A Public Affair

This article is about the album. For the song, see A Public Affair (song).

A Public Affair
Studio album by Jessica Simpson
Released	August 26, 2006 (See release history)
Recorded	2005–2006
Genre	Pop, dance-pop, R&B, disco
Length	50:44
Label	Epic
Producer	Jessica Simpson, Lester Mendez, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Cory Rooney, Dan Shea, Scott Storch, Stargate
Jessica Simpson chronology
Rejoyce: The Christmas Album (2004) A Public Affair (2006) Do You Know (2008)
Singles from A Public Affair
"A Public Affair" Released: June 29, 2006 "I Belong to Me" Released: September 26, 2006 "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" Released: September 26, 2006

A Public Affair is the fifth studio album by American pop singer Jessica Simpson. The album was released on August 26, 2006 in the United States by Epic Records. The album is Simpson's first effort following her divorce from Nick Lachey in early 2006.

The UK version was released on February 12, 2007 and included the video for "A Public Affair" and the audio for "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" as UK bonus tracks. Ultimately, it was a commercial disappointment, and is the last pop album Simpson released before switching to country music. A Public Affair has sold 500,000 units in the US and 1 million copies worldwide to date.

Production

MTV first reported that Simpson's first album after her divorce would be released in late 2005. Scott Storch describes the track entitled "Fired Up" as "Jessica's 'Dirrty'". Simpson wrote "Fired Up" for her friend Cacee Cobb "since that's what she always says". The song, "B.O.Y." samples the opening guitar riff of The Cars' "Just What I Needed" and showcased a sexier, more Europop side of Simpson.

Album cover

With only a month to go until the release of A Public Affair, Simpson switched the cover photo of the album. The first cover art for the album surfaced showing a sultry Simpson with her hair down, sporting a dress with the straps pulled down. However, it was ultimately decided to go with more of a girl-next-door look. Simpson's representative Rob Shuter told TMZ the final decision on a cover had not been made by the time one had to be provided to Simpson's record label, so the first cover option (of three choices they had) was given. That cover was ultimately not chosen, and Simpson went with the cover eventually released. The chosen album cover has a casual-looking Simpson "with nothing but a T-shirt on", her hair pulled back and wearing a ring on her right index finger.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
BBC	(mixed)
Entertainment Weekly	(C)
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine
Music Server

A Public Affair received mixed reviews in the press, including a two-star rating from Rolling Stone. The album was criticized for lack of originality, particularly its similarities to previous Top 40 pop and disco hits from the '70s and '80s, with few contemporary elements. The lead single "A Public Affair" was especially criticized for its similarities to Madonna's "Holiday", Diana Ross' "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove". Bill Lamb from About.com stated: "The final 5 songs of A Public Affair are worth hearing for Jessica Simpson fans. I just hope fans can maintain their interest long enough to get there."

Chart performance

The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, selling over 101,000 copies in its first week. Although Simpson first marked highest sales week of her career, the total sales of the album ended up being disappointing. A Public Affair shipped 500,000 units in the U.S. but has sold just 300,000 to date (according to Nielsen SoundScan) and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

In Canada the album debuted at #6, marking Simpson's highest position on the albums chart in Canada and was later certified Gold for 50,000 copies sold. A Public Affair also made the Top 40 in Japan, Ireland and Australia, in the latter country peaking lower than In This Skin which reached number 13 and was certified Platinum. Despite the title track becoming an international hit, the album has sold just 1 million copies to date, and is considered by and large a commercial failure compared to Simpson's previous work.

Singles

• "A Public Affair"
• "I Belong to Me"
• "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (promo only)

When the first official single was released, fans expected the official follow-up single to be club track "Fired Up". Weeks later, in an MTV interview, Simpson stated that "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" might be the second single from the album and that she would like to tour after three or four songs had been released from the record. However, on August 9, 2006, Simpson stated on her official website that she wanted her fans to choose the second single from the album; she provided five choices, which were: "If You Were Mine", "The Lover in Me", "I Belong to Me", "B.O.Y." and "I Don't Want to Care".

Simpson stated in a radio interview on August 23, 2006 that the second official single from the album would be "I Belong to Me". The album originally did not include the track "I Belong to Me"; Simpson stated that the track would only be included on a special version of the album sold exclusively in Wal-Mart. The track is also included on the iTunes version of the album. However, less than two weeks after the album's release, Simpson's record company decided to start shipping copies with "I Belong to Me" included; today, the album can be purchased anywhere with the bonus track included. Simpson mentioned that the album would feature a special code with which fans could download the song for free. Many fans wondered why "Fired Up" was not released as a single, as the song had a strong popularity and many plays on YouTube.

Track listing

1. "A Public Affair" – 3:21 (Simpson, Austin, Kurstin, Watters, Biancaniello, Mendez, Ashford, Simpson)
2. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" – 3:49 (Percy, Burns, Coy, Lever)
3. "B.O.Y." – 3:22 (Driscoll, Gagel, Ocasek)
4. "If You Were Mine" – 3:17 (Watters, Biancaniello, Kurstin, Gray, Sewell)
5. "Walkin' 'Round in a Circle" – 4:40 (Simpson, Austin, Harris III, Lewis, Nicks)
6. "The Lover in Me" – 3:41 (Simpson, Childress, Austin, Biancaniello, Watters, Gray)
7. "Swing with Me" – 3:25 (Prima, Simpson, Rooney, Shea, Cobb, Alexander)
8. "Push Your Tush" – 4:48 (Simpson, Harris III, Lewis, Tolbert, Bonner, Beck, Williams, Pierce, Jones, Middlebrooks, Satchell)
9. "Back to You" – 4:11 (Simpson, Harris III, Lewis)
10. "Between You & I" – 4:58 (Simpson, Rooney)
11. "I Don't Want to Care" – 3:57 (Simpson, Eriksen, Hermansen, Riddick, Lind, Bjorklund, Beite, Hvidsten)
12. "Fired Up" – 3:58 (Jessica Simpson, Scott Storch, Penelope Magnet, Jeff Bowden)
13. "Let Him Fly" – 3:11 (Griffin)
14. "I Belong to Me" – 3:40 (Warren) [Omitted on original release]
15. "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (UK bonus track) – 3:58 (Hazlewood)
16. "A Public Affair" [enhanced video] (UK bonus track)

The Circuit City version of the album had a bonus track as track 14: "A Public Affair" (extended version).

Charts and certifications

Chart (2006)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Albums Chart	33
Canadian Albums Chart	6
Irish Albums Chart	32
Japan International Albums Chart	72
UK Albums Chart	65
U.S. Billboard 200	5
U.S. Top Internet Albums	5

Certifications

Country	Providers	Certification
Canada	CRIA	Gold
U.S.	RIAA	Gold

Album credits

• Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums
• Andrew Rugg – engineer
• Barry Danielian – trumpet
• Bobby Ross Avila – bass
• Brett Ratner – photography
• Brian Warwick – assistant engineer
• Cacee Cobb – backing vocals
• Chris August – backing vocals
• Chris Megert – vocal arrangement
• Conrad Golding – engineer
• Cory Rooney – drum programming, keyboards, producer, vocal producer
• Dan Kurtz – bass
• Dan Shea – keyboards, producer
• Dave Pensado – mixing
• David Andrew Mann – tenor saxophone
• David E. Williams – guitar
• David Levita – guitar
• Dorian Holly – backing vocals
• Eric Rennaker – assistant engineer
• Espen Lind – keyboards
• Evan Lamberg – A&R
• Farra Mathews – A&R
• Gary Novak – drums
• Greg Kurstin – guitar, keyboards, producer, programming
• Ian Cross – engineer, mixing
• Jerry Brown – drums
• Jessica Paster – wardrobe
• Jessica Simpson – vocals, executive producer
• Jimmy Jam – keyboards, producer
• James "Big Jim" Wright – keyboards
• Joe Simpson – executive producer, management
• Joe Wohlmuth – engineer
• Joe Zook – mixing
• Justin King – guitar
• Keith Gretlein – assistant engineer
• Ken Paves – hair stylist
• Laurie Rosenwald – cover typeset
• Lester Mendez – arranger, beats, Moog synthesizer, piano, producer
• Louis Biancaniello – keyboards, mixing, producer, programming
• Lyle Workman – guitar
• Magnus Beite – keyboards
• Makeba Riddick – backing vocals
• Matt Marrin – engineer, mixing
• Mike Terry – engineer
• Mikkel S. Eriksen – engineer, instrumentation, vocal producer
• Nikki Harris – backing vocals
• Orlando Calzada – engineer
• Ozzie Melendez – trombone
• Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
• Peter Wade – engineer
• Phil Tan – mixing
• Rafael Padilla – percussion
• Ravaughn Brown – backing vocals
• Reuben Rodriguez – bass
• Ron Allaire – engineer
• Sam Watters – mixing, producer
• Scott Storch – producer
• Serban Ghenea – mixing
• Sharlotte Gibson – backing vocals
• Sherree Ford Brown – backing vocals
• Siedah Garrett – backing vocals, vocal arrangement
• Steve Geuting – assistant engineer
• Tamyra Gray – backing vocals
• Terry Lewis – producer
• Tim Roberts – mixing assistant
• Tony Tolbert – backing vocals
• Valente Torrez – assistant engineer
• Vince Cherico – drums
• Vlado Meller – mastering
• Wally Gagel – engineer, instrumentation, mixing, producer
• Xandy Barry – producer

Release history

Region	Date
Australia	August 26, 2006
United States	August 29, 2006
Japan	September 27, 2006
United Kingdom	February 12, 2007
Germany	March 2, 2007

External links

• Jessica vs. Jessica