A Public Affair

Infobox Album |
Name = A Public Affair
Type = Album
Artist = Jessica Simpson


Released = August 26, 2006
(See release history)
Recorded = 2005 / 2006
Genre = Pop, dance pop, techno, country pop, pop rock, teen pop
Length = 50:44
54:29 (with Bonus Track)
Label = Epic
RIAA = Gold
Producer = Jessica Simpson, Lester Mendez, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Cory Rooney, Scott Storch, Stargate
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dv6ktrpukl5x~T1 link]
*Entertainment Weekly C [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1516034,00.html link]
*Rolling Stone Rating|2|5 [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/11368857/a_public_affair link] http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/11368857/a_public_affair link] "Rollingstone.com" ]
*Music Server Rating-10|8 [ [http://musicserver.cz/clanek/18099/Jessica-Simpson--A-Public-Affair/link http://musicserver.cz/clanek/18099/Jessica-Simpson--A-Public-Affair/link] "Musicserver.cz" ]
Last album = ""
(2004)
This album = "A Public Affair"
(2006)
Next album = "Do You Know"
(2008)
Misc =Singles
Name = A Public Affair
Type = Studio album
single 1 = These Boots Are Made for Walkin'
single 1 date = May 29, 2005
single 2 = A Public Affair
single 2 date = June 29, 2006
single 3 = I Belong To Me
single 3 date = September 26, 2006

"A Public Affair" is the fourth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey in early 2006.

With only a month to go until the release of "A Public Affair", Simpson switched the cover picture of the album. The first cover art for the album surfaced showing a sultry Simpson with her hair down, sporting a dress with the straps pulled down. However, it was ultimately decided to go with more of a girl-next-door look. Simpson's representative Rob Shuter tells TMZ the final decision on a cover had not been made by the time one had to be provided to Simpson's record label, so the first cover option (of three choices they had) was given. That cover was ultimately not chosen, and Simpson went with the cover shown here. The new album cover has a casual-looking Simpson "with nothing but a t-shirt on," her hair pulled back and wearing a ring on her right index finger.

The UK version was released on the February 12 and included the video for "A Public Affair" and the audio for "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" as UK Bonus tracks.

Criticism

A Public Affair received mixed reviews in the press, including a two-star rating from Rolling Stone. The album was criticized for lack of originality, particularly its similarities to previous Top 40 pop and disco hits from the 70s and 80s, with few contemporary elements. The lead single "A Public Affair" was especially criticized for its similarities to Madonna's "Holiday" and Earth Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove."

Album facts

Scott Storch describes the track entitled "Fired Up" as "Jessica's 'Dirrty'".Simpson recorded another club track, "Mr. Operator," with Storch during their sessions together.The song "Sexified" was available for listen at PromoSquad in 2005, but did not make the final cut for the album and is a possible B-Side.Simpson recorded a cover version of Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man," but it did not make the final cut.Simpson wrote "Fired Up" for her friend, Cacee Cobb "since that's what she always says".

The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard Hot 200, selling over 101,000 copies in its first week. This marked one of Simpson's highest debuts to date. However, it has only shipped 500,000 units in the US, selling just over 300,000 to date (according to Nielsen SoundScan). On a worldwide scale its sales have disappointed with figures under 800,000 to date.

econd single

When the first official single was released, fans expected the club-track "Fired Up" to be the second official single from the album. Weeks later, in an MTV interview Simpson stated that "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" might be the second single from the album and that she would like to tour after three or four songs have been released from the record. However, on August 9, 2006, Simpson stated on her official website that she wanted her fans to choose the second single from the album; she provides six choices, which were:

*"If You Were Mine"
*"The Lover in Me"
*"I Belong to Me"- Received the most votes, and was confirmed to be second single on 8/23/06.
*"B.O.Y."
*"I Don't Want to Care"

Simpson stated on a radio interview on August 23, 2006 that the second official single from the album would be "I Belong to Me". The album originally did not include the track "I Belong to Me", Simpson stated that the track would only be included on a special version of the album which is being sold only in Wal-Mart. On the iTunes version of the album, "I Belong to Me" is included. However, less than two weeks after the album release, her record company decided to start shipping albums with "I Belong To Me" included for every retailer, today, the album can be purchased anywhere with the bonus track included. Simpson did mention that the albums will have a special code in which fans can download the song for free. [http://jessicasimpson.com/APublicAffair/songpoll.html 2nd Single Poll]

The song, "B.O.Y." samples the opening guitar riff of The Cars' "Just What I Needed" and shows a sexier, more europop side of Simpson. Erica Driscoll, singer of indie-pop band Blondfire (formerly Astaire) co-wrote the song, originally entitled "B.O.Y. Y?" with Wally Gagel (who had worked with acts such as Folk Implosion, Muse, and New Order). Many fans wonder why "Fired up" wasn't released as a single, the song had a strong popularity and many plays on youtube.

Singles

* "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (UK Bonus Track)
* "A Public Affair"
* "I Belong To Me"
* "You Spin Me 'Round (Like A Record)" - PROMO ONLY

Track listing

# "A Public Affair" – 3:21 (Simpson, Austin, Kurstin, Watters, Biancaniello, Mendez, Ashford, Simpson)
# "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" – 3:49 Re-Write of the Dead or Alive song (Percy, Burns, Coy, Lever)
# "B.O.Y." – 3:22 (Driscoll, Gagel, Ocasek)
# "If You Were Mine" – 3:17 (Watters, Biancaniello, Kurstin, Gray, Sewell)
# "Walkin' 'Round In A Circle" – 4:40 (Simpson, Austin, Harris III, Lewis, Nicks)
# "The Lover In Me" – 3:41 (Simpson, Childress, Austin, Biancaniello, Watters, Gray)
# "Swing With Me" – 3:25 (Prima, Simpson, Rooney, Shea, Cobb, Alexander)
# "Push Your Tush" – 4:48 (Simpson, Harris III, Lewis, Tolbert, Bonner, Beck, Williams, Pierce, Jones, Middlebrooks, Satchell)
# "Back To You" – 4:11 (Simpson, Harris III, Lewis)
# "Between You & I" – 4:58 (Simpson, Rooney)
# "I Don't Want To Care" – 3:57 (Simpson, Eriksen, Hermansen, Riddick, Lind, Bjorklund, Beite, Hvidsten)
# "Fired Up" – 3:58 (Jessica Simpson, Scott Storch, Penelope Magnet, Jeff Bowden)
# "Let Him Fly" – 3:11 Cover of the Patty Griffin song (Griffin)
# "I Belong To Me" – 3:40 (Warren)
# "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (UK Bonus Track) - 3:58 Re-Write of the Nancy Sinatra song (Hazlewood)
# "A Public Affair" [Enhanced Video] (UK Bonus Track)

The Circuit City version of the album had a bonus track as track 14: "A Public Affair" (Extended Version).

Album credits

* Abe Laboriel Jr. - Drums
* Andrew Rugg - Engineer
* Barry Danielian - Trumpet
* Bobby Ross Avila - Bass
* Brett Ratner - Photography
* Brian Warwick - Assistant Engineer
* Cacee Cobb - Vocals (Background)
* Chris August - Vocals (Background)
* Chris Megert - Vocal Arrangement
* Conrad Golding - Engineer
* Cory Rooney - Drum Programming, Keyboards, Producer, Vocal Producer
* Dan Kurtz - Bass
* Dan Shea - Keyboards, Producer
* Dave Pensado - Mixing
* David Andrew Mann - Sax (Tenor)
* David E. Williams - Guitar
* David Levita - Guitar
* Dorian Holly - Vocals (Background)
* Eric Rennaker - Assistant Engineer
* Espen Lind - Keyboards
* Evan Lamberg - A&R
* Farra Mathews - A&R
* Gary Novak - Drums
* Greg Kurstin - Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Programming
* Ian Cross - Engineer, Mixing
* Jerry Brown - Drums
* Jessica Paster - Wardrobe
* Jessica Simpson - Vocals, Executive Producer
* Jimmy Jam - Keyboards, Producer
* Jimmy Wright - Keyboards
* Joe Simpson - Executive Producer, Management
* Joe Wohlmuth - Engineer
* Joe Zook - Mixing
* Justin King - Guitar
* Keith Gretlein - Assistant Engineer
* Ken Paves - Hair Stylist
* Laurie Rosenwald - Cover Typeset
* Lester Mendez - Arranger, Beats, Moog Synthesizer, Piano, Producer
* Louis Biancaniello - Keyboards, Mixing, Producer, Programming
* Lyle Workman - Guitar
* Magnus Beite - Keyboards
* Makeba Riddick - Vocals (Background)
* Matt Marrin - Engineer, Mixing
* Mike Terry - Engineer
* Mikkel S. Eriksen - Engineer, Instrumentation, Vocal Producer
* Nikki Harris - Vocals (Background)
* Orlando Calzada - Engineer
* Ozzie Melendez - Trombone
* Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guitar
* Peter Wade - Engineer
* Phil Tan - Mixing
* Rafael Padilla - Percussion
* Ravaughn Brown - Vocals (Background)
* Reuben Rodriguez - Bass
* Ron Allaire - Engineer
* Sam Watters - Mixing, Producer
* Scott Storch - Producer
* Serban Ghenea - Mixing
* Sharlotte Gibson - Vocals (Background)
* Sherree Ford Brown - Vocals (Background)
* Siedah Garrett - Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background)
* Steve Geuting - Assistant Engineer
* Tamyra Gray - Vocals (Background)
* Terry Lewis - Producer
* Tim Roberts - Mixing Assistant
* Tony Tolbert - Vocals (Background)
* Valente Torrez - Assistant Engineer
* Vince Cherico - Drums
* Vlado Meller - Mastering
* Wally Gagel - Mixing, Producer
* Wally Gagel - Engineer, Instrumentation
* Xandy Barry - Producer

Release history

Charts

References

External links

* [http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/27/jessica-vs-jessica/ Jessica vs. Jessica]