I Need an Angel (CD - 2004)

Personnel: Ruben Studdard (vocals); Fred Hammond (vocals, drum programming, background vocals); Harvey Watkins, Jr. (vocals); Warryn Campbell (various instruments, piano, organ, programming); Calvin "Joonie" Gary, Jr., Joey Woolfalk, Eric D. Jackson (guitar); South Central Chamber Orchestra (strings); Dontae Winslow, Divine Order Horns (horns); Tim Carmon (organ); Noel Hall (keyboards); Andrew Gouche (bass guitar); Eric Seats, Dion Neuble (drums); Tommie Walker (drum programming); Aminah Ofumbi, Clarissa Watkins, Seven Morris, James Chip Burney, A.J. Wright & The Tribe Called Judah, Alethea Mills, Chavonne Morris (background vocals); Donnie Lyle, John Jubu Smith (guitar); DeWayne Swan (piano, keyboards); Glendon Campbell (drums); Abel Garibaldi, Ian Mereness (programming).

Audio Mixers: Abel Garibaldi; Fred Hammond; Manny Marroquin; Dave Russell ; James Beville; R. Kelly; Ray Hammond.

Recording information: Audiostate 55, Birmingham, AL; Face To Face Studios, Southfield, MI; Fever Recording Studio, North Hollywood, CA; Hitland Studios, Tacoma, WA; Record One, Sherman Oaks, CA; South Beach Studios, Miami Beach, FL; The Chocolate Factory, Chicago, IL; The Underlab, L.A., CA.

Editors: Aaron Renner; Dabling Harward; Dave Russell ; Tony Sheppard.

Photographer: Kareem Black.

Arrangers: Eric Dawkins; Fred Hammond; Derek Clark; R. Kelly; Anson Dawkins.

It makes a certain amount of sense that Ruben Studdard's second album is a contemporary gospel album. His first album, 2003's Soulful, was pitched toward an urban soul audience, and an urban contemporary gospel album is a natural extension of that attitude, since the basic sound isn't all that far removed: the slow, smooth grooves are an uncanny ringer for the sound of quiet storm, only with a religious spin. Studdard sings songs from and works with many of the major names in contemporary gospel music -- Bill Gaither, Walter Hawkins, Fred Hammond, Marvin Winans, plus R. Kelly -- and while there are a number of cooks in the kitchen, the resulting album, I Need an Angel, winds up being cohesive since it's all coming from the same perspective. It's all easy-rolling, smooth, and polished slow grooves, sometimes easing by on the sound of the record, other times gelling quite nicely thanks to some sturdily written and arranged songs. Ruben sounds considerably better here than he did on Soulful -- the voice doesn't sound rushed or thin, it sounds like he had the time in the studio to concentrate and give good performances. He still isn't blessed with a tremendous amount of on-record charisma, but he sounds nice and grounds the album, giving it a likeable focus when it starts to sound a little samey. So, while it has no standout cuts, on the whole I Need an Angel winds up being a bit more solid than his proper debut and suggests that Studdard may be developing the skills that will given him an actual career outside of the confines of American Idol. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

On his debut album, AMERICAN IDOL's second-season winner Ruben Studdard, like runner-up Clay Aiken, surprised some listeners by delivering a disc that presented much less teeny-bopper pop than might be expected, considering the TV show's audience. While Aiken developed a Barry Manilow-esque modern-pop/Broadway hybrid, Studdard dove deep into R&B, unveiling a surprisingly mature effort loaded with urban street credibility.

With 2004's I NEED AN ANGEL, the "Velvet Teddy Bear" once again proves that he is his own man, by recording a full album of contemporary gospel featuring songs by heavy-hitters Fred Hammond, Bill Gaither, and Walter Hawkins, along with the R. Kelly-penned title track. Though often compared to Luther Vandross, here Studdard does his best Al Green, with the smooth, nimble, bass-laden "Goin' Up Yonder" sounding like a combination of Reverend Green and WHAT'S GOING ON-era Marvin Gaye. "Fix It, Jesus," on the other hand, is pure old-school revival meeting, with a foot-stomping beat sure to raise the rafters and engage the spirit. A work that's both uplifting and highly accessible, I NEED AN ANGEL is a clear indication of Studdard's continued artistic growth. minimize