Believe (Yolanda Adams album)

Believe is the eighth studio album by American singer Yolanda Adams. It was released by Elektra Records on December 4, 2001, in the United States. The album features the singles "Never Give Up," and "I'm Gonna Be Ready".[1] The track "Fo' Sho'" was done with labelmate Karen Clark-Sheard and was Sheard's first release after her near death experience. The first track, "Never Give Up", is said to be a response to the September 11 attacks. The album sold 67,000 copies in its best week in January 2002[2] and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). As of 2019, the album has sold over 700,000 units.[3] This was Adams' final release on Elektra before the company folded.

Believe
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 4, 2001
GenreGospel
Length53:31
LabelElektra
Producer
Yolanda Adams chronology
The Experience
(2001)
Believe
(2001)
Day By Day
(2005)
Singles from Believe
  1. "Never Give Up"
    Released: October 30, 2001
  2. "I Gotta Believe"
    Released: 2001
  3. "I'm Gonna Be Ready"
    Released: 2001

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [4]
Cross Rhythms          [5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [6]

Allmusic editor Liana Jonas found that "most of the fare on Believe [is] plagued by formulaic R&B and gospel arrangements, predictable key changes and progressions, and less-than-moving lyrics. The album does not justly showcase Adams' fullest vocal potential, which, to be sure, she has in spades based on past recordings. Adams should secure better songwriters and producers. Without them, her many talents go wasted. She can and should do better."[4]

Track listing

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Credits taken from the album's liner notes.[7]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Never Give Up"
5:17
2."I Gotta Believe"
  • Drop Squad
  • Crawford
3:41
3."Fo' Sho'" (featuring Karen Clark Sheard)CrawfordCrawford3:27
4."Thank You"V. Michael McKayKevin Bond5:11
5."A Song of Faith"Michael FlowersMike City4:22
6."Unconditional"FlowersCity3:40
7."Anything"W. Campbell4:29
8."Only If God Says Yes"BondBond4:50
9."Since the Last Time I Saw You"V. McKayBond3:46
10."I'm Gonna Be Ready"
  • Adams
  • Harris
  • Lewis
  • Wright
  • Jam & Lewis
  • Wright[A]
5:39
11."Darling Girl"
Buster & Shavoni4:18
12."I'm Thankful" (featuring T-Bone)
  • Jam & Lewis
  • Nicholas
  • Lil Nick
  • Wright[A]
4:14

Notes

  • ^[A] denotes co-producer

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 700,000[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Yolanda Adams - Believe". Discogs. discogs.com. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. ^ Trust, Gary. "Ask Billboard: Happy 40th, Mariah! - Chart Beat". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-01-16.
  3. ^ a b Alexis, Diamond (November 14, 2019). "Gospel Singer Yolanda Adams: 7 Hit Songs For Your Deepest Prayers". BET. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Allmusic review
  5. ^ Best, Steve (January 1, 2003). "Yolanda Adams - Believe". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Colin Larkin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5 ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 1992. ISBN 978-0857125958. Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Adams, Yolanda. "Believe (CD, Album)". Elektra. 2001. https://www.discogs.com/Yolanda-Adams-Believe/release/710781
  8. ^ "Yolanda Adams Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "Yolanda Adams Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "Yolanda Adams Chart History (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  11. ^ "Yolanda Adams Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums: Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  13. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2002". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "The Year in Music 2002: Gospel / Contemporary Christian" (PDF). Billboard. December 28, 2002. Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ "Year in Music: Top Gospel Albums" (PDF). Billboard. December 27, 2003. Retrieved January 18, 2024 – via World Radio History.
  16. ^ "Best of the 2000s: Gospel Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 6, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2024 – via Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ "American album certifications – Yolanda Adams". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
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