Joi Cardwell is the second studio album by American singer Joi Cardwell. It was released on November 11, 1997, by Eightball Records in collaboration with WEA's Lightyear Entertainment. Most of the lyrical content of the album was inspired by Cardwell's personal life.

Upon its release, Joi Cardwell received generally positive reviews from most music critics. It was also successful in international music markets and yielded four singles, including four commercial hits: "Soul to Bare", "Run to You", "Found Love" and "Power".

Recording and production Cardwell began her second album in mid-1996. The album was at four different recording studios in New York City including Big Screen Studios, Fusion Studios, Num Sound Studios, and Gomi's Lair Productions. Cardwell decided to enlist in recording and writing with more producers and taking a slightly lesser production than she did on her debut album. Producers Phillip Damien, Hani Al-Bader, Bluejean, Frankie Knuckles, Brinsley Evans each contributed tracks and mixes, while Cardwell also self-produced several songs. The songs were mastered and engineered by Konrad Carelli and Gerald Freeman in New York City.

Joi Cardwell was influenced by a variety of American genres, and, like Cardwell's previous album, incorporated urban contemporary elements including contemporary R&B and jazz.Published by Here Publishing. (1997, December 23). Sapphic Soul Sister. The Advocate, No. 749, Page 56. Retrieved from https://books.google.com Cardwell crafted most songs on the album through live instrumentation and diverse techniques. This is evident on "Stop & Think", which utilizes bass guitar, drums, keyboard, and different percussion instruments.Joi Cardwell – Joi Cardwell. Discogs. Retrieved on February 14, 2017

Release and promotion After the success of her previous album, Eightball Records decided to partner with WEA's Lightyear Entertainment to distribute Joi Cardwell. The album was released on November 11, 1997, in North America.Joi Cardwell – Joi Cardwell > Overview. All Music Guide. Retrieved on February 14, 2017 Cardwell, who had toured throughout the year of 1997, decided to briefly conclude the tour to cope with the untimely death of her mother Jacqueline Cardwell; who died of metastatic breast cancer.Published by Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1997, May 10). Men at Work. Billboard, Volume 109: No. 19, Page 23. Retrieved from https://books.google.com

"Soul to Bare", produced in collaboration with Hani Al-Bader, was released on February 3, 1997, as the album's lead single. The song peaked in the top-two on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play.Chart History > Joi Cardwell. Billboard. Retrieved on February 7, 2017 "Run to You" was released on November 25. It became her second solo highest-charting single, opening at number forty-four on the Billboard Club Play chart; Published by Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1997, September 6). Hot Dance Music. Billboard, Volume 109: No. 36, Page 35. Retrieved from https://books.google.com ultimately peaking at number 1 for two weeks.

The album's third single "Found Love" was released on October 12, 1998, as the third single. Produced by Frankie Knuckles, the song was described as more romantic in comparison to her previous single releases.Published by Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1998, April 25). Reviews & Previews. Billboard, Volume 110: No. 17, Page 69. Retrieved from https://books.google.com "Found Love" peaked at number five on the Club Play chart. "Power", the album's final single, was released on November 23, 1998. Along with the release of each single, remix EPs were released.

Critical reception Joi Cardwell received generally positive reviews from music critics. Paul Verna of Billboard magazine gave a nod to Cardwell by saying, "As the set's dominant producer and songwriter, Cardwell scores equally high marks in both roles."Published by Nielsen Business Media, Inc. (1997, December 20). Reviews & Previews: Albums Spotlight. Billboard, Volume 109: No. 51, Page 66. Retrieved from https://books.google.com AllMusic gave the album three out of five stars.Joi Cardwell – Joi Cardwell | Overview. All Music. Retrieved on February 10, 2017 Barry Walters of The Advocate highlights the album's tone and timbre as particularly emotional and honest in lyrical content, stating "Cardwell refines the rawness of her debut while maintaining its emotional honesty. Joi Cardwell is much more lush and club-ready."Published by Here Publishing. (1997, December 23). Sapphic Soul Sister. The Advocate, No. 749, Page 57. Retrieved from https://books.google.com

Track listing

Personnel

Joi Cardwell – lead vocals (All tracks), backing vocals (tracks 1–12), producer, executive producer, songwriting (1–12) Hani Al-Bader – producer, programming, engineer, co-writer Sandy Barber – background vocals Bluejean – producer, engineer Atelier³ D Thom Bissett – graphic artist Konrad Carelli – engineer David Carlucci – producer Patrick Carvajal – mixer Mayra Casalas – percussion Fred Cash – bass Jon Creamer – drums DJ Mike Cruz – producer Phillip Damien – producer Dahoud Darien – producer Yancy Drew – drums Gerald Freeman – engineer Lee Genesis – background vocals Kazuhiko Gomi – programming, producer Richie Goods – bass

Hex Hector – producer (track 11) Matthias Heilbronn – engineer Stephanie James – background vocals Alex Kaplan – executive producer Frankie Knuckles – producer, mixer, songwriter Dah Len – photography Danny Madden – vocal production Marina Maaricic – Hair & Makeup Shedrick Mitchell – organ Cindy Mizelle – background vocals Laurie Padilla – background vocals James 'Sleepy Keys' Preston – piano Peter Schwartz – keyboards, songwriting E. Smoove – vocal production Dave "EQ" Sussman – engineer Satoshi Tomiie – programming Willy Washington – songwriting Audrey Wheeler – background vocals Kevin Williams – A&R

References

External links