Something Beautiful [Barnes & Noble Exclusive]

by Jordan Smith

Overview

Jordan Smith, winner of the ninth season of the televised singing competition The Voice, belongs to a reality show tradition inaugurated by Clay Aiken and perfected by Susan Boyle: an old-fashioned, anodyne singer who would've been perfectly at home on either the Andy Williams or Lawrence Welk show. Smith exists somewhere between the two poles of Aiken and Boyle. His Broadway-bound style isn't as malleable as Clay's, so he can't quite be put into a modern setting, but he's certainly not as musty as Susan. There's an eagerness to his singing that betrays his youth, a quality that distinguishes his versions of shopworn standards ("Over the Rainbow," "Amazing Grace," "You Are So Beautiful") while also allowing him to sidestep the question of actually interpreting the songs. This same sentiment applies not only to his happy renditions of AAA standards by Christina Aguilera ("Beautiful"), Billy Joel ("And So It Goes") and Sarah McLachlan ("Angel"), but also to the tracks that are nominally hipper, such as a cover of Rihanna's "What Now" that finds the song's soft, mushy heart. This and the overheated neo-gospel of "Stand in the Light" and show tune soul of "Ain't Got Far to Go" are produced by David Foster and Stephan Moccio so they can slide into any office or waiting room playlist on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, an anonymous bed that winds up emphasizing Smith's relentless good cheer. He's just happy to be here, happy to be singing, and whether you find that something to smile about depends entirely on how ingratiating you find that starry-eyed optimism. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	08/05/2016
Label:	Barnes Noble Consign
UPC:	0602547944702

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jordan Smith   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Elsie Moon   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Cristina Erskine   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Joe Matthews   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Amanda Korris   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Levi Gunn   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Jorge Vivo   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Karina Lammas   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Micah Luna   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Denise Carite   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Denosh Bennett   Choir/Chorus
Mike Burrell   Organ
Tina Guo-Morabito   Cello
Mabvuto Carpenter   Choir/Chorus
Aaron Sterling   Drums
Nate Morton   Drums
David Foster   Piano,Keyboards
Jason Morales   Choir/Chorus
Jay Bicknell   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Aaron Encinas   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Kenyon Dixon   Choir/Chorus
Paul Bushnell   Bass
Bill Appleberry   Keyboards
Kirk Franklin   Featured Artist
Teddy Campbell   Drums
Eric Daniels   Organ,Piano,Keyboards
John Ondrasik   Vocals (Background)
Sasha Krivtsov   Bass
Nathan East   Bass
Paul Mirkovich   Keyboards
Jonathan Martin Berry   Guitar
Jason Smith   Choir/Chorus
Justin Derrico   Guitar
Jochem van der Saag   Synthesizer
Kara Britz   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Stephan Moccio   Piano,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Shelea   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Aaron Berman   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Jeremy Simoneaux   Mixing Assistant
Finlay Dow Smith   Composer
Jordan Smith   Composer
James Scott Burnett   Composer
Antoniou Michael Phillip   Composer
Ife Oladigbolu   Composer
Petey Martin   Composer
Noel Zancanella   Composer
Onree Gill   Arranger
Aaron Lindsey   Arranger,Composer
Billy Preston   Composer
Ryland Blackinton   Composer
Israel Houghton   Arranger,Composer
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg   Composer
Sarah McLachlan   Composer
David Foster   Arranger,Producer
Justin Tranter   Composer
Tim Harkins   Engineer
Bruce Fisher   Composer
Vlado Meller   Mastering
Sacha Skarbek   Composer
Tom Coyne   Mastering
Shari Sutcliffe   Music Contractor,Production Coordination
Matt Tuggle   Assistant Engineer
Jeff Gartenbaum   Assistant Engineer
Robyn Fenty   Composer
Vaughn Oliver   Composer
Jay Bicknell   Engineer
Nathan Cassells   Composer
Parker Ighile   Composer
Jess Glynne   Composer
Emerson Day   Second Engineer
Knox Brown   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Harold Arlen   Composer
Bill Appleberry   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Kirk Franklin   Orchestration
Billy Joel   Composer
Dan Keyes   Composer
Lauren Christy   Composer
John Ondrasik   Composer
Dave Reitzas   Mixing
David Phelps   Arranger
Ryan Tedder   Composer
Linda Perry   Composer
Rafa Sardina   Engineer
Jorge Vivo   Engineer
Olivia Waithe   Composer
Katherine Frangetis-Tempesta   A&R
Walt Harrah   Composer
Dayna Caddell   Composer
Jochem van der Saag   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Sound Design
Maureen McDonald   Composer
Stephan Moccio   Composer,Producer
Rouble Kapoor   Assistant
Janee Bennett   Composer
Thaddis Harrell   Composer
Brian Dong   Engineer
Ricardo Sanchez   Composer
Fin Dow-Smith   Composer
Bruce Carleton Fisher   Composer
Jeremy Lubsey   Mastering Assistant
Peter Mack   Second Engineer