Mr. A–Z

Mr. A–Z
Studio album by Jason Mraz
Released July 26, 2005
Recorded 2004–2005
Studio
Genre
Length 54:25
Label Atlantic
Producer
Jason Mraz chronology
Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jason Mraz
(2005)		 Mr. A–Z
(2005)		 Geekin' Out Across the Galaxy
(2006)
Singles from Break the Cycle
  1. "Wordplay"
    Released: May 29, 2005
  2. "Geek in the Pink"
    Released: March 6, 2006
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Rolling Stone[2]

Mr. A–Z is the second studio album by the American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, released on July 26, 2005. It is the studio follow-up to his first studio album Waiting for My Rocket to Come, released in 2002. Even with mixed reviews, it was a moderate commercial success and debuted at #5 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart. It was recognized for mixing many different genres of music together.

It was nominated by the Recording Academy for best engineered album, and the producer Steve Lillywhite, who previously worked with U2, The Dave Matthews Band and The Rolling Stones, won for Producer of the Year, but not for his work on Mr. A–Z. The name of the album is a play on the artist's surname, "Mraz".

An opera solo performed by Mraz himself can be found on the track "Mr. Curiosity". In March 2010, this song charted in Germany after it had been performed by Lena Meyer-Landrut in the talent show contest Unser Star für Oslo (Our Star for Oslo), reaching a peak position of #44.[3]

Formats

In the United States and Europe, the album was released both as a CD and as a DualDisc. The DualDisc version has enhanced packaging and an extra booklet.[4]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Life Is Wonderful"  Jason Mraz, Stephanie Poole, Alanna Ferri4:20
2."Wordplay"  Jason Mraz, Kevin Kadish3:06
3."Geek in the Pink"  Jason Mraz, Ian Sheridan, Kevin Kadish3:55
4."Did You Get My Message? (feat. Rachael Yamagata)"  Jason Mraz, Dan Wilson4:00
5."Mr. Curiosity"  Jason Mraz, Dennis Morris, Lester Mendez3:54
6."Clockwatching"  Jason Mraz, Dennis Morris, Ainslie Henderson4:23
7."Bella Luna"  Jason Mraz, Billy "Bushwalla" Galewood5:02
8."Plane"  Jason Mraz, Dennis Morris5:13
9."O. Lover"  Jason Mraz, Dennis Morris3:54
10."Please Don't Tell Her"  Jason Mraz, Eric Hinojosa4:40
11."The Forecast"  Jason Mraz, Eric Hinojosa3:44
12."Song for a Friend"  Jason Mraz, Dan Wilson, Dennis Morris, Eric Hinojosa8:09
Bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Geek in the Pink (Lillywhite Remix)" (iTunes Bonus Track)3:56
14."Rocket Man (Acoustic Demo)" (U.S. and International iTunes Bonus Track)3:35
15."Burning Bridges (Unreleased Demo)" (International iTunes Bonus Track)3:49
16."Prettiest Friend (Demo)" (International iTunes Bonus Track)4:19

Personnel

Additional personnel[5]

  • Ian Sheridan – bass guitar on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, backing vocals on track 4
  • Bill Bell – guitar on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, backing vocals on track 4
  • Adam King – drums on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, backing vocals on track 4
  • Eric Hinojosa – keyboards on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, backing vocals on track 4, programming on track 8
  • Raul Rekow – congas on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, percussion on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
  • Karl Perazzo – timbales on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, percussion on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
  • Jack Daley – bass guitar on track 2
  • Lyle Workman – electric guitar on tracks 2 and 3, Dobro resonator guitar on tracks 2 and 3
  • Nir "Nir Z" Zidkyahu – drums on track 2
  • Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. – keyboards on track 2 and 3, Moog bass synthesizer on track 3
  • Bashiri Johnson – percussion on track 2
  • Mike Elizondo – bass guitar on track 3
  • Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson – drums on track 3
  • Steve Sidelnyk – programming on track 3
  • DJ Bob Necksnapp – scratching and mixing on track 3
  • Bushwalla – spoken word on track 3
  • Noel "Toca" Rivera – backing vocals on tracks 4, 10 and 11
  • Nicole Bayer – cello on track 5
  • Roxanne Oldham – backing vocals on track 6
  • Danielle Decker – backing vocals on track 6
  • Raul Midón – classical guitar on track 7, electric guitar on track 12, faux horn on track 12, backing vocals on track 12
  • Charlie Mingroni – spoken word on track 8
  • Dennis Morris – programming on track 9
  • Lee Davis High School Choir – choir vocals on track 12
  • Steve Lilywhite – backing vocals on track 6, production on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, mixing on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
  • Carl Glanville – engineering on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, mixing on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
  • Scott Moore – backing vocals on track 6, engineering assistance on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
  • Matthew Cullen – engineering assistance on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
  • Josh Deutsch – castanets on track 2, production on tracks 2 and 3, executive production on all tracks
  • Kevin Kadish – acoustic guitar on track 2, production on tracks 2 and 3
  • Samuel "Vaughn" Merrick – engineering on tracks 2 and 3
  • David Thoener – mixing on track 2
  • Jim Scott – mixing on track 3
  • Ted Jensen – mastering on all tracks

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 5

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[7] Gold 500,000double-dagger

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Mr. A-Z - Jason Mraz". AllMusic. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  2. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (August 11, 2005). "Reviews". Rolling Stone. p. 74-75.
  3. ↑ German Single Charts positions Jason Mraz
  4. ↑ "Jason Mraz: Mr. A-Z: Dualdisc/Lmtd Ed.". Zia. Retrieved 2016-04-02. The dualdisc includes the entire album, 20 minute DVD documentary, photo gallery, full lyrics, and 36-page personal journal with exclusive polaroids.
  5. ↑ CD liner notes
  6. ↑ "Jason Mraz – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Jason Mraz. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  7. ↑ "American album certifications – Jason Mraz – Mr. A-Z". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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