Groove Theory is the only studio album by the American R&B duo Groove Theory, released on October 24, 1995, by Epic Records. The album peaked at number sixty-nine on the US Billboard 200 chart. In October 1996, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for surpassing 500,000 copies in the United States.
Background
Reception
Stanton Swihart of AllMusic considered the effort "an exquisite, even innovative album. Not only did it (in retrospect) help to herald the progressive neo-soul movement, but its melding of decidedly hip-hop production techniques... with the emotional impulses and themes of soul was still a novel approach to making R&B at the time."
In a retrospective review, Stephen Kearse of Pitchfork declared the record "a cool and atmospheric bomb thrown into the waters of ’90s R&B… Although Groove Theory’s fusions never feel as audacious as the worldbuilding taking place on other syncretic mid-’90s R&B albums like Meshell Ndegeocello’s Plantation Lullabies, Sade’s Love Deluxe, D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar, and Janet Jackson’s janet., there's no friction from all the blending. Groove Theory imagined R&B as a tentpole genre that could house jazz scats, funk grooves, and rap edge without conflict. It's no accident that the terms most often used to describe the group are "cool" and "smooth."
Track listing All music by B. Wilson, A. Larrieux, and D. Brown except where noted.
Personnel Art direction – Carol Chen Bass – Darryl Brown, Eric "Ibo" Butler, Kirk Lyons Design – Sean Evans Drums – Ralph Rolle Engineering – Russell Elevado, Joe Hornof Executive production – Jimmy Henchman, Amel Larrieux Guitar – Darryl Brown, Mike "Dino" Campbell Keyboard arrangements – Bryce Wilson Keyboards – Darryl Brown, Kevin Deane, Gary Montoute, Bryce Wilson Mastering – Chris Gehringer Mixing – Ron Banks, Russell Elevado, Dave Kennedy, Angela Piva Percussion – Jeff Haynes Production – Lamont Boles, Amel Larrieux, Bryce Wilson Production coordination – Donald Wood, Kim Lumpkin Programming – Isiah Lee Saxophone – Mike Phillips Stylist – Jamie Kimmelman Vocal arrangement – Amel Larrieux, Laru Larrieux, Trey Lorenz Vocals – Amel Larrieux, Laru Larrieux Vocals (background) – Sean Jasper, Jean, Amel Larrieux, Laru Larrieux, Trey Lorenz, Troy Montgomery
Charts Album +Chart performance for Groove TheoryChart (1995)PeakpositionUS Billboard 20069US R&B Albums14
Singles TitleYearPeak chart positionsUS Billboard Hot 100US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles SalesUS Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & TracksUS Rhythmic Top 40US Top 40 Mainstream"Tell Me"1995523221"Keep Tryin'"199664362429—"Baby Luv"65182314—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Certifications
References
External links Groove Theory at Discogs