Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor (2001)

      Songs in A Minor is the debut studio album by American recording artist Alicia Keys. It was released in the United States on June 5, 2001 by J Records.

      The album's opening track, "Piano & I", begins with a rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, combined with a hip hop beat. The introduction is followed by "Girlfriend", which was produced by Jermaine Dupri. Commended for its "crisp production", the song samples Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Brooklyn Zoo". Keys' cover of Prince's 1982 ballad "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" (retitled "How Come You Don't Call Me") was inspired by a long-term relationship with a partner. The music critic for PopMatters felt that the song was credible, but fell short from the original and Stephanie Mills's 1980s cover. "Fallin'", the gospel-driven lead single and often considered Keys's signature song, contains a sample of James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World". The song earned Keys comparisons to Aretha Franklin.

      "A Woman's Worth", the second single released from the album, is a "gospel-tinged" song that recommends to men to show respect to their female partner. "Jane Doe" is a funk-driven song, with backing vocals provided by Kandi Burruss. "The Life", which elicits Curtis Mayfield's "Gimmie Your Love", describes Keys's "philosophy of life and struggle". The song was compared to the work of the English band Sade. "Mr. Man" contains elements Latin American music and was described as a "sexy and soulful duet", in which Jimmy Cozier "adds his spice". The album ends with the hidden track "Lovin' U", which Christian Ward of NME compared to works of the musical group The Supremes.

***Track Listing:
01. Piano & I (1:51)
02. Girlfriend (3:35)
03. How Come You Don't Call Me (3:58)
04. Fallin' (3:30)
05. Troubles (4:29)
06. Rock Wit U (5:36)
07. A Woman's Worth (5:04)
08. Jane Doe (3:48)
09. Goodbye (4:21)
10. The Life (5:25)
11. Mr. Man (4:10)
12. Never Felt This Way (interlude) (2:01)
13. Butterflyz (4:08)
14. Why Do I Feel So Sad (4:26)
15. Caged Bird (3:02)
16. Loving You (Hidden Track) (3:49)
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