Gloria Estefan’s new album, “Unwrapped,” will be released Sept. 23 worldwide by Sony Music. The set will be Estefan’s first English-language studio album in nearly six years, and her most intimate album yet.
Featuring duets with Chrissie Hynde and Stevie Wonder, “Unwrapped” — written almost entirely by Estefan — is neither dance-based nor obviously Latin-tinged. Its lush acoustic sound is closer to that of Norah Jones than Madonna. The album was co-produced by Sebastian Krys (Carlos Vives) and her husband, Emilio Estefan Jr.
“Somebody said, ‘This is Gloria’s “Tapestry” album,'” says Estefan Enterprises president Frank Amadeo, alluding to Carole King’s landmark album. “The music, obviously, is very personal to her. She’s tapped into a place she’s never gone before.”
The album also features four Spanish-language tracks and one remix.
Estefan’s last English-language studio album was 1998’s “Gloria!” (Epic). The set debuted at No. 16 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 568,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
2000’s “Alma Caribena” (Caribbean Soul) was Estefan’s last release and her third Spanish-language set. That collection debuted on top of Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and Tropical/Salsa charts and at No. 50 on The Billboard 200. It has sold 255,000 copies in the U.S.
Estefan is planning to tour Europe and the U.S. next year in support of the album — something she has not done for at least five years. As previously reported, this year she’ll play a string of concerts Oct. 10-19 at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the state-of-the-art Las Vegas showroom built for Celine Dion.
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