Listen to the Message is the second studio album by the American contemporary R&B group Club Nouveau.[5][6] It was released on May 24, 1988, on Warner Bros. Records. Listen to the Message contains darker lyrics dealing with social consciousness. Members Samuelle Prater and Thomas McElroy left the group before recording and were replaced with David Agent and Kevin Irving.[2]
| Listen to the Message | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 24, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987-1988 | |||
| Genre | Funk, soul | |||
| Length | 41:31 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. Records 25687 | |||
| Producer | Jay King[1] | |||
| Club Nouveau chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |   [2] |
| Los Angeles Times | [3] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [5] |
Critical reception edit
The Globe and Mail called the album "an ambitious second LP that gets a D for originality, but an A - well, maybe a B+ - for execution."[1] The Orlando Sentinel wrote that "'It's a Cold, Cold World!' -- with well-focused lyrics and a rock-steady beat -- kicks as hard as its opening percussive blast."[4]
Track listing edit
- "It's a Cold, Cold World!" — 4:35
- "Listen to the Message" — 5:05
- "Dancin' to Be Free" — 4:35
- "Why Is It That?" — 5:14
- "For the Love of Francis" — 3:35
- "Envious" — 4:29
- "What's Going 'Round" — 4:23
- "Only the Strong Survive" — 4:57
- "Better Way" — 4:27
Charts edit
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Top LPs | 98[7] |
| Billboard Top Black Albums | 44[8] |
References edit
- ^ a b Dafoe, Chris (16 June 1988). "INSIDE THE SLEEVE POP Listen to the Message Club Nouveau". The Globe and Mail: C3.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 431.
- ^ Johnson, Connie (19 June 1988). "Club Downbeat". Los Angeles Times: 66.
- ^ a b Fields, Curt (10 July 1988). "CLUB NOUVEAU". Orlando Sentinel: 10.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 144–145.
- ^ "WILL ONE OF THESE BE THE BLOCKBUSTER OF '88?". The Sacramento Bee: EN6. May 15, 1988.
- ^ "Chart History Club Nouveau". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "Chart History Club Nouveau". Billboard. Retrieved 26 March 2021.