Open Letter (Case album)

Open Letter is the third studio album R&B singer Case. It features the Tim & Bob produced "Missing You", which was his only number one hit to date. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[1] This is Case's last album on Def Jam Recordings. "Missing You" earned Case a nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 44th Grammy Awards in 2002.

Open Letter
Studio album by
Case
ReleasedApril 24, 2001 (USA)
Recorded1999–2001
GenreR&B
Length60:00
LabelDef Jam
ProducerTim & Bob, Redhead, Ray Watkins, Arvel McClinton III, Shep Crawford, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Case chronology
Personal Conversation
(1999)		 Open Letter
(2001)		 The Rose Experience
(2009)
Singles from Open Letter
  1. "Missing You"
    Released: February 20, 2001
  2. "Not Your Friend"
    Released: 2001

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Blender[3]
Vibe[4]

Vibe contributor David Thigpen gave note of the "earthier, more robust brand of R&B" that Case performs throughout the record, saying his songwriting resembles the "strong melodies and complex, rich arrangements" of R. Kelly and found tracks like "Love of My Life" and "Shine" containing influences of "late '70s Stevie Wonder-style soul." He concluded that, "Case is no dusty retro-soulstar, though. Draped in old-school rhythms, his earnestly romantic messages still sound fresh."[4] Neil Drumming of Blender said that Case lacked conviction in delivering sexual lyrics but that the overall vibe of the songs help mask it, concluding that "Fortunately, the romance here outweighs the horizontal hula roughly five to one. So there is a place for Case — just not in the bedroom."[3] Jon Azpiri of AllMusic criticized the album for containing generic R&B compositions and Case for lacking emotion in his performance, concluding that "For his third album, Case fails to create even one original moment; perhaps this Open Letter should have never been written."[2]

Track listing

[5]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Missing You"Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson, Joe Thomas4:45
2."Shine"Case Woodard, David Guppy4:33
3."A Song for Skye"Woodard, Ray Watkins6:13
4."Not Your Friend"Woodard, Kelley, Robinson4:34
5."Driving"Eric Roberson, Watkins4:35
6."Sex Games"Woodard, Kelley, Robinson4:34
7."Conversate"Woodard, Kelley, Robinson4:28
8."Love of My Life"Woodard, Guppy, Roberson4:18
9."Wishful Thinking"Woodard, Guppy, Roberson3:33
10."Crooked Letter"Tonee MccClinton, Karylton Clanton3:36
11."Already Have"Woodard, Shep Crawford, Eritza Laues4:45
12."No Regrets"James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Woodard5:31
13."Even Though"Woodard, Kelley, Robinson4:27

Personnel

[6]

  • Keyboards and Drum Programming: Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson, Ray Watkins, Redhead, Shep Crawford, Arvel McClinton, Harold Edgar
  • Bass: Daryl Edgar
  • Guitar: Steve Estiverne, Andeas Panagapolous
  • Background vocals: Case, Gromyko Collins, David Guppy, Eric Roberson, Larry "Jazz" Anthony, Eritza Laues, Shep Crawford, Montell Jordan, Charlie Wilson
  • Recording engineer: Jan Fairchild, Giz, Mike T., Stephen George, Andy Heller, Eddie Hudson, Annie Catalino
  • Mixing: Jan Fairchild, Serban Ghenea, Stephen George, Jan Fairchild
  • Executive producer: Case, JoJo "Bangs" Brim, Kevin Liles
  • Art direction & design: Akisia Grigsby

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[1] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References
  1. "American album certifications – Case – Open Letter". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  2. Azpiri, Jon. "Open Letter - Case". AllMusic. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  3. Drumming, Neil. "Case - Open Letter". Blender. Alpha Media Group. Archived from the original on October 13, 2001. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  4. Thigpen, David (May 2001). "Case 'Open Letter'". Vibe. Vibe Media. 9 (5): 161-62. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  5. "Case - Open Letter". tracklisting. amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  6. "Case - Open Letter". album credits. allmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
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