Whatcha Lookin' 4 is an American Gospel music album released on April 30, 1996, by Kirk Franklin & the Family on GospoCentric Records. With sales of 2 million units,[3] it is one of the best-selling gospel albums of all time.
| Whatcha Lookin' 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by Kirk Franklin & The Family | ||||
| Released | April 30, 1996 | |||
| Recorded | May 1994 | |||
| Genre | Gospel | |||
| Length | 1:17:56 | |||
| Label | GospoCentric Records | |||
| Producer | Kirk Franklin Buster & Shavoni | |||
| Kirk Franklin & The Family chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Muzik |  [2] |
Background
editWhatcha Lookin' 4 is the third album released by Kirk Franklin and The Family. It also features backup by God's Property. The U.S. release on GospoCentric Records occurred on April 30, 1996. The album was recorded about two years earlier in May 1994 but the release date has been delayed three times[4]
All the songs on the album were written and produced by Franklin except "Anything 4 U" (produced by Buster & Shavoni) and "When I Think About Jesus", (Public domain, arrangement by Franklin).
Kirk Franklin & The Family: Kirk Franklin, Jeannette Johnson, Keisha Grandy, Terri Pace, Stephanie Glynn, Demetrice "De" Clinkscale, Dalon Collins, David Mann, Darrell Blair, Byron Cole, Jon "J.D." Drummond, Yolanda McDonald, Sheila "Mother" Brice, Tamela Mann, Theresa Young, Carrie "Mousey" Young Davis
Track listing
edit| # | Title | Time | Vocalist(s) | Notes[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Savior More than Life | 6:44 | Lead Vocals: Keisha Grandy | Acoustic Guitar: Bryan James |
| 2. | Whatcha Lookin' 4 | 4:25 | Lead Vocals: Darrell Blair, Dalon Collins, Tamela Mann, Kirk Franklin; Background Vocals: God's Property |
|
| 3. | Melodies from Heaven | 4:34 | All Vocals: Kirk Franklin & The Family | |
| 4. | Conquerors | 8:24 | Lead Vocals: Dalon Collins | Percussion Programming: Lawrence Robinson |
| 5. | Don't Take Your Joy Away | 6:35 | Lead Vocals: Tamela Mann | |
| 6. | When I Think About Jesus | 1:38 | ||
| 7. | Mama's Song | 4:16 | Lead Vocals: Kirk Franklin | |
| 8. | Jesus Paid it All | 5:04 | Lead Vocals: Kirk Franklin, Darrell Blair, Dalon Collins | |
| 9. | I Love You Jesus | 7:25 | Lead Vocals: Teresa Young, Stephanie Glynn, Sheila Brice | |
| 10. | Washed Away | 5:20 | Lead Vocals: Jeannette Johnson, Carrie Young-Davis | |
| 11. | Where the Spirit Is | 4:03 | Lead Vocals: Jon Drummond | |
| 12. | Let Me Touch You | 5:26 | Lead Vocals: Dalon Collins | |
| 13. | Anything 4 U | 5:08 | Lead Vocals: David Mann, Yolanda McDonald, DemeTrice Clinkscale, Darrell Blair | Music Programming & Synth Drums: Buster & Shavoni Recording Engineers: Bob Tucker (Basic Tracks); Louis "Buster" Brown (Overdubs) |
| 14. | Whatcha Lookin' 4 (remix) | 4:36 | Lead Vocals: Kirk Franklin, Dalon Collins, David Mann, Tamela Mann | Trumpet: Lawrence Robinson Mixed by Craig Burbridge, Dalon Collins, Tamela Mann, David Mann, Chris Simpson, |
| 15. | Melodies from Heaven (skate remix) | 4:18 | Lead Vocals: Kirk Franklin | Mixed by Craig Burbridge |
Certifications and Chart success
editThe album was certified Gold on August 16, 1996 and Platinum on May 28, 1997.[6]
Whatcha Lookin' 4 was #1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums Chart and Top Contemporary Christian Chart in 1996. That same year the album reached #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart and #23 on the Billboard 200 Chart.
Personnel
edit- Kirk Franklin - Piano & Synths
- Erick Morgan - Drums
- Jerome Harmon - Hammond C-3 & Synths
- Bobby Sparks - Grand Piano, Synths, Hammond Organ, Minimoog, Prophet 5
- Jerome Allen - Bass
- Anthony Thomas - Guitar
- Charlie Paakkari - Audio Mixing
- Eric Lewin - Audio Mixing
- Malcolm Harper - Recording Engineer (tracks 1–12, 14–15)
- Gordon Garrison - Assistant Recording Engineer (tracks 1–12, 14–15)
- Eric Lewin - Assistant Recording Engineer (tracks 1–12, 14–15)
Awards
editAwards Wins
editWhatcha Lookin' 4 won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 1997.
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
References
edit- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Jones, Bob (October 1996). "Kirk Franklin And The Family: Whatcha Lookin' 4" (PDF). Muzik. No. 17. p. 149. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ Cobb, Mark Hughes. "Gospel singer overcame obstacles". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1995-05-27.
- ^ Kirk Franklin & The Family - Whatcha Lookin' 4, 1996, retrieved 2023-09-06
- ^ RIAA website
- ^ "Kirk Franklin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Kirk Franklin Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Kirk Franklin Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "1996 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-39. Retrieved June 8, 2021.