In the Blood (album)

In the Blood
Cover
European and Australian CD cover art. The American CD release used the original LP version of the cover art.
Studio album by
Londonbeat
ReleasedSeptember 1990
RecordedApril – August 1990
GenreDance
Length49:20
LabelAnxious / Radioactive (USA)
ProducerDavid A. Stewart (track 1)
Martyn Phillips (tracks 1–6, 8–12)
Willy M (tracks 5, 7, 10)
Londonbeat chronology
Speak
(1988) 		In the Blood
(1990) 		Harmony
(1992)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1][2]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[3]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[4]
Orlando Sentinel[5]
The Province(favorable)[6]
St. Petersburg Times(favorable)[7]

In the Blood is the second album by British-American dance band Londonbeat,[8] released in September 1990. It includes the single "I've Been Thinking About You", which reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in 1990[9] and number one on a number of world charts, including the US Billboard Hot 100 the following year.[10]

The album reached number 21 on the US Billboard 200[1] and number 34 in the UK Albums Chart.[11]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jim Smith said, "Whether they're sensitive balladeers making a soulful dance single ("I've Been Thinking About You"), or lewd, jilted lovers making a soulful dance single ("She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)"), Londonbeat's pleasant harmonies and pumping flow are undeniably catchy. Although their lyrics are sometimes criminally obtuse, In the Blood is a better album, musically, than it's ever been given credit for."[2] Marisa Fox from Entertainment Weekly encouraged, "Check out the foot-stomping "She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)", inspired by Edwin Starr’s "Twenty-Five Miles"; the churning "It’s in the Blood"; and the exuberant "She Said She Loves Me". Londonbeat’s powerful dance rhythms and soulful blues songs recapture the long-lost spirit of early R&B."[4] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel highlighted "I've Been Thinking About You" ("Cannibalistic"), "She Said She Loves Me" ("a touch of Prince"), "Getcha Ya Ya" ("zydeco flavor[ed]"), "This Is Your Life" ("a pretty acoustic number with beautiful harmonies"), "Crying in the Rain" ("echoes the Philly sound of the Dramatics") and "No Woman No Cry". He concluded that the band "shows a lot of promise".[5]

Tom Harrison from The Province wrote, "Virtually perfect balance of old-style soul and modern production techniques resulting in a crafty contemporary dance music that embraces the reggae classic "No Woman No Cry", the Africa-via-New Orleans gumbo of "Getcha Ya Ya", the retro Philly soul of "She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)" and more. With its second record, Londonbeat jumps ahead of such U.K. contemporaries as The Christians and Brother Beyond."[6] David Bauder from St. Petersburg Times said, "It's not hard to cringe at the thought of a disco version of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry", with sampled sounds of whales and dolphins. What's hard is making that idea work. Londonbeat pulls it off, as well as most everything else, in its impressive American debut. [...] In the Blood is a deft mix of dance and hip-hop beats that doesn't skimp on soulful melodies. Led by the hit single, "I've Been Thinking About You", this disc is brimming with clever hooks."[7]

Track listing

UK version

All tracks are written by Jimmy Chambers, George Chandler, Jimmy Helms and William Henshall, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."It's in the Blood" 4:50
2."Getcha Ya Ya" 4:33
3."She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)" 3:39
4."She Said She Loves Me" 4:15
5."Step Inside My Shoes"Chambers, Chandler, Ian Green, Helms, Henshall4:16
6."No Woman, No Cry"Vincent Ford, Bob Marley4:05
7."This Is Your Life" 2:03
8."I've Been Thinking About You" 5:17
9."A Better Love"Chambers, Chandler, Green, Helms, Henshall4:00
10."In an I Love You Mood" 4:14
11."You Love and Learn" 3:25
12."Crying in the Rain" 4:59
  • "Step Inside My Shoes" available on CD versions only. It was also the B-side of the "No Woman, No Cry" single.
  • On the LP release, track 8 begins side B.

US version

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I've Been Thinking About You" 5:17
2."A Better Love"Chambers, Chandler, Green, Helms, Henshall4:00
3."No Woman, No Cry"Ford, Marley4:05
4."It's in the Blood" 4:50
5."Getcha Ya Ya" 4:33
6."Step Inside My Shoes"Chambers, Chandler, Green, Helms, Henshall4:16
7."She Broke My Heart (in 36 Places)" 3:39
8."She Said She Loves Me" 4:15
9."This Is Your Life" 2:03
10."Crying in the Rain" 4:59
11."In an I Love You Mood" 4:14
12."You Love and Learn" 3:25

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[24] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[25] Platinum 100,000^
Germany (BVMI)[26] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[27] Gold 50,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[28] Gold 50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[29] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[30] Gold 25,000^
United States (RIAA)[31] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Personnel

Londonbeat

  • Jimmy Helms – lead vocals and backing vocals
  • Jimmy Chambers – backing vocals
  • George Chandler – backing vocals
  • William Henshall – guitars, synthesizers, drum machine and sampler
Additional personnel
  • Ian Green – synthesizers

References

  1. ^ a b In the Blood at AllMusic
  2. ^ a b Smith, Jim. "Londonbeat - In the Blood". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Londonbeat". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b Fox, Marisa (22 March 1991). "In the Blood". Entertainment Weekly.
  5. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (31 May 1991). "Londonbeat" Orlando Sentinel.
  6. ^ a b Harrison, Tom (22 April 1991). "Crafty balance of old and new" The Province.
  7. ^ a b Bauder, David (5 April 1991). "Sound Bites" St. Petersburg Times.
  8. ^ "In the Blood by Londonbeat @ ARTISTdirect.com – Shop, Listen, Download". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  9. ^ "LONDONBEAT - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  10. ^ "Londonbeat". Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  11. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 327. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  12. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Londonbeat – In The Blood". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  13. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Londonbeat – In The Blood" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Londonbeat – In The Blood" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Londonbeat – In The Blood" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  16. ^ "Charts.nz – Londonbeat – In The Blood". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  17. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Londonbeat – In The Blood". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Londonbeat – In The Blood". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Londonbeat | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Londonbeat Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1990". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  24. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1991 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Londonbeat – In the Blood". Music Canada. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Londonbeat; 'In the Blood')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Londonbeat – In the Blood" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 2 May 2022. Enter In the Blood in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1991 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  28. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 929. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  30. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('In The Bnlood')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  31. ^ "American album certifications – Londonbeat – In The Blood". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 22 July 2022.