Judith Hill (October 23, 2015) – Back In Time Album Retail Release: CD/Digital
Back In Time is the debut solo studio album by Judith Hill. The eleven-track collection was produced by Prince and Judith Hill, with Prince also contributing extensively as a musician and vocalist.
The album first appeared on March 23, 2015 as a free download made available for 48 hours through Prince's Live Nation email list and Judith Hill's website. The complete album was subsequently streamed through Hill's SoundCloud page before receiving its wider retail release seven months later on October 23, 2015.
Prince co-wrote four of the album's songs with Hill: As Trains Go By, Turn Up, Wild Tonight and Back In Time. He also contributed guitar, bass, drums and background vocals throughout the project.
RECORDING
Basic tracking is believed to have taken place during January and February 2015 at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Prince stated that the album was completed in approximately two or three weeks.
Beautiful Life and My People had previously been recorded by Judith Hill without Prince and appeared on the soundtrack to the 2012 film Red Hook Summer. Both songs were re-recorded with Prince for Back In Time.
The original download concluded with Back In Time represented by approximately half a second of silence. Prince related this idea to Sly And The Family Stone's There's A Riot Goin' On, whose title track was also presented as silence. For the wider retail release, the silent track was replaced by a complete studio recording of Back In Time.
STYLE & THEMES
The sessions were approached with the intention of creating an album in the spirit of Sly And The Family Stone.
With Prince contributing guitar, bass, drums and vocals, the album also incorporates keyboards, horns and strings through a large supporting group of musicians.
RELEASE HISTORY
The original version was made available as a free download for 48 hours beginning March 23, 2015.
The album was previewed for music critics at Paisley Park Studios on the night before the download became available, followed by a short live performance by Judith Hill.
A wider retail release followed on October 23, 2015.
The retail release was preceded by the digital single Cry, Cry, Cry, issued one month before the album.
The original download runs 37:30, while the wider release runs 41:14.
CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS
AMERICA
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: No. 28
Chart Entry: November 14, 2015
Weeks On Chart: 1
PERSONNEL
Judith Hill – lead vocals, background vocals
Prince – guitar, bass guitar, drums, background vocals
John Blackwell – drums
Andrew Gouché – bass
Robert Hill – bass on Angel In The Dark
Xavier Taplin – keyboards
Marcus Anderson – saxophone, flute
Adrian Crutchfield – saxophone
BK Jackson – saxophone
Lynn Grissett – trumpet
Joshua Welton – keyboards
Stringenius – strings
PRODUCTION
Produced by: Prince, Judith Hill
Arrangements: Prince, Judith Hill
Horn Arrangements: NPG Hornz
String Arrangement on Angel In The Dark: Judith Hill
Co-Production and Drum Programming on Angel In The Dark: Trooko
Assistant Recording / Co-Production / Programming: Joshua Welton
Recording Engineer: Booker T.
Assistant Recording Engineer: Tipz
Orchestra Arrangements: Mike Nelson, Stringenius
Mixing and Mastering: Joshua Welton
Photography: Randee St. Nicholas
Art Direction & Design: Annie Madison
Label: NPG Records
Recorded At: Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA
Retail Release Date: October 23, 2015
Original Free Download: March 23, 2015
Retail Running Time: 41:14
Original Download Running Time: 37:30
SONGWRITING
All tracks were written by Judith Hill except where otherwise credited.
As Trains Go By, Turn Up, Wild Tonight and Back In Time – Judith Hill and Prince
Angel In The Dark and Jammin' In The Basement – Judith Hill, Guy Tevateua Roche and Steven Diamond
Cure – Judith Hill and Stefan Skarbek
Cry, Cry, Cry – Judith Hill, Makeba Woods, Janice Combs and Kerry Brothers Jr. with Joel Whitley
NOTES
• Debut solo studio album by Judith Hill.
• Produced by Prince and Judith Hill.
• Prince performs guitar, bass guitar, drums and background vocals.
• Initially released free for 48 hours on March 23, 2015.
• Wider retail release followed on October 23, 2015.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Date | Format |
Judith Hill | Back In Time | NPG Records | USA | March 23, 2015 | Free Digital Download, 48-hour release |
Judith Hill | Back In Time | NPG Records | USA | October 23, 2015 | Retail CD / Digital |
TRACKLIST TABLE
RETAIL CD / DIGITAL | ORIGINAL DOWNLOAD |
• As Trains Go By – 4:34 • Turn Up – 3:28 • Angel In The Dark – 4:08 • Beautiful Life – 4:02 • Cure – 2:42 • Love Trip – 3:01 • My People – 2:43 • Wild Tonight – 4:18 • Cry, Cry, Cry – 5:06 • Jammin' In The Basement – 3:32 • Back In Time – 3:45 | • As Trains Go By – 4:34 • Turn Up – 3:28 • Angel In The Dark – 4:08 • Beautiful Life – 4:02 • Cure – 2:42 • Love Trip – 3:01 • My People – 2:43 • Wild Tonight – 4:18 • Cry, Cry, Cry – 5:06 • Jammin' In The Basement – 3:32 • Back In Time – 0:01 |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2, RockfilesUK.
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders.
This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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