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Survivor (Vanessa Williams album)

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Survivor
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 23, 2024 (2024-08-23)
GenreR&B[1]
Length47:50
Label
Producer
Vanessa Williams chronology
The Real Thing
(2009)
Survivor
(2024)
Singles from Survivor
  1. "Legs (Keep Dancing)"
    Released: April 26, 2024
  2. "Bop!"
    Released: July 26, 2024
  3. "iLike Moonlight"
    Released: August 16, 2024

Survivor is the ninth studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams. It was released under her own record label Mellian Music on August 23, 2024.[2] It is her first studio album since The Real Thing (2009). The album was preceded by the singles, "Legs (Keep Dancing)", "Bop!" (featuring Trixie Mattel and Lion Babe), and "iLike Moonlight".[3][4][5] The photo for the album cover was shot by Mike Ruiz.

Background

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Speaking to Deborah Evans Price of Woman's World William's opened up about the decision to release "Survivor" independently going on to say: “I had been in talks with a few labels on the record side and a lot of labels have disappeared, disintegrated. Everyone is consolidating, not very many people are getting signed...before COVID, I went into the studio and said, ‘You know what? I’m going to pay for it myself and just start recording. I want to do songs that matter to me for my life.’”[6]

Critical reception

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Peter Piatkowski of PopMatters rated the album a 7 out of 10, noting that "despite the long absence from music, Williams has returned without missing a step." while also declaring "Williams thrives on being an old-school Entertainer with a capital E."[1]

Track listing

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Survivor track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."iLike Moonlight"
  • DeValle Hayes
  • Cyril Holland
  • Amber Mitchell
  • Hayes
  • C. Holland
4:17
2."Legs (Keep Dancing)"
  • Johnson
  • Kipper Jones
3:07
3."Bop!" (featuring Trixie Mattel and Lion Babe)
  • Mel Holder
  • Kipper Jones
  • Hervey
  • Goodman
  • Christopher Hall
  • Liz Curtis
3:26
4."Survivor"
  • Hayes
  • C. Holland
  • Mitchell
  • Hall
  • Hayes
  • Curtis
  • Loris Holland
3:28
5."La Costa"
3:58
6."Vuelve" (featuring Missael Manon)
  • V. Williams
  • Anthony Almonte
  • Anthony T. Prendatt
  • Missael Manon
  • V. Williams
  • Hall
  • Curtis
  • Manon
  • Tony Prendatt
4:14
7."Junk Man"
  • Hall
  • Hey
  • Curtis
4:09
8."Zaz Zuh Zaz" (featuring Wynton Marsalis)
  • Hall
  • Hey
  • Curtis
3:40
9."Come Dance with Me"
  • Hall
  • Hey
  • Curtis
3:04
10."On the Other Side of the Tracks"
  • Hall
  • Hey
  • Curtis
2:24
11."Here's to You"
  • Holder
  • Jones
  • Hall
  • Kipper Jones
  • Curtis
  • Holder
3:10
12."I See You"
2:40
13."Being Good Isn't Good Enough"
  • Hall
  • Curtis
3:52
14."Come Dance with Me" (John "J-C" Carr & Bill Coleman 808 Beach Jukebox Remix)
  • Cahn
  • Van Heusen
  • Bill Coleman
  • Hall
  • Hey
  • John "J-C" Carr
  • Curtis
2:21
Total length:47:50

Personnel

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Musicians

  • Vanessa Williams – vocals
  • Tanya Riley – vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4)
  • Loris Holland – keyboards, vocals (tracks 1, 4)
  • DeValle Hayes – programming (tracks 1, 4)
  • Dana Harding – guitar (track 1)
  • Kipper Jones – vocals (tracks 2, 3, 11, 12), programming (12)
  • Chandry Johnson – keyboards, programming (track 2)
  • Mel Holder – programming (tracks 3, 11); bass, keyboards, saxophone (3); all instruments (11)
  • Lucas Goodman – keyboards, programming, vocals (track 3)
  • John Henry Smith – guitar (track 3)
  • Jillian Hervey – vocals (track 3)
  • Sherie Murphy – vocals (track 3)
  • Trixie Mattel – vocals (track 3)
  • Cindy Mizzelle – vocals (track 4)
  • J.T. Lewis – drums (tracks 5, 8–10, 13, 14), guitar (7), vocals (8), shaker (10)
  • Keith Robinson – guitar (tracks 5, 8–10, 13, 14), vocals (8)
  • Romero Lubambo – guitar (tracks 5, 6)
  • Roger Squitero – percussion (tracks 5, 6)
  • Henry Hey – piano (tracks 5, 7–10, 13, 14); Hammond organ, organ (7); vocals (8)
  • Carl Carter – electric bass (track 5)
  • Grégoire Maret – harmonica (track 5)
  • Isaac Raz – programming (track 5)
  • Darius de Haas – vocals (track 5)
  • Missael Manon – programming, vocals (track 6)
  • Charles Pillow – saxophone (track 6)
  • John Wheeler – trombone (track 6)
  • John Owens – trumpet (track 6)
  • Tony Kadleck – trumpet (track 6)
  • Marissa Licata – violin (track 6)
  • Al Caldwell – bass (tracks 7–10, 13, 14), vocals (8)
  • Wynton Marsalis – trumpet, vocals (track 8)
  • The Black Bettys – vocals (tracks 11, 12)
  • Johnnie Ray Kornegay III – vocals (track 11)
  • Mary Lee Joshua – vocals (track 11)
  • André Cymone – programming (track 12)
  • Mic Murphy – programming, vocals (track 12)
  • Genesis Amaris – vocals (track 12)
  • Carter Breycello (track 13)
  • Bill Coleman – remixing, programming (track 14)
  • John "J-C" Carr – remixing, programming (track 14)

Technical

  • Tatsuya Sato – mastering , engineering
  • Tony Prendatt – mixing, engineering (tracks 1, 3–6, 12); arrangement (5, 6)
  • Dave Darlington – mixing, engineering (tracks 5, 7–10, 13, 14)
  • DeValle Hayes – engineering (tracks 1, 4), arrangement (1)
  • Loris Holland – engineering (tracks 1, 4), arrangement (1)
  • Chantry Johnson – engineering (track 2)
  • Hank Kalleen – engineering (track 3)
  • Lucas Goodman – engineering (track 3)
  • Henry Hey – engineering (track 5), arrangement (5, 7–10)
  • Kipper Jones – engineering (track 12), arrangement (3, 12)
  • André Cymone – engineering, arrangement (track 12)
  • Mic Murphy – engineering, arrangement (track 12)
  • John "J-C" Carr – engineering (track 14)
  • Vanessa Williams – arrangement (tracks 3, 6)
  • Jillian Hervey – arrangement (track 3)
  • Trixie Mattel – arrangement (track 3)
  • John Kiehl – arrangement (track 6)
  • Missael Manon – arrangement (track 6)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Vanessa Williams Returns with the Excellent 'Survivor'". www.popmatters.com. 2024-08-27. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  2. ^ Abraham, Mya (April 17, 2024). "Vanessa Williams To Release First Album In 15 Years Under Her Own Record Label". Vibe. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  3. ^ "VW – Vanessa Williams". Vanessawilliams.com. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  4. ^ "Bop! – Vanessa Williams, Trixie Mattel & Lion Babe Single & Remix Bundle Available July 2024". Vanessawilliams.com. April 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  5. ^ McIntyre, Hugh. "Vanessa Williams' Comeback Single Brings Her To A Billboard Chart For The First Time". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
  6. ^ Price, Deborah Evans (2024-08-23). "Vanessa Williams Talks New Album 'Survivor' and Chasing Your Dreams at Any Age (EXCLUSIVE)". Woman's World. Retrieved 2024-09-13.