Maps of Music

Irresistible (2001)

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

Irresistible was meant to reboot Simpson's career with a teen-pop image, yet it stayed on the US chart for just sixteen weeks.

Key places

Main recording base in New York (2001)

Recording site Sony Music Studios — Most of the recording and mixing for the album took place at this New York studio over eight months. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Cove City Sound Studios (2001)

Recording site Cove City Sound — Discogs credits this studio in Glen Cove as one of the places where the album was recorded. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Homesite 13 in Novato (2001)

Recording site Homesite 13 — Discogs lists Homesite 13 as a recording location for the album, placed at the city centre of Novato. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Lobo Studios in Deer Park (2001)

Recording site Lobo Recording Studios — Discogs lists Lobo Studios as a recording location, and the point is placed at the centre of Deer Park. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Murlyn Music Studios in Sweden (2001)

Recording site Master Plan — Simpson traveled to this Swedish studio to record the title track, which was written by Swedish writers. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

The Record Plant in Los Angeles (2001)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Discogs lists The Record Plant as a recording location for the album, placed at the centre of Los Angeles. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sony Scoring Stage in Culver City (2001)

Recording site Cocoa-Butt — Discogs lists the Sony Scoring Stage as a recording location, placed at the centre of Culver City. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Wally World Studio B in San Rafael (2001)

Recording site Tarpan Studios — The background vocals and overdubs for the Walter Afanasieff tracks were done at this studio in San Rafael. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Irresistible: second studio album by Jessica Simpson
• Released May 25, 2001 through Columbia Records
• In the United States, the release was pushed to June 5, 2001 for undisclosed reasons
• Musically moves from the ballad-heavy debut Sweet Kisses toward hip hop and R&B
• Lyrical themes include love and heartbreak, sexuality, and self-respect
• Simpson described the material as Mariah Carey meets Britney Spears

Background

• Debut Sweet Kisses (1999) was aimed at a more mature audience and did not perform well commercially
• Sweet Kisses peaked at number 25 on the US Billboard 200
• At the suggestion of label executives, Simpson changed her image and sound
• She moved into teen pop and R&B, hoping to rejuvenate her career by matching Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera
• Simpson separated from Nick Lachey in March 2001
• Tommy Mottola, CEO of Columbia, took control of the whole project and hand-picked the track list
• Simpson does not share songwriting credits on any of the tracks

Recording

• Simpson started working on the album in mid-July 2000
• Cory Rooney was selected as executive producer
• Most recording and mixing was done at Sony Music Studios, New York City, over eight months
• Work was also done at several other studios, including in Sweden and California
• Marc Anthony guests as vocalist on the ballad There You Were

Cover

• Artwork shot by Alberto Tolot in April 2001
• The cover drew negative attention from several critics

Sources: en.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

• Critics gave mixed reviews, most of them disappointed by the music
• Some critics found the album too generic and over-produced
• Chuck Campbell of Daily News gave the album a rating of 2.5 out of 5 and called it nothing but a footnote
• Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic graded the album 2.5 stars out of 5
• Barry Walters of Rolling Stone wrote that except Hot Like Fire, every other track needed remixing
• Peter Marsh of the BBC said the album covered all the bases

Records

• In the United States, debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 for the week of June 23, 2001
• Sold 120,000 copies in its first week, a major improvement over Sweet Kisses
• Fell to number twelve the following week and to number twenty-five after that
• Stayed on the charts for just sixteen weeks
• Certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies; as of February 2009, sold 755,000 copies in the US
• Canada: certified gold by CRIA in April 2005 for shipments of 50,000 units
• Japan: debuted at number twenty-five on the Oricon Albums Chart with 9,560 copies
• United Kingdom: peaked at number 103
• Germany: peaked at number thirty-four
• Sold 2 million copies worldwide

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The title track was written by Anders Bagge and Arnthor Birgisson with Pamela Sheyne, who also sings backing vocals on it
• To record the title track, Simpson traveled to Murlyn Music Studios in Sweden
• A Little Bit became Kara DioGuardi's first writing credit for an artist from her native country
• After the September 11 attacks, Sony refused to promote a third single, which Joe Simpson believed was critical for Jessica's prospects
• Simpson closed the album with a cover of the gospel hymn His Eye Is on the Sparrow, saying she wanted to give her audience a piece of her heart and soul

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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