Queen Alone
{{short description|2016 studio album by Lady Wray}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Queen Alone
| type = studio
| artist = Lady Wray
| cover = File:Wray_QueenAlone.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2016|9|23}}
| recorded = 2014–2016
| venue =
| studio = The Diamond Mine
(Queens, New York)
| genre = {{hlist|R&B|soul{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7496078/lady-wray-brings-sultry-soul-on-queen-alone |title=Lady Wray Brings Sultry Soul on 'Queen Alone' |work=Billboard |date=September 9, 2016 |access-date=September 22, 2016 |author=Mitchell, Gail}}}}
| length = 34:53
| label = Big Crown Records
| producer = {{hlist|Leon Michels|Thomas Brenneck}}
| prev_title = Make It Hot
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = Piece of Me
| next_year = 2022
}}
Queen Alone is the second studio album by American singer Nicole Wray, released on September 23, 2016, by Big Crown Records.{{cite web|title=Lady Wray: Queen Alone|website=iTunes|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/queen-alone/id1129494759|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914063356/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/queen-alone/id1129494759|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2016|access-date=18 July 2016}} This is her first solo album in 18 years since her last album Make It Hot and her first under a new name, Lady Wray.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2016/09/graded-on-a-curve-lady-wray-queen-alone/|title = Graded on a Curve: Lady Wray, Queen Alone|date = 20 September 2016}}
Background and development
In 2009, Wray formed a musical duo called Lady, with English R&B singer Terri Walker.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lady-mn0003037245/biography |title=Lady Biography AllMusic |work=Allmusic|date=December 8, 2021 |access-date=December 8, 2021}} In 2012, the duo toured as the background vocalists for Lee Fields and the Expressions during his international tour. During the tour, Lady recorded their self-titled album and released it in March 2013 on Truth and Soul Records. Heavily influenced by late-'60s and early-'70s soul music, their album spawned three singles: "Money", "Get Ready", and "Good Lovin'". After Walker left the duo during their tour in mid-2013, Wray retitled the music act "Lady, the Band" and continued on with the addition of two background singers for the conclusion of the tour. After the roster move from Truth and Soul Records to Big Crown Records, Wray adopted the stage name Lady Wray.
Recording and production
Lady Wray began recording the album in 2014. The album was recorded at The Diamond Mine, a private recording studio founded by Leon Michels and Thomas Brenneck in Queens, New York.{{cite web |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2016/09/26/from-missy-to-lady-wray-how-nicole-wray-rode-out-a-20-year-rb-roller-coaster/ |title=From Missy to Lady Wray: How Nicole Wray Rode Out a 20-Year R&B Roller Coaster |work=Village Voice|date=December 8, 2021 |access-date=December 8, 2021}} Continuing the sound of Lady, her album with Terri Walker, Queen Alone contains a mix of contemporary R&B and 60s/70s retro soul. Each song was written by Wray and produced by Leon Michels and Tom Brenneck.
"Smiling" was the first song recorded for the album. Wray originally wrote "Do It Again" for Lee Fields' album Special Night but retained the song after being encouraged by Michels and Brenneck. "Do It Again" would go on to serve the lead single, released on June 10, 2016.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = It's Been a Long Time
| extra1 =
| length1 = 2:59
| title2 = Do It Again
| extra2 =
| length2 = 3:59
| title3 = Smiling
| extra3 =
| length3 = 3:19
| title4 = Guilty
| extra4 =
| length4 = 3:34
| title5 = In Love (Don't Mess Things Up)
| extra5 =
| length5 = 2:17
| title6 = Make Me Over
| extra6 =
| length6 = 2:24
| title7 = Cut Me Loose
| extra7 =
| length7 = 3:27
| title8 = Underneath My Feet
| extra8 =
| length8 = 2:39
| title9 = They Won't Hang Around
| extra9 =
| length9 = 3:53
| title10 = Bad Girl
| extra10 =
| length10 = 2:43
| title11 = Let It Go
| extra11 =
| length11 = 3:39
}}
Personnel
Credits for Queen Alone adapted from album liner notes.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- Thomas Brenneck — guitar, bass, vocals, percussion, producer, engineering, mixing
- Alecia Chakour – backing vocals
- JJ Golden — mastering
- Dave Guy — trumpet
- Vince John — piano
- Ray Mason — trombone
- Leon Michels — drums, guitar, keyboards, saxophone, flute, percussion, vocals, producer, engineering, mixing
- Danny Miller — design
{{col-2}}
- Nick Movshon — bass, drums
- Toby Pazner — piano
- Paul Schalda – backing vocals
- William Schalda Jr. – backing vocals
- Max Shrager — drums
- Homer Steinweiss — drums
- Saundra Williams – backing vocals
- Lady Wray — lead vocals, backing vocals
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Nicole Wray}}
{{Authority control}}