The Makeover is the ninth studio album by American singer Jody Watley, released on Avitone Records. Watley recruited a diverse group[1] of contemporary dance and electronica producers for the project, among them King Britt, DJ Spinna, and 4hero. The album's vintage aesthetic, which saw her take the old and remake it as new, was likely foretold in Watley's updating of her signature classic, "Looking for a New Love", in 2005. As per the title, The Makeover contained newly recorded (and remixed) versions of some of Watley's signature classics like "Don't You Want Me" and "Friends" (re-dubbed "Friendz"), as well as new material. Additionally, Watley paid tribute to musical influences like Diana Ross, Chic, and Karen Carpenter on the covers of "Love Hangover", "I Want Your Love" and a medley of the Carpenters' songs, respectively.

The Makeover
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 8, 2006 (2006-08-08)
September 22, 2009 (re-issue)
Recorded2005–2006
I.B.S. Studios (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length58:20
LabelAvitone
Producer
Jody Watley chronology
Midnight Lounge
(2001)
''The Makeover''
(2006)
Super Hits Live
(2007)
Alternate cover
International edition
Singles from The Makeover
  1. "Borderline"
    Released: August 8, 2006
  2. "I Want Your Love"
    Released: March 27, 2007
  3. "A Beautiful Life"
    Released: October 7, 2008

Background

edit

The Makeover, from its title to its photo media, was a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the ever-growing makeover culture now commonplace in contemporary society. Indeed, the album's photography (contained in the liner notes) showed Watley theatrically made-up to resemble a cosmetic surgery recipient. These photos caused a bit of a controversy, however, as they were leaked, after which various online gossip columns (most notably the New York Post's "Page Six"), had falsely reported that Watley had undergone actual cosmetic surgery. Watley jokingly discussed the controversy in the September 11, 2006 issue of the National Enquirer.[2]

Track listings

edit
The Makeover – North American edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ms. Jody Watley Intro"
  • Jody Watley
 0:04
2."Don't You Want Me" (King Britt's Scuba Mix)
  • Franne Golde
  • David Paul Bryant
  • Watley
  • King Britt
7:06
3."Waiting in Vain"7:11
4."A Beautiful Life"
  • Rodney Lee
  • Watley
  • Watley
  • Lee
4:38
5."Bed of Roses" (featuring 4hero)
  • Watley
  • Marc Clair
  • Marc Mac
4:06
6."I Want Your Love"
  • DJ Spinna
4:20
7."Love Hangover"
  • Chris Brann
  • Watley
  • Lee
4:43
8."Borderline"
  • Watley
  • Lee
4:59
9."Close To You/Superstar/We've Only Just Begun"
  • Lee
4:50
10."Friendz" (featuring Voshaun Gotti)
  • Milan 'The Mad Scientist' Ross
3:23
11."The Makeover (Superstar)"
  • Lee
  • Watley
  • Watley
  • Lee
3:29
12."Midnight Lounge" (Mark de Clive-Lowe Makeover Mix)
  • Lee
  • Watley
Mark de Clive-Lowe4:58
13."A Beautiful Life" (A Beautiful Dub)
  • Lee
  • Watley
  • Aris Kokou
7:33
Total length:58:20
The Makeover – International edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Ms. Jody Watley Intro"
  • Watley
 0:04
2."A Beautiful Life"
  • Lee
  • Watley
  • Watley
  • Lee
4:41
3."I Want Your Love" (DJ Spinna Mix)
  • Rogers
  • Edwards
DJ Spinna4:42
4."A Little Respect"
  • Watley
3:59
5."Don't You Want Me" (King Britt's Scuba Mix)
  • Golde
  • Bryant
  • Watley
King Britt7:09
6."Looking for a New Love"
  • Cymone
  • Watley
  • Watley
  • Lee
  • Bill Coleman
  • Vinny Troia
3:48
7."Love Hangover"
  • McLeod
  • Sawyer
  • Brann
  • Watley
  • Lee
10:04
8."Midnight Lounge" (MdCL Remix)
  • Lee
  • Watley
Mark De Clive-Lowe4:58
9."Waiting in Vain"Bob MarleyRon Trent5:51
10."Borderline"
  • Lucas
  • Watley
  • Lee
4:57
11."Bed of Roses" (featuring 4hero)
  • Watley
  • Clair
Marc Mac4:07
12."Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"
 3:54
Total length:58:14

Singles

edit

The first single to be released from The Makeover was a downtempo cover of "Borderline", written by Reggie Lucas and an originally a 1984 hit for Madonna. Upon the single's UK release in October 2009, Watley told noted R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning 'Blues & Soul': "'Borderline' is a song I've always liked. Because - even though the way it was originally recorded was very poppy - for me the song always had a melancholy side to it, which I think my version taps into."[3]

The album's second single was "I Want Your Love", a cover of the Chic classic. The Watley cover was produced by DJ Spinna and featured Chic's own Nile Rodgers on guitar. Supported by dance mixes, the track peaked at #1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart for the week of June 16, 2007.

Personnel

edit
Production
  • Producers – 4hero, King Britt, Mark De Clive-Lowe, DJ Spinna, Rodney Lee, Chris Brann, Milan "The Mad Scientist" Ross
  • Executive Producer – Jody Watley
  • Remixing producers – Bill Coleman, Vinny Troia
  • Project Coordinator – Van Roy for VRC Entertainment
  • Photography – Mike Ruiz
  • Make-Up – Billy B.
  • Hair – Ruth Roche
  • Special Effects Makeup – Branan Edgans
  • Art Direction – Jody Watley, Van Roy
  • Design – David Stafford

Charts

edit

Singles

edit
Year Single Chart Position
2006 "Borderline" Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[4] 2
2007 "I Want Your Love" 1
2008 "A Beautiful Life" 5

References

edit
  1. ^ Jody Watley - The Makeover
  2. ^ *Lifson, Hal (2006-09-11). "Singer Carves Up the Press With Fake 'Makeover'". The National Enquirer. New York, NY: American Media, Inc. p. 42. ISSN 1056-3482. 'They were fake photos done as a joke for my new CD, 'The Makeover'
  3. ^ Jody Watley interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' October 2009
  4. ^ "Jody Watley Album & Song Chart History - Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
edit