2nd Update: The album is now unavailable. Whoever made this mistake really screwed Melinda over. Those songs are out there now, and there’s no getting them back…
UPDATE: Tyson from Melinda’s street team just posted in comments that the record company indeed made a mistake, although the album is still available for purchase (7:30 pm ET) at this time.
How the eff does a record label release an album by mistake? That’s some pretty bush league stuff going on right there, if you ask me.
I would imagine that buying the album today puts your purchase in the “street violations” category, so it won’t count for Melinda’s first week sales. If you’re a fan who cares about Soundscan numbers and Billboard positions, you are probably going to want to wait until the album is officially released to buy it.
Now I’m completely confused.
Melinda Doolittle’s album Coming Back to You is supposed to drop in January ‘09. Except, it’s available NOW on Amazon for $8.99.
Get it from Amazon:
I’m listening to it right now.
ETA: I just took a listen, and this entire record is super old-school. Peeps who loved Melinda on Idol will not be disappointed. This disc was recorded the old fashioned way, with Melinda’s clear, unprocessed vocals mixed front and center. She’ll get zero radio play, but I expect lots of good reviews. This record, a retro soul, jazz and blues fest is a keeper.
Weird! Not the album. It sounds wonderful. But the fact that it suddenly became available on Amazon 2 months before it’s supposed to drop.
Uh, okay. That is weird. Buying now.
lol. What if all the tracks on the physical album are “Never Gonna Give You Up”? :)
l
Nope, it’s the album. I’m listening right now…
What if it’s a mistake and we get it by accident? Oooooh!
i have never seen anything like this before.
im looking at amazon, and i think its a total f***-up. that would be craaaazy.
I really do think they made it available too soon. There’s nothing on her MySpace or anything. I just hope they don’t figure out the mistake before I’m done downloading.
The cover looks like an Obama poster, lol.
I’m at 81%! Hurry!!!
ETA: Whew!! Got it all, and I’m lovin’ it so far. Makes me wanna…grow a ‘fro.
Well I hope it’s still there when I get home from work so I can follow the link from here to there and buy myself (another) early Christmas present. Woohoo!
I was thinking the same thing…that it was a mistake. Too late now. If they pull it, it’ll just end up on you tube or limewire.
Dang nabbit, I’m at my cubicle and can’t listen to it right now. But I’s sure a hell gonna download that puppy. LOL.
OK, I’m an old R & B hound and I realize that this is Old School music, but I have to tell you that from the samples I think this is the best album an American Idol finalist has put out in years.
Why? It’s crisply produced, plays entirely to Mindydoo’s strengths, and gives us what this pop scene needs: a clear, precious shot of soul and a new member of the Aretha Squad.
I worry that it won’t get enough radio play. But maybe the more eclectic FM stations will give it some airtime, and they should! It’s so refreshing, after all that souped-up neo-R & B crap that puts good voices like Melinda’s through a synthetic Osterizer and matches it to those monotonous dance beats.
I have to say, I like it more than what I’ve heard of DC’s record, though I respect his singing talent very much. I’m kind of on the same page with the Rolling Stone review, which gave his album just 2 1/2 stars:
When he reinvented Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” as a dirge, David Cook became the most imaginative American Idol talent to date. But working with his heroes (Our Lady Peace’s Raine Maida, Chris Cornell) and Norwegian song doctors Espionage on his Rob Cavallo-produced debut, he leans on his husky howl rather than out-of-the-box songwriting. The Johnny RzezÂnik-assisted opener “Declaration” sets the tone — guitars, lots of ‘em — and “Light On” has its Soundgarden-like charms, but without the right hook, “Life on the Moon” and “I Did It for You” come off like assembly-line active rock.
It’s too old-fashioned. Sounds like something done 40 or more years ago, which is fine if the songs are like those classic songs, but unfortunately they sound more like the filler tracks from classic album of old. She sings well, but none of the tracks really stands out.
I agree with everyone else who thinks this was a mistake. Slightly different, but remember when Cook’s debut album showed on Amazon during Idol, for just a few days? Everyone went nuts. I hope this happens for Melinda - maybe a ton of sales before it even comes out!
P.S. Some of you know of my love for David Cook, but I wasn’t following the blog during Season 6. Melinda is and always will be my favorite contestant ever… so I have been awaiting this album for a long, long time! From what you have said so far, and from the Amazon reviews already up, it sounds like it will!
Hazehel:
I understand your point, and I imagine not all listeners will love this disc. But a lot of Idol folks have gone wrong in the studio when trying to be someone they really are not. I think this is who Melinda really is, musically, and this is who she was on the show. She knows her strengths and tastes inside-out. And for that part of the market that longs for robust, voice-centered soul music, even if that’s not a huge part of the listening public, this is a treat.
Also, if Joss Stone can do well in this groove, why not Melinda?
Just my opinion…..
Oh crap, I can’t buy it now. It better be there later this afternoon. It better be….
Love her beyond words, but I wouldn’t take it that far.
This was nice, solid Melinda. Just like she was on Idol. I loved it, very old-school, gospelly, and true to who she is. And…she recorded this in the same amount of time as KLC did hers. So…yeah.
However, I wouldn’t have minded at all if she would have stepped outside the box and rocked it up on at least one song. At least one. I heard her throwing around Jonny Lang’s name a time or two, so I was hoping for some gritty blues.
Her voice is so soothing, I actually dozed off while listening.
But, it’s an applaudable effort, one of which she can be very proud. And, there’s no mistaking her voice when I hear it. Very distinct. Love. Her.
I’m torn. I loved MD on Idol her season, and her voice does sound great in the clips. But this is definitely not my style of music, and she pretty much does stick with her chosen genre. This may ultimately be the first time I buy a CD just to support the artist (and hope that it grows on me), but I won’t break down now.
Query: there was a claim in one of the DA threads that buying a record before it is supposed to be for sale would not ultimately count toward record sales stats. Is that correct? Because that would definitely influence me in waiting to get a copy.
Not sure why there is a random quoting with bold letters of the RS review for DC in a Melinda thread, but suffice it to say for purposes of this thread that I don’t see them as comparable as artists or in terms of the situations of their releases. Otherwise, I’m just glad that my two favorite Idol contestants in recent years have now both gotten to release albums in which they take pride.
Earlier this morning we (Backups and MD Street Team) sent out an email letting you know about that Melinda’s album was available for download at Amazon.com. Unfortunately it turns out that there was an error made by Melinda’s label. Theonly song that was completely mastered and 100% ready to be available for download was the single: It’s Your Love. If you passed along the message, blogged about it, posted bulletins, etc… please go back and delete your messages or tell others about this. We SINCERELY appreciate your help! When Melinda’s website launches in two weeks we’re going to have some cool “combo” ways to pre-order the album - all ofwhich will benefit Malaria No More.
Thanks!
I wondered why the album cover said “It’s Your Love” and not “Coming Back To You”. It was supposed to just be the single. Makes sense, but still a HUGE error.
Well, the album will definately please Melinda’s Idol fans. But it’s so old fashioned that I doubt she’ll reach a major audience outside of that.
But given that it’s an independent release, Melinda will probably make a very tidy profit and will continue to do so for years to come.
Hey folks! Some people love old school soul! And for everyone else, there’s lotsa other things. Diff’rent strokes.
Definitely off topic, and yeah, we aren’t going there.
Oh, man. Somebody really messed up, huh?
Guess I’ll wait until the real release date…
This is a random comment but… there is something old school and pleasant about that album cover.
(I actually never watched 6th season, so I know nothing much about her…)
All of the songs said “not available” when I went to check it out, so, they must have fixed it. I just wanted to hear the clips, but, wait for release date to buy, since, I want the disc not mp3s.
So guys, is her album ummmm………..Groovy?
In my book, yeah. but obviously there are plenty of opinions! she still has one tune from the album up on her myspace page to check out.
so sorry if I put the DC review on the wrong thread — didn’t know “the rules.” Now I do.
Melinda’s debut CD is created in a genre called Retro Soul; and (according to some of the articles I’ve been able to find) it is designed to fool you into thinking it’s not a remake but an original song from that era. That may seem easy; but after the last 38 years of funk, heavy metal, disco, club, grunge, synth pop, reggae, hip hop, techno and more - how do you keep that from influencing those classic sounds? The producers of Coming Back To You have achieved that and Melinda gives us just the right amount of grit, hot-sauce or honey in her vocals to complete the illusion. What is not an illusion, though, is that Melinda makes music for grown-folks. Happy ears are here again!
Hey Calista:
Just read this (weeks later) and we’re on the same page, sistah!