''Connected'' is a 1992 album by

Stereo MC's Stereo MC's are an English hip hop/ electronic dance group which formed in Nottingham, England, in 1985. They had an international top 20 hit with their single "Connected". After releasing eight albums for Island Records, K7, Graffiti Recording ...

. The tracks "

Connected Connected may refer to: Film and television * ''Connected'' (2008 film), a Hong Kong remake of the American movie ''Cellular'' * '' Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death & Technology'', a 2011 documentary film * ''Connected'' (2015 TV ...

", "Ground Level", " Step It Up" and "Creation" became hit singles.

Critical reception

In a contemporary review for ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the cr ...

'', music critic

Robert Christgau Robert Thomas Christgau ( ; born April 18, 1942) is an American music journalist and essayist. Among the most well-known and influential music critics, he began his career in the late 1960s as one of the earliest professional rock critics and ...

said that, although its music is amiable and rhythmic, ''Connected'' is also "so multifaceted that its functionality is fungible and forgettable." In June 2000, '' Q'' placed ''Connected'' as #52 in its list of the ''100 Greatest British Albums Ever''. The album won ''Best British Album'' at the

1994 Brit Awards Brit Awards 1994 was the 14th edition of the Brit Awards, an annual pop music awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. It was organised by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 14 February 1994 at Alexandra Palace in London. It was t ...

, was shortlisted for the 1993

Mercury Prize The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album released in the United Kingdom by a British or Irish act. It was created by Jon Webster and Robert Chandler in association with the ...

, and included in the book ''

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die ''1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die'' is a musical reference book first published in 2005 by Universe Publishing. Part of the ''1001 Before You Die'' series, it compiles writings and information on albums chosen by a panel of music critics ...

''.

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Birch (Rob B)/Nicholas Hallam (The Head), except where noted # "

" (Birch/Hallam/ H.W. Casey/ Richard Finch) – 5:14 #*Contains a sample from "Let Me (Let Me Be Your Lover)" by

Jimmy "Bo" Horne Jimmie Horace Horne, Jr. (born September 28, 1949, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States), known as Jimmy "Bo" Horne, is an American musician, singer and recording artist, whose most successful singles include "Gimme Some" (1975) and "Dance Acr ...

. # "Ground Level" – 4:13 # "Everything" (Birch/Hallam/James L. Worthy) – 3:47 # "Sketch" (Birch/Hallam/Tuzé DeAbreu)– 5:44 #*Contains a sample of "Passarinho" by

Gal Costa Gal Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos (born Maria da Graça Costa Penna Burgos; 26 September 1945 – 9 November 2022), known professionally as Gal Costa (), was a Brazilian singer of popular music. She was one of the main figures of the tro ...

. # "Fade Away" – 4:25 # "All Night Long" – 4:07 # " Step It Up" – 4:59 # "Playing With Fire" – 4:20 #*Uses the piano progression from the introduction to

Monkey Man Monkey Man may refer to: Fiction *Monkey Man (film), ''Monkey Man'' (film), a film starring and directed by Dev Patel * Axwell Tiberius, the eponymous simian character in the 1993–1999 comic book series ''Monkeyman and O'Brien'' Songs *Monkey M ...

on ''

Let it Bleed ''Let It Bleed'' is the eighth British and tenth American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released 28 November 1969 on London Records in the United States and shortly thereafter by Decca Records in the United Kingdom. ...

'' by the

Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the gritty, rhythmically d ...

#*Contains a sample of "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" by

Pet Shop Boys The Pet Shop Boys are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1981. Consisting of primary vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe, they have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, and were listed as the most successful duo ...

. # "Pressure" – 3:50 # "Chicken Shake" – 3:50 # "Creation" – 5:03 # "Don't Let Up" (feat.

Mica Paris Michelle Antoinette Wallen (born 27 April 1969), known professionally as Mica Paris (), is an English singer, presenter and actress. Paris was born in Islington in North London, but moved to Brockley, South London, when she was nine. She rel ...

) – 3:09 # "The End" (Birch/Hallum/

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one ...

/Toni Stern) – 3:47

Personnel

Stereo MCs

*Robert Charles "Rob B." Birch: Vocals *Nick "The Head" Hallam: DJ *Ian Frederick "Owen If" Rossiter: Drums, Percussion *Cath Coffey:

Backing Vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are ...

Additional personnel

*James Hallawell: Keyboards,

Organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

*Paul O. Kane,

Matthew Seligman Matthew Seligman (14 July 1955 – 17 April 2020) was an English bassist, best known for his association with the new wave music scene of the 1980s. Seligman was a member of the Soft Boys and the Thompson Twins, and was a sideman for Thomas D ...

: Bass *Chicu Modu: Sax *Ivan Hussey, Johnny T., Anya Ulman, Laura Cochrane: Strings *

Kick Horns Kick Horns are a UK horn section based in London. They have worked prolifically as session musicians with a wide variety of performers, and have also recorded as an ensemble. The Kick Horns were established in the 1980s by Simon C. Clarke and Ti ...

: Brass

Singles

" (#18 in the United Kingdom, 14 September 1992) *" Step It Up" (#12 in the United Kingdom, 23 November 1992) *"Ground Level" (#19 in the United Kingdom, 8 February 1993) *"Creation" (#19 in United Kingdom, 17 May 1993)

Charts

Certifications and sales

References

1992 albums 4th & B'way Records albums 1993 albums Stereo MCs albums Brit Award for British Album of the Year {{1990s-electronic-album-stub