John Legend - Get Lifted

If you've listened to Top 40 radio or flipped through the video channels during the past few years, odds are pretty good you know something about John Legend. He played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" and might as well be considered Kanye West's sidekick, having assisted the producer and MC on several sessions -- Jay-Z's "Encore" and Slum Village's "Selfish" being two of the more prominent 2004 singles featuring his work. A former choir director, he has also released a handful of energetic live discs, some of which are credited to his less hubristic birth name, John Stephens. And though he claims "I've got something new," you've also heard substantial chunks of Get Lifted in records made decades ago by Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, and Bill Withers. This might not be a problem for listeners who crave anything that recalls the music they first heard in their youth, but Legend's over-reliance upon his inspirations is an impediment as much as a slick way to grab attention. That's because he has more than enough talent and charm to get by on his own. His own lyrics and hooks are unique and clever enough to get the point across that he's no everyday r&b artist and, just as importantly, he has a personable and instantly fetching voice you could listen to all day long. However, the association with West -- whose Sony-distributed boutique label released the record -- is very helpful. Without it, Legend would likely be zoned into neo-soul (2003's Live at SOB's New York City really makes this notion apparent), thereby standing little chance of reaching the ears of anyone younger than 30. The production work supporting his songs strikes a fine balance between soul and hip-hop, allowing him to appeal to those who are coming from either angle. This is a very good record. It's a given that Legend is destined to make at least two others that top it. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Name Credits A. Wayne Stephens Vocals, Vocals (Background) Aaron Fessel Engineer Andrew Dawson Engineer Andy Manganello Engineer Anthony Kilhoffer Engineer Brandy Stephens Vocals (Background) Brett Stephens Vocals (Background) Candace Anderson Vocals Candice Anderson Vocals Clarence "Sleepy" Anderson Vocals Corey Hogan Saxophone Curtis Jay Guitar Danny Clinch Photography Dave Tozer Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, Guitar (Bass), Producer, Drum Programming, Guitar, Audio Production, Programming David Bett Art Direction, Design DeVon "Devo" Harris Producer Dionne Stephens Vocals (Background) Doris Stephens Vocals (Background) Elizabeth Lea Trombone George Pajon Guitar Glen Jeffery Guitar Horn Dogs Horn James Roston Vocals Jared Robbins Mixing Assistant Jason Carson Assistant Engineer Jason Villaroman Engineer Jayme Kelly Curtis Guitar Jenee Dixon Trumpet Jeremy Dyen Synthesizer Jimmy Coleman Drums John Legend Piano, Executive Producer, Audio Production, Vocals, Keyboards, Organ, Producer, Fender Rhodes Jun Ishizeki Engineer Kanye West Executive Producer, Drum Programming, Programming, Rap, Vocals, Audio Production, Producer Kashaan Stephens Vocals (Background), Vocals Kawan "KP" Prather A&R Lenesha Randolph Vocals Manny Marroquin Mixing Marjorie Stephens Vocals (Background) Matt Hueneman ? MBalia Singley Vocals, Vocals (Background) McGowan Southworth Engineer Michael Eleopoulos Assistant Engineer Michael Harmon Engineer Michael Peters Audio Engineer Mike "Angry" Eleopoulos Assistant Engineer Miri Ben-Ari Strings, Arranger, Producer, String Arrangements Na2 Vocals Pablo Arraya Assistant Engineer Patricia Tyree Photography Patrick Fong Design Paul Cho Producer Pete Donelly Engineer Phyllis E. Stephens Vocals (Background) Phyllis Y. Stephens Vocals (Background) Printz Board Trumpet Ronald "Bumper" Stephnes Finger Snaps, Handclapping Ronald Stephens Vocals, Vocals (Background) Sharief Hobley Guitar Shvona Handclapping, Finger Snaps Snoop Dogg Rap, Vocals, Spoken Word, Vocal Ad-Libs Steve Tirpak Trumpet Swiss Chris Drums Tara Michel Vocals Tarey Torae Vocals Tarrey Torae Vocals, Vocals (Background) Tatiana Beedar Stylist Ted Chung Handclapping, Finger Snaps Tim Izo Flute, Saxophone Tom Craskey Bass Vada Stephens Vocals (Background) Vaughn Stephens Vocals (Background), Vocals will.i.am Moog Synthesizer, Audio Production, Drum Programming, Producer, Clavinet, Programming, Moog Bass