Music Shopping List: Alicia Keys & More

Music Shopping List, November 4, 2016: Alicia Keys, Common & Bon Jovi Lead the Charge with respective new albums.

The first music release week in November is top-heavy.  There are three notable releases: Alicia Keys (HERE), Common (Black America Again) and Bon Jovi (This House Is Not for Sale).  The question for the aforementioned albums is, will any of them sell particularly well? If this question had been asked of Alicia Keys or Bon Jovi years back, it would be laughable.  Given the climate of music sales in 2016 however, it is a legit question.  

1. Alicia Keys, HERE

[RCA]

R&B singer/songwriter Alicia Keys returns after a four-year hiatus with HERE.  HERE follows Keys’ Grammy-winning Girl On Fire LP (2012), which debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200. Early indications suggest that Keys has moved beyond her R&B roots on HERE with singles “Blended Family (What You Do for Love)” and “Holy War.”

• Tracks: 16
• Featured Guests: A$AP Rocky
• Pre-Release Singles: “Blended Family” (ft. A$AP Rocky) & “Holy War”

2. Common, Black America Again

[Def Jam]

Common returns with his 11^th studio album, Black America Again.  Black America Again follows underrated 2014 LP Nobody’s Smiling. The album features a star-studded cast including Stevie Wonder, John Legend, and multiple appearances by Bilal.

• Tracks: 15
• Featured Guests: Bilal, Stevie Wonder, Marsha Ambrosius, PJ, BJ the Chicago Kid, John Legend, Syd & Elena & Tasha Cobbs
• Pre-Release Singles: “Home” (ft. Bilal), “Black America Again” (ft. Stevie Wonder), “Love Star (ft. Marsha Ambrosius & PJ), “Pyramids” & “Letter to the Free” (ft. Bilal)

https://youtu.be/MH1mcP-x8Go

3. Bon Jovi, This House Is Not for Sale

[Island]

The rollout for the latest Bon Jovi album, This House Is Not for Sale, has been relatively quiet.  Nonetheless, Bon Jovi released four singles prior to the album’s release: “This House is Not for Sale,” “Knockout,” “Labor of Love,” and “Born Again Tomorrow.” This House Is Not For Sale serves as the proper follow-up to 2013 effort, What About Now.

• Tracks: 15
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: “This House is Not for Sale,” “Knockout,” “Labor of Love,” “Born Again Tomorrow”

4. Kungs, Layers

[Universal Music France]

19-year old French DJ Kungs releases his debut album, Layers.  Layers is led by breakout single, “This Girl” (with Cookin’ on 3 Burners).  Ahead of Layers, four singles were issued: “This Girl,” “Don’t You Know,” “You Remain,” and “I Feel So Bad.”

• Tracks: 12
• Featured Guests: Jamie N Commons, Ritual, Wolfgang, Tillié, Freia, Lune, Ephemerals, Richard Judge & Rae Morris
• Pre-Release Singles: “This Girl” (w/ Cookin’ on 3 Burners), “Don’t You Know” (ft. Jamie N Commons), “You Remain” (ft. Ritual) & “I Feel So Bad” (ft. Ephemerals)

5. Susan Boyle, A Wonderful World

[Sony Music]

Susan Boyle is nearly as high-profile as she was in 2009 when her debut album I Dreamed A Dream.  Nonetheless, the vocal artist returns with another album, A Wonderful World.  A number of familiar classics are featured including “What a Wonderful World,” “When I Fall In Love,” and “Somewhere Out There.”

• Tracks: 10
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: none

6. Robbie Williams, Heavy Entertainment Show

[Robert Williams / Farrell Music]

42-year old British pop star Robbie Williams returns with Heavy Entertainment Show, his first album in three years.  Heavy Entertainment Show follows 2013 album, Swings Both Ways.

• Tracks: 16
• Featured Guests: N/A
• Pre-Release Singles: “Heavy Entertainment Show,” “Party Like a Russian” & “LoveMy Life”

Also Released: Christy Nockels, The Thrill of Hope [Keepers Branch]; The Fray, Through the Years: The Best of The Fray [Epic]; Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions, Until the Hunter [Tendril Tales]; Jim James, Eternally Even [ATO]; Now 60 [UMG/Sony]; Vashawn Mitchell, Secret Place (Live in South Africa) [Motown Gospel]

Photo Credits: RCA, Def Jam, Island, Universal Music France, Sony Music, Robert Williams / Farrell Music