Vivian (album)

2005 studio album by Vivian Green

Vivian

Studio album by

Vivian Green

Released| May 31, 2005
Recorded|

Various

*     * The Sound Villa (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
* Sony Music Studios (New York, New York)
* Axis Studio (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
* Angel Mountain (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
* Beat House Studios (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
* The Studio (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Genre|

* R&B[1]

Length| 54:39
Label| Columbia
Producer|

* Chauncey Childs (exec.)
* Anthony Bell
* Junius Bervine
* Zukhan Bey
* Adam Blackstone
* Steven Green
* Vivian Green
* Steve McKie
* Kevin Patrick
* James Poyser
* Clay Sears
* Spida Hole
* Scott Storch
* Che Vicious

Vivian Green chronology
| A Love Story
(2002)  | Vivian
(2005)  | Beautiful
(2010)

|
|

Singles from  Vivian

1. "Gotta Go Gotta Leave (Tired)"
Released: May 3, 2005[2]
2. "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)"
Released: July 26, 2005
3. "Cursed"
Released: 2005

Vivian is the second studio album by American neo soul singer Vivian Green, released by Columbia on May 31, 2005 in Japan and June 28, 2005 in the United States. The album involves production by Scott Storch and James Poyser with additional production from Anthony Bell, Junius Bervine, and Adam Black Stone, among others. Vivian spawned three singles: "Gotta Go Gotta Leave (Tired)", "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)" and "Cursed". The album debuted at number eighteen on the Billboard 200 chart on July 16, 2005 with first-week sales of 46,000 copies.[3]

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
Allmusic| [1]
East Bay Express| favorable[4]
People| [5]
PopMatters| [6]
Rolling Stone| [7]
SoulTracks| mixed[8]
Sun-Sentinel| favorable[9]
The Pitch| favorable[10]
Time Out Chicago| favorable[11]
Vibe| [12]

People magazine called the album a "satisfying sophomore outing" and wrote: "Vivian, with its more straightforward contemporary soul, lacks the jazzy shadings of the superior A Love Story, and the last third of the disc suffers from a few forgettable tracks. By then, however, Green and her everywoman appeal have already left a winning impression."[5] Allmusic editor Andy Kellman felt that Green "sounds more sure of herself here than on A Love Story, and she's also more convincing, regardless of the scenario she's placed within. A few extraneous songs do weigh Vivian down, but it's still a marked improvement over her debut."[1]

PopMatters critic Steve Horowitz found that while "Vivian has many merits, the disc does suffer from too much of the same thing. Not only are the lyrics repetitive in nature, but the basic instrumentation and static beats get tiresome [...] Vivian may be more radio friendly as a result."[6] Rolling Stone journalist Barry Walters remarked that "trading the jazzy retro-soul of her debut for overly familiar mainstream R&B; beats, Green now strains her pipes like every other overwrought wanna-be diva, with diminished results. Too many tortured relationship songs suggest Green should consider musical and couples counseling."[7]

## Chart performance

[edit]

Vivian debuted at number 18 on the US Billboard 200,[3] and at number 5 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, scoring first-week sales of 46,000 copies.[13]

The first single from the album, "Gotta Go Gotta Leave (Tired)", peaked at number 24 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[13] The single became Green's second top 40 hit on the chart and her second chart-topped on the Hot Dance Club Songs after 2003's "Emotional Rollercoaster."[13] The second single from the album was "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)," another number-one hit on the Hot Dance Club Songs. Third and final single from the album was "Cursed". Released in late 2005, the single didn't match the commercial success of the previous two singles, peaking at a number 2 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, which is equivalent to number 102 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[13]

## Track listing

[edit]

Vivian – Standard editionNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Wish We Could Go Back"|

* Vivian Green
* Scott Storch

* Storch

| 3:37
2.| "Mad"|

* Green
* Storch

* Storch

| 3:38
3.| "Frustrated"|

* Green
* Anthony Bell
* Ronald Frost

* Bell
* Green[a]

| 3:39
4.| "Damn"|

* Green
* Junius Bervine

* Clay Sears

| 3:40
5.| "Selfish"|

* Green
* Adam Blackstone
* Steve McKie

* Blackstone
* McKie
* Green[a]

| 4:35
6.| "Under My Skin"|

* Green
* James Poyser

* Poyser

| 3:53
7.| "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)"|

* Green
* Poyser
* Che Vicious

* Poyser
* Vicious
* Green[a]

| 4:10
8.| "Sweet Memory (Beautifully Young)"|

* Green
* Poyser

* Poyser
* Green[a]

| 4:24
9.| "Gotta Go Gotta Leave (Tired)"|

* Green
* Bervine

* Bervine
* Green[a]
* Kevin Patrick[a]
* Poyser[a]

| 4:36
10.| "Perfect Decision"|

* Green
* Poyser
* Zukhan Bey

* Poyser
* Green[a]
* Bey[a]

| 3:58
11.| "All About Us"|

* Green
* Bervine

* Sears
* Green[a]

| 3:40
12.| "Sweet Thing"|

* Green
* McKie
* Steven Green

* McKie
* Steven Green
* Green[a]

| 3:37
13.| "Cursed"|

* Green
* Raymel Menefee
* Poyser
* Bey

* Poyser
* Green[a]
* Bey[a]

| 4:24
14.| "Outro (Family & Friends)"|

* Darryl Crawford
* Courtney Fleming
* S. Green

* Spida Hole Productions

| 2:46

Vivian – iTunes edition[14]No.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

15.| "Can't Say It Enough"| Bell, Green & Ryan Moys| Bell & Green| 3:27

Vivian – Special editionNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Producer(s)| Length

|
|
|
|

15.| "Fanatic" (Scott Storch Remix)|

* Green
* Fred Kenney

* Kenney
* Storch[b]

| 4:14
16.| "I Like It (But I Don't Need It)" (Poker Face Remix)|

* Green
* Poyser
* Vicious

* Kenney
* Poker Face[b]

| 2:40

Notes

* ^[a] denotes co-producer
* ^[b] denotes additional producer

## Credits

[edit]

* David Barnett – viola
* Anthony Bell – multi instruments, producer, engineer, string arrangements
* Junius Bervine – multi instruments, producer
* Zukhan Bey – programming, producer
* Adam Blackstone – multi instruments, producer
* Jim Bottari – engineer
* Jeff Bradshaw – trombone
* Alice Butts – art direction, design
* Angela Carter – A&R, management
* Chauncey Childs – executive producer, management
* Carl Cox, Jr. – saxophone
* Kevin "KD" Davis – mixing
* Jenny DLorenzo –cello
* Omar Edwards – keyboards
* Ghislaine Fleishman – violin
* Larry Gold – string arrangements
* Conrad Golding – engineer
* Steve Green – programming
* Kevin Hanson – guitar
* Kam Houff – engineer, mixing
* Gloria Justin – violin
* Emma Kummrow – violin
* Sandy Leem – viola
* Keith Major – photography
* John McGlinchey – assistant engineer
* Steve McKie – drums, multi instruments, producer
* Julie Miller – engineer
* Ryan Moys – engineer
* Ben ONeill – guitar
* Kevin Patrick – producer, A&R
* James Poyser – piano, keyboards, programming, producer, string arrangements
* Tony Prendatt – mixing
* Clayton Sears – guitar, producer
* Marni Senofonte – wardrobe
* Eric Spearman – make-Up
* Scott Storch – producer
* Igor Szwec – violin
* Chris Theis – mixing
* Stephen Tirpak – trumpet
* Steve Tirpak – trumpet
* Tish Hair – stylist
* Chuck Treese – guitar
* Che Vicious – programming, producer, mixing
* Christopher Weatherbe – keyboards

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (2005)  | Peak
position

|

US Billboard 200[3] | 18
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[13] | 5

## Release history

[edit]

List of release dates, showing country, format, label, edition, and reference  Country  | Date  | Edition  | Format  | Label  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Japan  | May 31, 2005  |

* Standard
* special

* CD
* digital download

* Columbia

| [15]
United States  | June 28, 2005  | [14][16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Kellman, Andy. "Vivian". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
2. ^ "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave - Vivian Green | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
3. ^ a b c "Vivian Green Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
4. ^ East Bay Express review
5. ^ a b "Picks and Pans Review: Vivian Green". People. Archived from the original on 2013-11-10. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
6. ^ a b Horowitz, Steve. "Vivian Green: Vivian". PopMatters. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
7. ^ a b Walters, Barry. "Rolling Stone review". Archived from the original on 2010-02-27. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
8. ^ Rizik, Chris (July 2005). "Vivian Green - Vivian (2005)". SoulTracks. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
9. ^ Sun-Sentinel review
10. ^ The Pitch review
11. ^ Time Out Chicago review
12. ^ Cummings, Jozen (August 3, 2005). "Vivian Green–- Vivian (Columbia)". Vibe. Archived from the original on February 23, 2006. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
13. ^ a b c d e "Vivian Green Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
14. ^ a b "iTunes - Music - Vivian by Vivian Green". Retrieved 29 April 2013.
15. ^ "Vivian - Vivian Green - Release Information, Reviews and Credits - AllMusic". Retrieved 30 August 2013.
16. ^ "Amazon.com: Vivian: Vivian Green: Music". Retrieved 29 April 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* Vivian at AllMusic
* Vivian at Discogs (list of releases)

* v
* t
* e

Vivian Green

Discography

Albums|

* A Love Story
* Vivian
* Beautiful
* The Green Room
* Vivid

Singles|

* "Emotional Rollercoaster"
* "Gotta Go Gotta Leave (Tired)"

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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*[Ref.]: References
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