Hurricane (Eric Benét album)

Hurricane is the third studio album by American R&B recording artist Eric Benét, released June 21, 2005, on Friday Records, with distributing by Reprise Records.[5] It is the follow-up to his second album A Day in the Life (1999) and follows the shelving of his Better and Better project for Warner Bros. Records. Recorded at various recording studios, the album was written and produced by Benét with several other producers, including Walter Afanasieff, Michael Carney, Hod David, David Foster, George Nash, Jr., and Demonté Posey.

Hurricane
Studio album by Eric Benét
Released	June 21, 2005
Genre	R&B soul
Length	59:49
Label	Friday, Reprise
Producer	Walter Afanasieff, Eric Benét, Michael Carney, Hod David, Andy Duncan, David Foster, Humberto Gatica, George Nash, Jr., Demonté Posey, Drew Ramsey, Shannon Sanders
Eric Benét chronology
Better and Better (2001) Hurricane (2005) Love & Life (2008)
Singles from Hurricane
"I Wanna Be Loved" Released: May 10, 2005 "Hurricane" Released: 2005 "Pretty Baby" Released: June 6, 2006

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Mojo	[2]
Vibe	[3]
The Washington Post	(favorable)[4]

Recording

Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording locations, including the Hit Factory in New York, New York, Bowery Digital, Chalice Studios, Ocean Way Studio, The Studio, Warner Bros. Sound Stage, and Westlake Audio in Los Angeles, California, Chartmaker Studios, Drew's Groove Studios, Panic Room, and Soundstage Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Jade Studios and Jupiter Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, and Eastman Scoring Stage in Burbank, California.[2] Production was handled by Benét and several other record producers, including Walter Afanasieff, Michael Carney, Hod David, Dave Foster, George Nash, Jr., and Demonté Posey.[6]

Composition

Hurricane incorporates musical elements of gospel and contributions from jazz musicians Roy Hargrove, Chris Botti, and Viktor Krauss.[4] A departure from the jazzy, groove-based urban sound of Benét's previous work, the album features an adult contemporary radio format style, with sweeping strings, layered vocals, and nimble acoustic guitars.[7] According to Rashod D. Ollison of The Washington Post, "Hurricane is lush in spots, the overall sound more in the adult contemporary vein. More Christopher Cross, less R. Kelly".[7]

Reception

Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave it three-and-a-half out of four stars and commented that "The quiet storm is well performed but dull, yet the Prince-styled numbers are engaging, melodic, and nimble, strong showcases for Benet's mellow skills".[1] Mojo gave the album three out of five stars and called it "a very palatable collection of self-penned confessional songs".[2] Laura Checkoway of Vibe called it "an uneven mix of simplistic sentimentality", stating "Reflective and repentant at times, Hurricane is more likely to sing you to sleep than knock you off your feet".[3] The Washington Post commented favorably on the album's themes of "healing and redemption", and stated "The spiritual tone often brings out the best in [Eric Benet]'s supple tenor on 'In The End' and other tracks".[4]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Be Myself Again"	Eric Benét, Hod David, Andrew Wyatt	Eric Benét, Hod David	3:21
2.	"Pretty Baby"	Benét, George Nash, Jr., Demonté Posey	Demonté Posey, Eric Benét, George Nash, Jr.	4:56
3.	"Hurricane"	Benét, David Foster	David Foster, Humberto Gatica	4:40
4.	"Where Does the Love Go"	Benét, David, Wyatt	Hod David	4:13
5.	"My Prayer"	Walter Afanasieff, Benét, John Lang	Walter Afanasieff	5:09
6.	"Man Enough to Cry"	Benét, Dean Parks	David Foster, Humberto Gatica	4:13
7.	"I Know"	Benét, Drew Ramsey, Shannon Saunders	Drew Ramsey, Shannon Saunders	3:43
8.	"India"	Benét, Parks, Danny Peck	Walter Afanasieff	4:08
9.	"The Last Time"	Benét, Amy Foster-Gillies, Foster	David Foster, Humberto Gatica	3:41
10.	"In the End"	Benét, Neal Larson, Linda Thompson	Walter Afanasieff	3:43
11.	"Making Love"	Benét, Michael Carney, Andy Duncan	Andy Duncan, Eric Benét, Michael Carney	4:23
12.	"Cracks of My Broken Heart"	Afanasieff, Benét, Tim Blixseth, Jonathan Clark	Walter Afanasieff	4:36
13.	"I Wanna Be Loved"	Benét, Posey	Demonté Posey, Eric Benét	4:38
14.	"Still with You"	Afanasieff, Benét, Blixseth	Walter Afanasieff	4:40

Personnel

Credits for Hurricane adapted from Allmusic.[6]

Musicians

Spanky Alford – guitar, soloist Eric Benét – audio production, vocal bass, percussion, producer, vocals Chris Boardman – string arrangements Chris Botti – soloist, trumpet Randall Bowland – guitar David Campbell – string arrangements Vinnie Colaiuta – drums Larry Corbett – cello Nathan East – bass Larry Gold – string arrangements Anthony Johnson – drums Jef Lee Johnson – guitar Viktor Krauss – bass

Frank Lacy – horn Michael Landau – electric guitar Lucia Micarelli – violin Brian Frazier Moore – drums Dan Needham – drums Pino Palladino – bass Dean Parks – guitar Van Dyke Parks – arranger, conductor Tim Pierce – guitar James Poyser – keyboards William Ross – arranger, conductor Jacques Schwarz-Bart – horn Norbert Stachel – alto and tenor saxophones

Production

Walter Afanasieff – arranger, audio production, keyboards, producer, programming Steve B. – engineer Tim Blixseth – executive producer Lee Bridges – assistant Michael Carney – audio production, producer Hod David – audio production, bass, drums, guitar, mixing, producer Kevin "KD" Davis – mixing Rich Davis – production coordination Neil Devor – engineer Andy Duncan – audio production, engineer, guitar, mixing, producer Danny Duncan – engineer Olivia Fischa – make-up Dave Foster – arranger, keyboards, producer, string arrangements David Foster – audio production, keyboards Humberto Gatica – audio production, engineer, mixing, producer Bernie Grundman – mastering Dawn Haynes – stylist Kaori Kinoshita – assistant engineer Emanuel Kiriakou – digital editing, engineer, programming Manny Marroquin – mixing

George Nash, Jr. – audio production, producer Mike O'Connor – engineer Juan Patino – mixing, percussion Csaba Petocz – engineer Kathleen Philpott – design Demonté Posey – audio production, keyboards, organ, producer Drew Ramsey – audio production Alejandro Rodriguez – engineer Alex Rodriguez – assistant engineer Aldo Ruggiero – assistant Jochem van der Saag – programming Shannon Sanders – audio production, organ, piano, producer, programming, synthesizer F. Reid Shippen – mixing John Sneltz – engineer Jorge Vivo – engineer Stephen Walker – art direction, design Shelley Wiseman – production coordination Joe Wohlmuth – engineer Patrick Woodward – engineer, mixing Andrew Wyatt – engineer

Charts

Chart (2010)	Peak Position
US Billboard 200[8]	133
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[9]	27

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2005). Review: Hurricane. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2011-01-16.
2. Product Notes – Hurricane. Muze. Retrieved on 2011-01-16.
3. Checkoway, Laura (August 2005). "Review: Hurricane". Vibe: 148.
4. Columnist (August 12, 2005). "Review: Hurricane". The Washington Post: T.06.
5. Mitchell, Gail (September 3, 2005). Rhythm & Blues – Stormy Days for Benét. Billboard: 80. Retrieved on 2011-06-08.
6. Credits: Hurricane. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2011-01-16.
7. Ollison, Rashod D. (August 11, 2005). "Eric Benet Is Back, But So Is His Baggage". The Washington Post: 18.T.
8. Eric Benét Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-01-16.
9. Eric Benét Album & Song Chart History – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-01-16.

External links

• Official website
• Hurricane at Discogs