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The Whole Scenario

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The Whole Scenario
Studio album by
Released1997
GenreR&B
LabelAtlantic[1]
ProducerGerald Levert, Marc Gordon, Edwin "Tony" Nicholas
LeVert chronology
For Real Tho'
(1993)
The Whole Scenario
(1997)
The Best of LeVert
(2001)

The Whole Scenario is the final studio album by the American R&B group LeVert, released in 1997.[2][3]

The album peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard 200.[4]

Production

[edit]

Yo-Yo and Queen Pen appear on the song "Tru Dat", the album's first single; Missy Elliot contributed to "Keys to My House".[5] The album was produced by Gerald Levert, Marc Gordon, and Edwin "Tony" Nicholas.[6] Gerald Levert blamed the album's relatively poor chart performance on its troubled production and his disagreements with Gordon.[7] Mad Lion raps on "You Keep Me Comin'".[8]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
The Commercial Appeal[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[11]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide[12]
The State[8]

The Austin American-Statesman thought that "the old LeVert who attracted so many romance-starved women has now been replaced by three men who are trying a little too hard to keep up with the new R&B artists."[13] The Miami Herald wrote that, "while the trio smoothly harmonizes when the tempo calls for it, the music is too slick, too processed and lacks distinction."[14] The Akron Beacon Journal opined that "the entire album is worth a listen, but quickly skip to the lush, practically perfect 'Like Water' ... the beautiful song uses violins, violas, a harp, an English horn, a flute, and other instruments not usually found on Levert's productions."[15]

AllMusic wrote that "although the album has some clear contemporary hip-hop influences, it works because LeVert hasn't lost sight of their primary strengths as a soulful vocal group."[9]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Whole Scenario" 
2."Do It Right Here" 
3."You Keep Me Comin'" 
4."True Dat" 
5."Sorry Is" 
6."Swing My Way" 
7."Like Water" 
8."Keys to My House" 
9."Playground" 
10."I'll Get It Done" 
11."Ain't No Thang" 
12."Mama's House" 
13."True Dat (Hip Hop Remix)" 

References

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  1. ^ Coveney, Janine (Nov 8, 1997). "EastWest Set Unites 3 R&B Powerhouses". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 45. p. 15.
  2. ^ "LeVert Biography & History". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Sounding Off". Ebony. Vol. 52, no. 8. Jun 1997. p. 18.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2010). Top Pop Albums (7th ed.). Record Research. p. 454.
  5. ^ Frazier, C. D. (10 May 1997). "Levert: 'The Whole Scenario' blend of pop, hip-hip and R&B". New York Amsterdam News. p. 21:4.
  6. ^ "Levert is Back on the Block with 'The Whole Scenario'". Los Angeles Sentinel. 23 Apr 1997. p. B7.
  7. ^ Hodges, Neal (July 16, 1998). "Levert Continues Success with LSG". The Plain Dealer. p. 7B.
  8. ^ a b McCormick, Jerry (25 Apr 1997). "Romance Masters". Weekend. The State. p. 13.
  9. ^ a b "The Whole Scenario". AllMusic.
  10. ^ Ellis, Bill (April 26, 1997). "Recordings". The Commercial Appeal. p. C2.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 194.
  12. ^ MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 351.
  13. ^ "LeVert lets ladies down". Austin American-Statesman. 3 May 1997. p. C1.
  14. ^ Cohen, Howard (March 14, 1997). "Levert The Whole Scenario Atlantic". Miami Herald. p. 23G.
  15. ^ Johnson, Kevin C. (April 10, 1997). "Cleveland R&B Singer on Charts with Trio, Also Sings Second Record Deal". Akron Beacon Journal. p. F2.