Get Lifted

by John Legend

Overview

If you've listened to Top 40 radio or flipped through the video channels during the past few years, odds are pretty good you know something about John Legend. He played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" and might as well be considered Kanye West's sidekick, having assisted the producer and MC on several sessions -- Jay-Z's "Encore" and Slum Village's "Selfish" being two of the more prominent 2004 singles featuring his work. A former choir director, he has also released a handful of energetic live discs, some of which are credited to his less hubristic birth name, John Stephens. And though he claims "I've got something new," you've also heard substantial chunks of Get Lifted in records made decades ago by Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, and Bill Withers. This might not be a problem for listeners who crave anything that recalls the music they first heard in their youth, but Legend's over-reliance upon his inspirations is an impediment as much as a slick way to grab attention. That's because he has more than enough talent and charm to get by on his own. His own lyrics and hooks are unique and clever enough to get the point across that he's no everyday R&B artist and, just as importantly, he has a personable and instantly fetching voice you could listen to all day long. However, the association with West -- whose Sony-distributed boutique label released the record -- is very helpful. Without it, Legend would likely be zoned into neo-soul (2003's Live at SOB's New York City really makes this notion apparent), thereby standing little chance of reaching the ears of anyone younger than 30. The production work supporting his songs strikes a fine balance between soul and hip-hop, allowing him to appeal to those who are coming from either angle. This is a very good record. It's a given that Legend is destined to make at least two others that top it. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	06/10/2016
Label:	Bmg / Sony Music / Sony Special Products
UPC:	0889853340521

Tracks

1. Prelude
2. Let's Get Lifted
3. Used to Love U
4. Alright
5. She Don't Have to Know
6. Number One
7. I Can Change
8. Ordinary People
9. Stay With You
10. Let's Get Lifted Again
11. So High
12. Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)
13. It Don't Have to Change
14. Live It Up

Album Credits

Performance Credits

John Legend   Primary Artist,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Keyboards,Co-Producer,Fender Rhodes
Stephens Family   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Miri Ben-Ari   Primary Artist,Strings,Featured Artist
Kanye West   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Rap,Vocals,Co-Producer,Featured Artist
Lauryn Hill   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Snoop Dogg   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Rap,Vocals,Spoken Word,Featured Artist
Dave Tozer   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Guitar,Keyboards
will.i.am   Moog Synthesizer,Guest Artist,Clavinet,Moog Bass
Candice Anderson   Vocals
Sharief Hobley   Guitar
Lenesha Randolph   Vocals
George Pajon   Guitar
Tarey Torae   Vocals
Ted Chung   Finger Snaps,Handclapping
Curtis Jay   Guitar
Ronald "Bumper" Stephnes   Finger Snaps,Handclapping
Phyllis Y. Stephens   Vocals (Background)
Dionne Stephens   Vocals (Background)
Doris Stephens   Vocals (Background)
Phyllis E. Stephens   Vocals (Background)
Jenee Dixon   Trumpet
Kashaan Stephens   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Clarence "Sleepy" Anderson   Vocals
Jayme Kelly Curtis   Guitar
Elizabeth Lea   Trombone
Horn Dogs   Horn
Marjorie Stephens   Vocals (Background)
Jeremy Dyen   Synthesizer
Tarrey Torae   Vocals,Lead Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Brett Stephens   Vocals (Background)
George Pajon Jr.   Guitar
Glenn Jeffery   Guitar
Tim Izo   Flute,Saxophone
Jimmy Coleman   Drums
Tom Craskey   Bass
Printz Board   Trumpet
Ronald Stephens   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Tara Michel   Vocals
Candace Anderson   Vocals
Vada Stephens   Vocals (Background)
Shvona   Finger Snaps,Handclapping
Glen Jeffery   Guitar
Brandy Stephens   Vocals (Background)
A. Wayne Stephens   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Na2   Vocals
Corey Hogan   Saxophone
Swiss Chris Flueck   Drums
James Roston   Vocals
Steve Tirpak   Trumpet
MBalia Singley   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Vaughn Stephens   Vocals,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Dave Tozer   Programming,Audio Production,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Drum Programming
Michael Peters   Audio Engineer,Engineer
will.i.am   Programming,Audio Production,Producer,Drum Programming
Kanye West   Programming,Audio Production,Drum Programming,Executive Producer,Composer,Producer
John Legend   Audio Production,Producer,Executive Producer
Danny Clinch   Photography
Pablo Arraya   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Jared Robbins   Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Miri Ben-Ari   Arranger,Producer,String Arrangements
Anthony Kilhoffer   Engineer
Zach Hancock   Engineer
Jun Ishizeki   Engineer
Jason Villaroman   Engineer
Manny Marroquin   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Calvin Broadus   Composer
Kawan "KP" Prather   A&R
Mike Eleopoulos   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Andrew Dawson   Engineer
DeVon "Devo" Harris   Producer
Jason Carson   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Michael Harmon   Engineer
David Bett   Design,Art Direction
Pete Donelly   Engineer
Andy Manganello   Engineer
John Stephens   Composer
Patrick Fong   Design
McGowan Southworth   Engineer
Tony Maserati   Mixing Engineer
Snoop Dogg   Vocal Ad-Libs
Lauryn Hill   Composer
Curtis Mayfield   Composer
Leon Ware   Composer
Tatiana Beedar   Stylist
Val Brathwaite   Engineer
Aaron Fessel   Engineer
Patricia Tyree   Photography
S. Stewart   Composer
L.A. Hill   Composer
Paul Cho   Producer
Matt Hueneman   Engineer