Return is an album by the American musical group the Winans, released in 1990.[1][2] It was their third album for Qwest Records.[3] The first single was "It's Time", which was re-edited to change the rap elements when gospel audiences objected.[4][5] The Winans supported the album with North American tour.[6] Some critics dubbed the album's sound "new jack gospel".[7]
| Return | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Gospel, new jack swing | |||
| Label | Qwest | |||
| Producer | Michael J. Powell | |||
| The Winans chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album peaked at No. 90 on the Billboard 200.[8] It sold more than 500,000 copies.[9] Return was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album" category.[10] It won the Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album.[11]
Production edit
The album was produced primarily by Michael J. Powell.[12] Teddy Riley produced some of the album's new jack swing-influenced tracks.[13] Kenny G, Aaron Hall, and Stevie Wonder were among the album's guest musicians.[14][15]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [16] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [17] |
The Washington Post wrote that "the merger of their soaring sermonizing and [Riley's] decidedly secular new jack swing is heaven-sent."[13] The Austin American-Statesman opined that "It's Time" "is a tremendous leap... With its tough-talking rap and Teddy Riley-produced groove, it sounds more like a Bobby Brown single than a gospel tune."[18] Spin deemed the album "one of the hippest, tightest—all the words ending in est—gospel albums ever... Return cooks."[19]
AllMusic wrote: "A soul act on Motown sounds like one on Epic sounds like one on Qwest—all twinkling synthesizers, obnoxious drum machines doing the same programmed beats, all low smooth bass, all the same neatly arranged vocal harmonies. It's all very professional, all very formal, and one wonders, even with gospel acts like the Winans, whether there's any soul left after the gloss has leeched out the interesting wrinkles."[16]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It's Time (feat. Teddy Riley)" | 5:19 |
| 2. | "Everyday the Same (feat. Stevie Wonder)" | 4:56 |
| 3. | "Don't Leave Me" | 5:40 |
| 4. | "A Friend (feat. Aaron Hall)" | 5:54 |
| 5. | "Gonna Be Alright" | 4:40 |
| 6. | "When You Cry" | 6:03 |
| 7. | "Together We Stand" | 5:01 |
| 8. | "This Time It's Personal" | 3:42 |
| 9. | "Free" | 4:23 |
| 10. | "Wherever I Go" | 3:57 |
References edit
- ^ Darling, Cary (27 Apr 1990). "Gospel with a new beat". Orange County Register. p. P39.
- ^ "The Winans Biography by Steve Huey". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ Powell, Mark Allan (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music. Hendrickson Publishers. p. 1048.
- ^ Campbell, Roy H. (15 July 1990). "Winans Family". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. J1.
- ^ Curry, Pat (27 July 1990). "Winans' Gospel Moves in Rap Way". Features Showtime. Sun-Sentinel. p. 18.
- ^ Boehm, Mike (28 Mar 1991). "A Heavenly Motown Sound". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 4.
- ^ Dyson, Michael Eric (22 Dec 1991). "Out of the Church, Into the Streets". The New York Times. p. A30.
- ^ "The Winans". Billboard. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ Harold, Claudrena N. (2020). When Sunday Comes: Gospel Music in the Soul and Hip-Hop Eras. University of Illinois Press.
- ^ "Winans". Recording Academy. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ Carpenter, Bill (2005). Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia. Backbeat Books. p. 499.
- ^ Bream, Jon (20 Sep 1991). "Music". Star Tribune. p. 11E.
- ^ a b "Critics Pick What Sticks". The Washington Post. 28 Dec 1990. p. N9.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (27 Apr 1990). "Here's what is new in the record stores". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 25.
- ^ Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 531.
- ^ a b "Return Review by Steven McDonald". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 778.
- ^ Considine, J.D. (21 June 1990). "Winans merge the sacred with soul". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. p. 14.
- ^ Linden, Amy (Oct 1990). "Spins". Spin. Vol. 6, no. 7. p. 86.