Corinne Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae

When songstress Corinne Bailey Rae released her sashaying single "Put Your Records On" in her native U.K. it was a feel-good adult alternative phenomenon -- a kind of Norah Jones, Joss Stone, David Gray, or Macy Gray phenomenon. One listen to her breakout soft soul anthem and it's easy to hear why, since Rae is a mix of all the above but not a contrived one concocted by some major label's scientist. Her self-titled debut sounds a wee rushed and sometimes meanders its way into background music territory, but this comfortable effort is pleasingly homegrown, warm, and poignant in parts, especially when Rae doesn't weaken her strong lyrics with space-filling "doo de do do do"s and "mmmmmmm"s. So if she doesn't make an Alicia Keys-size splash with her debut, she's still a breath of fresh air, and hardly a one-hit wonder. It's risky to open an album with a lazy ballad, but the great "Like a Star" paints Rae as Billie Holiday's pop-influenced granddaughter. Mellowing Style Council or Brand New Heavies fans should dig "Trouble Sleeping," while "Butterfly" beautifully captures the full range of emotions that come with leaving the nest. The well-written and direct "Butterfly" suggests Rae could release a more accomplished full-length someday, but attention to "feel" often seems like the driving force in this album's creation. Adjust your expectations accordingly and Rae's languid debut is very rewarding. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andrew Hale Programming, Producer, Piano (Grand) Aubrey Nunn Guitar (Bass) Cara Robinson Vocals (Background) Corinne Bailey Rae Percussion, Moog Synthesizer, Keyboards, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Bass, Piano, Spanish Guitar Daniel Hope Engineer Darren Lewis Artwork Gavyn Wright String Director, Orchestra Director Ian Duncan Engineer Jason Rae Flute, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Alto) Jeremy Wheatley Mixing Jess Bailey Wurlitzer, Organ (Hammond) Jim Corry Sax (Tenor) Jimmy Hogarth Producer John Beck Keyboards Kenji Jammer Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic) London Session Orchestra Strings Malcolm Strachan Trumpet Mike Pela Mixing Paul Herman Guitar (Acoustic), Drum Programming, Producer, Mixing, Engineer, Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Peter Lewinson Drums Rod Bowkett Bass, Producer, Guitar (Acoustic) Steve Brown Organ (Hammond), Vocals (Background), Wurlitzer, Engineer, Jupiter, Fender Rhodes, Producer Steve Bush Bass, Guitar (Electric), Programming, Producer Steve Chrisanthou Piano, Percussion, Spanish Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Horn Samples, Programming, Mixing, Engineer, Producer, Organ Tommy D Drum Programming, Producer, Mixing, Keyboards Will Malone String Arrangements, String Conductor Yvonne Ellis Engineer, Programming