Complex Simplicity

Complex Simplicity is the debut studio album by American singer Teedra Moses. It was released on August 10, 2004, by TVT Records. The album was produced largely by Paul Poli, with additional production from Raphael Saadiq and Lil Jon.

Complex Simplicity
Studio album by Teedra Moses
Released	August 10, 2004 (2004-08-10) September 27, 2019 (2019-09-27) (re-released)
Recorded	2003–2004
Studio	Various Blakeslee, North Hollywood, California Enterprise, Burbank, California Poli's Crib Quad, New York City, New York Stampede Origin, Culver City, California
Genre	R&B[1]
Length	62:03
Label	TVT
Producer	Paul Poli Raphael Saadiq Jonathan Smith
Teedra Moses chronology
Complex Simplicity (2004) Cognac & Conversation (2015)
Singles from Complex Simplicity
"You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)" Released: November 11, 2003 "Be Your Girl" Released: June 1, 2004 "You Better Tell Her" Released: December 27, 2005

Singles

The album's lead single, "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)", was released as a 12-inch vinyl in the United States on November 11, 2003.[2] It was serviced to US rhythmic contemporary radio a week later, on November 18, 2003.[3] The track, which features rapper Jadakiss, peaked at number 86 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[4]

The second single, "Be Your Girl", was released as a 12-inch vinyl in the US on June 1, 2004,[5] and impacted rhythmic and urban contemporary radio on the same day.[6] It was also released as a CD single in Germany on February 21, 2005.[7] The single reached number 87 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[4] The accompanying music video was directed by Hype Williams.

The third and final single, "You Better Tell Her", was released as a 12-inch vinyl on December 27, 2005.[8] The single version features rappers Pitbull and Lil' Scrappy.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	[9]

AllMusic's Andy Kellman lauded Complex Simplicity as "the best R&B album of 2004—if not the best pop-oriented R&B album since CrazySexyCool."[1] Matt Cibula of PopMatters described the album as "awe-inspiring and cool and touching and kind of avant-garde in a weird homegrown way".[10] Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone wrote that Moses has "a cheery, twee voice, and on her debut she uses it to sass the men in her life."[9] Patrick Taliaferro of Vibe viewed the album as "a great entry into the R&B game", adding that "Moses is appealing when revealing her country B-girl bravado, but at the end it's actually all we see, variations in her approach would have been nice."[11] The album earned Moses comparisons to R&B artists such as Mary J. Blige,[1] Deniece Williams,[9] and Cherrelle.[12]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Paul Poli, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Be Your Girl"	Teedra Moses Poli Nasir Jones Raul Santiago Christopher Jones	4:09
2.	"You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)" (featuring Jadakiss)	Moses Poli Vee Allen Al Hudson Jack Hall	4:13
3.	"Caution"	Moses Poli	4:37
4.	"Backstroke"	Moses Poli	3:37
5.	"No More Tears"	Moses Poli Mac Robinson André Benjamin Patrick Brown Antwan Patton	4:11
6.	"Rescue Me"	Moses Poli	4:06
7.	"Take Me" (featuring Raphael Saadiq) (producer: Saadiq)	Moses Saadiq	4:44
8.	"You Better Tell Her" (producer: Jonathan Smith)	Moses Smith	6:15
9.	"Outta My Head"	Moses Poli Teddy Randazzo Bobby Weinstein	3:39
10.	"Complex Simplicity"	Moses Poli	4:16
11.	"For a Lifetime"	Moses Poli	4:15
12.	"Caught Up"	Moses Poli Robinson	4:14
13.	"Last Day"	Moses Poli	3:41
14.	"I Think of You (Shirley's Song)"	Moses Poli Robinson	6:06
Total length:			62:03

UK edition[13]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
10.	"Doin' You"	Moses Poli	3:58
11.	"Complex Simplicity"	Moses Poli	4:16
12.	"For a Lifetime"	Moses Poli	4:15
13.	"Caught Up"	Moses Poli Robinson	4:14
14.	"Last Day"	Moses Poli	3:41
15.	"I Think of You (Shirley's Song)"	Moses Poli Robinson	6:06
16.	"Still Your Girl" (featuring Raphael Saadiq, Truth Hurts and Scipio)		4:15
Total length:			91:16

15th Anniversary Edition[14]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
15.	"Doin' You"	Moses Poli	3:58
16.	"You Better Tell Her (TVT Mix)"	Moses Poli	3:44
17.	"Cabernet Sauvignon"	Moses	3:24
18.	"I Think of You (3 Generations)" (featuring Shirley Moses, Raj and Taj Austin)	Moses Poli Robinson	6:43
Total length:			77:04

Notes

• The German edition of the album is enhanced to include the music video for "Be Your Girl".[15]
• The Japanese edition features alternative artwork, but is otherwise identical to the North American release.[16]
• The UK edition features alternative artwork as well.[17]

Sample credits

• "Be Your Girl" contains replayed elements of "One on One", as performed by Nas
• "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman)" contains a sample of "Better Woman or Bigger Fool", as performed by Alicia Myers
• "No More Tears" contains replayed elements of "SpottieOttieDopaliscious", as performed by OutKast
• "Outta My Head" contains an interpolation of "Goin' Out of My Head", as performed by Little Anthony and the Imperials

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Complex Simplicity.[18]

• Teedra Moses – vocals, vocal arrangement (all tracks); executive production
• Rich Balmer – engineering (track 14)
• Gerry Brown – recording (track 7)
• Gerald Clayton – keyboards (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 10–13)
• Kevin Davis – mixing (track 4)
• Clare Fischer – string arrangements (track 7)
• Ryan Freeland – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9–14); engineering (tracks 9, 14)
• John Frye – mixing (track 8)
• Tony Gillis – mastering
• Mark Gray – recording assistance (track 8)
• Jadakiss – vocals (track 2)
• Bryan Leach – co-executive production
• Anthony Mandler – photography
• Charles "Chaz" Muhammad – organ (track 14)
• Paul Poli – production, vocal arrangement (tracks 1–6, 9–14); engineering (tracks 1–3, 4–6, 10–13); keyboards (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 10–13); executive production
• Mac Robinson – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 14); bass, keyboards, percussion (tracks 9, 14)
• Danny Romero – recording (track 7); mixing (tracks 7, 14)
• Raphael Saadiq – bass, guitar, production, vocal arrangement, vocals (track 7)
• Greg Smith – recording (track 8)
• Jonathan Smith – production (track 8)
• Shaffer Smith – vocal arrangement (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8–11, 13, 14)
• Benjamin Wheelock – design
• Dubbs Willie – executive production
• Kelvin Wooten – drums, guitar, keyboards (track 7)

Charts

Chart (2004)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[19]	168
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[20]	11
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[21]	20

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Ref.
United States	August 10, 2004	TVT	[22]
Australia	October 8, 2004		[23]
Germany	November 29, 2004		[15]
Japan	February 2, 2005	Victor	[16]
United Kingdom	June 20, 2005	TVT	[17]

References

1. Kellman, Andy. "Complex Simplicity – Teedra Moses". AllMusic. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
2. "You'll Never Find (A Better Woman) [Vinyl]: Teedra Moses". Amazon (US). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
3. "Going for Adds: Week Of 11/17/03" (PDF). Radio & Records. November 14, 2003. p. 27. ISSN 0277-4860. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
4. "Teedra Moses Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
5. "Be Your Girl [Vinyl]: Teedra Moses". Amazon (US). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
6. "Going for Adds: Week Of 6/1/04" (PDF). Radio & Records. May 28, 2004. p. 24. ISSN 0277-4860. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
7. "Be Your Girl: Teedra Moses" (in German). Amazon (Germany). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
8. "You Better Tell Her [Vinyl]: Teedra Moses". Amazon (US). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
9. Caramanica, Jon (November 11, 2004). "Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2007.
10. Cibula, Matt (October 18, 2004). "Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity". PopMatters. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
11. Taliaferro, Patrick (September 13, 2004). "Teedra Moses: Complex Simplicity". Vibe. Archived from the original on July 14, 2006. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
12. "Teedra Moses Biography". Artistdirect. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
13. "Release "Complex Simplicity" by Teedra Moses". MusicBrainz. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
14. "Release "Complex Simplicity: 15th Anniversary Edition" by Teedra Moses". Amazon. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
15. "Complex Simplicity: Teedra Moses" (in German). Amazon (Germany). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
16. "Complex Simplicity : Teedra Moses". HMV Japan. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
17. "Complex Simplicity [With Bonus Track]: Teedra Moses". Amazon (UK). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
18. Complex Simplicity (liner notes). Teedra Moses. TVT Records. 2004. TV-2450-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
19. "Teedra Moses Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
20. "Teedra Moses Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
21. "Teedra Moses Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
22. "Complex Simplicity: Teedra Moses". Amazon (US). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
23. "Complex Simplicity: Teedra Moses". Sanity. Retrieved January 31, 2018.