In Return (Shola Ama album)

The album would be led off by the single "Still Believe," which reached the top 10 in France.^[5] However, it would chart moderately elsewhere, charting at number 26 in the UK.^[6] The second single taken from In Return, "Imagine," was released in 2000. It would prove to chart moderately like the previous single from the album, reaching number 24 in the UK. However, the single would reach the top spot on the country's dance charts.^[7] In further support of the album, Ama would join Warner Music executives to celebrate the release of In Return in the St. Martin's Hotel in London.^[8]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Independent	[9]

In Return earned generally positive reviews from music critics. Bryan Buss from AllMusic wrote that "sounding like a cross between Janet Jackson and Emilia, but with softer, more girlish, and more developed vocals, Ama's new CD is packed with pop songs perfectly tailored for 2000 [...] She sings with sincerity and conviction, often sounding like a heartbroken angel. With only hints of R&B, this is far more a pop album than anything else, though, despite the sheen, it isn't just for teenagers. This is good, old pop, a throwback to '60s girl groups with a contemporary twist."^[2] The Independent's Tim Perry found that "Ama's second album sees her on good poppy form, incorporating gospel, funk and swing styles."^[9] A review from Billboard's Kwaku named the album a "quality product [with] poor sales".^[10]

UK garage remixes of "Imagine" and "Run to Me" by Club Asylum would prove popular. NME later included the remix of "Imagine" in their "25 essential UK garage anthems" list, highlighting the "grubby bassline".^[11] Capital Xtra also included the remix of "Run to Me" in their list of "The Best Old-School Garage Anthems of All Time".^[12]

Commercially, In Return achieved only modest success. It failed to break into the top 100 in both Germany and the United Kingdom, with its strongest performance occurring in France, where it peaked at number 57 on the French Albums Chart.^[13] Plans were made for a United States release in 2000, and Ama expressed optimism about her potential to cross over into that market.^[14] However, the release ultimately did not materialize.^[15][16] In the aftermath, she stepped away from recording for a period.^[17][18]