Connected (Stereo MC's album)
1992 studio album by Stereo MC's
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Connected is the third studio album by Stereo MC's. The tracks "Connected", "Ground Level", "Step It Up" and "Creation" became hit singles.
512 743
| Connected | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 October 1992 | |||
| Genres | Acid jazz, alternative hip hop, trip hop | |||
| Length | 56:10 | |||
| Labels | Gee Street/Island 512 743 | |||
| Producer | Stereo MC's | |||
| Stereo MC's chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Connected | ||||
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Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Calgary Herald | B+[2] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [3] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
| Select | 5/5[6] |
| The Village Voice | B−[7] |
In a contemporary review, James Muretich from Calgary Herald said that "the hour-long program does wear a wee thin but, hey, while the groove-mood lasts, it`s a blast".[2] Music critic Robert Christgau for The Village Voice, wrote that, although its music is amiable and rhythmic, Connected is also "so multifaceted that its functionality is fungible and forgettable."[7] In June 2000, Q placed Connected as #52 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever.[8] The album won Best British Album at the 1994 Brit Awards,[9] was shortlisted for the 1993 Mercury Prize,[10] and included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[11]
Track listing
All songs written by Robert Birch (Rob B)/Nicholas Hallam (The Head), except where noted
- "Connected" (Birch/Hallam/H.W. Casey/Richard Finch) – 5:14
- Contains a sample from "Let Me (Let Me Be Your Lover)" by Jimmy "Bo" Horne.
- "Ground Level" – 4:13
- "Everything" (Birch/Hallam/James L. Worthy) – 3:47
- "Sketch" (Birch/Hallam/Tuzé DeAbreu) – 5:44
- Contains a sample of "Passarinho" by Gal Costa.
- "Fade Away" – 4:25
- "All Night Long" – 4:07
- "Step It Up" – 4:59
- "Playing With Fire" – 4:20
- Uses the piano progression from the introduction to Monkey Man on Let it Bleed by the Rolling Stones
- Contains a sample of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" by Pet Shop Boys.
- "Pressure" – 3:50
- "Chicken Shake" – 3:50
- "Creation" – 5:03
- "Don't Let Up" (feat. Mica Paris)[12] – 3:09
- "The End" (Birch/Hallum/Carole King/Toni Stern) – 3:47
Personnel
Stereo MCs
- Robert Charles "Rob B." Birch – vocals
- Nick "The Head" Hallam – DJ
- Ian Frederick "Owen If" Rossiter – drums, percussion
- Cath Coffey – backing vocals
Additional personnel
- James Hallawell – keyboards, organ
- Paul O. Kane, Matthew Seligman – bass guitar
- Chicu Modu – saxophone
- Ivan Hussey, Johnny T., Anya Ulman, Laura Cochrane – strings
- Kick Horns – brass
Singles
- "Connected" (#18 in the United Kingdom, 14 September 1992)
- "Step It Up" (#12 in the United Kingdom, 23 November 1992)
- "Ground Level" (#19 in the United Kingdom, 8 February 1993)
- "Creation" (#19 in United Kingdom, 17 May 1993)
Charts
| Chart (1992–1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] | 86 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] | 12 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] | 47 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[16] | 33 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[17] | 17 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[18] | 19 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts)[19] | 2 |
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[21] | Platinum | 420,000[22] |
