Maps of Music

A Public Affair (2006)

Where the lyrics of A Public Affair take you, and where it was really made.

Made during Jessica Simpson's divorce from Nick Lachey, the album was meant to be a fun record, and Simpson later said not a single song on it was about him.

Key places

Conway Recording Studios, Hollywood (2006)

Recording site Conway Recording Studios — The article lists Conway Recording Studios in Hollywood as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Westlake Recording Studios, Hollywood (2006)

Recording site Westlake Recording Studios — The article lists Westlake Recording Studios in Hollywood as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Pool House, Long Island (2006)

Recording site Cove City Sound Studios — The article lists The Pool House in Long Island, New York as a recording location. The point marks only the Long Island city center. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Skyline, New York (2006)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The article lists Skyline in New York as a recording location. The point marks only the New York city center. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sony Music Studios, New York City (2006)

Recording site Sony Music Studios — The article lists Sony Music Studios in New York City as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Homesite 13, Novato (2006)

Recording site Homesite 13 — The article lists Homesite 13 in Novato, California as a recording location. The point marks only the Novato city center. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Mayfair Studios, London (2006)

Recording site Mayfair Studios — The article lists Mayfair Studios in London as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Flyte Tyme, Santa Monica (2006)

Recording site Ruby Red — The article lists Flyte Tyme in Santa Monica as a recording location. The point marks only the Santa Monica city center. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Village Recorder, Los Angeles (2006)

Recording site Village Recorders — The article lists The Village Recorder in Los Angeles as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Criteria Studios, Miami (2006)

Recording site Criteria Studios — The article lists Criteria Studios in Miami as a recording location for the album. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• A Public Affair: fifth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson
• Released August 26, 2006 in the United States by Epic Records
• First studio album after her divorce from Nick Lachey
• First release under Epic Records after leaving Columbia Records
• Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Cory Rooney, Scott Storch, Stargate and Lester Mendez
• Simpson co-wrote nine of the thirteen songs

Background

• Work began in late 2004, after the Christmas album ReJoyce: The Christmas Album
• Simpson said she listened to Björk for inspiration
• Album first announced July 29, 2005 in an MTV interview
• Initially reported as And the Band Played On, with a November 2005 release set
• Delayed to spring 2006, then delayed again; reportedly due to the divorce
• Simpson and Lachey announced their split in November 2005
• Simpson found it hard to write songs about Lachey and chose to write a fun album instead
• Worked with Janet Jackson's producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on several songs
• Simpson named Janet Jackson as an influence, especially on the ballads

Recording

• Recording locations named in the article: Hollywood, London, New York, Long Island, Novato, Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Miami
• Scott Storch produced two songs; Mr. Operator was not included on the album
• Storch's Fired Up was reportedly considered as the first single

Cover

• The first cover showed a sultry image of Simpson in a strapless dress with her hair down
• The cover was switched to a casual image: green T-shirt, ring on the right index finger, hair pulled back
• Representative Rob Shuter explained the first cover was supplied because the final artwork decision had not yet been made

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Born July 10, 1980 in Abilene, Texas; grew up in a strict evangelical household and sang in a Baptist church choir as a child.
• Signed with Columbia Records in 1997 at age seventeen after an earlier Christian label deal stalled.
• Debut album Sweet Kisses (1999) sold over two million copies in the United States; the single "I Wanna Love You Forever" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Irresistible (2001) adopted a more mature image; its title track became a top-20 Hot 100 hit.
• In This Skin (2003) sold three million copies in the United States after its 2004 reissue.
• Gained wider fame through her marriage to Nick Lachey and the MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica (2003–2005).
• Film debut as Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard (2005); her cover of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" reached the top 20.
• Turned to country music with Do You Know (2008); has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
• Built The Jessica Simpson Collection into a fashion brand with $1 billion in annual retail sales; regained full ownership in 2021.
• Memoir Open Book (2020) topped The New York Times Best Seller list.
• Returned to music in 2025 with the EPs Nashville Canyon, Part 1 and Part 2.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Reviews were generally mixed; critics praised musical diversity against earlier albums but criticized its individuality
• AllMusic: Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it a party album, pure and simple, and her strongest and most entertaining album
• Slant Magazine: Sal Cinquemani categorized it as shallow but named it her best album to date
• IGN: Spence D. felt it failed to establish Simpson's own identity
• BBC: Lizzie Ennever was critical of her vocal performance
• New York Post: Dan Aquilante praised the production

Reappraisal

• Some critics praised the album while criticizing its similarities to hits from the 1970s and 1980s
• Several songs were compared to works by Janet Jackson

Records

• Debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 101,000 copies
• Certified Gold by the RIAA
• Debuted at number six in Canada, where it was also certified Gold
• Sold 500,000 units in the United States
• Sold over one million copies worldwide to date

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Simpson named Janet Jackson as an influence on the album, and Jackson was recording at the same studio as Simpson at the time.
• Walkin' 'Round in a Circle samples Fleetwood Mac's Dreams.
• Push Your Tush heavily samples the Ohio Players 1976 song Who'd She Coo?.
• I Belong to Me was first included only on the Walmart release as a bonus track, and was later added to future editions.
• Simpson canceled a scheduled Late Show with David Letterman appearance on August 29, 2006 after a broken blood vessel in her throat.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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