Return of the Mack (album)

Not to be confused with Return of the Mac.

Return of the Mack is the debut studio album by English singer-songwriter Mark Morrison. It was first released through his Mack Life Records imprint in the United Kingdom and then released by Atlantic Records in the United States, with distribution via Warner Music Group on 22 April 1996. The album includes a well-known popular song "Return of the Mack", which stayed for a remarkable 41 weeks on the US Billboard charts. Upon its release, Return of the Mack received mixed reviews from music critics, who praised Morrison's strong voice and entertaining songs, but described the album as having weak production. The album stayed for 38 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, where it debuted and peaked at number 4, and became a certified platinum by British Phonographic Industry (BPI).^[2] On the US Billboard 200, the album reached a peak of a number 76.^[3] The album has since sold over three million copies worldwide.^[4]

Return of the Mack
Studio album by Mark Morrison
Released	22 April 1996 (1996-04-22)
Recorded	1995–1996
Genre	R&B[1]
Length	48:49
Label	Mack Life Atlantic Warner
Producer	Mark Morrison Phil Chill Cutfather Joe Brockpocket for CBL
Mark Morrison chronology
Return of the Mack (1996) Only God Can Judge Me (1997)
Singles from Return of the Mack
"Crazy" Released: 7 April 1995 "Let's Get Down" Released: 20 September 1995 "Return of the Mack" Released: 18 March 1996 "Crazy (Remix)" Released: 16 July 1996 "Trippin'" Released: 17 October 1996 "Horny" Released: 19 December 1996 "Moan and Groan" Released: 5 March 1997

The album made Morrison the first artist in British pop history to have five top ten singles from a debut album to chart on the UK singles chart. These singles included "Let's Get Down", "Return of the Mack", "Crazy (Remix)", "Trippin'", "Horny" and "Moan and Groan". The first single "Crazy" became a top twenty hit in the United Kingdom, a remix was also released, which peaked at number 6 in the United Kingdom. The single, "Return of the Mack" has become an international hit for spending two weeks at number one on the UK singles chart, and one week at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was listed at number 8 on the Billboard 200 year-end chart for 1997 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Morrison became the first black male solo artist to reach number one on the UK singles chart in the 1990s.^[5] In 1997, he received four Brit Awards nominations, a Mercury Prize nomination, a MTV's Europe Music Awards nomination, and five Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO) nominations. He would win the Best R&B song in the 1996's MOBO Awards for "Return of the Mack".^[6]

Background

The album was released on 22 April 1996 (1996-04-22) through his own record label, Mack Life Records. The album was largely self-produced by Morrison, and was recorded over a two-year period. The album's release was preceded by the release of three singles.

Release and promotion

At the 1997 Brit Awards held on 24 February 1997, he performed "Return of the Mack".

Singles

The debut song "Crazy" became a top 20 hit in the UK. It was later featured in the 1997 film Speed 2: Cruise Control and appeared on the film's soundtrack album. The second single was "Let's Get Down".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B[7]
The Guardian	[8]

Return of the Mack received mixed reviews from music critics. Entertainment Weekly writer Matt Diehl wrote "its title, "Return of the Mack" sounds like another rap tale of gangsta paradise; instead, Mark Morrison comes off more like a funked-up Seal, promising revenge to a deceitful lover in a warbly croon." He goes onto add, "the end result is an odd but infectious new-jack-swing variation on Hey Joe, buoyed by bubbly beats and the insistent title refrain."

Track listing

Standard edition

No.	Title	Music	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Home Part 1 (Interlude)"	Billy Moss	Mark Morrison, Phil Chill	1:08
2.	"Crazy" (featuring Angie Brown and Daddy Wattsie)	Jim Abbiss	Mark Morrison, Phil Chill, Mykaell Riley	3:41
3.	"Let's Get Down" (featuring Lady Juice, Yvonne J. Lewis, Darae, George Hammond Hagan and John Hammond Hagan)	Marcellus Fernandes	Brockpocket for CBL	3:53
4.	"Get High with Me" (featuring Imaani)	R. Herrington, Mark Taylor, Phil Chill	Mark Taylor, Phil Chill	3:58
5.	"Moan and Groan" (featuring Bev Skeete)	Phil Bodger, Billy Moss, Don E	Phil Chill	5:27
6.	"Return of the Mack" (C&J Street Mix) (featuring Angie Brown)	R. Herrington, Phil Chill, Al Christie, Mike McEvoy	Phil Chill, Mark Morrison, Cutfather, Joe	3:45
7.	"I Like" (featuring Yvonne J. Lewis, Darae, George Hammond Hagan & John Hammond Hagan)	Marcellus Fernandes	Brockpocket for CBL	3:49
8.	"Trippin'" (featuring Bev Skeete and Darae)	Billy Moss, Phil Chill, Don E	Mark Morrison, Phil Chill	4:45
9.	"Tears for You" (featuring Imaani and Mica Paris)	Phil Bodger, Phil Chill, Mike McEvoy	Mark Morrison, Phil Chill,	4:43
10.	"Horny" (featuring K–La)	Mike McEvoy, Phil Chill, Jim Abbiss	Mark Morrison, Phil Chill	2:59
11.	"I Really Love You" (featuring Imaani)	Phil Bodger, Phil Chill	Mark Morrison, Phil Chill	4:06
12.	"Crazy" (D-Influence Mix)		D-Influence, Mark Morrison, Phil Chill, Mykaell Riley	4:21
13.	"Home Part 2 (Interlude)"	Billy Moss	Mark Morrison, Phil Chill	1:16

US version

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Crazy" (D-Influence Mix)
2.	"Let's Get Down" (D-Influence Mix)
3.	"Get High with Me"
4.	"Moan and Groan" (C&J Extended Mix)
5.	"Return of the Mack" (C&J X-Tended Radio Edit)
6.	"I Like" (D-Influence Mix)
7.	"Trippin'" (C&J Mix)
8.	"Horny" (C&J Extended Mix)
9.	"Tears for You"
10.	"Candy"
11.	"Return of the Mack" (Da Beatminerz Remix)
12.	"Crazy" (Phil Chill Radio Edit)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Return of the Mack Chart (1996–1997) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[9] 24 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[10] 22 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11] 23 French Albums (SNEP)[12] 44 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[13] 27 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 29 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 5 UK Albums (OCC)[16] 4 US Billboard 200[3] 76 US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] 30

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Return of the Mack Chart (1996) Position UK Albums (OCC)[18] 80

Certifications

Certifications for Return of the Mack

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[19]	Gold	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20]	Gold	100,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for Return of the Mack

Region	Date	Label(s)	Format
United Kingdom	22 April 1996	Mack Life, Warner Music Group	CD, cassette, vinyl
United States	22 March 1997

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Warner: Return of the Mack > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
2. "Official Charts Company – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack". archive.li. 30 July 2012.
3. "Billboard 200 Chart: May 31, 1997". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
4. Stassen, Murray (26 March 2021). "Primary Wave buys majority stake in publishing catalog of Mark Morrison in 'multi-million dollar deal'". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
5. "'Return of the Mack' Hitmaker Mark Morrison Readies Third Album – Singersroom.com". singersroom.com. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
6. "The Mobo Awards – everyHit.com". everyhit.com. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
7. ""Return of the Mack"". Entertainment Weekly. 18 April 1997. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
8. Sullivan, Caroline (26 April 1996). "Music: This week's Pop CD releases. The Guardian.
9. "Australiancharts.com – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
10. "Austriancharts.at – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
11. "Dutchcharts.nl – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
12. "Lescharts.com – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
13. "Offiziellecharts.de – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
14. "Swedishcharts.com – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
15. "Swisscharts.com – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
16. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
17. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart: May 3, 1997". Billboard. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
18. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
19. "Canadian album certifications – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack". Music Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
20. "British album certifications – Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 May 2021.