Whisper a Prayer is the third studio album by British singer-songwriter Mica Paris. It was released on 8 June 1993 by 4th & B'way Records, her last for the label. Recording sessions for the album commenced in the spring of 1992 and concluded the following spring with Paris co-writing four of the twelve songs and producing one. Whisper a Prayer features writing and production from Narada Michael Walden, Rod Temperton and Terry Britten all of whom were top record producers at the time.
The album has received acclaim from critics who complimented the quality of the writing and production in addition to Paris' voice and delivery of the songs. The album was a moderate commercial success, bettering its predecessor Contribution on the UK Albums Chart, debuting at number 20. It was less successful in the US where it peaked at ninety-nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
The Rod Temperton composition, "You Put a Move on My Heart", was covered and released by American recording artist Tamia and record producer Quincy Jones in 1995.[7] Their version became a top 20 hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[8][9]
Background
Narada Michael Walden (pictured) co-wrote and produced several songs on Whisper a Prayer.
Following Paris' BPI platinum-certified debut album, So Good[10] and Silver-certified second, Contribution,[11] Paris became a mother, pushing back the recording of her third album by two years. In Billboard, Larry Flick explained 'her pregnancy provided some of the creative focus needed to formulate what appears to be her long-desired commercial breakthrough.' In the same article, Paris is quoted:[12]
"I think if you listened to my last album ['Contribution'], you will detect a little confusion, which was how I felt about my life and career, actually [...] There was so much mayhem; so much tugging and pulling. But there was something in the experience of having my daughter, and in being free to take the time to truly consider where my life was heading. It was so positive. It gave me the clarity to decide on the kind of album I wanted to make"[12]
Flick noted that the inclusion of 'pop/urban hit machine' Narada Michael Walden, who wrote produced and co-wrote several songs with Paris, including the single "I Wanna Hold Onto You", may be viewed as 'commercially calculated' by 'diehard fans of the more dense jazz/dance tone of Paris' past efforts.' Paris asserted that the pair had a spiritual bond which made their collaboration work, saying, "Narada and I found a common ground to vibe on. He's taught me so much about the craft of making music." Walden expressed, "It was important that this album had some of the hard, soulful grit of my other records, but it also needed a clean quality that's accessible to a lot of people".[12]
Whisper a Prayer has received general acclaim from critics. In a contemporary review by Entertainment Weekly, James Earl Hardy expressed, 'Mica Paris finally lives up to the sensation her debut single' and that 'Her breathy alto is equally as classy and confident with pop ("I Never Felt Like This Before") as it is with hip-hop soul ("You Got a Special Way") and sexy R&B ballads ("You Put a Move on My Heart")'.[27]AllMusic editor, Andrew Hamilton listed "Positivity" and "Can't Seem to Make Up My Mind", both co-written by Paris, as "favorites", adding that "her original version of "You Put a Move on My Heart" sounds better than Tamia's version" featured on Quincy Jones' Jook Joint album. Hamilton also praised Paris' vocal performances, writing "she delivers these songs in her smooth, jazz- and blues-influenced, intense but relaxed style". In addition to this, Hamilton expressed that Paris "is the most exciting female vocalist to come along in some time" but noted that "unlike her first LP, which scored a minor R&B hit with "My One Temptation", none of these excellent songs made much of an impact".[26]
In a retrospective review, BBC Music editor Daryl Easlea described Paris as "one of the UK’s greatest soul divas" and wrote that "working with what only could be deemed a stellar cast [...] Island looked at Whisper a Prayer as being Paris’ true breakthrough album". Easlea described the album as "a remarkable pedigree" thanks in part to "backing singers like Siedah Garrett, producers including Narada Michael Walden and Rod Temperton, and writers such as Graham Lyle on board". Easlea described "I Bless the Day" as "sweet and light, floating along with Paris’ emotive voice at once commanding and sensitive" and the "Drizabone-mixed swingbeat of Two in a Million" as "spry and sugary". However, Easlea wrote that "the only thing that lets the Whisper a Prayer down is its instrumentation". Using "You Put a Move on My Heart" as one such an example he wrote, "a song as beautiful and passionately delivered [...] you long for it being recorded at a different time, not with Paris in front of a keyboard with an orchestra setting button and a drum machine". He also noted the "90s contraptions [...] present and correct on the album’s opener, I Never Felt This Way Before", writing that "it may be ultra-smooth but the overall effect is like a cut-price version of a cut from Anita Baker's Rapture". In closing however, Easlea expressed 'Whisper a Prayer is one of the shining beacons of 90s UK soul'.[28]
Andrew Hamilton also reviewed "You Put a Move on My Heart" favorably, writing "Mica Paris' original rendition of Rod Temperton's ballad supreme[...]shames Tamia's more successful rendition". Though he noted that the sales of Whisper a Prayer "pale in comparison" to Q's Jook Joint – on which Tamia's cover is featured – he wrote that "Paris' glorious tone, however, never pales; it glows like a warm fire as the devastating British woman squeezes the last drop of soul from the lyrics."[7]
Commercial reception
Whisper a Prayer debuted and peaked at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart making it her second top 20 appearance on the chart. In its second week the album dropped one place to 21 and 30 in its third before making its last appearance on the chart at number 61 in its fourth week.[29] By August 1993, the album had sold 15,000 copies in the UK, but was her best selling album in the US[30] where it peaked at 99 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart — making it Paris' last album to appear on any Billboard chart.[31]
Four singles were released from Whisper a Prayer, the first being the Narada Michael Walden production "I Never Felt Like This Before", written by Walden and Sally Jo Dakota. "I Never Felt Like This Before" debuted at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart, rising and peaking at number 15 in its second week, becoming Paris' third and last top twenty appearance on the chart after 1989's "Where is the Love" with Will Downing.[32]
Walden also produced the second single, "I Wanna Hold on to You", which debuted and peaked at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart whilst in the US, it peaked at 46 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[33][34] A music video for "I Wanna Hold on to You" was directed by Matthew Rolston.[12] Third and fourth singles "Two in a Million" and title track "Whisper a Prayer" were minor successes in the UK peaking at 51 and 65 respectively.[35][36] "Whisper a Prayer" was also Paris' last charting single in the US, debuting and peaking at 22 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on October 23, 1993.[37] "I Wanna Hold on to You" was sampled by 2Pac on "Nothing to Lose", posthumously released on the album R U Still Down? (Remember Me).[38]
