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Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1

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Who Is Jill Scott?:
Words and Sounds Vol. 1
Studio album by
Jill Scott
ReleasedJuly 18, 2000
Studio
Length72:59
LabelHidden Beach
Producer
Jill Scott chronology
Who Is Jill Scott?:
Words and Sounds Vol. 1
(2000) 		Experience: Jill Scott 826+
(2001)
Singles from Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1
  1. "Love Rain"
    Released: 2000
  2. "Gettin' In the Way"
    Released: November 11, 2000
  3. "A Long Walk"
    Released: January 16, 2001
  4. "The Way"
    Released: June 5, 2001

Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 is the debut studio album by American singer Jill Scott. It was released on July 18, 2000, by Hidden Beach Recordings. The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards, whereas "Gettin' in the Way", "A Long Walk", and "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)" were nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. In 2010, the album was ranked number 70 on Slant Magazine's list of "The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s".

Background

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The track "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)", dedicated to Scott's then-husband Lyzel Williams, became particularly popular at Scott's live and televised performances. It also received a club makeover as dance remixes of the song gained popularity and were later included on her 2001 live album Experience: Jill Scott 826+. Gospel singers Karen Clark Sheard and her daughter Kierra also covered the song with new gospel lyrics and ad-libs on the former's 2003 album The Heavens Are Telling. Beyoncé included the song as part of a medley with "Dangerously in Love 2" during her Beyoncé Experience world tour in 2007. The song was also covered by the German pop trio Monrose on their 2006 video release Popstars: The Making of Monrose. The twelfth track, "The Roots (Interlude)", is an excerpt of the live version of the Roots' 1999 song "You Got Me", which was co-written, and originally recorded with vocals by Scott, but re-recorded with vocals by Erykah Badu at the insistence of MCA Records.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Sun-Times[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA[3]
Los Angeles Times[4]
Muzik5/5[5]
Pitchfork7.7/10[6]
Q[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
Slant Magazine[9]
USA Today[10]

Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 earned generally favorable reviews from music critics. Entertainment Weekly's Jim Farber felt that the album "boasts the gutsiest voice of any neo-soul star. Though she plows the same jazzy field as Erykah Badu, Scott owns a stronger instrument and writes earthier material. Her honey molasses voice will coat all your senses."[3] Steve Jones from USA Today called Scott "a deeply talented artist who marches to her own drummer. She tackles a variety of subjects, including love, politics and inspiration, with an earthiness, fervor and view of reality that vividly set her apart from her contemporaries. Answering the album title's question may not be simple, but what's sure is that Jill Scott is a singer worth repeated listenings."[10] Los Angeles Times critic Soren Baker noted that "with an earthy vibe and a fresh presentation of modern soul music, this Roots collaborator subtly sizzles on her debut album. Scott’s gentle voice fluctuates between sensuous and sad as she details the satisfaction of love fulfilled and the messy heartbreak of failed relationships."[4]

Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani called the album "passionately spiritual. Most of the tracks on the album avoid hip-hop clichés and sampling in favor of elevation and organic soul. With Who Is Jill Scott?, Scott almost single-handedly revives the spirit in soul music."[9] AllMusic editor William Ruhlmann rated the album four of five stars. He felt thatpProducer Jeff Townes "and his team of associates from the A Touch of Jazz production company set up sympathetic musical backgrounds for Scott that support her without requiring her to fit her spoken and sung excursions into strict meter. That gives her range to pursue her interests, which include a strong sense of her north Philadelphia neighborhood and such idiosyncratic concerns as food, with many meals listed in detail."[1] Rolling Stone critic Barry Walters wrote: "Mixing song with recited poetry over live beats, Scott's debut recalls the heady lyrical gifts of Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye, Teena Marie and Nikki Giovanni, just to name a few. But this free spirit is about more than words: Jazzy, honey-dipped arrangements bypass samples in favor of real strings, woodwinds, horns and drummers who swing [...] This long-player smells like classic soul spirit."[8]

Accolades

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The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards, whereas "Gettin' in the Way", "A Long Walk", and "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)" were nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 2001, 2002, and 2003, respectively. In 2010, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 was ranked number 70 on Slant Magazine's list of "The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s".[11]

Track listing

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Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Jilltro"
Henson1:03
2."Do You Remember"
  • Harris
  • Keith Pelzer[a]
4:43
3."Exclusively"
Townes2:05
4."Gettin' In the Way"
Davis3:56
5."A Long Walk"
  • Scott
  • Harris
  • Harris
  • Davis
4:41
6."I Think It's Better"
  • Scott
  • Harris
Harris1:42
7."He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)"
  • Scott
  • Pelzer
Pelzer4:45
8."It's Love"
  • Scott
  • Pelzer
  • Henson
  • Pelzer
  • Henson
5:54
9."The Way"
  • Scott
  • Harris
  • Harris
  • Davis
4:16
10."Honey Molasses"
Haggins2:41
11."Love Rain"
  • Scott
  • Davis
Davis4:12
12."The Roots" (Interlude)
0:57
13."Slowly Surely"
  • Scott
  • Henson
  • Don Thompson
Henson4:35
14."One Is the Magic #"
  • Scott
  • Davis
Davis3:48
15."Watching Me"
  • Scott
  • Ted Thomas Jr.
  • Rich Medina
  • Roy Ayers
  • William Allen
Thomas3:45
16."Brotha"
Pelzer3:25
17."Show Me"
  • Scott
  • Davis
Davis4:06
18."Try"
  • Poyser
  • Ed King[a]
10:08
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
19."One Time" (featuring Eric Roberson)
  • Scott
  • Davis
  • Roberson
Davis4:00

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • Tracks 19–43 (and track 45 on the Japanese edition) consist of silence and last five seconds each; they are not listed on the album sleeve.
  • Track 44 includes the remix of "Love Rain" featuring Mos Def as a hidden track, starting at 5:02.

Sample credits

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[24] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[27] 2× Platinum 2,500,000[26]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

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  1. ^ Strings on tracks 7 and 9

References

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  1. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 – Jill Scott". AllMusic. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  2. ^ Little, Rebecca (September 3, 2000). "Jill Scott, 'Who Is Jill Scott?' (Hidden Beach)". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Farber, Jim (February 12, 2001). "Who is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Baker, Soren (July 23, 2000). "Jill Scott, 'Who Is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds Vol. 1,' Hidden Beach/Epic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Moore, Ralph (October 2000). "Jill Scott: Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 (Hidden Beach/Epic)". Muzik. No. 65. p. 76.
  6. ^ Mistry, Anupa (April 14, 2019). "Jill Scott: Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  7. ^ "Jill Scott: Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1". Q. No. 168. September 2000. pp. 106–08.
  8. ^ a b Walters, Barry (August 3, 2000). "Jill Scott: Who Is Jill Scott?: Words And Sounds Vol. 1". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (December 21, 2001). "Jill Scott: Who Is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds Vol. 1". Slant Magazine. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  10. ^ a b Jones, Steve (July 18, 2000). "Jill Scott, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1". USA Today. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  11. ^ "The 100 Best Albums of the 2000s". Slant Magazine. February 1, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds Vol. 1" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  13. ^ "Charts.nz – Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds Vol. 1". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  14. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds Vol. 1". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  15. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds Vol. 1". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  16. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  17. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  18. ^ "Jill Scott Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  19. ^ "Jill Scott Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  20. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  21. ^ "Canada's Top 200 R&B; albums of 2001". Jam!. January 8, 2002. Archived from the original on November 22, 2002. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  23. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2001". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  24. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott". Music Canada. July 31, 2001. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  25. ^ "British album certifications – Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds Vol 1". British Phonographic Industry. March 16, 2001. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  26. ^ Mitchell, Gail (June 24, 2011). "Jill Scott: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  27. ^ "American album certifications – Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott". Recording Industry Association of America. October 12, 2004. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
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