Heavy Rotation

Heavy Rotation is the fourth studio album by American singer and songwriter Anastacia, released on October 24, 2008 by Mercury Records. It is her first studio album in over four years, since her eponymous third studio album. According to Anastacia, the album title has a deeper meaning to it, referring to the fact that life rotates and you get through the "heavy" things. In the United States, Heavy Rotation was released on February 17, 2009 in digital format only, including three reworked tracks and the bonus track "Naughty". The album failed to match the commercial success of its predecessors, struggling in the music charts and regarded as 'chasing sales' by Anastacia's label in an attempt to achieve a successful comeback. The singer herself later stressed her regret in the label's creative direction and stated that she would return to the sound of her previous projects on later albums. The album was ranked at number 10 by Billboard magazine's online "Readers' Poll: 10 Best Albums of 2008". Background and recording Heavy Rotation marked Anastacia's first studio album on her new record deal with The Island Def Jam Music Group and Mercury Records since her departure from Daylight and Epic Records following the release of her 2005 compilation album Pieces of a Dream. Initially scheduled for an earlier release, her next project was pushed back because of ongoing negotiations with the record labels. In the album's liner notes, she also commented: "It's been such a fast album I had no idea of what it was going to sound like, what I was going to say. I figured there would be a couple of love songs, but I didn't realise that most of the album was going to be as happy as it is. Even the songs I didn't write myself, that I chose, are all positive." Comparing it to previous efforts, Anastacia noted it a breakaway from her style: "The music feels different to the Anastacia. This album is more soulful. I feel more in touch with my inner self, my inner soul. I feel like I've come out of the other side of it all now, and found real peace. I've realised that life doesn't have to be controlled by me, in every way. And it's been fun, letting go, realising I don't have to be such a perfectionist." Initially scheduled for an earlier release, Heavy Rotation was pushed back because of ongoing negotiations with the record labels.