MACY GRAY - Big (2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Though he's not the first high-profile producer in Macy Gray's career, will.i.am is the first to make a big difference -- but probably not the one listeners would expect. Gray, whose wonderfully woozy voice was always searching for the right songs and the right context, has usually sounded like a certain segment of '70s soul: the earthier deep soul of early Ann Peebles. Big, however, is the slickest album of Gray's career, with a production finesse that sounds like a different (and opposing) segment of '70s soul -- quiet storm, with its pristine sound, frequent synthesizers, fretless bass, and performances programmed to perfection. These are not the traditional makings of a solid Macy Gray record, but Big is startling and, overall, truly appealing (the first time those two adjectives could be honestly applied to Gray's music). In this slick context, the gritty character of her vocals comes into better focus. The songs, though still written Hollywood-style (with credits often going to three or four or five writers), fit in well with her personality and are among the best in her career. (There's no breakout single but there's also no dog in the bunch.) Meanwhile, a set of super-sized backing vocals gives Gray the testifying chorus she really needs; the opening "Finally Made Me Happy" features no less than Natalie Cole providing backup, and if it doesn't earn airplay on Tom Joyner's radio show, it'll be a tragic omission. As a producer, will.i.am has had trouble in the past when attempting to diversify -- which led to a horrible Sergio Mendes record, Timeless -- but he works well here. There are only a few nods to hip-hop, one good ("Ghetto Love") and the other one rather more difficult (for "Treat Me Like Your Money," will the rapper gets in a pair of stinkers: "I love you like money cuz I love you a lot" and "Baby don't ask me cuz that's the way it is and it's like that and that's the way it is"). It'll be interesting to see if past Macy Gray fans are willing to follow her into adult contemporary territory, while those who might like the new direction will be able to alter their perceptions of her. by John Bush  
Tracklist :
1    Finally Made Me Happy 4:02
Bass – Justin Meldal-Johnson
Drums – Victor Indrizzo
Featuring – Natalie Cole
Organ – Cassandra O'Neil
Piano – Cassandra O'Neil
Producer – Macy Gray, Ron Fair, will.i.am
Saxophone – Tim Izo
Strings – Ron Fair
Trumpet – Printz Board
2    Shoo Be Doo 4:04
Backing Vocals – Dawn Beckman, Phillip White
Bass – Justin Meldal-Johnson
Drums – Keith Harris
Guitar – Eric Jackson
Keyboards – Printz Board
Percussion – Keith Harris, Mike Shapiro, Phillip White
Piano – Ron Fair
Producer – Jared Gosselin, Phillip White, Ron Fair
Strings – Ron Fair
3    What I Gotta Do 3:08
Backing Vocals – Jeremy Gregory, Mike Lett, Phillip White
Bass – Caleb Speir
Drums – Victor Indrizzo
Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Ron Fair
Guitar – Josh Lopez
Keyboards – Cassandra O'Neil, Jeremy Ruzumna
Organ [Additional] – Ron Fair
Piano [Additional] – Ron Fair
Producer – Jared Gosselin, Phillip White
Strings – Ron Fair
4    Okay 4:09
Backing Vocals – Justin Timberlake, Macy Gray, will.i.am
Bass – Caleb Speir
Cello – Jennie D'Lorenzo
Drums – Justin Timberlake, Keith Harris
Keyboards – Justin Timberlake
Producer – Justin Timberlake, will.i.am
Strings – Larry Gold
Viola – Davis Barnett, Peter Nocello
Violin – Emma Kummrow, Ghilaine Gleishman, Gloria Justin, Igo Szwec
5    Glad You're Here 2:54
Bass – Caleb Speir
Drums – Victor Indrizzo
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Keith Harris
Featuring – Fergie
Flute – Tim Izo
Guitar – George Pajon Jr.
Keyboards – Printz Board
Organ – Ron Fair
Piano – Ron Fair
Producer – Ron Fair, will.i.am
Strings – Ron Fair
6    Ghetto Love 3:08
Backing Vocals – Dawn Beckman, Glen McIntyre, Jay Anderson, Paloma Ford
Drums – Mike Shapiro
Guitar – George Pajon Jr.
Keyboards – will.i.am
Producer – will.i.am
7    One For Me 4:09
Backing Vocals – Dawn Beckman
Bass – Justin Meldal-Johnson
Clarinet – Tim Izo
Drums – Keith Harris
Guitar – George Pajon Jr.
Keyboards – Keith Harris, Mike Farrell
Piano – Ron Fair
Producer – Ron Fair, will.i.am
Strings – Ron Fair
8    Strange Behavior 3:35
Backing Vocals – Paloma Ford
Bass – Caleb Speir
Drums – Mike Shapiro
Keyboards – Mike Farrell
Producer – Macy Gray, will.i.am
Trumpet – Printz Board
9    Slowly 3:54
Backing Vocals – Paloma Ford
Bass – Justin Meldal-Johnson
Guitar – George Pajon Jr.
Harmonica – Ron Fair
Percussion – Mike Shapiro
Producer – Ron Fair
10    Get Out 4:01
Backing Vocals – Justin Timberlake, Macy Gray
Bass – Caleb Speir
Drums – Mike Shapiro
Guitar – Dan Rockett, Justin Timberlake
Keyboards – Justin Timberlake
Producer – Justin Timberlake, will.i.am
11    Treat Me Like Your Money 3:27
Backing Vocals – Dawn Beckman
Bass – Justin Meldal-Johnson
Drums – Victor Indrizzo
Featuring – will.i.am
Guitar – George Pajon Jr.
Keyboards – Keith Harris, Printz Board
Producer – Noiztrip, will.i.am
12    Everybody 3:16
Backing Vocals – Dawn Beckman, Khalfani White
Drums – Keith Harris
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Printz Board
Keyboards – Printz Board
Piano – Keith Harris
Producer – will.i.am
Saxophone – Tim Izo