Release Some Tension

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Release Some Tension
Studio album by
SWV
ReleasedJuly 29, 1997 (1997-07-29)
Recorded1996–1997
Genre
Length53:15
LabelRCA
Producer
SWV chronology
New Beginning
(1996) 		Release Some Tension
(1997) 		A Special Christmas
(1997)
Singles from Release Some Tension
  1. "Can We"
    Released: February 11, 1997
  2. "Someone"
    Released: June 24, 1997
  3. "Lose My Cool"
    Released: September 16, 1997
  4. "Rain"
    Released: February 24, 1998

Release Some Tension is the third studio album by American R&B vocal group SWV. It was released by RCA Records on July 29, 1997. The album guest appearances by E-40, Puff Daddy, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Foxy Brown, Lil' Cease, Lil' Kim, Snoop Dogg and Redman. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments exceeding 500,000 copies in the United States.[4]

The album features hits like "Rain", "Someone", and "Can We". Another single "Lose My Cool" was slated to be released as the album's third single but due to limited radio airplay it was shelved in favor of "Rain" which became one of their most notable hits. The second single "Someone" reached number 19 on the Billboard charts and was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies.[5][6] The girls and others claimed that this album was rushed and recording began while they were still promoting their second album New Beginning (1996).

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[2]
The Guardian[7]
Music Week[8]
Rolling Stone[9]

AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found that "with their third album, SWV attempt to break away from the slick urban straitjacket and return to their hip-hop roots. In order to achieve their goal, the group hired a head-spinning array of producers and collaborators [...] Considering all the extra starpower, it's not all that surprising that SWV occasionally become overwhelmed by their guests, but that doesn't prevent Release Some Tension from being a solid album, particularly when it's propelled by funky singles [...]."[3]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Someone" (featuring Puff Daddy)
  • J Dub
  • Combs
4:05
2."Release Some Tension" (featuring Foxy Brown)
  • Wiggins
  • Daniels (co.)
4:05
3."Lose My Cool" (featuring Redman)
Pendleton4:38
4."Love Like This" (featuring Lil' Cease)
Taylor3:46
5."Can We" (featuring Missy Elliott)
Timbaland4:51
6."Rain"
Morgan4:25
7."Give It Up" (featuring Lil' Kim)
  • D-Dot
  • Lanz "Wet" Mitchell
4:41
8."Come and Get Some" (featuring E-40)
Kinchen4:23
9."When U Cry"
  • Darryl Ellis
  • Paul Richmond
  • Ruben Locke Jr.
  • Patricia Deige Muldrow
  • Kevin Perez
  • Tony Pérez
  • K. Perez
  • T. Perez
4:31
10."Lose Myself"
  • Farrar
  • Dawn Beckman
  • Taylor
Taylor4:38
11."Here For You"
Taylor4:53
12."Gettin' Funky" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
  • Kinchen
  • Evans
4:19

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Gold 50,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[21] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[22] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Miles Marshall Lewis (1997). Vibe - SWV 'Release Some Tension'. Vibe Media Group. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Tyehimba, Cheo (August 16, 1997). "Release Some Tension Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2009-04-21. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Stephen Thomas Erlewine. Release Some Tension at AllMusic. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  4. ^ "American certifications – S.W.V. – Release Some Tension". Recording Industry Association of America.
  5. ^ "American certifications – S.W.V. – Someone". Recording Industry Association of America.
  6. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 5. BPI Communications Inc. January 31, 1998. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  7. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (August 8, 1997). "Music: This week's pop CD releases". The Guardian.
  8. ^ "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. July 26, 1997. p. 27. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Stovall, Natasha (October 16, 1997). "SWV: Release Some Tension : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 9, 2013.[dead link]
  10. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 3307". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  11. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – SWV – Release Some Tension" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 36. September 6, 1997. p. 13. Retrieved April 16, 2023 – via World Radio History.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – SWV – Release Some Tension" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  14. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – SWV – Release Some Tension". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  15. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  16. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  17. ^ "SWV Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  18. ^ "SWV Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  19. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  20. ^ "Canadian album certifications – SWV – Release Some Tension". Music Canada. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  21. ^ "Japanese album certifications – SWV – Release Some Tension" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 1997年09月 on the drop-down menu
  22. ^ "American album certifications – S.W.V. – Release Some Tension". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 20, 2019.

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