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June 25, 2010

Teaming up with The Roots, John Legend's new album, Wake Up! ,will feature soulful music from the 60's and 70's all with an underlying theme of awareness, engagement and consciousness — effectively telling listeners to Wake Up!

"These songs sound so relevant now," Legend said in statement Thursday. "On most of them, you wouldn't change a lyric. 'Wake Up Everybody' (the first single) has four verses — the first one is a general statement, the second is about education, third is about health care, and the fourth is about making a better environment. No editing needed."

Originally partnering up for a single, Wake Up!, quickly developed into a passionate album with eleven evocative songs infused with sounds of gospel, rock and reggae infections with hip-hop influences.

Highlighted by familiar tracks including "Wholly Holy" (Marvin Gaye ), "Little Ghetto Boy" (Donny Hathaway), Hard Times (Baby Huey and the Babysitters) and "Hang on in There" (Mike James Kirkland), Roots drummer/musical director Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson says "When these songs were written, people were more spiritually in tune. It was fresh from the civil rights era and there was a feeling of hope that maybe, yes, someday we will all be free. In 2010, not so much."

The album features one original composition, Legend's song "Shine," which is featured in Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim's upcoming documentary film 'Waiting for Superman'.

The song, a "Stevie-Wonder-meets-gospel" stunner, clearly demonstrates the strengths of this specific group of musicians . Wake Up blends Legend's expressive, thoughtful vocal interpretations with an element of funk that only The Roots can provide.

Wake Up! is due in stores September 21.

Link

Aww yeah...just in time for my birthday!!!!

I was hoping this would be a project of original work as opposed to a covers album but hey should still make for interesting listening

I'm really curious if I will buy this album considering I own the previous 3

The movie that his song "Shine" is in, Waiting For Superman, is incredible!

http://www.waitingforsuperman.com/

[Edited 6/25/10 17:09pm]

The complete track listing:

1. “Compared to What”
2. “Hard Times”
3. “Little Ghetto Boy”
4. “Wake Up Everybody” feat. Common and Melanie Fiona
5. “Our Generation”
6. “Love the Way It Should Be”
7. “Hang On in There”
8. “I Can’t Write Left Handed”
9. “Wholy Holy”
10. “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”
11. “Shine”

im sick of covers and rehashing the past what does that has 2 say 4 artist now that u not creative enuff 2 come up with something orignal

shit they remaking every movie,every tv show whats left next we make make people lets bring back the real marvin gaye and michael jackson

cbarnes3121 said:

im sick of covers and rehashing the past what does that has 2 say 4 artist now that u not creative enuff 2 come up with something orignal

cbarnes3121 said:

im sick of covers and rehashing the past what does that has 2 say 4 artist now that u not creative enuff 2 come up with something orignal

shit they remaking every movie,every tv show whats left next we make make people lets bring back the real marvin gaye and michael jackson

Overanalyzing

phunkdaddy said:

cbarnes3121 said:

im sick of covers and rehashing the past what does that has 2 say 4 artist now that u not creative enuff 2 come up with something orignal

shit they remaking every movie,every tv show whats left next we make make people lets bring back the real marvin gaye and michael jackson

Overanalyzing

Under-analyzing...............

Sounds fun. A compilation of the still-relevant originals would also do.

I'll definitely be purchasing... John Legend is one of the few real male singers and artists from my generation. His last album was too commercial and I'm glad he's going back to his roots. Should be a good one!!!

PlayboyOriginal said:

His last album was too commercial and I'm glad he's going back to his roots.

Is this a play on words?

Caramelpfe said:

I was hoping this would be a project of original work as opposed to a covers album but hey should still make for interesting listening

Yeah, I was hoping for new songs, too, but I like John Legend's voice, and The Roots are a fabulous band, so it couldn't be too bad.

http://www.johnlegend.com/us/splash

"Hard Times" streamin on the site.

[Edited 7/13/10 6:38am]

Graycap23 said:

phunkdaddy said:

Overanalyzing

Under-analyzing...............

Sdldawn said:

http://www.johnlegend.com/us/splash

"Hard Times" streamin on the site.

Thanks, that was the main song I was gonna check on

Interesting he would do an album of 60s & 70s covers...after Saddiq did his 6os influenced album...especially since they are on the same label...and "The Way I See It" and "Evolver" came out around the same time. Yet Saadiq had more success. How better than the Roots could pull this off?!

I heard the single.. just gonna be honest this album seems pointless.

they couldn't have written some new songs?

lame