Jump to content

Brandy (album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Oshwah (talk | contribs) at 03:15, 5 March 2016 (Reverted edits by 67.83.165.137 (talk) (HG) (3.1.19)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled

Brandy is the self-titled debut album by American R&B singer Brandy. It was released by Atlantic Records on September 27, 1994 in North America, December 5 in the United Kingdom and on several dates in Europe and Oceania, starting on February 3, 1995. The album contains a range of contemporary genres, and the songs are a mix of soft hip hop soul, pop and contemporary mid–1990s R&B. They were chiefly produced by Keith Crouch who would contribute all four single releases from the album. Aside from Crouch, Norwood worked with a range of other writers and producers, including R&B group Somethin' for the People, Arvel McClinton, and Damon Thomas and young Robin Thicke.

Upon release, Brandy received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Norwood's appearance, as well as the album's timeless appeal. It became a commercial success as well. While initial sales were slow, the album reached the top 20 of the US Billboard 200 was certified four-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over two million copies in the United States. It experienced similar success in Australia and Canada, where it was platinum and gold respectively. Worldwide, the album has sold over six million copies.

Four singles were released from the album, two of which became number-one hits on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles. "I Wanna Be Down" was chosen as the album's lead single, reaching the top ten in the United States and the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand. The song was critically lauded, and was regarded as a standout track on Brandy. The album's second single, "Baby" was also well received and charted even higher. With the following two singles, "Best Friend" and "Brokenhearted" also reaching the top ten in the US, Norwood established herself as one of the most successful of the new breed of urban R&B female vocalists to emerge during the mid-to late 1990s. It also garnered Norwood two Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and one for the album's second single, "Baby" for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 38th Grammy Awards in 1996.

Background

In 1990, Norwood's talent led to a binding oral contract with Teaspoon Productions, headed by Chris Stokes and Earl Harris, who obtained her gigs as a backing vocalist for their R&B boy band Immature.[1] The same year, Stokes arranged the production of a demo tape which was handed over to Atlantic Recording Corporation executives.[2] While they liked the material, they found Norwood too young at age 11 and told her to come back when she was 14.[2] In 1993, amid ongoing negotiations with East West Records, Norwood's parents organized a recording contract with Atlantic after auditioning for the company's director of A&R, Darryl Williams.[3] Norwood subsequently dropped out of Hollywood High School later and was tutored privately from tenth grade on.[3]

During the early production stages of her debut on the Atlantic label, Norwood was selected for a role in the ABC sitcom Thea, portraying the 12-year-old daughter of a single mother played by Thea Vidale.[4] Broadcast to mediocre ratings, the series ended only eight months after its premiere.[5] Norwood appreciated the cancellation of the show as she was unenthusiastic about acting at the time and the taping caused scheduling conflicts with the recording of her album, stating: "I felt bad for everybody else but me. It was a good thing, because I could do what I had to do, because I wanted to sing [...] When Thea was canceled I was like, ‘Okay, I can now put all my focus into my album’."[2][6] Atlantic consulted newcomer Keith Crouch to work with Norwood on the bulk of the album.[2] Norwood noted that her collaboration with Crouch "was very important for me as a young artist. At the time he was not trying to be like anyone else on radio. He was all about his own sound. But what I really loved about Keith is he gave me real music. He didn’t give me teenybopper records. It was age appropriate, youthful records, but it was still real music. We had a great connection."[2] While Crouch would provide the core sound of the album, Norwood also worked with all-male R&B group Somethin' for the People and Damon Thomas on some tracks.[7] A then 16-year-old Robin Thicke scored his first co-writing credit on the album with "Love Is on My Side".[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Entertainment WeeklyC[10]
Los Angeles Times[11]
Peoplepositive[12]
Robert Christgau(neither)[13]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[14]

In his review for AllMusic, Eddie Huffman wrote that "this teenage R&B singer hit the Top Ten late in 1994 with "I Wanna Be Down", a representative track from her solid debut album. Brandy knows her way around a hip-hop beat, layering tender-tough vocals over spare arrangements like a lower-key Janet Jackson or a more stripped-down Mary J. Blige. Good songs and crisp production make Brandy a moody, moving success."[9] In 2007, Vibe rated Brandy among the 150 most essential albums since its launch.[15] The magazine found that "Brandy's debut is slow, deliberate, and naive — not for lack of accomplishment, but because the best moments here sound as wide-eyed and new as a first date."[15]

People compared the effort with Aaliyah's debut album Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, which was released four months prior, writing: "While everything about Aaliyah screams here-and-now, Brandy's well-groomed blend of gently lilting hip hop and pop-soul has a more timeless appeal. With the poise and sassy confidence of a diva twice her age, Brandy mixes her love songs with tributes to her little brother ("Best Friend"), God ("Give Me You"), the perfect man ("Baby") and older crooners like Aretha and Whitney ("I Dedicate"). While this isn't groundbreaking stuff, Brandy has the pipes to become more than the latest teenage next-big-thing."[12] Anderson Jones from Entertainment Weekly was less enthusiastic with the album. He gave the album a C rating and considered it as: "An album that seems based on the philosophy 'If Aaliyah can do it, why can't I?' except that in singing about best friends, heroes, and puppy love instead of about making love, teen actress Norwood (TV's Thea) acts her age. A premature effort, at best."[10] In his Consumer Guide, Robert Christgau gave the album a "neither" score,[13] and said it "may impress once or twice with consistent craft or an arresting track or two. Then it won't."[16]

Sales and legacy

Brandy entered the US Billboard 200 at number 94, and peaked at number 20 in its fifth week, remaining for 89 weeks on the Billboard 200.[17] The album was certified four-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold 2.12 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[17] In addition, it peaked at number 6 on the US Billoard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It remained for 86 weeks on that chart.[17] In Canada, the album also peaked at number 20 on the Canadian RPM Singles Chart during the week of February 13, 1995.[18] To date, Brandy is certified gold by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), denoting shipments of over 50,000 copies.[19] The album peaked at number 26 in Australia.[20] As of 2010, the album has sold over 6 million copies worldwide.[21]

With the release of her debut album and the combined commercial success of its singles, Norwood had established herself a successful solo artist. The album led her to successful endeavors post 1994 until the release of her second album Never Say Never (1998), including a joint tour with vocal group Boyz II Men, songs landing on successful soundtracks for films such as Waiting to Exhale (1995) and Set It Off (1996), her first starring TV role in the sitcom Moesha, and starring as the first African American Cinderella in Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.[22]

Widely acclaimed, Complex magazine named Brandy one of the 50 best R&B albums of the 1990s. [23] Serving as an inspiration for other artists, American neo soul singer Erykah Badu revealed on Twitter that her 1997 debut album, Baduizm, was partly influenced by Brandy, tweeting “Brandy's first album was one of my inspirations when writting Baduizm. I looove that album [...] songs i liked were "I Wanna Be Down" and "Always on My Mind"... nice."[24] Fellow neo soul artist Jill Scott particularly praised the songs "Sunny Day" and "Always On My Mind" saying "I listen to her shit all the time". [25] Pop group Karmin's song "Brokenhearted" was inspired by Brandy's song of the same name.[26]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Movin' On"Keith Crouch, Kipper JonesKeith Crouch4:27
2."Baby"Keith Crouch, Kipper Jones, Rahsaan PattersonKeith Crouch5:13
3."Best Friend"Keith Crouch, Glenn McKinneyKeith Crouch4:48
4."I Wanna Be Down"Keith Crouch, Kipper JonesKeith Crouch4:51
5."I Dedicate (Part I)"Rochad Holiday, Brandy Norwood, Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Jeffrey YoungSomethin' for the People1:29
6."Brokenhearted"Keith Crouch, Kipper JonesKeith Crouch, Kipper Jones5:52
7."I'm Yours"Arvel McClinton, Damon ThomasArvel McClinton, Damon Thomas4:01
8."Sunny Day"Rochad Holiday, Mark Lomax, Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Jeffrey YoungSomethin' for the People4:29
9."As Long as You're Here"Rochad Holiday, Trina Powell, Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Jeffrey YoungSomethin' for the People4:45
10."Always on My Mind"Kenneth CrouchKenneth Crouch4:06
11."I Dedicate (Part II)"Rochad Holiday, Brandy Norwood, Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Jeffrey YoungSomethin' for the People0:55
12."Love Is on My Side"Robin Thicke, Damon ThomasDamon Thomas5:09
13."Give Me You"Rochad Holiday, Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Jeffrey Young, Kenny YoungSomethin' for the People4:25
14."I Dedicate (Part III)"Rochad Holiday, Brandy Norwood, Curtis "Sauce" Wilson, Jeffrey YoungSomethin' for the People1:01

Credits and personnel

Production

  • Vocal assistance: Tiara Lemacks, Sherree Ford-Payne, Rahsaan Patterson, Robin Thicke, Jeffrey Young
  • Arranger: Fuzzy
  • Programming: Arvel McClinton III
  • Jerry Conaway

Charts and certifications

Release history

Region Date
United States September 27, 1994
Canada
Australia
France
United Kingdom December 5, 1994
Ireland
Germany February 3, 1995
Austria
Switzerland

References

  1. ^ "Brandy And Her Parents Sued For Breaking Management Agreement". Jet. Google Books. 1995-05-15. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Full Clip: Brandy Breaks Down Her Entire Catalogue Feat. Babyface, Monica, Timbaland, Kanye West, Diddy & More". Vibe. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  3. ^ a b Helligar, Jeremy (1998-06-08). "Starry-Eyed". People. People.com. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  4. ^ Hoadri Coker, Cheo (2004-07-01). Not That Innocent. Google Books. Retrieved 2010-06-28. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Thea`s Brandy Bounces Back With Hit Album". The Victoria Advocate. Google Books. 1995-03-12. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  6. ^ Gerston, Jill (1996-02-11). "Brandy, Pop Star, Plays a Teen-Ager, Though Not Just Any Teen-Ager". The New York Times. NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
  7. ^ Brandy (Media notes). Brandy Norwood. Atlantic Records. 1994.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Fennessey, Sean (2007-04-01). "Natural Selection". Vibe. Google Books. Retrieved 2012-09-20.
  9. ^ a b Huffman, Eddie. "Brandy – Brandy (1994)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  10. ^ a b Jones, Anderson (1994-11-04). "Music Review: 'Brandy' (1994)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  11. ^ Johnson, Connie (1994-10-30). "In Brief (Brandy: Brandy)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-10-13. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b "Picks and Pans Review: Brandy". People. 1994-10-24. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  13. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "CG: Brandy". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  14. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 102. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  15. ^ a b "Brandy – Brandy (1994)". Vibe. Google Books. 2007-03-01. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  16. ^ Christgau, Robert. "CG 90s: Key to Icons". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  17. ^ a b c d Basham, David (2002-03-14). "Got Charts? The Long Road To #1 — And Those Who Rocked It – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. Retrieved 2012-02-08. {{cite web}}: C1 control character in |title= at position 33 (help)
  18. ^ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 61, No. 2, February 13, 1995". RPM. RPM Music Publications Ltd. 1995-02-12. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  19. ^ "Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA)". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  20. ^ a b Kent, David (2003). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  21. ^ "Michael Bolton Demands Apology From Bruno Tonioli". ABC News. American Broadcasting Company (ABC). 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  22. ^ http://www.complex.com/music/2014/07/best-r-and-b-albums-of-the-90s/brandy
  23. ^ http://www.complex.com/music/2014/07/best-r-and-b-albums-of-the-90s/brandy
  24. ^ "ErykahBadoula: 28 Sep 12". Twitter. 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
  25. ^ "Celebrities Congratulate Brandy on 20 Years & She Reacts!". TrueExclusives. 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  26. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4-GpLvrEB4
  27. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Brandy – Brandy". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  28. ^ "Brandy Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  29. ^ "Brandy Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  30. ^ a b "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-06-15. Cite error: The named reference "year-end2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  31. ^ "Gold and Platinum – Brandy". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brandy_(album)&oldid=708354242"