Justin Guarini is the self-titled debut album from American Idol season one runner-up Justin Guarini. It was released by RCA Records on June 10, 2003. The album debuted and peaked at number twenty on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 57,000 units. By October 2008, it had sold 143,000 copies.
Background In a radio interview, American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, remarked of Guarini, "Following his season, there was a huge hype surrounding Justin and no one could believe the hysteria. But, everything was new and they weren't quite sure what to do. With a show like American Idol the window of opportunity is very, very small. Also, Justin had creative conflicts with his record company as far as the direction of the album that additionally aided in putting him past that window of opportunity. After the first season, they learned to capitalize on the window of opportunity for non-winners keeping them in the public eye with singles, videos, rushed CDs, etc., something that didn't happen for Justin".
In an interview with MTV, Guarini spoke of the experience saying, "It really has been just Music Industry Education 101. I learned a lot from it ... And it's not a finger-pointing issue to me; I take as much responsibility as I can."Justin Guarini Says He Has No Hard Feelings For 'Idol' — Really!
Originally the song "Sorry" was planned as the first single release from the album, but later it was decided that there would be two "first" singles. "Sorry" was released to MTV and pop radio, while his cover version of "Unchained Melody" was sent to R&B and adult contemporary stations.
Critical reception
AllMusic's Heather Phares wrote: "In the end, this album isn't as surprising or diverse a debut as Thankful was, but its solid quality proves that the forces behind American Idol want their winners to make good pop albums, as opposed to one mega-hit single backed by 11 throwaway tracks. Justin Guarini might be calculated, but it's not cynical." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine was critical of the "drab balladry" and "predictable R&B material" throughout the record but felt it was "a more cohesive effort" than Clarkson's Thankful. Henry Goldblatt of Entertainment Weekly gave the album an overall D+ grade, saying: "Even his most rabid fans will recognize Guarini's innocuous, focus-grouped, you-know-you-wanna-love-me ballads as songs that should be greeting Kmart shoppers."
Commercial performance Justin Guarini debuted at number twenty on the US Billboard 200 with first week sales of 57,000 units. By October 2008, it had sold 143,000 copies, according to USA Today.
Track listing
Personnel Adapted from AllMusic.
Vocals
Nancy Anderson – background vocals Nate Butler – background vocals Kelly Clarkson – featured vocals Eric Dawkins – background vocals
Justin Guarini – primary artist, background vocals Mae McKenna – background vocals Jeanette Olsson – background vocals Tuff Singers – background vocals
Musicians
Dave Arch – keyboards Edwin Bonilla – percussion Luis Conte – percussion Tony Dixon – keyboards Nathan East – bass David Frank – drums, keyboards Sean Hurley – bass Eric D. Jackson – guitar Paul Jackson, Jr. – electric guitar Fridrik Karlsson – guitar Greg Kurstin - keyboards Ricky Lawson – drums Manuel Lopez – guitar (nylon string)
Steve Mac – keyboards Oscar Merner – guitar (nylon string) Party Man – keyboards Steve Pearce – guitar (bass) Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, piano John Pierce – bass Tim Pierce – guitar Ramón Stagnaro – guitar (nylon string) Michael Hart Thompson – guitar Gavyn Wright – strings
Production
Kwaku Alston – photography Dave Arch – orchestral arrangements Peer Åström – arranger, engineer, mixing, producer Bag – arranger Paul Boutin – engineer Henrik Brunberg – assistant engineer Nate Butler – vocal arrangement Bag – arranger Clive Davis – executive producer David Frank – producer, programming, vocal arrangement Ryan Freeland – engineer Chris Garcia – engineer Dabling Harward – editing Havana Hustlers – programming Matt Howe – engineer Janson & Janson – conductor, string arrangements Karlin – arranger Steve Kipner – vocal arrangement Christian Lantry – photography Chris Laws – engineer Jolie Levine-aller – production coordination Bernard Löhr – mixing assistant, string engineer Juan Cristobal Losada – engineer
Steve Mac – mixing, producer Kev Mahoney – assistant engineer Bill Malina – engineer, mixing Manny Marroquin – mixing Lester Mendez – producer Matz Nilsson – mixing Larrabee North – mixing Daniel Pursey – assistant engineer Jason Rankins – assistant engineer Wade Robson – engineer, mixing, producer, vocal arrangement Wayne Rodrigues – drum programming, pro-Tools Jesse Rogg – assistant engineer Bob Rosa – assistant vocal engineer Dave Russell – engineer, mixing Robin Sellers – mixing Damon Sharpe – engineer, producer Joel Shepard – assistant engineer Soulshock – arranger, mixing, producer Stockholm Session Orchestra – strings Rabeka Tuinei – mixing assistant The Underdogs – producer Alan Veucasovic – assistant engineer Joe Yannece – mastering
Charts + Weekly chart performance for Justin Guarini Chart (2009) Peakposition
References