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8701
Usher
Retail Price (not our price): $13.98
Release Date: 2001-08-07
Manufacturer: La Face
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1

Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...

Disc 1

Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com
On his third studio effort (and fourth overall), 22-year-old R&B/pop star Usher Raymond makes the not-so-simple transition from post-teen heartthrob to love man. He does it with solid songs and a generous helping of charisma and vocal acumen, making this much-delayed collection a hot summer treat. Usher is aided in his musical efforts by renowned hit-makers like the Neptunes, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (who deliver soaring ballads like "Can U Help Me"), Jermaine Dupri, and new jack Edmund Clement who penned the irresistible single "U Remind Me." With catchy tracks and emotive vocals, Usher revs up his sex quotient and unleashes a winning blend of street-honed jams and passionate love songs. --Amy Linden

2) Product Description
Excellent Condition

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

1) One of the best R&B CD'S released in 2001   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Usher went from teen idol to full fledged R&B lover with his 8701 CD. The CD which featured production from The Neptunes, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and JD still gets contasnt play from me. The Neptunes produced a lot of the up-tempo numbers on the CD including I Don't Know & U Don't Have To Call while Jam & Lewis handled the smooth ballads How Do I Say and Can U Help Me which is still one of Usher's strongest vocals ever. If you can find the imported version check out the beatuiful ballad Seperated written by Daron Jones from 112.

2) "8701" = Good / "Confessions" = Better   [Rating: 3 out of 5]
Alright, my last review wasn't really that honest. Don't get me wrong...I've always respected Usher as a singer since the release of this album's single "U Remind Me", an infectious R&B/Pop gem with a simplistic beat which Usher's smooth, soulful vocals can easily groove over. Unfortunately, much of this album fails to deliver on Usher's full potential.If this album were released in 2001, I'd be all over this album, ranting about Usher's immense talent and how he has everything an entertainer needs -strong voice, sex appeal amongst the ladies, "gangsta"-like attitude amongst the fellas- to pull off everything from banging party-starters to smooth ballads to sexy slow jams to achieving a long-time career. However, the year is 2006...my musical tastes have grown with my age, he has released a multi-platinum record ("Confessions" in 2004), multiple producers have raised the bar with one hot beat after another, his competition has grown enormously larger & Christina Milian's 2006 album "So Amazin'" still doesn't sound worn out after months of constant repetition of its addictive jams. With all of this in mind, it is with great displeasure that I deem Usher's multi-platinum "8701" a disappointment.The album's main flaw lies in its production. Whether it's Jermaine Dupri's unsuitable mix of ranting and heavy guitar riffs on the emotionless "Can't Let U Go" or Diddy's combination of weak guest verses and stale assortments of bass and weak synthesizers on "I Don't Know", too much of the production sounds dated by today's standards. Lyrically, this album's isn't too startling either. While songs like the emotional guitar ballad "U Got It Bad" are enriched with classic lyrics about broken-heartedness and endlessly haunting reminiscence of a past relationship & soulful vocals from one of R&B's ultimate entertainers, there are also songs like "If I Want To" that epitomize Usher's uncharming egocentricity.Speaking of egocentricity (which, byt the way, is emphasized by the album's cover art), Usher has a serious sex fetish. Unlike almost every Hip-Hop artist, Usher has the voice and the believability to successfully make sensuous slow jams like "Twork It Out" work brilliantly. Unfortunately, there are also songs like the Latin-tinged "How Do I Say", which finds a seemingly thoughtless Usher spellbound and caught up in another woman's beauty, right before progressing through a story more predictable than the sub-standard Hollywood Blockbuster and eventually achieving a one-night stand. Despite being pleasant on the ears, I seriously question whether or not Usher really listens to what he's saying. Then there's "Good Ol' Ghetto", which really has nothing to do with the ghetto. Instead, it's a song about re-visiting an ex-girlfriend from your youth, but denying her desires for him because he's in love with someone else. As relatable as it is, does it really have anything to do with the ghetto? Essentially, no...it's just another opportunity for Usher to flaunt his sex appeal around moronic female teenyboppers and grown women dumb enough to believe Usher would ever make love to them so casually. Then again, the ghetto is a part of Hip-Hop culture, and seeing the fact that Hip-Hop's becoming increasingly generic due to the male's addiction with sex and misogyny, maybe it does have some relevance (if only a little).If you can put aside the stale beats, inconsistent lyrics, lack of thought and Usher's sex fetish fetish, there are songs like the infectious "U Don't Have To Call" & "U-Turn", the latter on celebrating party life, reminiscing on good ol' times and introducing a new dance-term/catchphrase ALL at the same time! If you can get past one of the most unoriginal beats of all time, "Pop Ya Collar" with provide some lyrical gold about being yourself and ignoring the haters. It's a good effort overall, but a major disappointment from one of R&B's biggest stars. 3 stars!5 Best Tracks:"U Got It Bad""U Remind Me""U-Turn""U Don't Have To Call""How Do I Say"

3) kind of liked it   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
I have always liked Usher but it had to take awhile for me to like this CD. At first I wasn't feeling it but after I kept playing it, it actually grew on me. This isn't your typical R&B album. It seems more of a party/have a good time CD. And you can do just that especially with songs such as "I Don't Know", "If I Want to", "I Can't Let U Go", and "U-Turn". Of course they have the signature songs that Usher is known for-(U Remind Me, U Got it Bad, and U Don't Have to Call). U Got it Bad is one of my favorites. That's a song anybody can relate to and the lyrics are awesome. I also liked:Twork it Out 4/5- a very nice songCan U Help Me 4/5 - a very nice slow song done by UsherHow Do I Say 4/5 - this song is sensual and on the romantic side, it can definately put you in the moodGood Ol' Ghetto 5/5 - it's the beat that I really liked than the lyricsIt's no doubt that Usher puts out the HITS. You can listen and have a good time with this CD. This particular album is one of his best besides "Confessions. So if you don't own this one, get it. It might not have that typical R&B sound but it is still enjoyable.

4) It Doesn't Have Soul.   [Rating: 2 out of 5]
I bought Usher's 8701 on tape long ago, and I remember liking it. Then a couple of years ago, I bought it again on cd, listened to it, and wondered why I wasted my money.Maybe it's the fact that I've grown, but this album sounds so un-soulful now. It is just lacking any spirit, sort of like an over-produced record: all studio magic, but no magic from the singer. Even the songs that are SUPPOSED to sound heartfelt, don't. The album sounds dated, not transcendent of time and era like all the albums that become classics. The songs are very forgettable, and I don't see any of them being seen as classics twenty years from now.Usher has yet to make a masterpiece.Addendum: I was a little unfair in my rating. The album deserves 3 stars, not 2. Unfortunately, I can't change it.

5) Show your love for Usher!   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Besides Justin Timberlake, I can't think of a better singer than Usher. He sings, dances, and produces: all admirably! Get this CD, and find out what you've been missing.