Katy Hudson (album)

Growing up in a conservative household and raised by pastor parents, Hudson spent most of her childhood with gospel music as secular music was not permitted. At the age of 15, she began pursuing a career in music and started recording demos and learning to write songs, capturing the attention of Red Hill Studios, who signed her a deal. Hudson then began working on her debut album Katy Hudson.[3]

The album was released on March 6, 2001. It was released on two formats: the standard CD and cassette tape.[9] The album was a commercial failure for bankrupted Red Hill Records, only selling between 100 and 200 copies.[10]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Billboard	Positive[15]
Christianity Today	Positive[6]
Cross Rhythms	[16]
The Phantom Tollbooth	[4]

The album received generally mixed reviews from critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic awarded the record three stars out of five, stating that with the album, Hudson had "betray[ed] a heavy, heavy debt to Alanis Morissette". Erlewine described the record's overall sound as "the kind of assaultive, over-produced Wall of Sound that some CCM rockers do in order to prove they're contemporary".[2]

Christianity Today writer Russ Breimeier was positive about Katy Hudson, highlighting Hudson's songwriting style for being "insightful and well matched to the emotional power" of Hudson's music. He further deemed Hudson a "young talent" and expected to hear more from her in the next year.[6] Similarly, Tony Cummings from Cross Rhythms also considered Hudson to be a "vocal talent", recommending readers to listen to the album.[16] The Phantom Tollbooth's Andy Argyrakis stated that Hudson having been reared in church had "paid off", and noted that "Although a mere pop lightweight, it's hard to ignore Hudson's sincerity and lyrical maturity."[4] DEP from Billboard, also calling Hudson a talent, classified the record as "textured modern-rock collection that is equal parts grit and vulnerability" and "impressive".[15]

Credits extracted from Katy Hudson liner notes.[17]

Adapted from Katy Hudson liner notes.[17]

• Katy Hudson – lead vocals (1–10), background vocals (2, 7, 8)
• Tommy Collier – production (2, 3), acoustic guitars (1), guitars (3), keyboards (2, 3), loops (2, 3)
• Otto Price – production (1, 7, 8), synthesizers (1, 7, 8), bass (1, 2, 4–10), loops (2), programming (1, 7, 8), B-3 (1, 8), additional guitars (7, 8)
• Scott Faircloff – piano (2), keyboards (2, 3), wurlitzer (3)
• David Browning – production (4–6, 9, 10), keyboards and programming (4–6, 9, 10), B-3 (7), piano (8), string arrangements (5, 9, 10)
• Chris Graffagnino – guitars (4-6, 9, 10)
• Barry Graul – electric guitars/12-str (1), guitars (7, 8)
• Tony Morra – drums (2–6, 9, 10)
• Scott Williamson – drums (7, 8)
• Greg Herrington – drums (1), additional drums (7)
• Matt Pierson – bass (3)
• Jeffrey Scot Wills – saxophone (4)
• Otto Price, III – wah guitar (8)
• David McMullan – brass (7)
• Kim Palsma – woodwinds (1, 8)
• David Davidson – violin (1, 7)
• Kristin Wilkinson – viola (1, 7)
• John Catchings – cello (1, 7)
• Mark Stuart (of Audio Adrenaline) – background vocals (1)
• Stacy Tiernan – background vocals (3)

Katy Hudson is the only Christian music-influenced album by Hudson, who subsequently adopted Katy Perry as her stage name.[18] After her popularity increased, previously sold copies of Katy Hudson have become a sought-after item amongst her fans.[19]

• Maloney, Dayle; McAllister, Dawson (1999). Last Call for Help: Changing North America One Teen at a Time. ASIN 0966411854.
• Summers, Kimberly Dillon (2012). Katy Perry - A Biography. ISBN 978-1440801006.