Connected (Stereo MCs album)
Connected is a 1992 album by Stereo MCs. The tracks "Connected", "Ground Level", "Step It Up" and "Creation" became hit singles.
Connected | ||||
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Studio album by Stereo MCs | ||||
Released | 5 October 1992 | |||
Genre | Acid jazz, alternative hip hop, trip hop | |||
Length | 56:10 | |||
Label | Fourth & Broadway/Island/PolyGram Records 512 743 | |||
Producer | Stereo MCs, Veronica Davis, Andrea Groves | |||
Stereo MCs chronology | ||||
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Singles from Connected | ||||
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Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Select | 5/5[4] |
The Village Voice | B−[5] |
In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau said that, although its music is amiable and rhythmic, Connected is also "so multifaceted that its functionality is fungible and forgettable."[5] In June 2000, Q placed Connected as #52 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. The album won Best British Album at the 1994 Brit Awards,[6] was shortlisted for the 1993 Mercury Prize,[7] and included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[8]
Track listing
All songs written by Robert Birch (Rob B)/Nicholas Hallam (The Head), except where noted
- "Connected" (Birch/Hallam/H.W. Casey/Richard Finch) – 5:14
- Contains a sample from "Let Me (Let Me Be Your Lover)" by Jimmy "Bo" Horne.
- "Ground Level" – 4:13
- "Everything" (Birch/Hallam/James L. Worthy) – 3:47
- "Sketch" (Birch/Hallam/Tuzé DeAbreu)– 5:44
- Contains a sample of "Passarinho" by Gal Costa.
- "Fade Away" – 4:25
- "All Night Long" – 4:07
- "Step It Up" – 4:59
- "Playing With Fire" – 4:20
- Uses the piano progression from the introduction to Monkey Man on Let it Bleed by the Rolling Stones
- Contains a sample of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" by Pet Shop Boys.
- "Pressure" – 3:50
- "Chicken Shake" – 3:50
- "Creation" – 5:03
- "Don't Let Up" (feat. Mica Paris)[9] – 3:09
- "The End" (Birch/Hallum/Carole King/Toni Stern) – 3:47
Personnel
Stereo MCs
- Robert Charles "Rob B." Birch: Vocals
- Nick "The Head" Hallam: DJ
- Ian Frederick "Owen If" Rossiter: Drums, Percussion
- Cath Coffey: Backing Vocals
Additional personnel
- James Hallawell: Keyboards, Organ
- Paul O. Kane, Matthew Seligman: Bass
- Chicu Modu: Sax
- Ivan Hussey, Johnny T., Anya Ulman, Laura Cochrane: Strings
- Kick Horns: Brass
Singles
- "Connected" (#18 in the United Kingdom, 14 September 1992)
- "Step It Up" (#12 in the United Kingdom, 23 November 1992)
- "Ground Level" (#19 in the United Kingdom, 8 February 1993)
- "Creation" (#19 in United Kingdom, 17 May 1993)
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[10] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
- "Connected – Stereo MC's". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
- Diehl, Matt (2004). "Stereo MC's". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 781. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- Higginbotham, Adam (November 1992). "The Stereo MCs: Connected". Select (29): 85.
- Christgau, Robert (23 November 1993). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- "Best Album by a British Artist". Billboard. 18 February 1995. p. 48. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
connected stereo mc brit 1994.
- "Mercury Prize 1993". Mercury Prize. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
- Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
- "Stereo MC's – Connected". Discogs. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
- "British album certifications – Stereo MCs – Connected". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 January 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Connected in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.