Calling All Hearts

For the song by DJ Cassidy, see Calling All Hearts (song).

Calling All Hearts is the fourth studio album by American singer Keyshia Cole, released on December 21, 2010 in the United States by Geffen Records.^[2] Appearances on the album include Nicki Minaj, Tank, Faith Evans, Timbaland and Yvonne Cole.

Calling All Hearts
Studio album by Keyshia Cole
Released	December 21, 2010
Recorded	2009–2010
Genre	R&B[1]
Length	43:09
Label	Geffen Interscope
Producer	J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Toxic Mave (N8 Tha Maven) Song Dynasty Big WY Tweek Beats Ron Fair Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Justa Beast Big D Renan Harrigan Chink Santana Timbaland Dontae Winslow Eddie & KC Hustle
Keyshia Cole chronology
A Different Me (2008) Calling All Hearts (2010) Woman to Woman (2012)
Singles from Calling All Hearts
"I Ain't Thru" Released: December 7, 2010 "Take Me Away" Released: February 1, 2011

Background

Calling All Hearts is made of songs composed before and after Cole met her fiancé, Daniel Gibson. Cole wrote the second verse to "Last Hangover".^[3] Shortly after revealing that she was pregnant with her first child, Cole went into a short hiatus. She made her first appearance since the birth of her son at the 2010 BET Awards, performing "Airplanes" with B.o.B. In October 2010, Cole leaked an unmastered version of her single, "I Ain't Thru" to her Twitter followers in celebration of her birthday. The single was digitally mastered and then officially released. During this time, Cole shot the video for the single as well as for the promo single "Long Way Down". Cole favorited "Tired of Doing Me".^[4]

Release and promotion

Two editions of the album were composed and released on December 21, 2010—a standard and deluxe edition. The standard edition was revealed to preview on Cole's Myspace Music page on December 16, 2010.^[5] The artwork cover shows Cole wearing blue lipstick and a red heart on her upper lip.^[6][7]

To promote the album, Cole made appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Mo'Nique Show, and The Wendy Williams Show. She also made an appearance on 106 and Park on December 20 in which she did a 30-minute special performance.^[8] Cole also opened for music act R. Kelly for the second time on his 2011 summer Love Letter Tour. "So Impossible" received airplay on the urban adult contemporary radio around January 2011.^[9] Keyshia performed "Better Me" at the Revlon 'Run/Walk for Women' event.^[10]

Singles

• "I Ain't Thru" is the lead single from the album. An unmastered version of the single was released on October 15, 2010.^[11] After mastering, the official single was released for digital download and US radio on December 7, 2010. It peaked on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at #54.^[12] The music video premiered on November 23, 2010 on 106 and Park.
• "Long Way Down" was a promo single from the album. The video was shot in New York City and premiered alongside "I Ain't Thru". Although never officially sent to radio, "Long Way Down" peaked at #91 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[13]
• "Take Me Away" is the second single for the album. After being chosen as the next single from fans on Twitter, Cole sent the song to US radio on February 1, 2011.^[14] She also performed the song on Conan on January 19, 2011.^[15] The song peaked on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at #27.^[16] The music video premiered on April 18, 2011 on 106 and Park.^[17]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	66/100[18]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The New York Times	(mixed)[19]
Rolling Stone	[20]
USA Today	[21]

Calling All Hearts received mixed to positive reviews from most critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 66, based on 4 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".^[18] Allmusic editor Andy Kellman gave it a gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and commented that the album "drags in spots, due in part to an absence of a "Let It Go"-type track to break up all the introspection and pain," but it is the kind of album "for those who want to hear a moody, emotional outpouring."^[1]

Jon Pareles of The New York Times viewed that the album had a standard mix of featured artists and producers, but "after an initial bit of competitive posturing [...] the songs slip into the background. Ms. Cole sings elegantly complex vocal harmonies, but the central melody lines are shapeless. Most tempos are determinedly slow."^[19] Rolling Stone's Jonah Weiner gave it three-and-a-half out of five stars and wrote that "Cole is a heroine who thrives off tales of conflict, betrayal and survival. Her voice is as grit-flecked as ever, chewing through blaring beats and going pound-for-pound for ferocity [...] It's not all fisticuffs [...] but Cole is at her best when she's slugging."^[20] Steve Jones of USA Today gave the album three out of four stars and commented that "Her passionate vocals still pack a wallop, even though they are no longer fueled by angst".^[21]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 9 on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 128,000 copies.^[22] It also entered at number five on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number fourteen on the Digital Albums chart.^[23][24] In its second week, the album dropped to number ten on the Billboard 200 selling 36,600 copies.^[25]

Track listing

Standard edition^[26]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"I Ain't Thru" (featuring Nicki Minaj)	Keyshia Cole Russell Gonzalez Onika Maraj	The ARE Ron Fair	3:59
2.	"Long Way Down"	Cole Erik Ortiz Kevin Crowe Sly Jordan	J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League	3:59
3.	"Tired of Doing Me" (featuring Tank)	Cole M Nathaniel Qahhaar Frederick Taylor Durrell Babbs Jerry Franklin Bob Newt J. Valentine Kris Stephens	TheKidMave Toxic Ron Fair Song Dynasty	3:30
4.	"If I Fall in Love Again" (featuring Faith Evans)	Cole Wytony Dillon Mario Myers Osten Harvey Christopher Wallace Burt Bacharach Hal David	Big Wy Tweek Beats	3:29
5.	"So Impossible"	Cole James Harris III Terry Lewis Carla Carter	Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis	4:35
6.	"Sometimes"	Cole Justin Graham	Graham	3:47
7.	"Take Me Away"	Cole Teray Jones Irv Gotti	Chink Santana Gotti[A]	3:47
8.	"What You Do to Me"	Cole Santana	Santana	4:19
9.	"Last Hangover" (featuring Timbaland)	Cole Timothy Mosely Jerome Harmon Candice Nelson Tim Clayton Jim Beanz	Timbaland	4:18
10.	"Thank You" (featuring Dr. Yvonne Cole)	Cole Edmund Clement Kharon Clement	Eddie Hustle KC Hustle	3:28
11.	"Better Me"	Diane Warren	Song Dynasty Fair	3:56

Deluxe edition^[27]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"I Ain't Thru" (featuring Nicki Minaj)	Cole Gonzalez Maraj	The ARE Fair	3:59
2.	"Long Way Down"	Cole Ortiz Crowe Jordan	J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League	3:59
3.	"Tired of Doing Me" (featuring Tank)	Cole Qahhaar Taylor Babbs Franklin Newt Valentine Stephens	N8 Tha Maven Toxic Fair Song Dynasty	3:30
4.	"If I Fall in Love Again" (featuring Faith Evans)	Cole Dillon Myers Harvey Wallace Bacharach David	Big Wy Tweek Beats	3:29
5.	"So Impossible"	Cole Harris Lewis Carter	Jam Lewis	4:35
6.	"Confused in Love"	Cole Charles Harmon	Chuck Harmony	4:25
7.	"Sometimes"	Cole Justin Graham	Graham	3:47
8.	"Take Me Away"	Cole Santana Gotti	Santana Gotti[A]	3:47
9.	"What You Do to Me"	Cole Santana	Santana	4:19
10.	"Last Hangover" (featuring Timbaland)	Cole Mosely J. Harmon Nelson Clayton Beanz	Timbaland	4:18
11.	"Two Sides to Every Story"	Cole Dontae Winslow	Winslow	3:54
12.	"Where Would We"	Cole Antwan Thompson Jay Beckenstein	Thompson	3:27
13.	"Thank You" (featuring Dr. Yvonne Cole)	Cole E. Clement K. Clement	E. Hustle K. Hustle	3:28
14.	"Better Me"	Warren	Song Dynasty Fair	3:56

Notes and sample credits

• ^{^[A]} denotes co-producer
• "If I Fall in Love Again" contains samples from "Warning" by The Notorious B.I.G. "Warning" contains samples of "Walk On By" by Isaac Hayes.^[28]
• "Where Would We" contains elements of "Amber Dreams" by Spyro Gyra.

Personnel

Credits for Calling All Hearts adapted from Allmusic.^[29]

Drew Adams – assistant The ARE – producer Burt Bacharach – composer Matt Bang – engineer Jim Beanz – vocal producer Big Wy – producer Carla Carter – vocals (background) Ariel Chobaz – engineer Cary Clark – engineer Kahron Clement – assistant Deron Cole – hair stylist Keyshia Cole – A&R, executive producer, vocal producer Hal David – composer Reginald Dowdley – make-up Ron Fair – additional production, executive producer, guitar, producer, string arrangements, string conductor, vocal producer Ashley Fox – marketing Chris Galland – assistant Chris Godbey – engineer, mixing Irv Gotti – producer Alicia Graham – A&R Justin "Justa Beast" Graham – producer Bernie Grundman – mastering Manny Halley – A&R, executive producer Renan Harrigan – producer, keyboards Deshawn Hendrickson – producer, keyboards Tal Herzberg – engineer, pro-tools Ghaz Horani – assistant Buffy Hubelbank – A&R Eddie Hustle – engineer, producer KC Hustle – producer Jimmy Jam – instrumentation, producer

Tiffany Johnson – product manager Sly Jordan – vocal producer J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League – producer Chris Lecky "Lucky" – engineer Terry Lewis – producer Onika Maraj – composer Matt Marrin – mixing George McWilliams – art direction, design Peter Mokran – mixing James Musshorn – assistant TheKidMave(N8 Tha Maven) – producer David Nakaji – engineer Seanitta Parmer – stylist Dave Pensado – mixing Bill Pettaway – guitar Tresa Sanders – publicity Kam Sangha – producer Chink Santana – producer Allen Sides – engineer David Slijper – photography Song Dynasty – producer Eric Stenman – engineer Timbaland – producer Kyle Townsend – vocal producer Toxic – producer Tweek Beats – producer Van Nakari – assistant Diane Warren – composer Eric Weaver – assistant Tremaine Williams – drum programming, engineer Frank Wolf – engineer

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2010–11) Peak position South Korean International Albums (Gaon)[30] 91 South Korean International Albums (Gaon)[30] Deluxe version 64 US Billboard 200[31] 9 US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[32] 17 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[33] 5

Year-end charts Chart (2011) Position US Billboard 200[34] 96 US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums (Billboard)[35] 27

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, label, editions, catalog number and reference

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Edition(s)
United Kingdom	December 21, 2010	CD digital download	Polydor	Standard deluxe
United States			Geffen Interscope

References

1. Kellman, Andy. "Calling All Hearts". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Review. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
2. "Calling All Hearts in stores now!". Keyshiacole.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
3. Lol. Yes.RT @DavidEarlyMusic: @KeyshiaCole You wrote the 2nd verse to Last Hangover, right? Archived 2022-10-30 at the Wayback Machine
4. I love that 1 2RT @DDBreezyKnowles Archived 2022-10-30 at the Wayback Machine
5. "Calling All Hearts album premiere on Myspace!". Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
6. "Nicki Minaj's "I Ain't Thru" Gal Pal Keyshia Cole Unveils 'Calling All Hearts' Cover". November 24, 2010.
7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. "Keyshia Cole on BET Monday December 20th!". Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
9. "BDSRadio Charts". Archived from the original on January 4, 2011.
10. "Keyshia Cole Lends Voice to Revlon 'Run/Walk for Women'". May 2, 2011.
11. "New Music: Keyshia Cole f/ Nicki Minaj". Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
12. Chart History: Calling All Hearts. Billboard. Retrieved on 2011-02-03.
13. "Keyshia Cole Album & Song Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
14. "Keyshia Cole – Take Me Away Lyrics and Video". Musicloversgroup.com. January 21, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
15. "Conan Show Schedule: Upcoming Guests On "Conan" @". Teamcoco.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
16. "Keyshia Cole Music News & Info". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
17. "News : Don't miss the premiere of "Take Me Away" on 106 & Park Monday!". Keyshia Cole. April 17, 2011. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
18. "Calling All Hearts: Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
19. Pareles, Jon (December 20, 2010). "Critics' Choice: New CDs". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
20. Weiner, Jonah. Review: Calling All Hearts Archived 2016-05-05 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-12-21.
21. Jones, Steve (December 21, 2010). Review: Calling All Hearts Archived 2012-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. USA Today. Retrieved on 2010-12-22.
22. Caulfield, Keith (December 29, 2010). "Taylor Swift Gets Christmas Boost on Billboard 200, Foxx Earns Highest Debut". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
23. R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Week of January 08, 2011 Archived 2022-10-30 at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-12-30.
24. Digital Albums – Week of January 08, 2011 Archived 2015-01-10 at the Wayback Machine. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-12-30.
25. Langhorne, Cyrus. Eminem Gets A Swift Kick To No. 2, Nicki Minaj Reclaims Top 5, Drake & Kid Cudi Rage Back Onto The Chart Archived 2011-01-08 at the Wayback Machine. SOHH. Retrieved on 2011-01-05.
26. "Calling All Hearts: Keyshia Cole: Music". Amazon. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
27. "Calling All Hearts [Deluxe Edition]: Keyshia Cole: Music". Amazon. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
28. "CD Reviews | Spark missing on latest from Keyshia Cole | The Columbus Dispatch". Dispatch.com. December 21, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
29. Credits: Calling All Hearts. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-12-12.
30. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: January 9, 2011 to January 15, 2011)". Gaon Chart. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
31. "Keyshia Cole Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
32. "Keyshia Cole Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
33. "Keyshia Cole Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
34. "Billboard 200 – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
35. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2020.