I Need an Angel (album)

I Need an Angel is the second studio album by American singer Ruben Studdard. It was released on November 23, 2004 by J Records.

I Need an Angel
Studio album by Ruben Studdard
Released	November 23, 2004 (2004-11-23)
Genre	Gospel[1][2]
Length	49:26
Label	J 19
Producer	Warryn Campbell Eric Dawkins Alvin "Cornbread" Garrett Fred Hammond R. Kelly Ruben Studdard Lauren Thomas Harvey Watkins, Jr.
Ruben Studdard chronology
Soulful (2003) I Need an Angel (2004) The Return (2006)

Crtitical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
People	[2]

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found that "while there are a number of cooks in the kitchen [...] I Need an Angel, winds up being cohesive since it's all coming from the same perspective. It's all easy-rolling, smooth, and polished slow grooves, sometimes easing by on the sound of the record, other times gelling quite nicely thanks to some sturdily written and arranged songs [...] So, while it has no standout cuts, on the whole I Need an Angel winds up being a bit more solid than his proper debut.^[1] People noted that "on this gospel excursion, the cuddly singer takes it back to church, and whereas he never seemed quite comfortable in his role as R&B; love man on last year's debut, Soulful, he seems totally in his element here. Studdard is clearly inspired to perform songs he grew up on."^[2]

Commercial performance

The album debuted and peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, with first week sales of 96,000 units.^[3] It also topped both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and the Top Gospel Albums chart.^[4][5] On April 8, 2005, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[6]

Track listing

I Need an Angel track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"I Need an Angel"	R. Kelly	Kelly	4:51
2.	"Center of My Joy"	Richard Smallwood Bill Gaither Gloria Gaither	Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell	5:52
3.	"Goin' Up Yonder"	Walter Hawkins	Campbell	3:40
4.	"Fix It, Jesus" (featuring Harvey Watkins, Jr.)	Watkins	Watkins	3:46
5.	"Amazing Grace"	John Newton	Eric Dawkins	4:31
6.	"Shout to the Lord"	Darlene Zschech	Dawkins	3:59
7.	"Running Back to You"	Hammond	Hammond	5:08
8.	"Restoration"	Mario Winans	Winans	3:59
9.	"We Have Not Forgotten" (featuring Fred Hammond)	Hammond Noel Hall		4:39
10.	"I Surrender All"	Eugene Clark, Judson Van DeVenter	Dawkins Derek Clark[a]	3:58
11.	"Ain't No Need to Worry" (featuring Mary Mary)	Winans	Campbell	3:01
12.	"Don't You Give Up"	Ruben Studdard Alvin "Cornbread" Garrett Alphonzo Mizell Berry Gordy, Jr. Deke Richards Freddie Perren	Studdard Garrett Lauren Thomas	3:46

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer

Sample credits

• "Don't You Give Up" contains a sample from "Maybe Tomorrow" as performed by The Jackson 5.

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for I Need an Angel Chart (2004) Peak position US Billboard 200[7] 20 US Top Gospel Albums (Billboard)[5] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for I Need an Angel Chart (2005) Position US Billboard 200[8] 172 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[9] 49

Certifications

Certifications and sales for I Need an Angel

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6]	Gold	500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.