Jennifer Paige (album)

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: August 11, 1998 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Positively Somewhere2001studioJennifer PaigeJenniferPaigealbum.jpgJennifer PaigeAugust 11, 1998April 1996–Summer 1997Abbey Road Studios (London)
Electric Lady Studios (New York City)Pop<ref name="Billboard_August 1, 1998"/>44:06* Edel

• Hollywood* Jimmy Bralower
• Andy Goldmark
• Jamie Houston
• Wayne Kirkpatrick
• J.D. Martinx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

Jennifer Paige is the debut studio album by American singer Jennifer Paige. It was released on August 11, 1998, through a joint venture between Edel America and Hollywood Records. Largely written and produced by Andy Goldmark, along with additional production from Wayne Kirkpatrick, Jimmy Bralower, J.D. Martin, and Jamie Houston, the album is a pop record that sports primarily midtempo tracks as well as handful of sumptuous ballads. Paige envisioned hopeful songs with elements of "old-school singing" for her debut.<ref name="Billboard_August 1, 1998"/>

Upon its release, the album earned positive reviews from music critics. Commercially, Jennifer Paige charted moderately, reaching number three on BillboardTemplate:'s US Top Heatseekers chart, but surpassed Gold status in Canada and went on to sell 900,000 units internationally.<ref name="WWsalesJP"/> The album was preceded by it lead single "Crush," which became an international top ten hit and peaked at number one in Australia and New Zealand. In 1999, two further singles, "Sober" and "Always You" were released.

Background

Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Paige began singing at age of eight in coffeehouses and restaurants and playing piano at ten.<ref name="Billboard_March 12, 1999">Template:Cite magazine</ref> After her highschool graduation, she joined a top 40 cover band and went on the road, singing in caissos and hotels for two years.<ref name="Billboard_August 1, 1998">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1996, after meeting Crystal Bernard, who advised her to move to Los Angeles,<ref name="Billboard_August 1, 1998"/> Paige decided to relocate to California to launch a professional career in music.<ref name="Billboard_March 12, 1999"/> Though she initially struggled to make a living there,<ref name="Billboard_August 1, 1998"/> a dance remix one of her early demo recordings, a cover of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" (1967), garnered attention from German record label Edel Records,<ref name="Billboard_August 1, 1998"/> whose executives were looking to expand to North America and signed Paige as their first overseas act in October 1997.<ref name="Billboard_August 1, 1998"/> Through Edel, she intensified work on her debut album along with songwriter-producer Andy Goldmark.<ref name="Billboard_March 12, 1999"/> When "Crush" began receiving airplay, Hollywood Records offered to co-finance the project.<ref name="Billboard_August 1, 1998"/>

Promotion

"Crush" released on June 16, 1998, as the first single from her debut album. "Crush" was an international hit that peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100,<ref>"Jennifer Paige Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.</ref> earned a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America,<ref>"American single certifications – Jennifer Paige – Crush". Recording Industry Association of America.</ref> and sold 700,000 by the end of 1998.<ref name="ussales">Template:Cite magazine</ref> It reached number one in three countries: Australia (two weeks),<ref>"Jennifer Paige – Crush". ARIA Top 50 Singles.</ref> Canada (five weeks)<ref>"Top RPM Singles: Issue 7926." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 5, 2018.</ref> and New Zealand (one week).<ref>"Jennifer Paige – Crush". Top 40 Singles.</ref> In Australia, the song is certified 2× Platinum for more than 140,000 copies shipped,<ref>Template:Cite certification</ref> while in New Zealand it is certified Gold for sales of over 5,000.<ref>"New Zealand single certifications – Jennifer Paige – Crush". Recorded Music NZ.</ref> In Europe "Crush" reached number four in France and the United Kingdom,<ref name="charts">"Jennifer Paige – Crush" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.</ref><ref name="uk">"Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.</ref> going Gold in both countries,<ref>"French single certifications – Jennifer Paige – Crush" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.</ref><ref>"British single certifications – Jennifer Paige – Crush". British Phonographic Industry.</ref> and number six in Ireland,<ref>"The Irish Charts – Search Results – Crush". Irish Singles Chart.</ref> the Netherlands and Norway.<ref name="charts"/> It also became a top-ten hit in Austria, Walloon Belgium, Denmark, Hungary and Spain,<ref name="charts"/><ref name="den">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="hun">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="spa">Template:Cite book</ref> and it reached the top 20 in Flanders, Germany, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland.<ref name="charts"/><ref name="ice">Template:Cite news</ref>

"Sober" was released on February 19, 1999, as the second single released from Jennifer Paige . It failed to chart in the United States but managed to enter top 70 in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. Released on July 12, 1999, third and final single "Always You" reached number six on the BillboardTemplate:'s US Dance/Club Play chart.<ref>Billboard Dance Club Play Songs (4 September 1999) Billboard.com. Retrieved 30 June 2017.</ref> The same year, two tracks from the album — "Crush” and "Busted" — were featured on the soundtrack for the 1999 American romantic comedy film Simply Irresistible.<ref name="Billboard_March 12, 1999"/> The song "Somewhere, Someday" was later covered by boy band 'N Sync for 1999's Pokémon: The First Movie soundtrack.

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings AllMusic editor Jaime Sunao Ikeda rated the album three out of five stars. He noted that Paige "unleashes a voice with great development potential" on Jennifer Paige "that holds its own with a solid pop effort, and splendidly provides her own background vocals on most tracks as well. Definitely one of the brighter pop talents to emerge in quite a while. Standout tracks on this fine debut release include the first single "Crush," "Get to Me," "Somewhere, Someday," and the stellar "Let It Rain"."<ref name="AllMusic"/> Billboard editor Paul Verna wrote: "Set up by the runaway success of its first single, "Crush," this debut album by new-comer Jennifer Paige threatens to make a strong chart impact and launch a promising career. Although there are no other tracks on the album with the immediate appeal of "Crush" [...] cuts such as breezy pop number "Get to Me," ballad "Always You," funk workout "Busted," and melodrama-soaked ballad "Let It Rain" have the potential to make their presence felt at pop and AC radio. A young singer with the goods for mainstream success."<ref name="Billboard_August 15, 1998">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Commercial performance

In the United States, Jennifer Paige debuted at number 168 on the US Billboard 200 on the week of August 29, 1998.<ref name="Billboard200"/> It eventually peaked at number 139 the following week.<ref name="Billboard200"/> By February 2000, the album had sold 300,000 units in the country.<ref name="WWsalesJP"/> In Canada, Jennifer Paige was certified Gold by Music Canada for shipments of 50,000 units.<ref name="MusicCanada"/> In February 2000, The Wall Street Journal reported that Jennifer Paige had sold 900,000 copies worldwide.<ref name="WWsalesJP"/>

Track listing

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• ^{Template:Note} denotes additional producer(s)

Charts

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Weekly chart performance for Jennifer Paige

Chart (1998)	Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)	70
US Top Heatseekers (Billboard)<ref name=allmusiccharts>Template:Cite web</ref>	3