Hoodoo (Alison Moyet album)

Hoodoo
Studio album by Alison Moyet
Released	22 April 1991 (UK) 27 August 1991 (US)
Genre	Alternative pop
Length	47:32
Label	Columbia
Producer	Pete Glenister (tracks 1–2, 4–7, 9–11) Dave Dix (track 3) Andy Cox & David Steele (track 8)
Alison Moyet chronology
Raindancing (1987) Hoodoo (1991) Essex (1994)
Singles from Hoodoo
"It Won't Be Long" Released: 25 March 1991 "Wishing You Were Here" Released: 20 May 1991 "Hoodoo" Released: August 1991 "This House" Released: 30 September 1991

Hoodoo is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet. It was released in 1991, reached No. 11 in the UK and features the singles "It Won't Be Long", "Wishing You Were Here", "Hoodoo" and "This House".

Largely produced by Pete Glenister, the album includes contributions from Kirsty MacColl, Steve Lillywhite, Marius De Vries, and ex-Fine Young Cannibals Andy Cox and David Steele.

A deluxe edition of Hoodoo was released by BMG on 25 November 2016.^[1]

Background[]

Having recording her second studio album Raindancing while living in Los Angeles, Moyet returned to live in England after completing a world tour. Moyet's record company, CBS, wanted her to continue producing pop hits but this left the singer feeling artistically compromised and under pressure to deliver. During the period after returning to England, Moyet began a songwriting partnership with Pete Glenister, who had been Moyet's guitarist for part of the Raindancing tour. Keen to have more artistic freedom, she suggested to CBS that Glenister should produce her. Muff Winwood of the label's A&R division granted Moyet permission to record the album she wanted to. Moyet later recalled in 2007: "In making Hoodoo, we were left to our own devices and found some passion and aggression again. It is not a flawless record... but it became a road that lead to my understanding myself much better. It has some songs on it that I am very proud of and favourites, "It Won't Be Long", "This House", "Hoodoo" and chunks of "Footsteps"."^[3][4]

Hoodoo was released in the UK in April 1991 and in America in August that year. Although the album was not as commercially successful as previous efforts, Hoodoo reached No. 11 in the UK and saw moderate chart action in various European countries too.^[5] The album's lead single was "It Won't Be Long", which was released in March 1991. Despite gaining extensive airplay, the song peaked at No. 50 in the UK.^[6] The second single "Wishing You Were Here" was released in May, reaching No. 72 in the UK. In August, the title track "Hoodoo" was issued as a promotional single in America only.^[7] "This House", the album's fourth and final single, was released in September and reached No. 40 in the UK.^[5]

Following the album's mixed reception and disappointing sales, Moyet's relationship with CBS became further strained as the label began to lose interest in Moyet.^[3] Despite the decline in sales, "It Won't Be Long" received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal performance at the 35th Grammy Awards.^[8][9] Although the album did not make a chart appearance in America, it was reported by Billboard magazine in February 1994 that Hoodoo had sold 85,000 copies.^[10]

Critical reception[]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[11]
Louder Than War	[12]
Musician	favourable[13]
People	favourable [14]
Reflections of Darkness	[15]
Rolling Stone	[16]

Upon release, American magazine People commented: "Not that it would be a good career move, but Alison Moyet could probably sing an album of Bulgarian war chants and they would come out sexy and soulful. Her voice has survived both leaden disco rhythms and lame material on her first two solo albums. Hoodoo, her third, for the most part charms. Credit again goes to Moyet's amazing voice, which can get sultry and sinister on the title track and "Rise" then soar on the gospel-tinged "This House." As on previous albums, Moyet also plays disco diva—this time on the album opener, "Footsteps," and "(Meeting with My) Main Man." These songs are okay, but they obscure her voice. When she sings with minimal acoustic backing, as on "This House" or "Wishing You Were Here," she showcases her gifts best."^[14] Musician wrote: "Moyet certainly understands style— her gospel shout would be the envy of any Pentecostal choir, while her ballad voice is as naked and soulful as a Nina Simone lament. She also understands that style is meaningless without emotional content. From the anger of "Rise" to die anguish in "This House," that's what keeps this collection from turning into just another singer's showcase."^[13]

In a retrospective review of the album, Tom Demalon of AllMusic described the album as "possibly her most soulful collection yet." He added: "She hasn't lost her knack for breezy, adult pop, evident on the lilting, melodic "Wishing You Were Here" and "It Won't Be Long," but tracks like the horn-driven "Footsteps" and high-energy title song form the core of Hoodoo. With the lyrics squarely focused on relationships, Moyet is often brassy and assertive as on "Back Where I Belong." She's still more than capable of expressing heart-aching vulnerability, though, especially on the gorgeous "This House." Other highlights include a pair of gospel-flavored numbers, the jumpy "Rise" and the anthemic closer, "Find Me." It all makes Hoodoo another strong offering from the distinctive Moyet."^[11] In a 2016 review of the deluxe edition of Hoodoo, Helena Adams of the music website Reflections of Darkness commented: "Hoodoo is an intense soliloquy of the times, the battles with the record label and with her own mental health... and the feeling of desperation in the face of what cannot be controlled. Haunting lyrics, not exactly corny but sticky love pleas, all combined with tints of the era, still the reminiscent New Wave and adult Pop provide a cohesive and maybe more authentic album than the previous ventures. Hoodoo is the end of childlike pop and the beginning of what mature music might look like..."^[15]

Speaking of the 2016 deluxe edition, Attitude writer Josh Lee stated: "...on Hoodoo she went for a rawer, more aggressive sound – like Kylie's switch from pop princess to IndieKylie but with more anger and a brassier soul sound. It's a great album but it alienated many fans and displeased the record company."^[17] Gay Times writer Darren Howard wrote: "Hoodoo is now seen as a modern classic that slightly under-performed. The album went under the radar of many. It's as dark and as angry as Marc Almond at his best but still keeps a pop edge. This is the sound of someone's heart being torn apart and poured out, it has intricate melodies and poetic, dense lyrics that are a million miles away from "Invisible"."^[18]

Track listing[]

Personnel[]

Production

Chart positions[]

References[]

External links[]

• Alison Moyet's official website