Back to the World is the third studio album by R&B singer Tevin Campbell. It was released by Qwest Records on June 18, 1996.
| Back to the World | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 18, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | August 1995 – March 1996 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Length | 57:32 | |||
| Label | Qwest | |||
| Producer |
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| Tevin Campbell chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Back to the World | ||||
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Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Buffalo News | [2] |
| Muzik | [3] |
AllMusic editor Leo Stanleyndi found that Back to the World "is proof positive that the teen idol is now a man [...] For the most part, he succeeds in establishing himself as a vocalist of prodigious talents and significant worth [..] No matter how Campbell tries to phase out that sweetness on Back to the World, he retains that appealing quality, which makes the album all the more endearing."[1] Billboard's Paul Verna found that the song selection on Back to the World "suggests a more adult approach, despite several hip-hop tracks that give the mostly mellow set a trendy bounce. Credit is due to label's commitment to artist delevopment which is readily apparent on the project because of the performer's stronger delivery and continually evolving sound."[4]
Vibe editor David Mills felt that with the album Campbell "maintains versatility, and also seems a lot more comfortable singing in his gutsier, sly-sounding lower register [...] This album is a robust statement about Tevin's vocal transformation, a shrewd departure from his first two [...] Back to the World isn't the yummy teen fluff I'm Ready was. Nor is it the delightful baby candy of his debut. This album is about growing up, its underlying vocal theme a bold quest for maturity."[5] Carl Allen from The Buffalo News found that "sounding just short of adulthood is what makes Campbell's work so outstanding [...] This first compact disc since his stirring debut about three years ago is bound to again put him in contention with some of the big boys of popular music. He has the ability to enclose lyrics in a suspended tonal reality that has clarity as its major feature. The result is romantic music that can be understood immediately. Pretty effective stuff taken track by track. A little tedious all at once, except for true fans."[2]
Commercial performance
editBack to the World was a commercial disappointment compared to his first two albums T.E.V.I.N. and I'm Ready. Three singles were released off the album: "Back to the World", "I Got It Bad" and "Could You Learn to Love".
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back to the World" |
| Jaz | 5:00 |
| 2. | "Dry Your Eyes" |
| Edmondson | 4:44 |
| 3. | "You Don't Have to Worry" |
|
| 5:40 |
| 4. | "I Got It Bad" |
| Crouch | 5:04 |
| 5. | "Tell Me Where" |
| The Boom Brothers | 4:29 |
| 6. | "Could It Be" |
| Jaz | 4:55 |
| 7. | "I Need You" |
| The Boom Brothers | 3:56 |
| 8. | "I'll Be There" |
| 4:46 | |
| 9. | "We Can Work It Out" |
|
| 3:51 |
| 10. | "Beautiful Thing" | Crouch | Crouch | 5:09 |
| 11. | "Could You Learn to Love" | Babyface | The Boom Brothers | 4:10 |
| 12. | "Break of Dawn" |
| Jaz | 5:48 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Lately" | Stevie Wonder | Al B. Sure! | 2:55 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1996) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[6] | 31 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[7] | 36 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[8] | 109 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[9] | 16 |
| US Billboard 200[10] | 46 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[11] | 11 |
References
edit- ^ a b Stanley, Leo. Tevin Campbell: I'm Ready > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Allen, Carl (July 12, 1996). "In Brief". The Buffalo News. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ Springer, Jacqueline (August 1996). "Tevin Campbell: Back To The World" (PDF). Muzik. p. 117. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
- ^ Verna, Paul (July 13, 1996). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ Mills, David (August 1, 1996). "Revolutions". Vibe. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Tevin Campbell – Back to the World". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Tevin Campbell – Back to the World". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "Chart Log UK: 1994–2010: Chris C. – CZR". Zobbel. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
- ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
External links
edit- Back to the World at Discogs (list of releases)