Let's Talk About It is the second album by American R&B singer Carl Thomas. It was released by Bad Boy Records and Universal Records on March 23, 2004 in America. Originally scheduled for a November 18, 2003 release, the album was delayed several months due to Bad Boy entering into a new distribution deal with Universal Records.

Let's Talk About It
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 23, 2004
Length65:54
Label
Producer
Carl Thomas chronology
Emotional
(2000)
Let's Talk About It
(2004)
So Much Better
(2007)

The album debuted and peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 and was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Promotion of Let's Talk About It was cut short due to Thomas' brother being gunned down several months after the album's release.[1] The album was one of many albums released on Bad Boy Records that underperformed under the Universal distribution deal. As a result, Thomas left the label in 2005, while Bad Boy left Universal for a distribution deal with Atlantic Records in the same year.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [2]
Vibe     [3]

Allmusic editor David Jeffries rated the album three out of five stars. He found that Let's Talk About It "is a very different record from 2000's [debut] Emotional. It's more upbeat, slicker, and riskier. There are really two albums going on here: a moderate one that overcomes some workmanlike production with naughty and clever lyrics, and a meandering one that's warm, personal, and visionary [...] With 16 tracks and only a couple fluff ones, it's easy to whittle this album down to a tight, totally Thomas listen."[2] Aliya S. King, writing for Vibe, gave the album a three and a half ouf of five stars rating. She wrote: "Using grown-up love as a backdrop, Thomas firmly establishes himself with Let’s Talk About It. He successfully honors his upbringing, paying honest tribute to the musicians who have put the Windy City on the musical map."[4]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Let's Talk About It (Interlude)"D-Dot3:38
2."Anything"
  • Thomas
  • Elijah "Vato" Harris
  • Thomas
  • Harris
3:52
3."My First Love"
Just Blaze4:04
4."She Is" (featuring LL Cool J)4:17
5."Know It's Alright (Interlude)"
  • Thomas
  • Harris
2:19
6."Make It Alright"Michael FlowersMike City4:49
7."The Baby Maker"
  • Thomas
  • Damien DeSandies
  • Thomas
  • DeSandies
5:03
8."Dreamer"
  • Thomas
  • Milton Thornton
  • Thomas
  • Thornton
4:16
9."A Promise"Stevie J4:23
10."But Me"
  • Thomas
  • Knight
  • Winans
  • Michael "Lo" Jones
  • Shropshire
  • John Stoddart
  • Winans
  • Combs
3:26
11."All You've Given"Dre & Vidal3:26
12."All My Love (Interlude)"
  • Thomas
  • City
City1:56
13."Let Me Know"
  • Thomas
  • Harris
  • Jordan
  • Harve Pierre
  • Steve Dent
  • Shropshire
  • Bono
  • The Edge
  • Pierre
  • Stevie J
5:36
14."Rebound"
  • Eric Roberson
  • Tye Tribette
  • Roberson
  • Paris Bowens
  • Thaddaeus Tribette
  • Tribette
6:47
15."That's What You Are (Interlude)"
  • Liang
  • Leslie
2:19
16."Work It Out"
Stevie J4:22
17."The Way That You Do (featuring Kanye West)[a]"
West3:49

Notes

  • ^[a] Bonus track

Sample credits

  • "Let's Talk About It (Interlude)" contains a sample of "Standing Right Here" by Melba Moore.
  • "My First Love" contains an interpolation of "Money (Dollar Bill Y'all)" by Jimmy Spicer.
  • "She Is" contains a sample of "Happy" by Surface.
  • "But Me" contains a sample of "Over And Over Again" by Bob James.
  • "Let Me Know" contains an interpolation of "Love Is Blindness" by U2.
  • "The Way That You Do" contains a sample of "Woman's Blues" by Laura Nyro.

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Carl Thomas Interview". djbooth.net. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  2. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Let's Talk About It". AllMusic. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  3. ^ King, Aliya S. (April 7, 2004). "Carl Thomas – Let's Talk About It (Bad Boy)". Vibe. Archived from the original on September 8, 2004. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  4. ^ King, Aliya S. (April 2004). "Revoltuions". Vibe. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "Carl Thomas Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "Carl Thomas Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  7. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums - Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  9. ^ "American album certifications – Carl Thomas – Let's Talk About It". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 7, 2020.