Songs in A Minor: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A double disc copy of Songs in A Minor (2001) by Alicia Keys including two long-playing vinyl discs (a, b), a cardboard jacket (c), and two cardboard sleeves for the discs (d, e).

The first vinyl disc (a) contains Side A ("Piano & I," "Girlfriend," "How Come You Don't Call Me," "Fallin'," "Troubles") and Side B ("Rock Wit U," "A Woman's Worth," "Jane Doe"). A label is adhered to the center of the disc on both sides listing the album name and the songs on that side. Side A features a sepia toned photograph of Keys, the same as the color image featured on the jacket (c). The B side has a sepia toned photograph of keys looking at the camera with her head tilted and wearing large sunglasses and her hair in braids with beads at the ends.

The second vinyl disc (b) contains Side C ("Goodbye," "The Life," "Mr. Man (duet with Jimmy Cozier") and Side D ("Never Felt This Way (Interlude)," "Butterflyz," "Why Do I Fell So Sad," "Caged Bird," "Lovin U"). A label is adhered to the center of the disc on both sides listing the album name and the songs on that side. Sid C features a sepia tone photograph of Keys leaning against a wall wearing a button down shirt, black tie, and furry vest, looking at the camera with her head tilted. The D side has a sepia toned photograph of Keys lying on a sofa on her stomach with her head turned backward toward the camera.

The cardboard jacket (c) has a color photograph of Keys standing on the proper right side of the front. She wears a green and black striped crop top under a black leather jacket, dark denim jeans, and the green hat 2015.118.1.1. Her name and the album name are printed at the left center, extending somewhat onto her body. The back side of the jacket has a color photograph of Keys leaning over a white piano with her head resting above the keys. She wears a tie-dyed blue and white jacket and pants. The album information and credits are printed in black, green, and blue text along the upper left corner.

Each vinyl disc is stored inside a cardboard sleeve. The sleeve (d) contains the disc (a). The front side has a black-and-white photograph of Keys wearing a floral blouse with a ruffled collar and holding her left arm up with her elbow parallel to the ground and her fingers covering her mouth. Script text is printed over her arm in black and white with lyrics and song titles. The back of the sleeve has complete credit information for each song printed in black on a white ground.

The sleeve (e) contains the disc (b). The front side has a black-and-white photograph of Keys leaning against a window sill and wearing the same blouse as the photograph on sleeve (d), with her head turned toward the camera. Script text is printed below her face in black and white with lyrics and song titles. The back of the sleeve has a thank you letter written by Keys printed in black on a white ground.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2001
• Recorded by: Alicia Keys, American, born 1981
• Published by: RCA Records, founded 1901
• Produced by: Clive Davis, American, 1932 - 2026
• Produced by: Peter Edge, English
• Produced by: Jeff Robinson
• Produced by: Alicia Keys, American, born 1981
• Type: record covers
• Type: long-playing records
• Medium: a, b: vinyl, ink on paper;
• Medium: c, d, e: ink on cardboard
• Dimensions: Diameter (a): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
• Dimensions: Diameter (b): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (c): 12 5/16 × 12 3/8 in. (31.3 × 31.4 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (d): 12 × 12 3/16 in. (30.5 × 31 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (e): 12 × 12 3/16 in. (30.5 × 31 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Classical (Music)
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Hip-hop (Music)
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Neo-Soul (Music)
• Topic: Popular music
• Object number: 2015.118.1.2a-e
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © 2001 Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.