Maps of Music

Charmbracelet (2002)

Where the lyrics of Charmbracelet take you, and where it was really made.

Most of this comeback album was recorded in Capri, where Carey had moved to rest after her breakdown.

Key places

Right Track in New York (2002)

Recording site MSR Studios — Carey traveled to New York to record some tracks, alongside Atlanta and Philadelphia. Right Track is listed as a recording studio for the album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Capri, where most of the album was made (2002)

Recording site Capri — Most of the album was recorded in Capri, where Carey stayed to rest and moved into a studio to focus on writing and recording. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Nassau sessions with a live band (2002)

Recording site Compass Point Studios — Carey and 7 Aurelius flew to Nassau, Bahamas, where they recorded mid-tempo and up-tempo tracks and ballads with a live band. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Atlanta recording sessions (2002)

Recording site DARP Studios (Atlanta) — Carey traveled to Atlanta to record some tracks for the album. The studio is given at the city level only. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Jam and Lewis sessions (2002)

Recording site Flyte Tyme (Edina) — Jam and Lewis worked with Carey on songs for the album, including Yours. The studio is given at the city level only. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Philadelphia recording sessions (2002)

Recording site The Studio (Philadelphia) — Carey traveled to Philadelphia to record some tracks for Charmbracelet, along with Atlanta and New York. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Mastering at Gateway (2002)

Recording site Gateway Mastering Studios — The Discogs release notes list Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine as the place where the album was mastered. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Charmbracelet is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey
• Released in the US through Island Records and Carey's own MonarC Entertainment
• The US release date was first set for 10 December 2002, then moved to 3 December
• Critics described it as one of Carey's most personal records, following 1997's Butterfly
• The main theme is love, with introspective songs mixed with celebration and fun
• R&B beats are combined with elements of gospel and soul
• Compared with Glitter, it has a softer hip hop and R&B sound
• Cam'ron, Jay-Z and Freeway appear on the album

Background

• Came after a year of critical, commercial and personal struggles
• Followed the poor reception of the film Glitter (2001) and its soundtrack
• Carey was hospitalized in Connecticut after a breakdown
• She stayed in Capri, Italy, for five months and began writing and producing material
• Signed with Island Records and started the MonarC Entertainment imprint for her comeback

Recording

• Most of the album was recorded in Capri
• Some tracks were recorded in Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia
• In April 2002 she met 7 Aurelius and asked him to produce songs
• She flew to Nassau, Bahamas, and recorded mid-tempo and up-tempo tracks and ballads with a live band

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born March 27, 1969 in Huntington, New York, on Long Island.
• Youngest of three children of Patricia Hickey, a former opera singer, and Alfred Roy Carey, an aeronautical engineer.
• Began singing at age three; graduated from Harborfields High School in 1987.
• Worked as a demo singer and backup singer, including for Brenda K. Starr.

Career

• Signed to Columbia Records after Tommy Mottola heard her demo tape in December 1988.
• Debut album Mariah Carey (1990) topped the US Billboard 200 and won Best New Artist at the Grammys.
• Became the first artist whose first five singles reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Music Box (1993), Merry Christmas (1994), and Daydream (1995) achieved major global sales.
• Later albums moved toward hip-hop and R&B, including Butterfly (1997) and Rainbow (1999).
• Comeback album The Emancipation of Mimi (2005) was her fifth number-one album in the US.
• Known as the 'Songbird Supreme' and 'Queen of Christmas'; one of the best-selling artists in history with over 220 million records sold.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Metacritic gave the album 43 out of 100, indicating mixed or average reviews
• AllMusic (Stephen Thomas Erlewine): two and a half out of five stars, criticized the production and Carey's voice
• Billboard (Michael Paoletta): praised Carey's return to her core audience
• Rolling Stone (Barry Walters): two out of five stars, said none of the songs were bold and the lack of hooks made the album weak
• Slant Magazine (Sal Cinquemani): complimented the mix of pop and hip hop melodies and called it significantly less contrived than Rainbow
• The New York Times (Kelefa Sanneh): generally pleasant though not always exciting, with a few collaborations that went awry

Records

• US Billboard 200 debut at number three with 241,000 first-week sales
• Fell to number fourteen the following week and stayed on the chart for 22 weeks
• RIAA Platinum for one million US shipments
• RIAJ Platinum in Japan for 200,000 shipments; Oricon debut at number four
• UK: first-week peak at number 52 with 19,000 copies; BPI Gold in February 2003 for 100,000 shipments
• Over three million copies sold worldwide
• Nominated at the 17th Japan Gold Disc Award in 2003 in the Rock and Pop Album of the Year (International) category

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Carey included her duet with Busta Rhymes, 'I Know What You Want', in the 2003 re-release with four extra tracks
• The music video of 'Through the Rain', directed by Dave Meyers, is based on the courtship and eloping of Carey's parents
• 'The One' was scheduled as the second single and its video was shot, but halfway through the filming the single was changed to 'Boy (I Need You)'
• Carey wrote and produced 'Sunflowers for Alfred Roy' in memory of her father, who died soon after she returned to New York to be with him
• The Charmbracelet World Tour was her most extensive yet, lasting over eight months with 69 shows

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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