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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Goin' Back To Cali |
| 2. Intro-lude 8701 |
| 3. U Remind Me |
| 4. I Don't Know |
| 5. Twork It Out |
| 6. U Got It Bad |
| 7. Pop Ya Collar |
| 8. If I Want To |
| 9. I Can't Let U Go |
| 10. U Don't Have To Call |
| 11. Without U |
| 12. Can U Help Me |
| 13. How Do I Say |
| 14. Hottest Thing |
| 15. Good Ol' Ghetto |
| 16. U-Turn |
| 17. T.T.P. |
| 18. Separated |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Following on from 1997's My Way, 8701 crowns Usher's position as R&B man of the moment. Never mind the hype about Michael Jackson, Wacko is going to have some serious competition in years to come. Usher is a rap singer and dance man with a twist. Rather than being R&B record designed by committee, every track on 8701 pulsates with the sense of a life lived, a strongly personal point of view--from the street slang of "Pop Ya Collar", to the nostalgic groove "U-Turn" ("I had a hot flat top/...the sound was Bobby Brown"), to the song "If U Want To", where Usher sings: "I can take you from your man", with vulnerability rather than braggadocio. Though cowritten and produced with a variety of names, including She'kspere and The Neptunes, the solid hip-hop undertow comes courtesy of Jermaine Dupri. Mixing slow jams with edgy beats and sweet melody, Usher has pulled off a triumph. --Lucy O'Brien
Review
The rise and rise of Usher continues with the release of his fourth album 8701 this week. At 22 years of age he is fast becoming one of the hottest, multi-faceted talents in the US with the previous album, "My Way" selling seven million copies and finding time to act in four major movies. With so much achieved so soon the question arises as to whether a similar success can be repeated. 8701 sees Usher Raymond taking more control of the operation, developing his producing, singing and song writing skills to a new level and taking responsibility for twelve of the writing credits across the seventeen tracks.
That said this record has had an army of producers working on it, including The Neptunes, Baby Face and She'kespere working along side Usher. Combined with collaborators P. Diddy (formerly Puff Daddy) and Jermaine Dupri on "I Can't Let You Go" it is no wonder that this album sounds so polished and mature beyond his years. However, Usher's expert delivery cannot be denied and his range across the soulful ballad "Can U Help Me" and hip pop "I Don't Know" is both extensive and impressive. The up tempo single "Pop Ya Collar" is certainly one of the albums stand out tracks and, whilst catchy, lacks the universal appeal of "You Make Me Wanna" - the tune which made Usher a world wide phenomena a few years ago. With such a high profile Usher is indeed a pop star for the 21st Century - with writing, producing, performing, acting and making in roads into artist management in his repertoire he is definitely taking care of business. Full of soul and in control! --Christian Hopwood
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Usher's career kicked off in 1987 Atlanta and the wheel of fortune hasn't stopped turning for him since. With this, his third album, he has developed both as a singer and a songwriter from what we saw on My Way. The album nicely mixes slower ballads with songs that get you up and dancing as a more mature Mr Raymond shows he's quite possibly this generation's Michael Jackson. From the slower grooves of the loved-up 'U Got It Bad' and 'How Do I Say' to the pounding Neptunes and Shek'spere base lines on 'U Don't Have To Call' and 'TTP', from the instantly catchy 'U Remind Me' and 'U-Turn' to the genuinely heartfelt 'Can U Help Me' and 'Separated', by way of the uplifting 'Pop Ya Collar', Usher has produced a mature album that shows you can still have fun. Sure, there are touches of bravado about 'If I Want To' and 'Good Ol' Ghetto', but it's this slight overflowing of confidence that makes this an excellent album. The guest appearances by P Diddy, Pharell Williams and Kelis are also worthy of note. If this and the new single 'Yeah' are what we can expect from his new album 'Confessions', then bring it on!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have always been a great fan of Usher and have most of his work in my CD Collection, but this Album in one word, blew his older albums away. The Songs in this album are to suit absolutely every mood that is going. You have 'U GOT IT BAD' which is a fantastic rnb ballad with fantastic lyrics, sometimes you feel he is just singing about you. You have the great song 'I Don't Know' which features P Diddy, (they work so well together). Off course we have the other top 10 hits, Pop Ya Collar and U Remind me which just want to get you up dancing. This has to be the best Album i have bought in years. If you enjoy Usher and you havent got this yet, i suggest you rush out and get a copy now. 8701 - only problem with this album, what on earth is 8701.... :)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an excellent album by Usher, I have brought this album on hearing Confessions, but this album by far outweighs any albums he has esatablished so far. The album is well constructed, it is almost written in a ballad form and it directly addresses the theme of love - a meticulous beginning by the song U remind me and a brilliant ending by the song Separated. He has truly shown his talent and outhweighed his critics in this album, as the songs he protays has an element of subtlity encapsulated within it, each song has a deep meaning and thoroughly constructed. The song U got it bad is a brilliant example, it is almost as if he is referring to you directly. In addition, the guest appearances by P Diddy, Pharell Williams and Kelis are also worthy of note, and adds a huge impact on the album. There is a mix of rap in the album but the majority of the songs are dominated by the sole voice of Usher in an R&N&B manner, making this album an excellent hear for any music fan. Usher has risen from a teenage 13 year old to a mature 25 year old. This album is a vivid demonstration of his maturity.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Love it....
I used to listen to this when it 1st came out, recorded on tape I wore it out... Forgot how good it was great for sticking on in the car, cant wait for the summer to come perfect... Read more
Published 3 months ago by laura
Classic
A classic album of the 80s was thriller. the classic album for the noughties is 8701. an amazing album. flawlessly put together and so memorable. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2007 by Munir Abubakar
A fab mix!
Usher's just got this album jusy right, with a mix of uplifting, soothing, and bass-pumping tunes. I put it on before footie matches to get me going, and it really does the job. Read more
Published on 17 Sep 2006 by Tom Cat
Statement - THE BEST ALBUM EVER!
This is by far the best album i've ever listened to. Being a huge rnb listener, there arn't many albums you can put on and listen to throughout. Read more
Published on 22 Aug 2004 by Waxter
calming and cool.........buy it now!
I BOUGHT THIS ALBUM WHEN IT WAS FIRST RELEASED AND I STILL CANT GET ENOUGH OF IT.HE IS EASILY THE BEST R&B ACT OUT THERE AT THE MOMENT AND I JUST CANT WAIT TILL HE BRINGS OUT HES... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2004 by Andy
Best RnB album of 2001 without a doubt
This has to be one of the best RnB albums around, and practically every single track on 8701 is great. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2003
Usher's best album so far - set to be an R'n'B classic
This is a must for any Usher or R'n'B fans - it has the potential to appeal to a lot more people as well. Read more
Published on 10 May 2003
Deserves 8701 stars!!
I've liked Usher ever since I heard the incredibly catchy 'Pop Ya Collar', so when I bought the album I was expecting great things - and I got them. Read more
Published on 5 May 2002
Sexy solo star strikes again with a superb album
This album is by far the best i've ever bought. Each song is different in it's own way and Usher's amazing voice makes all the songs sound excellent. Read more
Published on 21 April 2002 by "gorgousgroovygal"
8701 pulls you in and never lets go
Usher returns with an album that can only be described as "brillient".
Usher collaborates with the finest r&b producers of our time including Jermaine Dupri and The Neptunes to... Read more
Published on 14 April 2002
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