- Source: In Return (Shola Ama album)
In Return is the second studio album by British singer Shola Ama. It was released by Freakstreet and WEA on 8 November 1999. The album saw Ama working with various producers such as Fred Jerkins III, Stargate, Soulshock and Karlin, D'Influence and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. Ama would also co-write some of the songs on the album, along with Angie Stone, Babyface, and David Foster.
Two singles were released from the album, "Still Believe" and "Imagine". Both of them would reach the top thirty of the UK Singles Chart.
Background
After recording her debut album, Much Love, Shola Ama would release her sophomore record, In Return. The album would be led off by the single "Still Believe". "Still Believe" would reach the top 10 in France. However, it would chart moderately elsewhere, charting at number 26 in the UK.
The second single taken from In Return, "Imagine", was released in 2000. It would prove to chart moderately like the previous single from the album, reaching number 24 in the UK. However, the single would reach the top spot on the country's dance charts.
Ama would join Warner Music executives to celebrate the release of In Return in the St Martin's Hotel in London.
A potential release of In Return in the United States was slated for release in 2000. Ama said that she could "stand a pretty good chance" in crossing over there. However, the release never came to fruition.
Despite having support from her record label, In Return underperformed, barely reaching the top 100 in Germany and the UK. Following this, Ama took a break from recording.
Critical reception
Bryan Buss from AllMusic wrote that "sounding like a cross between Janet Jackson and Emilia, but with softer, more girlish, and more developed vocals, Ama's new CD is packed with pop songs perfectly tailored for 2000 [...] She sings with sincerity and conviction, often sounding like a heartbroken angel. With only hints of R&B, this is far more a pop album than anything else, though, despite the sheen, it isn't just for teenagers. This is good, old pop, a throwback to '60s girl groups with a contemporary twist."
A review from Billboard's Kwaku named the album a "quality product [with] poor sales".
UK garage remixes of "Imagine" and "Run to Me" by Club Asylum would prove popular. NME later included the remix of "Imagine" in their "25 essential UK garage anthems" list, highlighting the "grubby bassline". Capital Xtra also included the remix of "Run to Me" in their list of "The Best Old-School Garage Anthems of All Time".