Get Lifted netted John Legend a major hit ("Ordinary People") that will be heard on adult contemporary stations and throwback-oriented programs as long as they exist, platinum status, and three Grammy titles -- including the potential kiss of death that is Best New Artist. If Legend hadn't linked up with Kanye West or any other connected industry figure, he'd probably be well into a string of independent albums and would likely have a fanatical cult following through persistent touring. It doesn't take much exposure to his songs to sense this alternate scenario. No one can deny that Legend has had considerable help from his collaborators, and he continues to get that support this time out -- there's West, will.i.am, Sa-Ra, Raphael Saadiq, Plant Life's Jack Splash, and a massive crew of session musicians, but it's already evident that Legend only needs a piano to get by. Even with its many producers, Once Again is much more focused than Get Lifted, and the quality of its songs is equally high. Legend's obviously doing everything in his power to not fall off. He pours so much of himself into each one of these songs, whether they're about flings with groupies or breakups with long-term girlfriends, that the album can begin to wear around the eighth track. The songs flit back and forth between easygoing, butterflies-of-love-type sentiments and deep drama, with both sides expressed through similar levels of intensity. As much as anyone else, Legend would benefit from the recent (and generally welcomed) return of the 40-minute R&B album. If the album is missing something, it's a snappy, unapologetically swaggering track in the vein of Get Lifted's "Used to Love U," or perhaps a song or two that doesn't seem intent on displaying impressive musicality, but there are enough undeniably bright spots to please those who have already been won over. While Once Again might not get as much attention as its predecessor, it's more assured and sounds nothing like an experiment to see what sticks. Legend now knows exactly where he fits, and he's not holding back in the least. [This edition of the album includes the bonus track "Out of Sight".]~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Once Again (Circuit City Exclusive)
10/24/2006
Videos from Once Again (Circuit City Exclusive)
All Music Guide Review
Track Listing
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Credits
- Tony Maserati
- Engineer, Mixing
- Harvey Mason, Sr.
- Drums
- Billy Mims
- Assistant
- Jamie Muhoberac
- Keyboards
- David Piltch
- Guitar (Bass)
- Herb Powers
- Mastering
- David Sonenberg
- Management
- Craig Street
- Producer
- Patrick Warren
- Keyboards
- Shelley Woodworth
- Oboe
- Ethan Donaldson
- Assistant
- Julie Landsman
- French Horn
- Raphael Saadiq
- Guitar, Guitar (Bass), Producer
- Ken Lewis
- Producer, Engineer, Sampling
- Erwin Gorostiza
- Art Direction
- Didi Gutman
- Keyboards
- Andrew Dawson
- Engineer
- Danny Clinch
- Photography
- Helen Campo
- Flute (Alto)
- Jerry Freeman
- Horn
- will.i.am
- Bass, Producer, Engineer, Drum Programming, Drums
- Kanye West
- Producer, Executive Producer
- Anthony Kilhoffer
- Engineer
- Lenesha Randolph
- Vocals (Background)
- Sharon Yamada
- Violin
- Sasha Allen
- Vocals (Background)
- Juli Knapp
- A&R
- Elizabeth Dyson
- Celli
- Lisa Kim
- Violin
- Kebbi Williams
- Horn
- Seth Friedman
- Management
- Nick Cords
- Viola
- Krystof Kuznik
- Violin
- Soo Hyun Kwon
- Violin
- Jung Sun Yoo
- Violin
- Shafiq Husayn
- Producer, Musician
- Chris Rob
- Organ
- Tom Craskey
- Bass, Guitar, Producer, Vocals, Piano
- Dave Tozer
- Guitar (Acoustic), Piano, Engineer, Producer, Drum Programming
- Héctor Castillo
- String Engineer
- Dan Ichimoto
- Art Direction, Design
- Padraic Kerin
- Engineer
- Daniele Luppi
- Arranger
- Steve Tirpak
- Trombone, Trumpet, Flugelhorn
- Sharief Hobley
- Guitar
- Katherine Fong
- Violin
- John Legend
- Organ, Executive Producer, Producer, Vocals (Background), Vocals, Keyboards, Piano
- James Tanksley
- Assistant
- Sarah OBoyle
- Violin
- Wen Qian
- Violin
- Caterina Szepes
- Violin
- Corey Hogan
- Horn
- Tara Michel
- Vocals (Background)
- Ronald Stephens
- Grooming
- Taz Arnold
- Producer, Musician
- Jack Splash
- Producer, Drum Programming
- Chuck Brungardt
- Engineer
- Rob "Fonksta" Bacon
- Guitar
- Charlene Roxborough
- Stylist
- Devo Springsteen
- Producer
- Jason Freeman
- Horn
- Hyomin Kang
- Assistant
- Gelly Kusuma
- Assistant
- Chris Allen
- Assistant
- Vaughn Anthony
- Vocals (Background)
- Stephen Barbera
- String Arrangements
- Mark Biobdi
- Drums
- Evan Conquest
- Guitar, Engineer
- Quincy Jackson
- Marketing
- Kurn Lu
- Violin
- Andy Marcinkowski
- Assistant
- Droa Mohar
- Assistant
- Sandra Parl
- Violin, Concert Master
- Shawnelle Prestidge
- Grooming
- Charlie Stavish
- Assistant
- Alex Vengeur
- Assistant
- Chris Woehale
- Logo Design
- Veronique Zanettin
- Prop Design
- Art Baron
- Trombone
- Doyle Bramhall
- Guitar
- Chris Bruce
- Guitar
- Karen Dreyfus
- Viola
- Larry Eagle
- Drums
- Ron Fair
- Piano
- Michael Harmon
- Engineer
- Keith Harris
- Keyboards
- Earl Harvin
- Drums
- Eric Hudson
- Piano, Guitar (Bass), Producer
- Chris Jennings
- Assistant
- Jeanne LeBlanc
- Celli
- David Torn
- Guitar
- Steve Williamson
- Clarinet

















