Urban Renewal (tribute album)
| Urban Renewal | |
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| Studio album by Various artists | |
| Released | February 2001 (Europe) February 25, 2003 (United States) |
| Genre | R&B/Soul/Hip hop |
| Label | WEA |
| Singles from Urban Renewal | |
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Urban Renewal is a tribute album to singer Phil Collins, released in 2001 in most European markets and in 2003 in the United States, containing remakes of his songs by R&B, soul and hip hop performers. Collins remarked:
"We all think black R&B artists know what they're talking about. The first time I was aware of it was when I watched a documentary on Ice-T. This smug UK journalist looking at his record collection said, 'What's with all the Phil Collins stuff?' He said, 'Don't mess with my Phil.' I remember thinking, 'My God!' You feel like ringing people up and saying, 'Are you watching this?!'"
Although the album itself was not a worldwide success, only charting in Germany at number three, individual singles from the album performed well in various markets, including "Another Day in Paradise" as performed by Brandy and Ray J and "In the Air Tonite" as performed by rapper Lil' Kim. A remake by Deborah Cox, "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven", was later released as a dance remix on her 2003 album, Remixed. It reached number one on the Billboard Dance Radio Airplay chart and peaked at ninety-five on the Billboard Hot 100.
The chief pop and rock critic of The Guardian, Alexis Petridis, described it as a "horrid and inexplicable album of hip-hop and R&B covers" with the "solitary redeeming track" being the version of "Sussudio". In 2006, Q magazine listed Urban Renewal as No. 3 in their list of the 50 worst albums ever.
"I first heard about this project about three years ago, so it's not a self perpetuated "...A Tribute to me" record! As I understand it, the publishers of my songs were getting, and had been getting for a long time, requests from many urban R&B singers to cover my songs. Songs like In The Air Tonight and Another Day In Paradise were top of the list of "sampled" songs and treatments.
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