Maps of Music

I Remember Me (2011)

Where the lyrics of I Remember Me take you, and where it was really made.

The album was recorded across seven US cities, from Dallas and Miami to Denver and Santa Monica, with studios in each one.

Key places

Dallas: Maximedia Recording Studio (2011)

Recording site Luminous Sound — One of the studios where the album was recorded was Maximedia Recording Studio in Dallas. The point is placed at the city centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Miami: Instrument Zoo (2011)

Recording site The Hit Factory Criteria — Instrument Zoo in Miami is listed among the studios where the album was recorded. The point is placed at the city centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Chicago: Chicago Recording Company (2011)

Recording site Chicago Recording Company — Chicago Recording Company is one of the Chicago studios named as a recording location for the album. The point is placed at the city centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

New York City: Oven Studios (2011)

Recording site Oven Studios — Oven Studios in New York City is named among the studios where the album was recorded. The point marks the building itself. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

North Hollywood: Mason Sound (2011)

Recording site Schnee Studio — Mason Sound in North Hollywood is one of the studios named as a recording location for the album. The point is placed at the city centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Santa Monica: No Excuses Studios (2011)

Recording site Ruby Red — No Excuses Studios in Santa Monica is named among the studios where the album was recorded. The point is placed at the city centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Denver: Patriot Studios (2011)

Recording site Patriot Studios — Patriot Studios in Denver is listed as one of the studios where the album was recorded. The point is placed at the city centre. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• I Remember Me is the second studio album by Jennifer Hudson
• Released March 22, 2011, by Arista Records
• Hudson worked with many producers and writers, including Alicia Keys, Rich Harrison, Ne-Yo, R. Kelly, Harvey Mason Jr., Ryan Tedder and Diane Warren

Background

• Hudson announced on Twitter in September 2009 that she would begin work on her second studio album
• She wanted the album to be more personal than her debut
• She wanted to become more hands-on with the project
• She told InStyle magazine she wanted the album to be a 'feel good' album
• Diane Warren told E! in January 2011 that she had written a new song for Hudson titled 'Still Here'
• 'Still Here' first appeared on the UK version of Natasha Bedingfield's 2007 second album, N.B.

Recording

• The album was recorded at several studios across the United States
• Studios were in Dallas, Miami, Chicago, New York City, North Hollywood, Santa Monica and Denver
• Chicago Recording Company and The Chocolate Factory both worked in Chicago
• Mastering was credited to Dave Kutch
• Mixing credits include Record Plant in Los Angeles

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born September 12, 1981, in Chicago, Illinois; raised mainly by her mother in Englewood on the South Side.
• Began performing at age seven, singing in the church choir and doing community theater.
• Signed a first recording contract with Chicago-based Righteous Records in January 2002.

Career

• Finalist on the third season of American Idol in 2004, placing seventh.
• Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls (2006), becoming the youngest African-American recipient of the award.
• Her self-titled debut album (2008) peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and won Best R&B Album at the 51st Grammy Awards.
• Later albums include I Remember Me (2011), JHUD (2014) and The Gift of Love (2024).
• Became the youngest woman and third African-American recipient of all four major American entertainment awards (EGOT) in 2022.
• Hosts The Jennifer Hudson Show, launched September 12, 2022.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The album received generally positive reviews from music critics
• Metacritic average of 68 out of 100, based on 15 reviews from mainstream critics
• The Independent (Simon Price): said she clearly has a voice but the material is not memorable
• The A.V. Club (Genevieve Koski): said the emoting can get exhausting, but praised its empowered anthems
• The Washington Post (Allison Stewart): found the R&B songs an improvement over her previous album and compared her confidence to Adele
• USA Today (Elysa Gardner): gave three and a half out of four stars
• AllMusic (Andy Kellman): gave four and a half out of five stars and praised her performance and collaborators
• Entertainment Weekly (Mikael Wood): gave a B+ and praised its lighter vibe
• Rolling Stone (Jody Rosen): gave three out of five stars and linked its spirit to adult-oriented R&B of Anita Baker, Toni Braxton and Whitney Houston
• New York Daily News (Jim Farber): gave four out of five stars and praised the focus of her singing
• Mojo: gave two out of five stars and said she was not being given the right material
• MusicOMH (Natalie Shaw): gave three out of five stars and noted many filler songs
• The Guardian (Carolie Sullivan): said the album ends with overblown ballads but the first three-quarters are uplifting

Records

• Debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with 165,000 first-week copies
• Second week sales of 56,000 copies, dropping to number seven on the Billboard 200
• RIAA gold certification on April 25, 2011, for shipping over 500,000 copies in the US
• As of September 2014, sales in the US reached 459,000 copies
• Debuted at number 84 in Germany, Hudson's first studio album to chart there
• Won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards
• Nominated for Top R&B Album at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The lead single 'Where You At' premiered on January 24, 2011, written by R. Kelly and produced by Harvey Mason Jr.
• Its music video premiered on BET's 106 & Park and through Vevo on February 24, 2011.
• The title track was released as the lead single in the UK on April 3, 2011, and peaked at number 89 on the UK Singles Chart.
• 'No One Gonna Love You' reached number 23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
• The non-single track 'Don't Look Down' reached number 70 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
• The album was mastered by Dave Kutch.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · discogs.com

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