Of the album's 16 tracks, the first eight are more of a hook for the mainstream pop and crossover R&B audience. The standout track from this first half is by far the live track from D'Angelo, "Heaven Must Be Like This." Otherwise, this portion of the soundtrack has appeal, but is at times typical of the genre and moment, lacking in substance. The depth of the soundtrack begins with a selection from Chaka Khan (track nine); "Don't Talk 2 Strangers" is also to be found on her 1998 NPG Records debut, Come 2 My House. From here on out, the music is much more listenable and impressive for its creative output than its commercial appeal.
A pleasant surprise is the track from Angelou friends and past collaborators Ashford and Simpson, whose "Uh Uh Ooh Ooh Look Out Here It Comes" is just a slice of heaven. Additionally, the seductive Tracie Spencer offering "The Rain" is lovemaking music at its best and a great reintroduction to the beloved diva. A few stumbles along the way, but overall, a very satisfying and enjoyable listening experience. ~ Jaime Ikeda, All Music Guide
Down in the Delta
12/01/1998
All Music Guide Review
Down in the Delta Track Listing
Credits of Down in the Delta
- Bill McElroy
- Mixing, Post Production
- Me'Shell Ndegéocello
- Performer
- Marcus Miller
- Arranger, Drum Programming, Producer, Keyboards, Guitar (Bass)
- Toshi Reagon
- Producer
- Max Risenhoover
- Digital Editing, Sound Design
- Antoinette Roberson
- Vocals, Vocals (Background), Choir Director
- Valerie Simpson
- Vocals, Producer
- Larry Sims
- Trumpet
- Jon Smeltz
- Engineer, Mixing
- Billy Steele
- Keyboards, Vocals
- Shawn Stockman
- Producer, Performer
- Scott Storch
- Producer, Fender Rhodes
- Craig Street
- Producer
- Andrea Wallace
- Vocals
- Stevie Wonder
- Arranger, Producer, Performer, Multi Instruments, Programming, Vocals
- Sherena Wynn
- Vocals (Background)
- Mike Zook
- Engineer
- Keb' Mo'
- Performer
- Steve Durkee
- Engineer, Assistant Engineer
- Ray Hahnfeldt
- Assistant Engineer
- Gary Hines
- Keyboards
- Jazzyfatnastees
- Performer
- Mike Tarsia
- Mixing
- Richard Nichols
- Executive Producer, Mixing
- The Roots
- Group, Producer
- Quan Howell
- Vocals
- Xavier Smith
- Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant
- Tom Tucker
- Mixing
- Fred Kervorkian
- Digital Editing
- Mike Long
- Assistant Engineer
- Ron A. Shaffer
- Engineer
- Gordon Rice
- Mixing Assistant
- Franklin Wharton
- Flute, Sax (Alto)
- Louis J. Wilson
- Sax (Tenor)
- Tim Lauber
- Assistant Engineer
- Carrie Harrington
- Vocals
- Paul Osborn
- Engineer, Assistant Engineer
- Leonard Hubbard
- Bass
- James "Big Jim" Wright
- Organ
- Harvey Mason, Jr.
- Programming, Producer, Mixing, Engineer, Multi Instruments
- Geoffrey Jones
- Vocals
- Michael McCoy
- Assistant Engineer
- Bridgette Washington
- Vocals
- Gwen Williams
- Vocals
- Sedrick Jenkins
- Vocals
- Dondra Harris
- Vocals, Choir Coordinator
- Rayvaline Harrell
- Choir Director
- Taka Honda
- Assistant Engineer
- Phreddra Evans
- Vocals
- Lynne Erickson
- Trumpet
- Ivan "St. Ives" Walker
- Engineer
- James Henderson
- Vocals
- Jeff Taylor
- Engineer, Drum Programming, Mixing
- Steve Noonan
- Engineer
- Tony Black
- Engineer
- Jim Keltner
- Drums
- Jevetta Steele
- Vocals
- Bernice Johnson Reagon
- Singer, Producer
- Darrell "Delite" Allamby
- Multi Instruments, Mixing, Producer
- Neal Avron
- Engineer, Mixing
- Ray Bardani
- Engineer
- David Barry
- Guitar
- Michael Bland
- Drums
- Lee Blaske
- String Arrangements
- Nitanju Bolade Casel
- Singer
- Randy Bowland
- Guitar, Programming, Sequencing, Producer, Arranger
- Lincoln Browder
- Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Allen Cato
- Guitar (Acoustic)
- Chaka Khan
- Producer, Performer
- Stanley Clarke
- Multi Instruments, Producer, Performer
- D'Angelo
- Performer
- Fred Dirby
- Engineer
- Curtis Dowd, Jr.
- Arranger, Programming, Sequencing, Keyboards
- Steve Fontano
- Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant
- Valerie Ghent
- Engineer, Mixing
- Brad Gilderman
- Engineer, Mixing
- Ivan Hampden
- Drums
- Evelyn Harris
- Singer
- Dan Hersch
- Mastering
- Steve Hodge
- Engineer, Mixing
- Ken Holmen
- Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute
- David Isaac
- Engineer, Sound Design, Drum Programming
- Dave Ivory
- Guitar, Engineer
- Hilary James
- Performer
- Neil Jason
- Bass
- Aisha Kahlil
- Singer
- Eddie LeVert
- Vocals, Main Performer
- Sean LeVert
- Vocals, Main Performer
- Terry Lewis
- Multi Instruments, Producer, Rhythm Arrangements, Vocal Arrangement
- Sounds of Blackness
- Performer
- Sweet Honey in the Rock
- Performer
- Ashford & Simpson
- Performer
- David Baerwald
- Assistant Engineer, Mixing Assistant
- Janet Jackson
- Vocals, Rhythm Arrangements, Vocals (Background), Producer, Vocal Arrangement
- Gerald LeVert
- Arranger, Producer, Main Performer, Vocals
- Tracie Spencer
- Performer
- Luther Vandross
- Producer, Performer, Vocal Arrangement
- Gerald Albright
- Sax (Soprano)
- Rob Mounsey
- Arranger, Mixing, Keyboards
- Ricky Peterson
- Keyboards
- Cassandra Wilson
- Performer
- Antoinette
- Performer











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