Do It for Love (Alesha Dixon album)
Do It for Love is the fourth studio album by English singer Alesha Dixon. It was released by Precious Stone Records, Dixon's own label, on 9 October 2015 in the United Kingdom. Her first release with independent label Precious Stone following her departure from Asylum Records, Dixon spent a year recording the album, which saw her taking a more active role in selecting co-workers and collaborators for Do It for Love. Chris Ballard, Bert Elliott, Alex James, Count Justice, Harry Sommerdahl, and Arno Spires were consulted to work with her.
| Do It for Love | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 9 October 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2014–2015[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Label | Precious Stone | |||
| Producer |
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| Alesha Dixon chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Do It for Love | ||||
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The album earned generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics who called it a smorgasbord of modern EDM and pop production. Upon release, Do It for Love peaked at number 81 on the UK Albums Chart. It was preceded by is lead single, "The Way We Are" which was released digitally on 21 June 2015.[4] The album's second and third singles were, respectively, "Tallest Girl" and the new version of "People Need Love," reworked by Ash Rowes. All singles failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart.
Background
editIn December 2014, Dixon announced that she would be releasing a new single in either March or May 2015.[5][1] In March 2015, she confirmed that her new single "The Way We Are", would be released on 21 June via her own record label Precious Stone Records.[6][7] It marked Dixon's first single release in over four years, following 2011's "Every Little Part of Me,"[8] as well as her first regular release after her departure from Asylum Records.[9] Commenting on what motivated her two found her own label, Dixon told Billboard in 2020: "It was quite a scary time. I just wanted to put my own team together and do it all on my terms. I called it Do It for Love because I wanted to do it for that reason and no other. The first single out, I made it chart ineligible because I didn't want a chart position. I didn't want to be judged. I spent a year making a record that was like a dream come true. It's such a personal record. I didn't want to have some chart position or sad, negative kind of perspective on that chart position to ruin what was a passion project for me."[9]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| PressPlayOK |   [2] |
| Renowned for Sound | (mixed)[3] |
Christopher Bohlsen from Renowned for Sound wrote that the album is "seemingly designed to be a comeback record, a smorgasbord of modern EDM and R&B production." He felt while the "album’s first half [tends] to be the strongest of the bunch, as they bring thumping UK Garage style to the songs, all of which would feel completely at home in a club," none of the songs of the second half impact the same way. Bohlsen cinclued that "ultimately, Do It For Love is a good R&B record, if not a great one, and whilst it has some very catchy and inventive songs, it also has a fair bit of filler in the second half, a trend that seems to have largely recessed in recent years."[3] PressPlayOK found that Do It For Love "seems a wise title, as money really won’t be a concern here. Which is an absolute shame, because even her downtempo jams like "Top of the World." She’s got a familiar, comfortable UK pop sound, the sort of album Louise would probably make these days [...] Dixon certainly does way better than anyone ever expected."[2]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stop" (featuring Wretch 32) |
| DaBeatfreakz | 2:53 |
| 2. | "Tallest Girl" |
|
| 3:19 |
| 3. | "Count on You" |
|
| 3:07 |
| 4. | "Top of the World" |
|
| 3:09 |
| 5. | "Do It for Love" |
|
| 2:58 |
| 6. | "The Way We Are" |
|
| 2:45 |
| 7. | "People Need Love" |
|
| 4:08 |
| 8. | "The Gift" |
|
| 3:35 |
| 9. | "Broken" |
|
| 3:10 |
| 10. | "Azura (Blue Sky)" |
|
| 3:11 |
| 11. | "Love with Life" |
|
| 3:09 |
| 12. | "The Way We Are" (Rap Mix) |
|
| 2:44 |
Charts
edit| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums (OCC)[10] | 81 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] | 11 |
| UK Album Downloads (OCC)[12] | 99 |
Release history
edit| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 9 October 2015 |
|
Precious Stone | [13] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Alesha Dixon interview: "It's time for the MC to resurface!"". Official Charts Company. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
the album's called Do It For Love and I've been working on it since last August
- ^ a b c "REVIEW: Alesha Dixon – Do It For Love". pressplayok.com. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ a b c Bohlsen, Christopher. "Album Review: Alesha Dixon – Do It For Love". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
- ^ "iTunes - Music - The Way We Are - Single by Alesha Dixon". iTunes Store. 21 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Alesha Dixon confirms new single for 2015: 'I'm really pleased with it'". Digital Spy. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ Rigby, Sam (10 April 2015). "Alesha Dixon to debut new single on Britain's Got Talent live shows". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
- ^ "Alesha Dixon released 'The Way We Are', her best song since 2008". Direct Lyrics. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ "'Britain's Got Talent' Judge Alesha Dixon Storms Performance Of New Song 'The Way We Are' On Semi-Final". HuffPost. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ a b Carley, Brennan (12 January 2020). "Alesha Dixon, the Newest 'America's Got Talent' Judge, Is Finally Cracking America". Billboard. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "iTunes - Music - Do It For Love by Alesha Dixon". iTunes Store (GB).