The Sound (Mary Mary album)
Encyclopedia
The Sound is the fifth studio album by R&B
/gospel
duo Mary Mary
. It was released on October 21, 2008 in the U.S.
. In the UK
, The Sounds release had been delayed to September, then it had since been delayed again till October. It was later announced the tentative release date in the UK would be October 20, 2008.
In advance of the album's release, the duo released a promotional song entitled "A Mother's Smile" in conjunction with a Mother's Day promotion with Colgate
. The official lead single "Get Up" was released digitally via iTunes
on July 15, 2008. The Album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200, number 2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart, as well as number 1 on both the Billboard Top Gospel Albums and Billboard Top Christian Albums Charts. The album sold 37,800 copies it first week. The album has remained on the Billboard 200
for 55 weeks.
The Sound won Mary Mary 4 more Stellar Awards on January 16, 2010.
(known as Baby Dubb) assumes production over the album and the duo co-writes many of the songs on the album.
The Sound saw Mary Mary explore more genres, with fewer songs containing their signature contemporary R&B
sound. The songs "Forgiven Me" and "Dirt" feature elements of pop rock
. The duo also covers a traditional gospel
song, "It Will All Be Worth It". The Sound covers their famous R&B/hip hop sound with songs such as "Superfriend" and "God In Me". Whereas the group experiments with 50s pop
on the title track. Finally, the duo also incorporated dance pop music in their lead single "Get Up
". The latter tracks on the album are primarily worship
ballads.
Another difference between The Sound and the duo's previous efforts is the vocal structure. On previous recordings, each group member would sing a verse and take turns on the bridge. However, on songs such "Get Up", the duo harmonizes
both of the verses and bridge together, only ad-libing on the final chorus. On Superfriend, each member alternated lines and shared one verse while harmonizing on the bridge.
The entire album is recorded to give the listener the illusion of listening to a radio station
. The album employs inter-track drops and frequent station IDs (WMLB/MyBlock Radio).
" was released exclusively at Wal-Mart
with a limited edition which included a DVD with 55 minutes of footage of the making of "The Sound", and backstage look on what the group will be doing in the future. There are plans of a deluxe edition of the record being released in the future.
-nominated for the 51st Grammy Awards
of 2009 in the category "Best Gospel Album". The album's first single "Get Up
" also received two Grammy nominations for "Best Gospel Song" and "Best Gospel Performance," of which it won "Best Gospel Performance." At the 52nd Grammy Awards in 2010 the duo won another Grammy for Best Gospel Song for God In Me. This is a rare achievement in that an artist or group has won another award for the same album the following year.
The album was also nominated for a Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year at the 40th GMA Dove Awards. The song "Get Up
" was also nominated for Country Recorded Song of the Year.
Bonus Track - iTunes
:
Bonus Track - f.y.e. Exclusive Edition:
, #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play
, and #6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
. The song has not been officially released outside of the U.S., although the album will be given a full release in the UK.
A music video for Mary Mary's next single "I Worship You" has been released through several online channels. The video appeared for sale on iTunes in January 2009. An additional single "God In Me" featuring Kierra Sheard
has been released to radio and is gaining airplay in both hip-hop and R&B formats. According to a bulletin post on Sheard's official MySpace page, an internet contest to appear in the music video for "God In Me" was announced in December.
"God In Me
" has so far peaked at #68 on the US Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #1 on the Gospel Songs chart.
charts, becoming Mary Mary's highest charting album (their third self-titled studio album Mary Mary
debuted at #8). Other chart positions include #2 on the US R&B chart, #1 on both the gospel and CCM charts. To date it has sold over 416,600 copies.
The lead single "Get Up", while very successful on many charts (particularly the component charts), still failed to match the success of their debut single "Shackles (Praise You)
".
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
/gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
duo Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...
. It was released on October 21, 2008 in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, The Sounds release had been delayed to September, then it had since been delayed again till October. It was later announced the tentative release date in the UK would be October 20, 2008.
In advance of the album's release, the duo released a promotional song entitled "A Mother's Smile" in conjunction with a Mother's Day promotion with Colgate
Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive Company is an American diversified multinational corporation focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products . Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of...
. The official lead single "Get Up" was released digitally via iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
on July 15, 2008. The Album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200, number 2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums Chart, as well as number 1 on both the Billboard Top Gospel Albums and Billboard Top Christian Albums Charts. The album sold 37,800 copies it first week. The album has remained on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
for 55 weeks.
The Sound won Mary Mary 4 more Stellar Awards on January 16, 2010.
Production
As with other Mary Mary recordings, Warryn CampbellWarryn Campbell
Warryn Campbell is an American record producer. He specializes in gospel music and R&B.-Career:His work includes production and songwriting credits for Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Xzibit, Yolanda Adams, Dayna Caddell, Mos Def, Missy Elliott, Kierra Sheard, Brandy, Dave Hollister, Men of Standard,...
(known as Baby Dubb) assumes production over the album and the duo co-writes many of the songs on the album.
The Sound saw Mary Mary explore more genres, with fewer songs containing their signature contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
sound. The songs "Forgiven Me" and "Dirt" feature elements of pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
. The duo also covers a traditional gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
song, "It Will All Be Worth It". The Sound covers their famous R&B/hip hop sound with songs such as "Superfriend" and "God In Me". Whereas the group experiments with 50s pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
on the title track. Finally, the duo also incorporated dance pop music in their lead single "Get Up
Get Up (Mary Mary song)
"Get Up" is the lead single for Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell. The song is known as "the movement anthem"...
". The latter tracks on the album are primarily worship
Worship Music
Worship Music is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It is their first album of original material since 2003's We've Come for You All and the first to feature original singer Joey Belladonna since 1990's Persistence of Time...
ballads.
Another difference between The Sound and the duo's previous efforts is the vocal structure. On previous recordings, each group member would sing a verse and take turns on the bridge. However, on songs such "Get Up", the duo harmonizes
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
both of the verses and bridge together, only ad-libing on the final chorus. On Superfriend, each member alternated lines and shared one verse while harmonizing on the bridge.
The entire album is recorded to give the listener the illusion of listening to a radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
. The album employs inter-track drops and frequent station IDs (WMLB/MyBlock Radio).
Walmart exclusive with DVD
"The SoundThe Sound
The Sound were an English post-punk band, formed in 1979 and dissolved in 1988. The band was fronted by Adrian Borland and evolved from his previous band, The Outsiders...
" was released exclusively at Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
with a limited edition which included a DVD with 55 minutes of footage of the making of "The Sound", and backstage look on what the group will be doing in the future. There are plans of a deluxe edition of the record being released in the future.
Critical reception
Reviews of The Sound were very positive, Soultracks said: "what's surprising about their newest disc, The Sound, is how Mary Mary can sound so new -- and maybe even better -- five records into their career."Awards
In December 2008, The Sound was Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nominated for the 51st Grammy Awards
51st Grammy Awards
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on February 8, 2009. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, jointly winning five awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year...
of 2009 in the category "Best Gospel Album". The album's first single "Get Up
Get Up (Mary Mary song)
"Get Up" is the lead single for Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell. The song is known as "the movement anthem"...
" also received two Grammy nominations for "Best Gospel Song" and "Best Gospel Performance," of which it won "Best Gospel Performance." At the 52nd Grammy Awards in 2010 the duo won another Grammy for Best Gospel Song for God In Me. This is a rare achievement in that an artist or group has won another award for the same album the following year.
The album was also nominated for a Dove Award for Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year at the 40th GMA Dove Awards. The song "Get Up
Get Up (Mary Mary song)
"Get Up" is the lead single for Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell. The song is known as "the movement anthem"...
" was also nominated for Country Recorded Song of the Year.
Track listing
- "Intro" (featuring Deborah Joy Imani Winans)
- "The Sound"
- "Get UpGet Up (Mary Mary song)"Get Up" is the lead single for Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell. The song is known as "the movement anthem"...
" - "Superfriend" (featuring David BannerDavid BannerLavell Crump , better known by his stage name David Banner, is an American rapper, record producer and occasional actor. Banner was born in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Southern University. He started his music career as a member of the rap duo, Crooked Lettaz before going solo in 2000...
) - "God In MeGod In Me"God in Me" is the second single released for Grammy Award-winning contemporary gospel group Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound, and featured Kierra Sheard. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell...
" (featuring Kierra "Kiki" Sheard) - "Boom"
- "I'm Running"
- "Forgiven Me"
- "Dirt"
- "Seattle"
- "I Worship You"
- "It Will All Be Worth It" (featuring Andrae CrouchAndrae CrouchAndraé Crouch is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, recording artist, record producer, and pastor.-Early years:Born Andraé Edward Crouch in San Francisco, California....
, Daryl ColeyDaryl Coley-Early life:Daryl Coley was born in Berkeley, California in 1955, spending his formative years in Oakland, California. His parents separated when he was five years old, with he and his two siblings being raised by his mother in a solid Christian home. Musically, Coley was first influenced by his...
, Tramaine Hawkins, Walter HawkinsWalter HawkinsWalter Hawkins was an American gospel music singer, and a pastor. Hawkins was consecrated to the bishopic in 1992. He died at his home in Ripon, California, from pancreatic cancer....
, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Joe LigonMighty Clouds of JoyThe Mighty Clouds of Joy is an American gospel quartet.-Career:The Mighty Clouds of Joy were formed in 1960 and started out in a tradition-based style. Eventually they added soul, R&B, and rock flourishes into their musical mix without diluting the essential religious essence of their material...
, Karen Clark SheardKaren Clark SheardKaren Clark-Sheard is an American gospel four-time Grammy Award winning singer, musician, and songwriter. The youngest daughter of pioneering gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark, Sheard began her career as a member of the Grammy-Award winning, gospel legendary female group, The Clark Sisters...
, and Rance Allen)
Bonus Track - iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
:
- "I Trust You" (featuring Marvin WinansMarvin WinansMarvin Lawrence Winans is an American gospel singer and member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.-Personal life:...
)
Bonus Track - f.y.e. Exclusive Edition:
- "Get Up (Karmatronics Remix)"
Leftover Tracks
- "Because of Him" (featuring Kirk Franklin)
- "His Rhythm"
- "I Wish Things Would Change"
- "In Light Of"
- "Just When You Thought"
- "The Melody"
- "The Things We Changed"
Singles
The lead single, "Get Up", was released digitally on July 15, 2008. The song is currently active on the charts, garnering radio play mainly on Urban, Urban Adult Contemporary, Rhythmic, Gospel and Dance radio formats. In the U.S. it has so far peaked at #5 on the Hot Gospel Songs, #12 on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay, #30 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop SongsHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
, #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
, and #6 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles
The Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. It lists the top 25 singles below number 100 that have not yet charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Sometimes, however, singles halt their progress on this chart, and never appear on the Hot 100...
. The song has not been officially released outside of the U.S., although the album will be given a full release in the UK.
A music video for Mary Mary's next single "I Worship You" has been released through several online channels. The video appeared for sale on iTunes in January 2009. An additional single "God In Me" featuring Kierra Sheard
Kierra Sheard
Kierra "Kiki" Sheard is an American gospel recording artist. She is the daughter of gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard and the granddaughter of gospel choral director Mattie Moss Clark.-Early life:Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in the suburb of West Bloomfield, Sheard spent her formative years...
has been released to radio and is gaining airplay in both hip-hop and R&B formats. According to a bulletin post on Sheard's official MySpace page, an internet contest to appear in the music video for "God In Me" was announced in December.
"God In Me
God In Me
"God in Me" is the second single released for Grammy Award-winning contemporary gospel group Mary Mary's fourth studio album The Sound, and featured Kierra Sheard. The single was written and produced by both Mary Mary and producer Warryn Campbell, husband of member Erica Campbell...
" has so far peaked at #68 on the US Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #1 on the Gospel Songs chart.
Chart performance
The Sound was released on October 21, 2008 in the US. The Sound sold 37,000 copies in its first week debuting at #7 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
charts, becoming Mary Mary's highest charting album (their third self-titled studio album Mary Mary
Mary Mary (album)
Mary Mary is the third album by the recording group Mary Mary.- Track listing :# "Believer"# "Biggest, Greatest Thing"# "Heaven" # "The Real Party "# "Save Me"# "Yesterday"# "What Is This"...
debuted at #8). Other chart positions include #2 on the US R&B chart, #1 on both the gospel and CCM charts. To date it has sold over 416,600 copies.
The lead single "Get Up", while very successful on many charts (particularly the component charts), still failed to match the success of their debut single "Shackles (Praise You)
Shackles (Praise You)
"Shackles " is the debut single by singer-songwriter duo Mary Mary. It was first released in 2000 and has since been dubbed the signature Mary Mary song as it ultimately raised the profile of the duo in the gospel music industry...
".
Chart positions
| Chart (2008) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
7 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
2 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Gospel Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Christian Albums | 1 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
September 30, 2008 (Exclusive digital release via Rhapsody.com) |
Columbia/Sony |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
October 20, 2008 | |
| United States | October 21, 2008 | |
| Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
October 21, 2008 | Integrity Europe/Provident |