{{short description|2016 studio album by Lady Wray}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Queen Alone | type = studio | artist = Lady Wray | cover = File:Wray_QueenAlone.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2016|9|23}} | recorded = 2014–2016 | venue = | studio = The Diamond Mine<br><small>(Queens, New York)</small> | genre = {{hlist|R&B|soul<ref name="billboard">{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lady-wray-brings-sultry-soul-on-queen-alone-7496078/ |title=Lady Wray Brings Sultry Soul on 'Queen Alone' |work=Billboard |date=September 9, 2016 |access-date=September 22, 2016 |author=Mitchell, Gail}}</ref>}} | length = 34:53 | label = Big Crown Records | producer = {{hlist|Leon Michels|Thomas Brenneck}} | prev_title = Make It Hot | prev_year = 1998 | next_title = Piece of Me | next_year = 2022 }} '''''Queen Alone''''' is the second studio album by American singer Nicole Wray, released on September 23, 2016, by Big Crown Records.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lady Wray: Queen Alone|website=iTunes|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/queen-alone/id1129494759|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914063356/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/queen-alone/id1129494759|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 14, 2016|access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref> This is her first solo album in 18 years since her last album ''Make It Hot'' and her first under a new name, Lady Wray.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2016/09/graded-on-a-curve-lady-wray-queen-alone/|title = Graded on a Curve: Lady Wray, Queen Alone|date = 20 September 2016}}</ref>

== Background and development == In 2009, Wray formed a musical duo called Lady, with English R&B singer Terri Walker.<ref name="ladyallmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lady-mn0003037245/biography |title=Lady Biography AllMusic |work=Allmusic|date=December 8, 2021 |access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref> In 2012, the duo toured as the background vocalists for Lee Fields and the Expressions during his international tour. During the tour, Lady recorded their self-titled album and released it in March 2013 on Truth and Soul Records. Heavily influenced by late-'60s and early-'70s soul music, their album spawned three singles: "Money", "Get Ready", and "Good Lovin'".<ref name="ladyallmusic"/> After Walker left the duo during their tour in mid-2013, Wray retitled the music act "Lady, the Band" and continued on with the addition of two background singers for the conclusion of the tour.<ref name="ladyallmusic"/> After the roster move from Truth and Soul Records to Big Crown Records, Wray adopted the stage name Lady Wray.

== Recording and production == Lady Wray began recording the album in 2014. The album was recorded at The Diamond Mine, a private recording studio founded by Leon Michels and Thomas Brenneck in Queens, New York.<ref name="villagevoice">{{cite web |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2016/09/26/from-missy-to-lady-wray-how-nicole-wray-rode-out-a-20-year-rb-roller-coaster/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912025843/https://www.villagevoice.com/2016/09/26/from-missy-to-lady-wray-how-nicole-wray-rode-out-a-20-year-rb-roller-coaster/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2018 |title=From Missy to Lady Wray: How Nicole Wray Rode Out a 20-Year R&B Roller Coaster |work=Village Voice|date=December 8, 2021 |access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref> Continuing the sound of ''Lady'', her album with Terri Walker, ''Queen Alone'' contains a mix of contemporary R&B and 60s/70s retro soul.<ref name="billboard"/> Each song was written by Wray and produced by Leon Michels and Tom Brenneck.<ref name="billboard"/>

"Smiling" was the first song recorded for the album.<ref name="villagevoice"/> Wray originally wrote "Do It Again" for Lee Fields' album ''Special Night'' but retained the song after being encouraged by Michels and Brenneck.<ref name="billboard"/> "Do It Again" would go on to serve as the lead single, released on June 10, 2016.<ref>[https://music.apple.com/us/album/do-it-again/1472284590?i=1472284593 Lady Wray - Do It Again - Single]. Apple Music. Retrieved on June 26, 2025</ref>

== Track listing == {{Track listing | extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = It's Been a Long Time | extra1 = | length1 = 2:59

| title2 = Do It Again | extra2 = | length2 = 3:59

| title3 = Smiling | extra3 = | length3 = 3:19

| title4 = Guilty | extra4 = | length4 = 3:34

| title5 = In Love (Don't Mess Things Up) | extra5 = | length5 = 2:17

| title6 = Make Me Over | extra6 = | length6 = 2:24

| title7 = Cut Me Loose | extra7 = | length7 = 3:27

| title8 = Underneath My Feet | extra8 = | length8 = 2:39

| title9 = They Won't Hang Around | extra9 = | length9 = 3:53

| title10 = Bad Girl | extra10 = | length10 = 2:43

| title11 = Let It Go | extra11 = | length11 = 3:39 }}

== Personnel == Credits for ''Queen Alone'' adapted from album liner notes. {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * Thomas Brenneck — guitar, bass, vocals, percussion, producer, engineering, mixing * Alecia Chakour – backing vocals * JJ Golden — mastering * Dave Guy — trumpet * Vince John — piano * Ray Mason — trombone * Leon Michels — drums, guitar, keyboards, saxophone, flute, percussion, vocals, producer, engineering, mixing * Danny Miller — design {{col-2}} * Nick Movshon — bass, drums * Toby Pazner — piano * Paul Schalda – backing vocals * William Schalda Jr. – backing vocals * Max Shrager — drums * Homer Steinweiss — drums * Saundra Williams – backing vocals * Lady Wray — lead vocals, backing vocals {{col-end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Nicole Wray}} {{Authority control}}

Category:2016 albums Category:Nicole Wray albums Category:Soul albums by American artists