Perfectly Imperfect

Perfectly Imperfect is the first album by American singer-songwriter Elle Varner. It was released on August 7, 2012 by RCA Records. Songwriters and producers on the album include Jermaine Lamar Cole, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, Frankie Storm and Darrhyl Camper.

Perfectly Imperfect
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 7, 2012
Recorded2011–12
GenreR&B, pop, neo soul, quiet storm
LabelRCA
ProducerGabrielle Varner (exec.) Jimmy Varner (co-exec.), Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Warren "Oak" Felder, DJ Camper, The Chess Klub, The Varners, Robert "Flippa" Colson, Al "Shux" Shuckburgh, The Star Island Group
Elle Varner chronology
Conversational Lush
(2012)
''Perfectly Imperfect''
(2012)
Singles from Perfectly Imperfect
  1. "Only Wanna Give It to You"
    Released: August 16, 2011
  2. "Refill"
    Released: January 31, 2012
  3. "I Don't Care"
    Released: July 16, 2012

Promotion

On January 23, 2012, Varner released a mixtape, titled Conversational Lush as part of a promotion for the album.[1] The mixtape was released after the first single of the album, "Only Wanna Give It to You". The mixtape includes 13 tracks, and production from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Bei Maejor, Andrew "Pop" Wansel and Warren "Oak" Felderand.[2]

Singles

There have been three singles to have been released. The lead single "Only Wanna Give It to You" was released on August 16, 2011. It features American rapper J. Cole. It got to number 20 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second single "Refill" was released on January 31, 2012. It got to number 10 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "I Don't Care" was released on July 16, 2012, the third single. It got to number 80 on the same chart.

Reviews

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [3]

Allmusic compared the album to the debuts of American singer Chrisette Michele and Jazmine Sullivan. Allmusic gave a positive review saying "Perfectly Imperfect sounds like the assured work of a singer and songwriter -- one who co-composes and co-produces her material -- who is on her third or fourth album." They also liked Varner's vocals.[3]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Only Wanna Give It to You" (featuring J. Cole)Elle Varner, Jermaine Lamar Cole, Warren "Oak" Felder, Frankie Storm, Andrew "Pop" Wansel, Marcel Hall, Marlon WilliamsOak & Pop 3:57
2. "Refill"  Elle Varner, Andrew Wansel & Darhyl CamperPop, DJ Camper 4:00
3. "Sound Proof Room"  Elle Varner, Adrien Baker, Andrew Wansel, Roy Morgan & Warren FelderOak & Pop 3:07
4. "I Don't Care"  Elle Varner, Andrew Wansel, Claydes Smith, Dennis Thomas, Donna Johnson, George Brown, Robert Bell, Robert Mickens, Ronald Bell & Warren FelderOak & Pop 3:06
5. "Not Tonight"  Elle Varner, Andrew Wansel, Jimmy Varner & Warren FelderOak & Pop, J. Varner 4:56
6. "Leaf"  Elle Varner, Andrew Wansel, Donald Meadows, Tanisha Broadwater & Warren FelderOak & Pop 3:17
7. "Oh What a Night"  Elle Varner & Al ShuckburghAl "Shux" Shuckburgh 3:20
8. "Stop The Clock"  Elle Varner, Andrew Wansel, Dexter Wansel, Donald Meadows, Tanisha BroadwaterPop 4:05
9. "Welcome Home"  Elle Varner, Jimmy VarnerJ. Varner & E. Varner 4:09
10. "Damn Good Friends"  Elle Varner & Jimmy VarnerJ. Varner & E. Varner 3:59
11. "So Fly"  Elle Varner, Allan Fox, Andrew Wansel & Warren FelderOak & Pop 3:37
Total length:
41:33

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak position
US Billboard 200[4] 4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[5] 2
US Digital Albums[6] 4

Personnel

Credits for Perfectly Imperfect:[7]

  • Conley Abrams - Engineer
  • Chuck Amo - Hair Stylist
  • Adrien Baker - Composer
  • Leonhard Bartussek - Cello
  • Robert Bell - Composer
  • Ronald Bell - Composer
  • Tanisha Broadwater - Composer, Production Coordination
  • George Brown - Composer
  • Jeff Byrd - Percussion
  • James Cage - Trumpet
  • Darhyl Camper - Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
  • Charles Parker, Jr. - Violin
  • Chess Club - Producer
  • Jermaine Cole - Composer, Featured Artist
  • Ronald "Flippa" - Colson Programming
  • Nina Cottman - Violin
  • Carl Cox, Jr. - Flute, Sax (Tenor)
  • Kenneth Crouch - Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Strings
  • Dru DeCaro - Guitar
  • Peter Edge - Producer
  • Alex Evans - Bass
  • Warren "Oak" Felder - Associate Producer, Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
  • Dave Foreman - Guitar
  • Allan Fox - Composer
  • Chris Galland - Mixing Assistant
  • Thiannar Gomes - Guitar
  • Erwin Gorostiza - Creative Director
  • Marcel Hall - Composer
  • Frances Hathaway - Make-Up
  • Donna Johnson - Composer
  • Olga Konopelsky - Violin
  • Emma Kummrow - Violin
  • Gene Lake - Drums
  • Nayan Lassiter - Bass
  • Kristin Lum - Art Direction, Design
  • Erik Madrid - Mixing Assistant
  • Jonathan Maron - Bass
  • Manny Marroquin - Mixing

  • Donald Meadows - Composer
  • Donnie Meadows - Production Coordination
  • Melanie Daniels - Vocals (Background)
  • Robert "Spike" Mickens -Composer
  • Roy Morgan - Composer
  • Steve Mostyn - Bass, Guitar, Omnichord
  • RCA - Record Label
  • Ramon Rivas - Assistant Engineer
  • Jeff Robinson - Producer
  • Mikelyn Roderick - Vocals (Background)
  • Queen Rose - Violin
  • Karen Anna Schubert - French Horn
  • Al Shuckburgh - Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
  • Stan Slotter - Trumpet
  • Claydes Smith - Composer
  • Adonis Sutherlin - A&R
  • Robert Taylor - Musician
  • Gregory Teperman - Violin
  • Dennis Thomas - Composer
  • Robert Thomas - Musician
  • Stephen Tirpak - Trombone
  • Miki Tsutsumi - Assistant Engineer, Engineer
  • Elle Varner - Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Lyricist, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals (Background)
  • Jimmy Varner - Bass, Composer, Keyboards, Piano, Producer, Vocal Producer
  • The Varners - Vocal Arrangement, Vocal Producer, Vocal Recording
  • Wouri Vice - Stylist
  • John Emmet Walsh - Trumpet
  • Andrew Wansel - Associate Producer, Composer, Instrumentation, Producer
  • Dexter Wansel - Composer, Horn Arrangements, Horn Conductor, Producer, String Arrangements, String Conductor
  • Mark Ward - Cello
  • Stuart White - Engineer
  • Marlon Williams - Composer
  • Suzette Williams - A&R, Producer
  • Dave Wood - Guitar (Acoustic)
  • Yohimbe - Guitar
  • Naomi Yusada - Make-Up

References

  1. "New Music: Elle Varner – 'Conversational Lush' [Mixtape]". Rap-Up.
  2. Conversational Lush (Media notes). RCA Records. 2012. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Perfectly Imperfect - Elle Varner - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  4. "Elle Varner Album & Chart History". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  5. "Elle Varner Album & Chart History". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media). http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/elle-varner/chart-history/1757247?f=333&g=Albums. Retrieved September 27, 2012. 
  6. "Elle Varner Album & Chart History". Billboard.com. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  7. "Perfectly Imperfect - Elle Varner - Release Credits". AllMusic.

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