Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

During her time with the band No Doubt, Stefani began making solo appearances on albums by artists such as Eve. In the production of its fifth studio album, Rock Steady (2001), No Doubt collaborated with Prince, the Neptunes, and David A. Stewart and had Mark "Spike" Stent mixing the album. While the band was on tour to promote the album, Stefani listened to Club Nouveau's 1987 song "Why You Treat Me So Bad" and considered recording material that modernized 1980s music.{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ |title=Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo |publisher=MTV |page=1 |year=2004 |access-date=February 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104203228/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/ |archive-date=January 4, 2009}} No Doubt's bassist and her former boyfriend, Tony Kanal, introduced her to music by Prince, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, and Debbie Deb, and they talked about producing songs from Kanal's bedroom.{{cite web |last=Eliscu |first=Jenny |author-link=Jenny Eliscu |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jan/30/popandrock.gwenstefani |title='I'll cry just talking about it' |work=The Guardian |date=January 30, 2005 |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927160105/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jan/30/popandrock.gwenstefani |url-status=live}}

In 2003, Stefani began recording solo material.{{cite web |last1=Moss |first1=Corey |last2=Downey |first2=Ryan |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1471367/gwen-stefani-recording-solo-material/ |title=Gwen Stefani Recording Solo Material |publisher=MTV News |date=April 18, 2003 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119095537/http://www.mtv.com/news/1471367/gwen-stefani-recording-solo-material/ |archive-date=November 19, 2015}} She stated she was considering recording singles to be used on soundtracks, continuing her collaborations or releasing an album under the pseudonym "GS".{{cite magazine |last=Collins |first=Clark |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/01/08/gwen-stefani-her-music-her-style-and-more/ |title=Holla Back |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |page=3 |date=November 22, 2006 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020221431/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C1562569_3%2C00.html |archive-date=October 20, 2013}} Jimmy Iovine (chairman and co-founder of Interscope) convinced Stefani to work on this album. On the second day of her sessions with Linda Perry, the two wrote a song about Stefani's writer's block and fears about the solo album. This became the track "What You Waiting For?", which was released as the lead single for the album.{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/index2.jhtml |title=Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo |publisher=MTV |page=2 |year=2004 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202003104/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/index2.jhtml |archive-date=December 2, 2008}}

When the two began working on a song that Stefani stated was too personal, she left to visit Kanal. He played her a track on which he had been working and which became "Crash", the album's final single. The two tried to write new material, but gave up after two weeks. They did not return to work until six months later, when Stefani began collaborating with other artists, commenting, "If I were to write the chorus of 'Yesterday' by the Beatles, and that's all I wrote, that would be good enough to be part of that history." Stefani resumed work with Linda Perry, who invited Dallas Austin, and many other artists, including Outkast's André 3000, the Neptunes, and Dr. Dre.{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/index3.jhtml |title=Gwen Stefani: Scared Solo |publisher=MTV |page=3 |year=2004 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201084424/http://www.mtv.com/bands/s/stefani_gwen/news_feature_112204/index3.jhtml |archive-date=December 1, 2008}} Stefani announced the album's release in early 2004,{{cite web |last=Orshoski |first=Wes |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1485633/gwen-stefani-warns-watch-out-for-solo-lp-summer-single/ |title=Gwen Stefani Warns, 'Watch Out' For Solo LP, Summer Single |publisher=MTV News |date=March 10, 2004 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208093404/http://www.mtv.com/news/1485633/gwen-stefani-warns-watch-out-for-solo-lp-summer-single/ |archive-date=December 8, 2015}} marketing it as a "dance record" and a "guilty pleasure".

To commemorate the 15th anniversary of the album, Interscope released a version of the album remastered by Chris Gehringer on November 22, 2019.{{cite web |last=Bloom |first=Madison |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/gwen-stefani-announces-loveangelmusicbaby-15th-anniversary-reissue/ |title=Gwen Stefani Announces LOVE.ANGEL.MUSIC.BABY. 15th Anniversary Reissue |website=Pitchfork |date=November 19, 2019 |access-date=May 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921195252/https://pitchfork.com/news/gwen-stefani-announces-loveangelmusicbaby-15th-anniversary-reissue/ |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |url-status=live}}

Love. Angel. Music. Baby. is an electropop,{{cite news |last=du Lac |first=J. Freedom |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/04/AR2006120401543.html |title=From Gwen Stefani, A Madcap Mash-Up |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 5, 2006 |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716065824/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/04/AR2006120401543.html |url-status=live}} new wave,{{cite magazine |last1=Mar |first1=Alex |last2=Halperin |first2=Shirley |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gwen-stefani-makes-love-243832/ |title=Gwen Stefani Makes "Love" |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 1, 2004 |access-date=July 28, 2018}} dance-rock, and soul album,{{cite web |last=Stewart |first=Allison |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/12/12/adult-contemporary/ |title=Adult contemporary |work=Chicago Tribune |date=December 12, 2004 |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215556/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-12-12/news/0412120421_1_norah-jones-ray-charles-smile |url-status=live}} incorporating elements of R&B, hip hop, and disco.{{cite web |last=Boucher |first=Geoff |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-dec-24-et-stefani24-story.html |title=Love, music and soon an angel baby |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 24, 2005 |access-date=June 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715041219/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/dec/24/entertainment/et-stefani24 |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |url-status=live}} The album takes influence from a variety of 1980s genres to the extent that one reviewer commented, "The only significant '80s radio style skipped is the ska punk revival that No Doubt rode to success."{{cite web |last=Smith |first=RJ |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/new/53197/love-angel-music-baby.html |title=Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby |work=Blender |access-date=February 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522050828/http://www.blender.com/guide/new/53197/love-angel-music-baby.html |archive-date=May 22, 2009}} Several songs employ synthesizer sounds characteristic of music from the 1980s,{{cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |title=Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |website=Slant Magazine |date=November 20, 2004 |access-date=April 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103525/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live}} drawing comparisons to the Go-Go's and Cyndi Lauper.{{cite web |last=Damas |first=Jason |url=https://www.popmatters.com/stefanigwen-love-2496078967.html |title=Gwen Stefani: Love.Angel.Music.Baby. |website=PopMatters |date=November 29, 2004 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526051554/https://www.popmatters.com/stefanigwen-love-2496078967.html |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |url-status=live}} Stefani cited Club Nouveau, Depeche Mode, Lisa Lisa, Prince, New Order, the Cure, and early Madonna as major influences for the album.

Like pop albums of the 1980s, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. focuses primarily on money, with songs such as "Rich Girl" and "Luxurious" that feature descriptions of riches and wealth.{{cite magazine |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |url=https://ew.com/article/2004/11/29/love-angel-music-baby/ |title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 23, 2004 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907123002/http://ew.com/article/2004/11/29/love-angel-music-baby/ |archive-date=September 7, 2017 |url-status=live}} The album contains several references to Stefani's clothing line, L.A.M.B., and alludes to contemporary fashion designers such as John Galliano, Rei Kawakubo, and Vivienne Westwood.{{cite web |last=Soghomonian |first=Talia |url=https://www.musicomh.com/features/interviews/interview-gwen-stefani |title=Interview: Gwen Stefani |website=musicOMH |date=January 2005 |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021445/http://www.musicomh.com/features/interviews/interview-gwen-stefani |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |url-status=live}} Stefani also released a series of dolls named the "Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Fashion Dolls", designed after the costumes from her tour.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.today.com/id/14688233/site/todayshow/ns/today-entertainment/t/gwen-stefani-launches-series-dolls/ |title=Gwen Stefani launches series of dolls |work=Today |date=September 6, 2006 |access-date=February 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202165854/http://www.today.com/id/14688233/site/todayshow/ns/today-entertainment/t/gwen-stefani-launches-series-dolls/ |archive-date=February 2, 2014}} Although Stefani intended for the album to be a light dance record, she stated that "no matter what you do, things just come out."{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1504440/gwen-stefanis-song-about-tony-kanal-to-be-her-next-single/ |title=Gwen Stefani's Song About Tony Kanal To Be Her Next Single |publisher=MTV News |date=June 21, 2005 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231215611/http://www.mtv.com/news/1504440/gwen-stefanis-song-about-tony-kanal-to-be-her-next-single/ |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |url-status=dead}} The album's opening track "What You Waiting For?" discusses her desire to be a mother and in 2006, she and her then husband, Bush singer Gavin Rossdale, had a son named Kingston Rossdale.{{cite web |last=Salmon |first=Chris |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/02/popandrock.gwenstefani |title=I just want to make music and babies |work=The Guardian |date=March 2, 2007 |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927041738/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/mar/02/popandrock.gwenstefani |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |url-status=live}} The fourth track "Cool" discusses Stefani's friendship with Kanal after he ended a romantic relationship with her in 1995.{{cite web |url=http://www.muchmusic.com/insidemuch/stuff/gwen_and_tony_still_cool.asp |title=Gwen & Tony: Still Cool |publisher=MuchMusic |date=July 19, 2005 |access-date=March 21, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510034600/http://www.muchmusic.com/insidemuch/stuff/gwen_and_tony_still_cool.asp |archive-date=May 10, 2006}}

Love. Angel. Music. Baby. introduced the Harajuku Girls, an entourage of four Japanese women whom Stefani referred to as a figment of her imagination.{{cite magazine |last=Collins |first=Clark |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/01/08/gwen-stefani-her-music-her-style-and-more/ |title=Holla Back |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |page=4 |date=November 22, 2006 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019212745/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C1562569_4%2C00.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013}} The Harajuku Girls are discussed in several of the songs, including one named after and entirely dedicated to them. They appear in most of the music videos produced for the album and those for Stefani's second album The Sweet Escape (2006). Love. Angel. Music. Baby. includes various styles of music. Many songs are influenced by electro beats designed for club play.{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/loveangelmusicbaby-mw0000258810 |title=Love.Angel.Music.Baby. – Gwen Stefani |website=AllMusic |access-date=February 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214071051/http://www.allmusic.com/album/loveangelmusicbaby-mw0000258810 |archive-date=February 14, 2013 |url-status=live}} Producers Austin and Kanal incorporated R&B into the song "Luxurious" which contains a sample of the Isley Brothers' 1983 single "Between the Sheets". Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis incorporate new jack swing, a fusion genre of R&B that the pair had developed and popularized during the mid-1980s.{{cite web |last=Merwin |first=Charles |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/gwen-stefani/love-angel-music-baby.htm |title=Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby |website=Stylus Magazine |date=November 24, 2004 |access-date=January 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331094931/http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/gwen-stefani/love-angel-music-baby.htm |archive-date=March 31, 2014}}

{{Listen|filename=WhatYouWaitingFor.ogg|title="What You Waiting For?"|description=The album's lead single is an electropop song about Stefani's fears on a solo career.|format=Ogg|filename2=Stefani-2004-hollaback-girl.ogg|title2="Hollaback Girl"|description2=The album's best-selling single, a dance-pop song with a cheerleading motif.|format2=Ogg|filename3=GwenStefaniCool.ogg|title3="Cool"|description3="Cool" is a synth-pop and new wave song chronicling Stefani's previous relationship with Tony Kanal.|format3=Ogg}}

The album opens with "What You Waiting For?", an electropop, new wave, dance-rock, and funk song.{{cite web |last=McLean |first=Craig |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3631975/Rise-of-the-queen-of-kook.html |title=Rise of the queen of kook |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=November 18, 2004 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014858/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/3631975/Rise-of-the-queen-of-kook.html |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |last=McCarthy |first=Jackie |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65501/love-angel-music-baby |title=Love, Angel, Music, Baby |magazine=Billboard |date=December 4, 2004 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223182302/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65501/love-angel-music-baby |archive-date=February 23, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |last=Paoletta |first=Michael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38 |title=Mash-Ups, Dance-Rock Lead Breakthroughs |magazine=Billboard |volume=116 |issue=52 |date=December 25, 2004 |page=38 |issn=0006-2510 |via=Google Books}} Lyrically, the song discusses Stefani's fears of beginning a solo career.{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1493633/gwen-stefanis-debut-solo-lp-inspired-by-insecurity-and-japan/ |title=Gwen Stefani's Debut Solo LP Inspired By Insecurity And Japan |publisher=MTV News |date=November 10, 2004 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127035059/http://www.mtv.com/news/1493633/gwen-stefanis-debut-solo-lp-inspired-by-insecurity-and-japan/ |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |url-status=dead}} "Rich Girl", a collaboration with rapper Eve, is a dancehall and reggae reworking of the English duo Louchie Lou & Michie One's 1994 song "If I Was a Rich Girl", which itself interpolates the song "If I Were a Rich Man" from the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof. The Neptunes-produced track "Hollaback Girl" combines 1980s hip hop with dance music.{{cite web |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/pages/gwenstefanix28x04x05 |title=Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl – Video Streams |website=Contactmusic.com |date=April 28, 2005 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208002221/http://www.contactmusic.com/pages/gwenstefanix28x04x05 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |url-status=live}} It was written as a response to a derogatory comment that grunge musician Courtney Love made, referring to Stefani as a cheerleader.{{cite magazine |last=Rubenstein |first=Atoosa |title=Courtney Love speaks about Gwen Stefani |magazine=Seventeen |date=August 2004 |page=19 |issn=0037-301X}}

The fourth track "Cool" chronicles Stefani's previous relationship with Tony Kanal, featuring a new wave and synth-pop production. The song was compared to Cyndi Lauper and Madonna songs from the 1980s.{{cite web |last=Smirke |first=Richard |url=http://playlouder.com/review/+loveangelmusicba/ |title=Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby (2004) review |website=Playlouder |date=November 23, 2004 |access-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041124015247/http://playlouder.com/review/%2Bloveangelmusicba/ |archive-date=November 24, 2004}} "Bubble Pop Electric", the fifth track, is an electro song featuring André 3000's alias Johnny Vulture. It tells of the two having sex at a drive-in movie, and it was generally well received by critics, who drew comparisons to the 1978 film Grease and its 1982 sequel Grease 2.{{cite news |last=McCroy |first=Winnie |url=http://thevillager.com/villager_88/asoundthatpops.html |title=A sound that pops, and more |newspaper=The Villager |volume=74 |issue=35 |date=January 5–11, 2005 |issn=0042-6202 |access-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623144337/http://www.thevillager.com/villager_88/asoundthatpops.html |archive-date=2007-06-23 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |last=Linden |first=Amy |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2004/12/07/the-80s-girl-inside-reveals-more-doubts-than-boundaries/ |title=The '80s Girl Inside Reveals More Doubts Than Boundaries |work=The Village Voice |date=December 13, 2004 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106065928/https://www.villagevoice.com/2004/12/07/the-80s-girl-inside-reveals-more-doubts-than-boundaries/ |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |url-status=live}} "Luxurious" is a 1990s-inspired R&B song that lyrically talks about the desire to be rich in love, simultaneously comparing Stefani's lover with luxuries.{{cite web |last=Frederick |first=Brendan |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/best-r-and-b-songs-by-white-singers-in-the-2000s/gwen-stefani-luxurious |title=The Best R&B Songs by White Singers in the 2000s |work=Complex |date=August 28, 2013 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-date=December 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207222201/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/best-r-and-b-songs-by-white-singers-in-the-2000s/gwen-stefani-luxurious |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Corey |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1512621/for-gwen-stefani-egyptian-cotton-is-something-like-love/ |title=For Gwen Stefani, Egyptian Cotton Is Something Like Love |publisher=MTV News |date=November 1, 2005 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226132800/http://www.mtv.com/news/1512621/for-gwen-stefani-egyptian-cotton-is-something-like-love/ |url-status=dead}} The seventh track, "Harajuku Girls", is a synth-pop song that was described as a tribute to Tokyo's street culture,{{cite news |last=du Lac |first=J. Freedom |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/06/AR2005110601287.html |title=Gwen Stefani's Patriot Center Fashion Show |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 7, 2005 |access-date=January 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208084618/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/06/AR2005110601287.html |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |url-status=live}} produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

"Crash" is an electroclash song that uses automobile metaphors to describe a relationship.{{cite web |last=Usinger |first=Mike |url=https://www.straight.com/article/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |title=Gwen Stefani – Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |work=The Georgia Straight |date=November 25, 2004 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208031057/http://www.straight.com/article/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |url-status=live}} "The Real Thing" was described as a vintage Europop song, and features guest appearances from New Order vocalist Bernard Sumner and bassist Peter Hook.{{cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65970/stefani-gets-a-lift-from-new-order-eve-dre |title=Stefani Gets A Lift From New Order, Eve, Dre |magazine=Billboard |date=October 22, 2004 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-date=November 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122010905/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65970/stefani-gets-a-lift-from-new-order-eve-dre |url-status=live}} The next track, the synth-pop song "Serious",{{cite web |last=Rosa |first=Christopher |url=https://www.vh1.com/news/g4ij1e/music-videos-that-never-saw-the-light-of-day |title=8 Amazing Unreleased Music Videos That We Really Need To See |publisher=VH1 |date=October 21, 2015 |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128012655/http://www.vh1.com/news/216652/music-videos-that-never-saw-the-light-of-day/ |url-status=live}} drew comparisons to Madonna's work during the early 1980s. A music video was produced for the song, but it was never officially released, although a snippet of the video surfaced on YouTube in October 2006.{{cite web |url=https://www.spin.com/2006/10/new-gwen-video-youtube/ |title=New Gwen Video on YouTube |work=Spin |date=October 16, 2006 |access-date=November 14, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117015308/http://www.spin.com/2006/10/new-gwen-video-youtube/ |url-status=live}} "Danger Zone", an electro-rock song, was widely interpreted to be about Stefani's husband Gavin Rossdale having an illegitimate daughter; however, the song had been written before the discovery.{{cite web |last=Hooper |first=Joseph |url=http://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a9197/lamb-chops-19303/ |title=L.A.M.B. Chops |work=Elle |date=January 16, 2007 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010759/http://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a9197/lamb-chops-19303/ |url-status=live}} The closing track "Long Way to Go" is an outtake from André 3000's album The Love Below (2003). The song discusses interracial dating and uses a sample of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 speech "I Have a Dream".

Image:GwenStefaniTheRealThing.jpg" on the Harajuku Lovers Tour in 2005]]

{{Main|Harajuku Lovers Tour}}

Stefani embarked on the Harajuku Lovers Tour on October 16, 2005, to promote Love. Angel. Music. Baby. The tour consisted of only one leg, running for 42 dates across North America, ending on December 21, 2005. The hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas, rapper M.I.A., and singer Ciara accompanied Stefani as opening acts for her tour. The tour was met with varying responses from contemporary critics, who despite praising Stefani's vocals, were critical of other aspects of the show such as its musical material. According to Billboard, the tour grossed $22 million from 37 shows, 20 of which sold out.{{cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56532/gwen-stefani-unveils-solo-tour-dates |title=Gwen Stefani Unveils Solo Tour Dates |magazine=Billboard |date=December 1, 2006 |access-date=July 22, 2014 |archive-date=September 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922012935/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56532/gwen-stefani-unveils-solo-tour-dates |url-status=live}} A video album of the concert titled Harajuku Lovers Live was released on DVD on December 4, 2006.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/harajuku-lovers-live-mw0001232097 |title=Harajuku Lovers Live – Gwen Stefani |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 22, 2017 |archive-date=August 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818160127/http://www.allmusic.com/album/harajuku-lovers-live-mw0001232097 |url-status=live}} Additionally, a remix EP titled Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (The Remixes) was released on November 22, 2005, including remixes of "Luxurious", "Cool", "Hollaback Girl", and "What You Waiting For?".{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-angel-music-baby-remixes/93384042 |title=Love Angel Music Baby (The Remixes) – EP by Gwen Stefani |website=iTunes Store |date=January 2005 |location=United States |access-date=July 29, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720114140/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-angel-music-baby-remixes/id93384042 |archive-date=July 20, 2012}}

"What You Waiting For?" was released as the lead single from Love. Angel. Music. Baby. on September 28, 2004. The single peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100,{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/gwen-stefani/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Gwen Stefani Chart History (Hot 100) |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729084405/https://www.billboard.com/music/gwen-stefani/chart-history/hot-100 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |url-status=live}} and was commercially successful overseas, topping the chart in Australia and reaching the top 10 in several countries including France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/18d4/Gwen-Stefani-What-You-Waiting-For |title=Gwen Stefani – What You Waiting For? |publisher=Ultratop |language=nl |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509193506/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Gwen+Stefani&titel=What+You+Waiting+For%3F&cat=s |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16392/gwen-stefani/ |title=Gwen Stefani {{!}} full Official Chart History |publisher=Official Charts Company |access-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515154043/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16392/gwen-stefani/ |url-status=live}} "Rich Girl", featuring Eve, was released as the album's second single on December 14, 2004, becoming Stefani's first top-10 entry as a solo artist in the US when it peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Elsewhere, the song performed equally as successfully as "What You Waiting For?".{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1961/Gwen-Stefani-feat.-Eve-Rich-Girl |title=Gwen Stefani feat. Eve – Rich Girl |publisher=Ultratop |language=nl |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922231309/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Gwen+Stefani+feat%2E+Eve&titel=Rich+Girl&cat=s |url-status=live}} "Hollaback Girl" was released as the third single on March 15, 2005. It became the album's best-selling and most popular single, while also becoming the first single to sell one million digital copies in the US.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/loveangelmusicbaby-mw0000258810/awards |title=Love.Angel.Music.Baby. – Gwen Stefani {{!}} Awards |website=AllMusic |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032505/http://www.allmusic.com/album/loveangelmusicbaby-mw0000258810/awards |archive-date=November 17, 2015}}{{cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/stefani-peas-lead-singles-boom-106080/ |title=Stefani, Peas Lead Singles Boom |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 19, 2006 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729003159/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/stefani-peas-lead-singles-boom-106080/ |url-status=live}} The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 within six weeks of its release, earning Stefani her first number-one single on the chart.

"Cool" was released as the fourth single from the album on July 5, 2005.{{cite web |url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 |title=Available for Airplay: 7/5 Mainstream |work=FMQB |access-date=May 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303172238/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 |archive-date=March 3, 2010}} The song fared moderately on the charts, reaching the top 10 in Australia and New Zealand, as well as the top 20 in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, the UK and the US.{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/1176e/Gwen-Stefani-Cool |title=Gwen Stefani – Cool |publisher=Ultratop |language=nl |access-date=November 28, 2015 |archive-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205184525/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Gwen+Stefani&titel=Cool&cat=s |url-status=live}} "Luxurious" was released as the fifth single on October 11, 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=69239#2005|title=FMQB: CHR|website=FMQB|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602195200/http://fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239#2005|archive-date=June 2, 2013|access-date=December 14, 2022}} The single version features rapper Slim Thug. The song was less successful than the previous singles from the album, peaking at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Crash" was not originally planned as a single, but due to Stefani's pregnancy, her second solo album was delayed,{{cite web |last=Vineyard |first=Jennifer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1519189/gwen-stefani-confirms-pregnancy-while-onstage-in-florida/ |title=Gwen Stefani Confirms Pregnancy While Onstage In Florida |publisher=MTV News |date=December 24, 2005 |access-date=February 7, 2016 |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222063049/http://www.mtv.com/news/1519189/gwen-stefani-confirms-pregnancy-while-onstage-in-florida/ |url-status=dead}} and the song was released as the sixth and final single from the album on January 24, 2006.{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1520583/for-the-record-quick-news-on-eminem-beyonce-pink-gwen-stefani-camron-jamie-foxx-coldplay-more/ |title=For The Record: Quick News On Eminem, Beyonce, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Cam'ron, Jamie Foxx, Coldplay & More |publisher=MTV News |date=January 11, 2006 |access-date=February 7, 2016 |archive-date=March 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302181908/http://www.mtv.com/news/1520583/for-the-record-quick-news-on-eminem-beyonce-pink-gwen-stefani-camron-jamie-foxx-coldplay-more/ |url-status=dead}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 71/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2Score = C+

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}

| rev4 = NME

| rev4Score = 8/10

| rev5 = Pitchfork

| rev5Score = 5.1/10

| rev6 = Q

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}A ferocious declaration of independence. [Jan 2005, p.124]

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

| rev8 = Slant Magazine

| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

| rev9 = Stylus Magazine

| rev9Score = C

| rev10 = USA Today

| rev10Score = {{Rating|3|4}}

}}

Love. Angel. Music. Baby. received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 71, based on 22 reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/love-angel-music-baby/gwen-stefani |title=Love, Angel, Music, Baby by Gwen Stefani Reviews and Tracks |website=Metacritic |access-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-date=July 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712233849/http://www.metacritic.com/music/love-angel-music-baby/gwen-stefani |url-status=live}} Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic called the album "intermittently exciting and embarrassing", concluding that it is "stranger and often more entertaining than nearly any other mainstream pop album of 2004." Jennifer Nine of Yahoo! Music praised the album as "the hottest, coolest, best-dressed pop album of the year" and found it to be "sleek, shimmery, and dripping with all-killer-no-filler musical bling".{{cite web |last=Nine |first=Jennifer |url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041125/33/1xcq5.html |title=Gwen Stefani – Love, Angel, Music, Baby |website=Yahoo! Music |date=November 25, 2004 |access-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041211125829/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041125/33/1xcq5.html |archive-date=December 11, 2004}} Stylus Magazine{{'}}s Charles Merwin opined that Stefani was a contender to fill Madonna's role, "[b]ut not enough to get seriously excited about her as the next great solo female careerist." Lisa Haines of BBC Music was more emphatic, stating that Stefani rivaled Madonna and Kelis, while dubbing the album a "stunning and stylish effort that showcases Gwen's credentials as a {{Not a typo|bonafide}} pop goddess."{{cite web |last=Haines |first=Lisa |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/pp4h |title=Review of Gwen Stefani – Love Angel Music Baby |publisher=BBC Music |date=November 29, 2004 |access-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-date=November 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106121236/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/pp4h |url-status=live}}

Despite stating that Stefani "shamelessly plunders" 1980s music, Krissi Murison of the NME referred to the album as "one of the most frivolously brilliant slabs of shiny retro-pop anyone's had the chuzpah to release all year."{{cite web |last=Murison |first=Krissi |author-link=Krissi Murison |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/7561 |title=Gwen Stefani : Love Angel Music Baby |work=NME |date=December 10, 2004 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629191223/http://www.nme.com/reviews/7561 |archive-date=June 29, 2015}} John Murphy of musicOMH found the album "enjoyable, if patchy", but commented that it was too long.{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=John |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |title=Gwen Stefani – Love Angel Music Baby |website=musicOMH |date=22 November 2004 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-date=October 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010180049/http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/gwen-stefani-love-angel-music-baby |url-status=live}} Rolling Stone{{'}}s Rob Sheffield described the album as "an irresistible party: trashy, hedonistic and deeply weird."{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/6626540/love_angel_music_baby |title=Love Angel Music Baby : Gwen Stefani |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=December 9, 2004 |access-date=February 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014061534/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/6626540/love_angel_music_baby |archive-date=October 14, 2007}} The magazine later placed the album at number 39 on its list of the top 50 albums of 2004.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6768041/records_of_the_year |title=Records of the Year |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=December 15, 2004 |access-date=April 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329070851/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6768041/records_of_the_year |archive-date=March 29, 2007}} Robert Christgau gave the album a three-star honorable mention ({{Rating-Christgau|hm3}}) and wrote, "Turns out the problem wasn't ska per se—it was No Doubt."{{cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Gwen+Stefani |title=CG: Gwen Stefani |website=RobertChristgau.com |access-date=May 17, 2012 |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102192643/http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=gwen+stefani |url-status=live}} Edna Gundersen of USA Today called the album "[f]un, fizzy, frivolous", while noting that Stefani's "caffeinated electro-pop amounts to little more than sly channeling of Lisa Lisa at a disco revival."{{cite web |last=Gundersen |first=Edna |author-link=Edna Gundersen |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-11-22-listen-up_x.htm |title=A solo Stefani is fun, No Doubt about it |work=USA Today |date=November 22, 2004 |access-date=February 24, 2014 |archive-date=October 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020125037/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2004-11-22-listen-up_x.htm |url-status=live}} Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times viewed it as a "clever and sometimes enticing solo debut that doesn't quite add up."{{cite web |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/arts/music/22snoo.html |title=Critic's Choice: New CD's |work=The New York Times |date=November 22, 2004 |access-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528062546/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/arts/music/22snoo.html |url-status=live}}

The album was generally criticized for its large number of collaborations and producers. The Guardian{{'}}s Caroline Sullivan argued that although "others lend a hand [...] it's very much Stefani's show"; however, most others disagreed.{{cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/nov/19/popandrock.shopping6 |title=Gwen Stefani, Love Angel Music Baby |work=The Guardian |date=November 19, 2004 |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-date=September 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917080057/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/nov/19/popandrock.shopping6 |url-status=live}} Jason Damas of PopMatters compared the album to a second No Doubt greatest hits album, and Pitchfork's Nick Sylvester felt that the large number of collaborators result in sacrificing Stefani's identity on the album.{{cite web |last=Sylvester |first=Nick |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7789-love-angel-music-baby/ |title=Gwen Stefani: Love Angel Music Baby |website=Pitchfork |date=November 23, 2004 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212015214/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/7789-love-angel-music-baby/ |url-status=live}} Most reviewers held that the collaborations prevented the album from having a solidified sound. Eric Greenwood wrote for Drawer B that "Stefani tries to be all things to all people here", but that the result "comes off as manipulative and contrived."{{cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Eric |url=http://www.drawerb.com/features/1106173438.htm |title=Gwen Stefani, Love Angel Music Baby |website=Drawer B |date=January 19, 2005 |access-date=March 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020163243/http://www.drawerb.com/features/1106173438.htm |archive-date=October 20, 2006}} Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s David Browne shared this opinion, stating that the album "is like one of those au courant retail magazines that resembles a catalog more than an old-fashioned collection of, say, articles."

Many reviewers focused on the album's light lyrical themes. Entertainment Weekly called the references to Stefani's clothing line "shameless" and stated that "each song becomes akin to a pricey retro fashion blurb", and Pitchfork quipped that "the Joker's free-money parade through Gotham City was a much more entertaining display of wealth, and he had Prince, not just Wendy & Lisa." Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine commented that the album's "fashion fetish [...] gives the album a sense of thematic cohesiveness", but the "obsession with Harajuku girls borders on maniacal". The Guardian disagreed with this perspective, arguing that "her affinity with Japanese pop culture [...] yields a synthetic sheen [...] that works well with the other point of reference, hip-hop."

At the Billboard Music Awards, Stefani won the Digital Song of the Year award for "Hollaback Girl" and the New Artist of the Year Award, and she performed "Luxurious" with Slim Thug at the event.{{cite magazine |last=Jeckell |first=Barry A. |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60427/50-cent-green-day-reap-major-billboard-music-awards |title=50 Cent, Green Day Reap Major Billboard Music Awards |magazine=Billboard |date=December 7, 2005 |access-date=February 27, 2007 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105552/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60427/50-cent-green-day-reap-major-billboard-music-awards |url-status=live}} At the 2005 Grammy Awards, Stefani received a nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "What You Waiting For?"{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4262875.stm |title=Grammy Awards 2005: Key winners |work=BBC News |date=February 14, 2005 |access-date=October 18, 2010 |archive-date=December 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205172244/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4262875.stm |url-status=live}} and performed "Rich Girl" with Eve.{{cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/64121/charles-tops-grammys-with-eight-trophies |title=Charles Tops Grammys With Eight Trophies |magazine=Billboard |date=February 14, 2005 |access-date=February 27, 2007 |archive-date=October 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001070955/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/64121/charles-tops-grammys-with-eight-trophies |url-status=live}} At the next year's awards, Stefani received five nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Hollaback Girl" and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Rich Girl".{{cite web |url=https://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/grammys/2006/nominees.html |title=ASCAP Members Receive Multiple Nominations for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=February 27, 2007 |archive-date=December 1, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201210254/http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/grammys/2006/nominees.html |url-status=live}}

Image:WhatYouWaitingFor1.jpg" on the Harajuku Lovers Tour in 2005]]

Love. Angel. Music. Baby. debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling 309,000 copies in its first week.{{cite magazine |last=Whitmire |first=Margo |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65450/u2s-bomb-explodes-at-no-1 |title=U2's 'Bomb' Explodes At No. 1 |magazine=Billboard |date=December 1, 2004 |access-date=February 27, 2007 |archive-date=July 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702112442/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/65450/u2s-bomb-explodes-at-no-1 |url-status=live}} On the issue dated June 18, 2005, the album climbed to a new peak position of number five with 83,000 copies sold.{{cite magazine |last=Whitmire |first=Margo |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/62658/careys-emancipation-returns-to-no-1 |title=Carey's 'Emancipation' Returns To No. 1 |magazine=Billboard |date=June 8, 2005 |access-date=January 25, 2014 |archive-date=October 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002194825/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/62658/careys-emancipation-returns-to-no-1 |url-status=live}} The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album quintuple platinum in March 2021, and had sold four million copies by May 2009.{{cite magazine |last=Harding |first=Cortney |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268611/no-doubt-hits-the-road |title=No Doubt Hits The Road |magazine=Billboard |date=May 18, 2009 |access-date=February 8, 2013 |archive-date=September 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914135018/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/268611/no-doubt-hits-the-road |url-status=live}}

The album had similar success in Europe. After entering the UK Albums Chart at number 14 with sales of 45,484 copies,{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/take-that-make-it-three-weeks-atop-singles-chart/035283 |title=Take That make it three weeks atop singles chart |work=Music Week |date=December 11, 2006 |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202100150/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/take-that-make-it-three-weeks-atop-singles-chart/035283 |archive-date=February 2, 2014}} Love. Angel. Music. Baby. peaked at number four in its 25th week on the chart, on May 15, 2005, selling 21,271 copies.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/gorillaz-fail-to-dethrone-akon/033944 |title=Gorillaz fail to dethrone Akon |work=Music Week |date=May 16, 2005 |access-date=January 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216172317/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/gorillaz-fail-to-dethrone-akon/033944 |archive-date=December 16, 2014}} The album was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) on September 16, 2005, and had sold 1,068,242 copies in the United Kingdom as of March 2016.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-adele-holds-off-james-iggy-at-albums-summit/064396 |title=Official Charts Analysis: Adele holds off James, Iggy at albums summit |work=Music Week |date=March 25, 2016 |access-date=January 23, 2017 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030636/http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-adele-holds-off-james-iggy-at-albums-summit/064396 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |url-status=live}} The album was listed as the 20th best-selling album of 2005 in the UK. It also reached the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden, and the top 20 in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, and Switzerland. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) certified the album platinum in May 2005, denoting sales in excess of one million copies across Europe.

In Australia, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. topped the ARIA Albums Chart for two consecutive weeks in February 2005 and spent 56 weeks on the chart. It ended 2005 as the fourth-best-selling album and was certified quadruple platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipments of 280,000 copies. The album peaked at number three for two non-consecutive weeks on the Canadian Albums Chart,{{cite web |last=Williams |first=John |url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/G/Game/2005/02/02/918106.html |title=The Game stays on top in Canada |website=Jam! |date=February 2, 2005 |access-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202020802/http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Artists/G/Game/2005/02/02/918106.html |archive-date=February 2, 2017}} and was certified five-times platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) in April 2006 for sales of over half a million copies. As of April 2016, Love. Angel. Music. Baby. had sold over eight million copies worldwide,{{cite web |url=http://www.worldmusicawards.com/index.php/news/j-pop-album-jumps-atop-global-chart/ |title=J-pop album jumps atop the Global Chart! |publisher=World Music Awards |date=April 3, 2016 |access-date=July 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406102019/http://www.worldmusicawards.com/index.php/news/j-pop-album-jumps-atop-global-chart/ |archive-date=April 6, 2016 |url-status=live |quote='Love, Angel, Music, Baby' from 2004 sold around 8 million copies to date.}} and became the 12th best-selling album globally of 2005.

The success of the album's urban contemporary-oriented songs in the adult contemporary market allowed for the success of other artists while Stefani was pregnant and later recording The Sweet Escape. Nelly Furtado's third album Loose was released in June 2006 and was primarily produced by and written with hip hop producers Timbaland and Danja. Furtado's reinvention from a worldbeat singer-songwriter was to Stefani's previous forays into urban contemporary music.{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/loose-mw0000400240 |title=Loose – Nelly Furtado |website=AllMusic |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603022752/http://www.allmusic.com/album/loose-mw0000400240 |url-status=live}} In his review of Loose, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone stated that Timbaland aimed to "produce an omnipop multiformat blockbuster in the style of [Love. Angel. Music. Baby.]—but without Gwen."{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/loose-255311/ |title=Nelly Furtado: Loose |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=June 15, 2006 |access-date=July 28, 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729050129/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/loose-255311/ |url-status=live}} The Black Eyed Peas member Fergie released her solo debut album The Dutchess in September 2006. The cholas that accompanied Fergie in some of her music videos were viewed as derivatives of the Harajuku Girls and Stefani's "Luxurious" music video.{{cite web |last=Phanor |first=Alexandra |url=http://www.giantmag.com/2006/09/music/what-a-long-sexy-sleazy-hungover-wild-child-black-eyed-trip-its-been%E2%80%A6/ |title=What a Long Sexy Sleazy Hungover Wild Child Black Eyed Trip It's Been… |work=Giant |date=September 20, 2006 |access-date=July 16, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070625173854/http://www.giantmag.com/2006/09/music/what-a-long-sexy-sleazy-hungover-wild-child-black-eyed-trip-its-been%E2%80%A6/ |archive-date=June 25, 2007}} The album's lead single "London Bridge" was paralleled to "Hollaback Girl" and the third single "Glamorous" to "Luxurious".{{cite magazine |last=Vincentelli |first=Elisabeth |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/fergie |title=Fergie: The Dutchess (Interscope) |magazine=Time Out New York |issue=573 |date=September 21, 2006 |issn=1084-550X |access-date=July 3, 2012 |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010183132/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/fergie |url-status=live}} Fergie refuted accusations of piggybacking on Stefani's music, stating that "this is all so ridiculous [...] The Peas and I make music we love, and for others to speculate is their problem."

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 48:27

| title1 = What You Waiting For?

| writer1 = {{hlist|Gwen Stefani|Linda Perry}}

| extra1 = Nellee Hooper

| length1 = 3:41

| title2 = Rich Girl

| note2 = featuring Eve

| writer2 = {{hlist|Mark Batson|Jerry Bock|Kara DioGuardi|Mike Elizondo|Eve|Sheldon Harnick|Chantal Kreviazuk|Stefani|Andre Young}}

| extra2 = Dr. Dre

| length2 = 3:56

| title3 = Hollaback Girl

| writer3 = {{hlist|Stefani|Pharrell Williams|Chad Hugo}}

| extra3 = The Neptunes

| length3 = 3:19

| title4 = Cool

| writer4 = {{hlist|Stefani|Dallas Austin}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Austin|Hooper{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length4 = 3:09

| title5 = Bubble Pop Electric

| note5 = featuring Johnny Vulture

| writer5 = {{hlist|André Benjamin|Stefani|Seven Benjamin}}

| extra5 = Vulture

| length5 = 3:42

| title6 = Luxurious

| writer6 = {{hlist|Stefani|Tony Kanal|Ronald Isley|O'Kelly Isley|Rudolph Isley|Ernie Isley|Marvin Isley|Chris Jasper}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Hooper|Kanal}}

| length6 = 4:24

| title7 = Harajuku Girls

| writer7 = {{hlist|Stefani|James Harris III|Terry Lewis|James Quenton Wright|Bobby Ross Avila|Issiah J. Avila}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis|Mark "Spike" Stent{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length7 = 4:51

| title8 = Crash

| writer8 = {{hlist|Stefani|Kanal}}

| extra8 = Kanal

| length8 = 4:06

| title9 = The Real Thing

| writer9 = {{hlist|Stefani|Perry|GMR}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Hooper|Stent{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length9 = 4:12

| title10 = Serious

| writer10 = {{hlist|Stefani|Kanal}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Kanal|Stent{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length10 = 4:48

| title11 = Danger Zone

| writer11 = {{hlist|Stefani|Austin|Perry}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Hooper|Austin}}

| length11 = 3:37

| title12 = Long Way to Go

| note12 = with André 3000

| writer12 = {{hlist|Benjamin|Stefani}}

| extra12 = André 3000

| length12 = 4:34

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = International edition (bonus track)

| title13 = The Real Thing

| note13 = Wendy and Lisa Slow Jam Mix

| length13 = 3:35

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = UK edition (bonus track)

| title14 = What You Waiting For?

| note14 = Elevator Mix

| length14 = 4:06

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition (bonus track)

| title14 = What You Waiting For?

| note14 = Elevator Mix

| length14 = 4:06

| title15 = What You Waiting For?

| note15 = music video; director's cut

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = International deluxe/limited edition (bonus disc)

| title1 = What You Waiting For?

| note1 = Jacques Lu Cont's TWD Mix

| length1 = 8:04

| title2 = What You Waiting For?

| note2 = Jacques Lu Cont's TWD Dub

| length2 = 8:21

| title3 = What You Waiting For?

| note3 = live from LAUNCH.com

| length3 = 3:43

| title4 = Harajuku Girls

| note4 = live from LAUNCH.com

| length4 = 4:37

| title5 = Hollaback Girl

| note5 = Hollatronix Remix by Diplo

| length5 = 2:45

| title6 = Cool

| note6 = Photek Remix

| length6 = 5:49

| title7 = Hollaback Girl

| note7 = Dance Hollaback Remix by Tony Kanal

| length7 = 6:52

}}

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Love. Angel. Music. Baby.{{cite AV media notes |title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby. |type=liner notes |author=Gwen Stefani |publisher=Interscope Records |year=2004 |id=B0003469-02}}

{{Div col}}

• Gwen Stefani – vocals
• Samuel Littlemore – programming {{small|(track 1)}}
• Linda Perry – guitar, keyboards {{small|(track 1)}}
• Rusty Anderson – additional guitar {{small|(track 1)}}
• Mimi (Audia) Parker – background vocals {{small|(track 1)}}
• Eve – vocals {{small|(track 2)}}
• Mike Elizondo – keyboards, guitar {{small|(track 2)}}
• Mark Batson – keyboards, keyboard bass {{small|(track 2)}}
• Rick Sheppard – MIDI {{small|(tracks 4, 11)}}
• Jason Lader – programming {{small|(tracks 4, 6, 9, 11)}}
• Tony Reyes – Line 6 guitar, bass guitar {{small|(tracks 4, 11)}}
• Dallas Austin – drums, keyboards {{small|(tracks 4, 11)}}
• André 3000 – vocals, keyboards {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}; programming, guitar {{small|(track 5)}}
• Tony Kanal – programming, keyboards, synthesizers {{small|(tracks 6, 8, 10)}}
• Chipz – programming {{small|(track 6)}}
• Aidan Love – programming {{small|(tracks 6, 9, 11)}}
• Simon Gogerly – programming {{small|(track 6)}}
• Sheldon Conrich – keyboards {{small|(track 6)}}
• GMR – French spoken word {{small|(track 6)}}
• Lee Groves – mix programming {{small|(tracks 6, 8–10)}}; keyboards {{small|(tracks 8–10)}}
• James "Big Jim" Wright – keyboards {{small|(track 7)}}
• Jimmy Jam – bass {{small|(track 7)}}
• IZ – drums, percussion {{small|(track 7)}}
• Bobby Ross Avila – guitar, keyboards {{small|(track 7)}}
• Zoey – background vocals {{small|(track 7)}}
• Naomi Martin – background vocals {{small|(track 7)}}
• Wendy Melvoin – guitar {{small|(track 9)}}
• Lisa Coleman – keyboards {{small|(track 9)}}
• Peter Hook – bass {{small|(track 9)}}
• Greg Collins – electric guitar, slide guitar {{small|(track 9)}}
• Bernard Sumner – background vocals {{small|(track 9)}}
• Aaron Mills – bass {{small|(track 12)}}
• Kevin Kendricks – keyboards, piano {{small|(track 12)}}
• CutMaster Swiff – cuts {{small|(track 12)}}

{{Div col end}}

{{Div col}}

• Nellee Hooper – production {{small|(tracks 1, 6, 9, 11)}}; additional production {{small|(track 4)}}
• Greg Collins – engineering {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 11)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
• Ian Rossiter – recording {{small|(track 1)}}; engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 6, 9, 11)}}
• Kevin Mills – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 1, 4–6, 9, 11, 12)}}
• Linda Perry – guitar recording, keyboard recording {{small|(track 1)}}
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 6–11)}}; additional production {{small|(tracks 7, 9, 10)}}
• David Treahearn – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 6–11)}}
• Rob Haggett – second engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 6–11)}}
• Dr. Dre – production, mixing {{small|(track 2)}}
• Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri – recording {{small|(track 2)}}
• Francis Forde – engineering assistance {{small|(track 2)}}
• Brad Winslow – engineering assistance {{small|(track 2)}}
• Jaime Sickora – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 12)}}
• Rouble Kapoor – engineering assistance {{small|(track 2)}}
• The Neptunes – production {{small|(track 3)}}
• Andrew Coleman – recording {{small|(track 3)}}
• Jason Finkel – engineering assistance {{small|(track 3)}}
• Phil Tan – mixing {{small|(track 3)}}
• Dallas Austin – production {{small|(tracks 4, 11)}}
• Rick Sheppard – recording, sound design {{small|(tracks 4, 11)}}
• Doug Harms – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 4, 11)}}
• Paul Sheehy – engineering assistance {{small|(track 4)}}
• Cesar Guevara – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 4, 11)}}
• André 3000 – production, mixing {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
• John Frye – recording {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
• Pete Novak – recording {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
• Warren Bletcher – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
• Sean Tallman – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
• Glenn Pittman – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
• Nick Ferrero – engineering assistance {{small|(tracks 5, 12)}}
• John Warren – engineering assistance {{small|(track 5)}}
• Tony Kanal – production {{small|(tracks 6, 8, 10)}}
• Colin "Dog" Mitchell – recording {{small|(tracks 6, 8, 10)}}
• Simon Gogerly – recording {{small|(tracks 6, 9, 11)}}
• Jason Lader – additional engineering {{small|(track 6)}}
• Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis – production {{small|(track 7)}}
• Matt Marrin – recording {{small|(track 7)}}
• Ian Cross – recording {{small|(track 7)}}
• Ewan Pearson – programming {{small|(tracks 9, 11)}}
• Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)

{{Div col end}}

• Gwen Stefani – creative direction
• Jolie Clemens – art direction, layout
• Nick Knight – photography
• Shinjuko – illustrations
• Tomoe Ohnishi – illustration coordination
• John Copeland – logo, border and type illustrations
• Nicole Frantz – photography, art coordination
• Cindy Cooper – packaging coordination

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Love. Angel. Music. Baby.}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certref={{cite web |url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=Gwen+Stefani&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |title=Discos de Oro y Platino |publisher=Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers |language=es |access-date=January 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531190446/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=Gwen+Stefani&album=&LanDesde_MM=0&LanDesde_AA=0&LanHasta_MM=0&LanHasta_AA=0&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Platinum|number=5|type=album|certyear=2014|refname="ARIA"|access-date=July 8, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love, Angel, Music, Baby|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|date=September 5, 2005|access-date=January 3, 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love Angel Music Baby|award=Platinum|number=5|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2006|date=April 24, 2006|access-date=July 12, 2014|refname="CRIA"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certref={{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.dk/?q=content/guld-og-platin-i-august |title=Guld og platin i december |publisher=IFPI Denmark |language=da |date=January 8, 2006 |access-date=August 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008131515/http://ifpi.dk/?q=content/guld-og-platin-i-august |archive-date=October 8, 2011}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Gold|type=album|salesamount=21,944|access-date=January 3, 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love Angel Music Baby|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|certmonth=7|date=July 12, 2005|access-date=January 23, 2017}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love Angel Music Baby|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|access-date=April 11, 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hungary|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2007|access-date=July 12, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|access-date=January 4, 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2004|certref={{cite web |url=http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/spettacolo/articoli/articolo337976.shtml |title=Natale, ecco le stelle della musica |website=TGCOM |language=it |date=December 6, 2006 |access-date=July 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201221449/http://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/spettacolo/articoli/articolo337976.shtml |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=dead}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2006|certmonth=04|access-date=January 4, 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love, Angel, Music, Baby|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2019|source=radioscope|access-date=February 6, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|access-date=January 25, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Russia|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2004|access-date=April 11, 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|date=August 22, 2005|access-date=July 12, 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love Angel Music Baby|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|access-date=January 3, 2010}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love Angel Music Baby|award=Platinum|number=3|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2005|id=4011-2460-2|date=June 16, 2005|access-date=June 10, 2021|salesamount=1,068,242|salesref=|refname="BPI"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Platinum|number=5|type=album|relyear=2004|certyear=2021|date=March 8, 2021|access-date=March 12, 2021|refname="RIAA"}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Europe|artist=Gwen Stefani|title=Love. Angel. Music. Baby.|award=Platinum|type=album|certyear=2005|access-date=March 22, 2007|refname="IFPIeurope"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=yes|salesamount=8,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Featured article}}

{{Gwen Stefani}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2004 debut albums

Category:Albums produced by André 3000

Category:Albums produced by Dallas Austin

Category:Albums produced by Dr. Dre

Category:Albums produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

Category:Albums produced by Nellee Hooper

Category:Albums produced by the Neptunes

Category:Albums recorded at Henson Recording Studios

Category:Dance-rock albums

Category:Gwen Stefani albums

Category:Interscope Records albums

Category:New wave albums by American artists

Category:Soul albums by American artists

Category:Albums recorded at the Village (studio)