Maxwell 2009 in Photos Slideshow

J A N U A R Y – M A R C H  | We twiddled our thumbs and squeezed our big toes wondering, is it gonna be this year…will the album be released this year? Yup, seems so. Also, SMILE (Alchemist featuring Maxwell & Twista) was leaked on the internet (January 2009).

A P R I L | The jump-off month when the music lovers got to really get involved. BLACKsummers’night press conference was held in New York City. Maxwell appeared on 106 and Park to promote the release of PRETTY WINGS and premiere the music video. Fans across the world sighed in unison, “Finally he is back and there is more to come.” (April 2009)

M A Y | Maxwell appeared on the Tavis Smiley Show (PBS) speaking about his long absence. (May 2009)

J U N E | The artist graced several magazine covers including UPTOWN, JET, BILLBOARD and so on. BAD HABITS single was released. Maxwell performed Pretty Wings in dedication to the memory of Michael Jackson. And the SUMMER ’09 tour began. (June 2009)

J U L Y | A golden month! Maxwell performed at the 2009 Essence Music Festival. BLACKsummers’night CD was released including a DVD (5DaysofBLACK). Maxwell appeared on 106 and park again as well as appearing on several different popular (The Early Show, Good Morning America, David Lettman) network television programs in the U.S. He also performed several free concerts, one of which was sponsored by iHeartRadio. (July 2009)

A U G U S T | Maxwell appeared on the cover of EQ magazine. Bad Habits video premiered online. BLACKsummers’night certified gold. (August 2009)

S E P T E M B E R | Free concert in Boston was held (House of Blues) and snippets of the performance were aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live. theBLACKsummers’night arena tour jumped off in Toronto, Canada. Maxwell appeared on the Ellen Show. (September 2009)

O C T O B E R | theBLACKsummers’night arena tour continued in the U.S. and debuted in Europe. FISTFUL of TEARS, to benefit breast cancer awareness. (October 2009)

N O V E M B E R | theBLACKsummers’night arena tour concludes in London. Maxwell appeared on the CNN All-Star Tribute. (November 2009)

D E C E M B E R | Maxwell receives 6 Grammy nominations and performs during televised nominations, does a benefit concert for Grammy Museum, appears on the Today Show (via Kathie Lee and Hoda segment) and Jay Leno Show. (December 2009)

Make sure you are following The Latest Maxwell News on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. For your “all things Maxwell” updates.

———————————–
Photo credits: All content Copyright itself respectful owner. Sultry in Seattle (Copyright KJ © 2009), Atlantic City, NJ (Copyright Cin © 2009), Toronto, Canada (Copyright Sanjay Gandhi © 2009), Los Angeles, CA (Copyright Mikala © 2009), Grammy Museum Concert (Copyright © Becky Sapp/Wire Image 2009), London, UK (Copyright Romain Kedochim Photography © 2009), Paris, France (Copyright Apsara Images © 2009), Birmingham, UK (Copyright Sabeen Mansoor © 2009), all other images found via internet searches, screenstills, and scans.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
BLACKsummers’night, Maxwell

Soul singer Maxwell was at the peak of his commercial and creative powers after the release of 2001′s Now, his third straight platinum album. But he felt artistically spent with nothing left to say and chose to fade out in a business in which absence tends to inspire forgetfulness more than fondness. Eight years later, he’s re-emerged with his moving BLACKsummers’night, which uses a personal love affair and its heart-rending breakup as the emotional well for a subtly sensual set of songs that reflect the pleasure, pain and ultimate sense of loss he experienced. And rather than enlist the usual retinue of star producers and songwriters to score a quick radio hit, he chose to rely on his soaring falsetto, intimate lyrics and a live studio band. With two more installments BlackSUMMERS‘night and Blacksummers’NIGHT promised in coming months, Maxwell won’t be going silent again any time soon. — Steve Jones

REPEAT-BUTTON WORTHY

Which albums clicked with USA TODAY’s music writers in 2009? Our critics pick their five favorites:
Steve Jones:

1. Maxwell, BLACKsummers’night
2. Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: The End of Day
3. Terence Blanchard, Choices
4. Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3
5. Teena Marie, Congo Square

Source: USA Today

UBRAN Year-End Chart (1-100)
Maxwell – “PRETTY WINGS” #6
Maxwell – “BAD HABITS” #95

URBAN AC Most Played Artists (1-10)
MAXWELL #4

URBAN AC Year-End Chart (1-50)
Maxwell – “PRETTY WINGS” #4
Maxwell – “BAD HABITS” #18

For the reporting week of December 20, 2009, after 7 consecutive weeks at the number one position on Urban AC charts Maxwell’s “BAD HABITS” has been served by Usher’s “Papers”. Here is how you can request Maxwell’s music for more radio airpaly, click here. Also, see below for Billboard charts information.

Issue Date: January 02, 2010

Billboard Charts
MAXWELL – BLACKsummersnight:
Billboard 200 – #128 (Last wk #142)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – #20 (Last wk #22)

MAXWELL – Pretty Wings:
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – #13 (Last Wk #10)

MAXWELL – Bad Habits:
Billboard Hot 100 – #83 (Last Wk #78)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – #8 (Last wk #8)
Billboard Radio Songs – #50 (Last Wk #49)
Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs – #25 (Last Wk – #25)

MAXWELL – Fistful of Tears:
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – #69 (Last Wk – #71)

U.S. Airplay Charts
The following is information collected (December 21, 2009) from Mediabase

MAXWELL – Pretty Wings:
URBAN – R (Last Wk R) | Spins – 884 (recurrent status)
URBAN AC (Adult Contemporary) – #12 (Last Wk #8) | Spins – 969

MAXWELL – Bad Habits:
URBAN – #14 (Last Wk #10) | Spins 1,814
URBAN AC – #2 (Last Wk #1) | Spins 1,655

MAXWELL – Fistful of Tears:
URBAN AC – #21 (Last Wk #22) | Spins 421

Units Moved:
MAXWELL – BLACKsummers’night (920,000+)
RIAA Status – GOLD (500,000+)

MAXWELL Facts:
Pretty Wings gives Maxwell his first #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in ten years.
The single “Pretty Wings” was the sixth title in the chart’s 15-year history to launch in the top 15.

#1 debut on the Billboard Top 200 chart with BLACKsummers’night (Maxwell’s second consecutive #1 album debut and best career sales week)
#1 for three weeks on all R&B Album sales charts, BLACKsummers’night
#1 on the iTunes R&B Album chart, BLACKsummers’night
#1 on the iTunes R&B Singles chart, “Pretty Wings”
#1 for four weeks on Top Single Sales chart, “Pretty Wings”
#1 Song on the full R&B Panel, “Pretty Wings”. Replacing Drake’s run at the top of the chart.
#1 on America’s Urban Adult for the sixth week, “Pretty Wings”

Sources: Billboard, Mediabase, RIAA, AllAccess, Hits Daily Double

And the lists keep coming in, BLACKsummers’night released July 07, 2009 has made more lists for the 2009 year! Seems like many publications are actually in agreement. This might not be a first but it is definitely something to remember. Is there a such thing as wishing someone congratulations too much? Well…again, congrats to all those involved with the making of the music.

Sarah Rodman, December 2009, Boston Globe

MAXWELL – “BLACKsummers’night” The R&B singer’s eight-year hiatus melts away within the first few seconds on this smooth and sensitive return as the chimes shimmer and that perfectly sculpted falsetto rides a soul-deep groove of horns and bass. Welcome back.

Source: Boston Globe

_________

Dan DeLuca, December 2009, Philadelphia Inquirer

Maxwell, “BLACKsummers’night.” The super-silky R&B comeback from Maxwell, the soul man’s first album in eight years, promises would-be paramours a back rub, a foot massage, and breakfast in bed — anything, ladies, so long as you will “prove it to me in the nude.” And, oh yeah, forgive him for being gone so long, and doing dirty things behind your back. The first in a proposed trilogy, “BLACKsummers’night” derives its power from its persistent melancholy, and sublimely patient approach. Grown-up music that’s full of feeling, but never overplays its hand. Download: “Pretty Wings.”

Sources: Philadelphia Inquirer, Victoria Advocate

_________

Brian McCollum, December 2009, Detroit Free Press
Maxwell, “BLACKsummersnight”: Talk about comebacks. The New York master craftsman reemerged from an eight-year hiatus with a reliably nuanced album of sensual bedroom soul.

Source: Detroit Free Press

_________

Top CDs of 2009
Sheila Rayam, December 2009, Democrat and Chronicle

For me, the voice of 2009 was Maxwell. His BLACKsummers’ night was pure, soulful and lyrically raw. Maxwell’s CD of substance sits atop my list of favorite music in 2009.

Source: Democrat and Chronicle

Washington Post pop critic Chris Richards picks his top 10 albums of 2009

Tis the season for obsessive list making and I’m proud to offer my annual contribution to the pile: The Best Albums of 2009.

1. Maxwell, “BLACKsummers’night”
Maxwell’s R&B masterstroke topped charts with a poise that evoked past, present and futures unknown. And while the neo-soulman’s falsetto can bend time, heartbreak remains inescapable.

Source: Washington Post

1. MAXWELL “BLACKsummers’night” (Columbia) Maxwell’s fourth album, defies current R&B on all fronts. It’s gentle and imploring, not cocky. It’s elliptical, not blatant. It’s hand played, by a band complete with a horn section, rather than programmed. It’s so improvisatory that melodies change from verse to verse. And even when the rhythm gets funky, the sad, lovely songs — about a crumbling romance — are suffused with a yearning that’s almost too intimate. It’s soul music reinventing itself, moment to moment.

Pretty Wings was also named on the top songs in 2009 by The New York Times.

Source: The New York Times, Jennifer

5. Maxwell at the United Center, Oct. 8: A decade-long hiatus didn’t hurt the suave soul man a bit. He worked his band like Cab Calloway or James Brown, with horns slicing and dicing as he turned every song into an event.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Check out these concert reviews: Chicago, IL (October 08, 2009) Did You Go?

Source: iTunes, Mediabase

Source: iTunes

On Billboard Critics’ Top 10 Albums of 2009, Maxwell’s BLACKsummers’night tied in the #9 position with Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest. To see how the list was constructed click here.

Issue Date: December 26, 2009

Billboard Charts
MAXWELL – BLACKsummersnight:
Billboard 200 – #142 (Last wk #114)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – #22 (Last wk #15)

MAXWELL – Pretty Wings:
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – #10 (Last Wk #9)

MAXWELL – Bad Habits:
Billboard Hot 100 – #78 (Last Wk #71)
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – #8 (Last wk #6)
Billboard Radio Songs – #49 (Last Wk #41)
Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs – #25 (Last Wk – #17)

MAXWELL – Fistful of Tears:
Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – #69 (Last Wk – #71)

U.S. Airplay Charts
The following is information collected (December 14, 2009) from Mediabase

MAXWELL – Pretty Wings:
URBAN – R (Last Wk R) | Spins – 1,021 (recurrent status)
URBAN AC (Adult Contemporary) – #8 (Last Wk #6) | Spins – 1,274

MAXWELL – Bad Habits:
URBAN – #10 (Last Wk #11) | Spins 1,904
URBAN AC – #1 (Last Wk #1) | Spins 1,645

MAXWELL – Fistful of Tears:
URBAN AC – #22 (Last Wk #25) | Spins 377

Units Moved:
MAXWELL – BLACKsummers’night (900,000+)
RIAA Status – GOLD (500,000+)

MAXWELL Facts:
Pretty Wings gives Maxwell his first #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in ten years.
The single “Pretty Wings” was the sixth title in the chart’s 15-year history to launch in the top 15.

#1 debut on the Billboard Top 200 chart with BLACKsummers’night (Maxwell’s second consecutive #1 album debut and best career sales week)
#1 for three weeks on all R&B Album sales charts, BLACKsummers’night
#1 on the iTunes R&B Album chart, BLACKsummers’night
#1 on the iTunes R&B Singles chart, “Pretty Wings”
#1 for four weeks on Top Single Sales chart, “Pretty Wings”
#1 Song on the full R&B Panel, “Pretty Wings”. Replacing Drake’s run at the top of the chart.
#1 on America’s Urban Adult for the sixth week, “Pretty Wings”

Sources: Billboard, Mediabase, RIAA, AllAccess, Hits Daily Double