Bout It
Encyclopedia
Bout It is the debut album by American Gospel
singer Willie Norwood
. It was released on October 23, 2001 and received little commercial success.
and pop
as well as traditional gospel. Featured are covers of the Stevie Wonder
gospel composition "Have a Talk With God," along with the Jackie DeShannon-penned inspirational classic, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." The hymn "Have Thine Own Way" pairs Norwood with Hip hop
artist Ray J
vocally. Popular gospel group the Williams Brothers penned and contributed backing vocals to the tracks "The Search Is Over" and "No Limit." The gospel classic "I'd Trade a Lifetime" takes Norwood back to his early years in the church. The track features a guest appearance from keyboardist Billy Preston
. He also teams up with R&B/pop
singer Brandy
on the lushly produced inspirational track "A Love Shared." The track also features sax work from Kirk Whalum
.
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer Willie Norwood
Willie Norwood
William Raymond Norwood, Sr. known as Willie Norwood is an American Gospel singer and has been involved in singing since early childhood. His father and mother sang in the church choir...
. It was released on October 23, 2001 and received little commercial success.
Content
It encompasses a gamut of musical styles: soulSoul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
as well as traditional gospel. Featured are covers of the Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
gospel composition "Have a Talk With God," along with the Jackie DeShannon-penned inspirational classic, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." The hymn "Have Thine Own Way" pairs Norwood with Hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
artist Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
vocally. Popular gospel group the Williams Brothers penned and contributed backing vocals to the tracks "The Search Is Over" and "No Limit." The gospel classic "I'd Trade a Lifetime" takes Norwood back to his early years in the church. The track features a guest appearance from keyboardist Billy Preston
Billy Preston
William Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
. He also teams up with R&B/pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer Brandy
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
on the lushly produced inspirational track "A Love Shared." The track also features sax work from Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum
Kirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
.
Tracklisting
- "Bout It" (featuring BrandyBrandy NorwoodBrandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
& Ray JRay JWilliam Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
) (Carter) – 4:48 - "Have A Talk With God" (Hardaway, Wonder) – 3:54
- "A Love Shared" (featuring BrandyBrandy NorwoodBrandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
& Kirk WhalumKirk WhalumKirk Whalum is an American smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. He toured as Whitney Houston's opening act for several years. Whalum has also recorded a series of well received solo albums and film soundtracks, with music ranging from pop to R&B to smooth jazz...
) (Caldwell, Caldwell, Winans) – 4:01 - "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" (DeShannon, Holiday, Myers) – 3:48
- "I'm Gonna Make It" (Caldwell, Caldwell, Winans) – 4:12
- "No Limit" (Williams, Williams) – 4:26
- "Have Thine Own Way" (featuring Ray JRay JWilliam Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...
) (Caldwell, Caldwell) – 4:23 - "I'd Trade A Lifetime" (Bradley) (featuring Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
) – 4:05 - "The Search Is Over" (Horne, Williams ) – 5:21
- "All That I Need" (Lu, Norwood) – 3:54
- "'Bout It" (Reprise) (Carter) – 0:40
Personnel
- Chris Bellman – Mastering
- Brandy – Vocals (bckgr)
- Thomas Bricker – Art Direction, Design
- Cedric Caldwell – Arranger, Multi Instruments, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Victor Caldwell – Arranger, Multi Instruments, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Pharis "June Bug" Evans, Jr. – Producer, Drum Programming, Percussion Programming
- Carl Gorodetzky – String Contractor
- Darwin Hobbs – Vocals (bckgr)
- Dee Dee Holt – Drums
- Bob Horn – Mixing
- Derrick Horne – Multi Instruments
- Ronn Huff – String Arrangements, String Conductor
- Paul Jackson, Jr. – Guitar
- Barry Landis – Executive Producer
- Stephen Lu – Producer
- Mark Lusk – Artist Development
- Ann McCrary – Vocals (bckgr)
- W.T. Norwood, Sr. – Performer
- William Norwood – Vocals, Vocals (bckgr), Mixing
- Tiffany Palmer – Vocals (bckgr)
- LeAnne Palmore – Vocals (bckgr)
- Shandra Penix – Vocals (bckgr)
- Billy Preston – Organ (Hammond)
- Ray J – Performer
- Dana Reed – Guitar
- Duane Starling – Vocals (bckgr)
- Demetrus Alexander Stewart – Executive Producer
- Kirk Whalum – Sax (Tenor)
- Doug Williams – Vocals, Producer, Mixing
- Melvin Williams – Vocals, Producer, Mixing
- Jerard Woods – Vocals (bckgr)
- Jovaun Woods – Vocals (bckgr)
Charts
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard Top Gospel Albums | 13 |
| Billboard Top Heatseekers | 1 |