| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[2] |
| People | (favorable)[3] |
| Plugged In | (unfavorable)[4] |
| Rolling Stone |  [5] |
Vitamin C is the self-titled debut studio album by pop singer Vitamin C, released in 1999. The album was a runaway success. Initially failing to chart, it later climbed the Billboard 200 to number 29[6] and was certified as Gold and later certified Platinum by the RIAA.[7] The Japanese edition featured the song "The Only One" as a bonus track.
The album spawned two hits, the Gold-selling top 20 hit "Smile"[8] and the Top 40 hit "Graduation (Friends Forever)". The album features guest appearances by Lady Saw, Count Bass D, and Waymon Boone. On the track "Fear of Flying" Vitamin C samples The Clash's "The Magnificent Seven".[9]
Critical reception
The album elicited generally positive reviews from music critics upon its release. Tom Demalon, writing for AllMusic, gave the album four stars and likewise praised her range, adding that "there is no shortage of hooks" on the album and concluding that "there's not a weak track on this stellar record."[1] Entertainment Weekly gave the album an "A-" and called that the album "the unabashedly great pop album the Spice Girls might have made (but never quite did)."[2]
However, some critics were less favorable in their assessments of the album. Rolling Stone's Neva Chonin awarded the album two and a half stars, praising the album's stylistic range but criticizing its production, which she felt "makes it difficult to tell where the cut-and-paste production ends and Vitamin C begins."[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Smile" (featuring Lady Saw) |
| 3:58 |
| 2. | "Turn Me On" |
| 3:47 |
| 3. | "Me, Myself and I" |
| 3:57 |
| 4. | "Unhappy Anniversary" |
| 3:56 |
| 5. | "Not That Kind of Girl" |
| 3:27 |
| 6. | "Do What You Want to Do" |
| 3:21 |
| 7. | "Girls Against Boys" (featuring Count Bass D) |
| 4:16 |
| 8. | "I Got You" | Neil Finn | 4:01 |
| 9. | "Money" (featuring Waymon Boone) |
| 3:47 |
| 10. | "About Last Night" |
| 4:01 |
| 11. | "Fear of Flying" |
| 3:16 |
| 12. | "Graduation (Friends Forever)" |
| 5:40 |
| Total length: | 47:27 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Graduation (Friends Forever)" (Student Interview Mix) (hidden track) | 5:40 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 13. | "The Only One" | 2:52 |
Personnel
- Vitamin C – vocals, composition, backing vocals
- Ada Dyer – backing vocals (3, 6, 9, 12)
- Sean Altman – backing vocals (4)
- Vaneese Thomas – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12)
- David Rainger – guitar (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10)
- Fred Maher – guitar (5, 8)
- Josh Deutsch – guitar (1), production
- Michael Kotch – guitar (5)
- David Rainger – bass (9, 10)
- Melvin Gibbs – bass (3, 4, 6, 12)
- Alan Friedman – keyboards (3)
- Fred Maher – keyboards (5, 8)
- Garry Hughes – keyboards (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12)
- Ashley Horne – viola (12)
- Denise Stillwell – viola (12)
- Jill Jaffe – viola (12)
- Joel Rudin – viola (12)
- Mark Wood – viola (12)
- Martha Mooke – viola (12)
- Ron Lawrence – viola (12)
- Sally Shumway – viola (12)
- Sandy Robbins – viola (12)
- Gregor Kitzis – violin (12)
- Laura Seaton – violin (12)
- Mary Rowell – violin (12)
- Paul Woodiel – violin (12)
- Dan Barrett – cello (12)
- Mary Wooten – cello (12)
- Matt Goeke – cello (12)
- Jonas Tauber – cello (12)
- Suzie Katayama – cello (8)
Charts
References
- ^ a b "Vitamin C - Vitamin C - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ a b "Vitamin C". Ew.com. August 30, 1999. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ "Picks and Pans Main: Song – Vol. 52 No. 12". People.com. September 27, 1999. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ "Plugged In review". Puggedin.com. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ a b "Vitamin C: Vitamin C : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. August 21, 2007. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ "Vitamin C Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ "Vitamin C Gold single for "Smile" as certified by the RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
- ^ "Vitamin C Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
- ^ "Vitamin C Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2020.