Maps of Music

Escape (2001)

Where the lyrics of Escape take you, and where it was really made.

Many of the songs on Escape began as nothing more than a title, which Iglesias later built into a full song.

Key places

Recorded at Angel Studios, London (2001)

Recording site Wild Bunch Studios (London) — The album's recording credits list Angel Studios in London as one of the places where it was recorded. The point is placed at city-centre level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles (2001)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The album's recording credits list The Record Plant in Los Angeles as one of the places where it was recorded. The point marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at The Hit Factory, New York City (2001)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — The album's recording credits list The Hit Factory in New York City as one of the places where it was recorded. The point is placed at city-centre level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at South Point Recording Studios, Miami (2001)

Recording site The Hit Factory Criteria — The album's recording credits list South Point Recording Studios in Miami as one of the places where it was recorded. The point is placed at city-centre level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Escape: fifth studio album and second English-language album by Enrique Iglesias
• Released by Interscope Records on 30 October 2001
• Iglesias co-wrote every song and co-executive produced the album with Andres Restrepo
• Marks a return to a more straightforward pop sound
• Draws on 1980s guitar rock influences
• Many songs originated from simple title ideas
• Five singles: "Hero", "Escape", "Don't Turn Off the Lights", "Love to See You Cry" and "Maybe"

Background

• Contrasts with the Latin-pop style of his English-language debut
• Recalls his early Spanish-language releases in its guitar-rock influences
• Iglesias has said that for many tracks he began with only a title and later built the song around it
• "Hero" was released as a ballad in August 2001, a choice seen as a risk that later became one of his biggest hits
• Many tracks were co-written with Paul Barry and Mark Taylor, who had written his earlier hits "Bailamos" and "Rhythm Divine"
• Also worked with Steve Morales, David Siegel, Aaron Fishbein and Kara DioGuardi
• Co-wrote one track with Lester Mendez
• Jon Secada provided backing vocals on some tracks

Recording

• Recorded at studios in London, Los Angeles, New York City and Miami
• A second edition released in November 2002 added a new version of "Maybe" and "To Love a Woman"

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler, born 8 May 1975 in Madrid, Spain.
• Son of singer Julio Iglesias and socialite Isabel Preysler.
• Raised in Miami after the 1981 kidnapping of his grandfather by ETA.
• Began his recording career in the mid-1990s on the Mexican label Fonovisa.

Career

• Debut Spanish album Enrique Iglesias (1995) sold half a million copies in its first week and won a Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance.
• Followed by Vivir (1997) and Cosas del Amor (1998), making him the bestselling Spanish-language act of the decade.
• 1999 hit "Bailamos" (Wild Wild West soundtrack) peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and opened his English-language crossover.
• Escape (2001) was certified Diamond for over 10 million copies; its single "Hero" was a UK number-one.
• Signed to Universal, then Republic Records in 2010, then Sony Music in 2015.
• Sex and Love (2014) and the hit "Bailando" were major successes; Final (Vol. 1) and Final (Vol. 2) followed in 2021 and 2024.
• Holds the record for the most number-one songs on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart; estimated sales exceed 100 million albums.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Mixed reviews overall, with some critics praising its catchy pop style and commercial appeal
• Other critics faulted its lack of depth and artistic originality
• AllMusic: described it as a pop/rock album, reminiscent of 1980s pop albums, short, sweet and wildly catchy
• PopMatters: found it refreshingly short on sappy ballads and pretty standard dance music with commercial potential
• Billboard: said Iglesias had shaken off the notion that he was riding his father's coattails and called it filled with radio-ready tunes
• The New York Daily News: judged the album to have the depth of a thimble, though it had a bubblegum snap
• The Los Angeles Times: found it high on craft but low on art
• Entertainment Weekly: wrote a negative review questioning whether he would be remembered for more than his surname

Records

• Debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, his highest debut on the chart at that time
• First-week sales of 267,000 copies in the US, behind Michael Jackson's Invincible
• Sold 3.3 million copies in the US by November 2003
• Topped the UK Albums Chart while "Hero" was number one on the UK Singles Chart
• Third best-selling album of 2002 in the UK; fifth best-selling in Australia
• Certified quadruple platinum in the US and 5 times platinum in the UK, Canada and Australia; platinum in Germany
• Over 8 million copies sold worldwide

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• "Don't Turn Off the Lights" was the first song written from a title; in a radio interview he said it was originally going to be the album title and first single
• A second edition in November 2002 added a new version of "Maybe" and "To Love a Woman"
• Escape made Iglesias the only Latin artist to have a number-one album and a number-one single on the UK charts at the same time
• AllMusic noted the album's short running length of ten original songs
• Iglesias said a 2018 lawsuit against Universal Music over streaming royalties was filed by him, listed in the article's external links

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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