned to call Diary of a Soul Sister and was expected to feature female singers such as Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan, the album features a wide range of collaborators, including Warryn Campbell, Andreao Heard, Jazze Pha, and Missy Elliott. Duo Floetry, singers Betty Wright, Anthony Hamilton, and Snoop Dogg, as well as Stone's daughter Diamond and her former fiancée, rapper T.H.C., appear on Stone Love.

The album earned generally favorable reviews from music critics who noted its more upbeat, amorous nature and declared it another well-crafted effort from Stone. It reached number six on the Dutch Album Top 100 and entered the top twenty of the albums charts in Belgium, Finland, and Sweden. In the United States, it debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200. Stone Love produced three singles, including the Dance Club Songs number-one hit "I Wanna Thank Ya" as well as the Grammy Award-nominated song "U-Haul". Stone Love would mark Stone's final album with J Records.

Background[edit]

As with her previous album, J Records consulted a wide ranger of producers and songwriters to work with Stone on her third solo album, including Prince Charles Alexander, Warryn Campbell, Andreao "Fanatic" Heard, Jazze Pha, and Harold Lilly as well as Missy Elliott and her producing partners Craig Brockman and Nisan Stewart.[4] Unlike Black Diamond (1999) and Mahogany Soul though, Stone was motivated to produce a more upbeat, joyous album following the success of the Hex Hector and Mac Quayle-produced remix of her 2002 single "Wish I Didn't Miss You", telling The Advocate in 2004: "I didn't just want to appeal to the broken-spirited or the brokenhearted [but] to people that were having joy in their life."[5]

Guest vocalists on Stone Love include rapper Snoop Dogg, Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart from English duo Floetry as well as singers Betty Wright and Anthony Hamilton which Stone cited as "natural partnerships".[6] Stone's daughter Diamond Stone appears on the Walter Millsap-produced "You're Gonna Get It", while her former fiancée, rapper T.H.C., appeared on "Karma".[7] On her decision to name the album Stone Love, Stone told The San Antonio Current: "[It] encapsulates everything about love. That term to me embodies love. I find that a title is as important as the album, it connects the project. There is motherly and sisterly love, man and woman love, but no love is stronger than Stone Love."[6]

Promotion[edit]

Stone Love was preceded by its lead single "I Wanna Thank Ya". Produced by Jazze Pha,[8] it features guest vocals from rapper Snoop Dogg and samples from Deodato's song "Skatin'" (1980), Joyce Sims's "Come into My Life" (1987), DeBarge's "All This Love" (1982) and "Take Your Time (Do It Right)" (1980) from The S.O.S. Band.[8] Released by J Records as the album's lead single on May 4, 2004,[1] it became a top ten hit on the UK R&B Singles chart and was Stone's second single to reach number-one on the US Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.[9]

"U-Haul", chiefly produced by Missy Elliott, was released as the album's second single on July 27, 2004.[2] Apart from Elliott, singers Tweet and Betty Wright as well as Stone's daughter Diamond appear as backing vocalists on the song.[8] It reached number 19 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs.[10] At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, "U-Haul" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.[11] Third and final single "Stay for a While", a duet with Anthony Hamilton, was issued on October 12, 2004.[3] It peaked at number 21 on the Adult R&B Songs chart.[10]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic68/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Entertainment WeeklyB[14]
The Guardian[15]
Los Angeles Times[16]
Rolling Stone[17]
Uncut[18]
Yahoo! Music[19]

Upon its release, Stone Love received critical acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 68, based on 13 critical reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]

AllMusic editor Rob Theakston felt that Stone Love "pleasantly picks up where Mahogany Soul left off, presenting a wiser, more even-keel Stone putting her best foot forward right from the album's onset." He called the album Stone's "most focused and accomplished full-length to date. A delightful album for a summer day, and an enjoyable listen from start to finish."[13] Billboard found that "Stone's soulful, sassy vocals are once again the centerpiece of another well-crafted effort. Whether discoursing on love or heartbreak, the singer/songwriter/musician never leaves an emotional stone unturned."[20] Robert Sandall, writing for The Telegraph, felt that Stone Love differs from Stone's first two albums "principally in its upbeat, amorous mood" and that it "intricately played, [merges] old-school arrangements gracefully with modern beats. Her deceptively powerful voice, beautifully layered and never over-used, is, as ever, world class."[21]

Entertainment Weekly's David Browne wrote that Stone Love "sways pleasurably from start to finish, buoyed by floaty old-school R&B [...] It's easy to luxuriate in its cushy production, to nod along with the occasionally clever line, or to enjoy the duo Floetry's stern-voiced harmonies [...] Everything is balmy, modestly funky – and strangely devoid of outright passion."[14] Steve Hands from MusicOMH critic found that Stone Love "neatly avoids the saccharine seasoning and horrendous filler that so bedevilled soul albums back in the day way before R&B got a healthy dose of hip-hop in its veins." He noted that while the album has its moments when you feel [Stone's] on automatic [and] it's a tad longer than it really needs to be," there "is more than enough here to wipe away the working day."[22] People magazine remarked that "on her righteous third album, Stone continues to carve out retro-'70s R&B rich in the tradition of greats like Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan and Betty Wright."[23]

Chart performance[edit]

Stone Love debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 in the week of July 24, 2004,[24] selling 52,000 in its first week of release.[25][26] The album also debuted and peaked at number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,[27] and marked Stone's first top ten entry on the Dutch Album Top 100, peaking at number six.[28] It also reached the top twenty of the albums charts in Belgium, Finland, and Sweden as well as on the R&B charts in Australia and the United Kingdom.[28] Billboard ranked it 89th on its US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums year-end listing.[29]

The following year, Stone asked for and was granted a release from J Records.[30] In 2007, after signing with Stax Records, she opened up about the label change. Speaking with The Baltimore Sun Stone said: "Originally, that album was called Diary of a Soul Sister. It was gonna be set up with me working with icons like Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack, Natalie Cole... But Alicia Keys was gonna use the title The Diary of Alicia Keys. So I was asked [by label founder Clive Davis] to change my concept. The focus was derailed on the last album, and I asked to be released after that."[30][31] In his 2013 biography The Soundtrack of My Life, Davis contradicted Stone's impression that she had been treated unfavorably compared to Keys.[4]

Track listing[edit]

Stone Love track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Stoned Love (Intro)"
0:35
2."I Wanna Thank Ya" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
Jazze Pha3:47
3."My Man" (featuring Floetry)
  • Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell
  • Lilly[a]
4:01
4."U-Haul"
  • Elliott
  • Stewart[a]
  • Brockman[a]
  • John "Jubu" Smith[a]
3:56
5."Stay for a While" (featuring Anthony Hamilton)
  • Stone
  • Richmond
  • Juanita Wynn
  • Hamilton
  • Stone
  • Richmond
4:01
6."Lovers' Ghetto"
  • Rufus Moore
  • Richard Randolph
  • Ricky Smith
  • Kevin Spencer
  • Rod Temperton
4:05
7."Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That... (Interlude)" 
  • Stone
  • Richmond
0:25
8."You're Gonna Get It" (featuring Diamond Stone)
Walter (DJ Walt) Millsap III4:15
9."Come Home (Live with Me)"
Supa Ugly K-Love3:57
10."You Don't Love Me"
  • Stone
  • Richmond
3:34
11."Remy Red"
  • Stone
  • Richmond
  • Wynn
  • Stone
  • Richmond
3:50
12."That Kind of Love" (featuring Betty Wright)
  • Stone
  • Campbell
  • Lilly
  • Anthony Hester
  • Campbell
  • Lilly[a]
3:52
13."Touch It (Interlude)" 
  • Stone
  • Richmond
1:20
14."Cinderella Ballin'"
  • Stone
  • Richmond
4:35
15."Karma" (featuring T.H.C.)
  • Stone
  • Andreao Heard
  • Sherrod Barnes
  • Jerry Barnes
  • Berkeley Ronald Outen Jr.
  • Andreao "Fanatic" Heard
  • S. Barnes
4:42
16."Wherever You Are (Outro)"Stone
  • Stone
  • Richmond
0:35
17."I Wanna Thank Ya" (No Rap)
  • Stone
  • P. Alexander
  • Broadus
  • Sims
  • DeBarge
Jazze Pha3:13

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an associate producer

Sample credits

Personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Stone Love.[8]

Musicians[edit]

  • Angie Stone – vocals (all tracks); background vocals (tracks 3–5, 10–14); additional keyboards (track 15)
  • Snoop Dogg – vocals (track 2)
  • Jazze Pha – vocal ad-libs (tracks 2, 17)
  • Floetry – vocals (track 3)
  • Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell – instruments, programming (tracks 3, 12)
  • Sean Cooper – sound design (tracks 3, 12)
  • Harold Lilly – background vocals (tracks 3, 12)
  • Nisan Stewart – all instruments (track 4)
  • Craig X. Brockman – all instruments (track 4)
  • John "Jubu" Smith – all instruments (track 4)
  • Missy Elliott – background vocals (track 4)
  • Tweet – background vocals (track 4)
  • Diamond Stone – background vocals (tracks 4, 6, 10, 12); vocals (track 8)
  • Betty Wright – background vocals (track 4); vocals (track 12)
  • Anthony Hamilton – vocals (track 5)
  • Jonathan Richmond – all instruments (as Jon Rych) (tracks 5, 10, 11, 13, 14); background vocals (tracks 5, 10, 11, 13); additional vocal performance (track 11)
  • Eric Walls – guitar (tracks 5, 8, 10)
  • Juanita Wynn – background vocals (tracks 5, 11)
  • Baby Paul – drum programming (track 6)
  • Rufus Blaq – drum programming (track 6)
  • Jamel "Melekeyz" Oliver – keyboards (track 6)
  • Prince Charles Alexander – keyboards (track 6)
  • Khadejia Bass – background vocals (track 6)
  • Stephanie Bolton – background vocals (tracks 6, 10)
  • Walter (DJ Walt) Millsap III – instruments, programming (track 8)
  • Tamara Savage – background vocals (track 8)
  • Joi Campbell – background vocals (track 8)
  • Supa Ugly K-Love – additional programming (track 9)
  • Jamal Peoples – Fender Rhodes (track 9)
  • Steve Bethany – guitar (track 11)
  • Crystal Johnson – background vocals (track 14)
  • T.H.C. – vocals (track 15)
  • Andreao "Fanatic" Heard – all instruments, programming (track 15)

Technical[edit]

  • Angie Stone – production (tracks 1, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16); executive production
  • Jonathan Richmond – production (tracks 1, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16)
  • Jazze Pha – production (tracks 2, 17)
  • Arnold Wolfe – recording (tracks 2, 17)
  • Tim Donovan – recording (tracks 2, 4, 13–15); mixing (track 15)
  • Yutaka Kawana – recording assistance (tracks 2, 3, 5, 11, 13–15); recording (track 9); mixing assistance (track 15)
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing (tracks 2, 17)
  • John Hanes – additional Pro Tools engineering (tracks 2, 17)
  • Tim Roberts – engineering assistance (tracks 2, 17)
  • Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell – production (tracks 3, 12)
  • Harold Lilly – co-production (tracks 3, 12)
  • Bruce Buechner – recording (tracks 3, 12)
  • Ann Mincieli – recording (track 3)
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing (tracks 3, 5, 8–14)
  • Sandra Campbell – project coordination (tracks 3, 12)
  • Missy Elliott – production (track 4)
  • Nisan Stewart – co-production (track 4)
  • Craig X. Brockman – co-production (track 4)
  • John "Jubu" Smith – co-production (track 4)
  • Carlos Bedoya – recording (track 4)
  • Marcella Araica – recording assistance (track 4)
  • Paul Falcone – mixing (track 4)
  • Daniel "Boom" Wierup – recording (tracks 5, 11)
  • Rob Barahona – recording assistance (tracks 5, 11)
  • Rufus Blaq – production, recording (track 6)
  • Prince Charles Alexander – production, recording, mixing (track 6)
  • Jamel "Melekeyz" Oliver – associate production (track 6)
  • Louis Alfred III – recording (track 6)
  • Elai Tubo – recording (track 6)
  • Walter (DJ Walt) Millsap III – production, recording (track 8)
  • David Lopez – recording (track 8)
  • Rabeka Tunei – mixing assistance (track 8)
  • Supa Ugly K-Love – production (track 9)
  • Andre Netto – recording assistance (track 9)
  • Bill Importico – recording (track 13)
  • Andreao "Fanatic" Heard – production (track 15)
  • Sherrod Barnes – production (track 15)
  • Eddie Krakaur – recording (track 15)
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
  • Peter Edge – executive production

Artwork[edit]

  • Alli – art direction, design
  • Marc (Poppa) Baptiste – photography
  • Chris LeBeau – art department production

Charts[edit]

Release history[edit]

Release dates for Stone Love
Region Date Label Ref.
United Kingdom June 28, 2004 Arista [46]
France July 5, 2004 BMG [47]
Germany [48]
United States July 6, 2004 J [13]
Australia July 16, 2004 BMG [49]
Japan July 21, 2004 [50]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Tracks 2 and 17
  2. ^ Tracks 2, 3, 5, 9, 11 and 13–15
  3. ^ Tracks 3 and 12
  4. ^ Tracks 3, 4 and 12–14
  5. ^ a b Track 4
  6. ^ Track 6
  7. ^ a b Track 8
  8. ^ Track 10
  9. ^ Track 15

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Urban – Week Of: May 4, 2004". Radio & Records. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Urban AC – Week Of: July 27, 2004". Radio & Records. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Urban – Week Of: October 12, 2004". Radio & Records. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Davis, Clive (2013). The Soundtrack of My Life. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781476714806. Retrieved August 18, 2015. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ Blacklow, Jeremy (July 20, 2004). "Back to the Stone Age". The Advocate. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Solids, M. (October 7, 2004). "Stone Love". San Antonio Current. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Bogar, Jennifer F. (July 6, 2004). "Angie Stone happier, wiser in 'Love'". Today.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Stone Love (liner notes). Angie Stone. J Records. 2004. 82876-56215-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Angie Stone Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Angie Stone Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  11. ^ "GRAMMY Award Results for Angie Stone". Grammy Awards. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Reviews for Stone Love by Angie Stone". Metacritic. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  13. ^ a b c Theakston, Rob. "Stone Love – Angie Stone". AllMusic. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Browne, David (July 9, 2004). "Stone Love". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  15. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (June 25, 2004). "Angie Stone, Stone Love". The Guardian. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  16. ^ Hilburn, Robert (July 11, 2004). "A strength in their numbers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  17. ^ Caramanica, Jon (August 5, 2004). "Angie Stone: Stone Love". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
  18. ^ "Angie Stone – Stone Love". Uncut. September 1, 2004. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  19. ^ Crossing, Gary (July 14, 2004). "Angie Stone – Stone Love". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  20. ^ "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. July 10, 2004. Archived from the original on July 24, 2004. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  21. ^ Sandall, Robert (June 28, 2004). "Stayingin". telegraph.co.uk. United Kingdom: The Telegraph. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  22. ^ Hands, Steve (June 28, 2004). "Angie Stone – Stone Love". musicomh.com. MusicOMH. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  23. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Angie Stone". People. July 12, 2004. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Angie Stone Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  25. ^ Gallo, Phil (July 14, 2004). "Banks' fans still 'Hunger' for more". Variety.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  26. ^ Whitmire, Margo (July 14, 2004). "Banks Secures Another Week At No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  27. ^ a b "Angie Stone Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  28. ^ a b c "Dutchcharts.nl – Angie Stone – Stone Love" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  29. ^ a b "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Stone is happy being her on 'Love & War'". Baltimore Sun. October 18, 2007. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  31. ^ Costa, Miguel (May 11, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE: Angie Stone on Cutting Ties with Clive Davis Because of Alicia Keys' Second Album". vladtv.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  32. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums – Week Commencing 26th July 2004" (PDF). The ARIA Report (752): 6. July 26, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-08-06. Retrieved March 18, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "ARIA Urban Album Chart – Week Commencing 26th July 2004" (PDF). The ARIA Report (752): 16. July 26, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2004-08-06. Retrieved August 18, 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ^ "Ultratop.be – Angie Stone – Stone Love" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  35. ^ "Ultratop.be – Angie Stone – Stone Love" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  36. ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 12, 2004. Retrieved April 6, 2022 – via Wayback Machine.
  37. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Angie Stone – Stone Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  38. ^ "Angie Stone: Stone Love" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  39. ^ "Lescharts.com – Angie Stone – Stone Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  40. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Angie Stone – Stone Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  41. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Angie Stone – Stone Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  42. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Angie Stone – Stone Love". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  43. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  44. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  45. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2004". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  46. ^ "Angie Stone – Stone Love (Music CD)". Rakuten.co.uk. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  47. ^ "Stone love – Angie Stone – CD album" (in French). Fnac. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  48. ^ "Stone Love: Angie Stone". Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  49. ^ "Stone Love". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  50. ^ ストーン・ラヴ [Stone Love] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
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