Secrets (Toni Braxton album)

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Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Unsubst-infobox". Secrets is the second studio album by American singer Toni Braxton, released on June 18, 1996, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The album was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 1997 Grammy Awards. Secrets has been certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Worldwide, the album has sold over 15 million copies. In support of the album, Braxton embarked on the Secrets Tour, playing dates in North America and Europe from August 1996 to October 1997.

Composition

The album's first song "Come On Over Here" is a "finger-poppingly upbeat", sultry groove track produced by Tony Rich. It was described as "a neo-Motown composition".[1] The second track and lead single, the airily funky "You're Makin' Me High", was produced by Babyface and Bryce Wilson.[1] It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.[2] The third track "There's No Me Without You" is a romantic song.[3] The fourth track and second single "Un-Break My Heart" is a ballad written by Diane Warren.[4] Warren played the finished song to Arista Records president Clive Davis, who thought it would be perfect for Braxton. With background vocals by Shanice Wilson and production by David Foster, the song spent 11 weeks at number one on pop radio stations and 14 weeks at number one on adult contemporary radio in late 1996.[4] It also won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1997.[2] It is a song of blistering heartbreak, as Braxton sings to her former lover, begging him to return to her and undo all the pain he has caused.[5] The fifth track "Talking in His Sleep" is about adultery.[3]

The sixth track "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" was co-written by Babyface and Braxton and features saxophonist Kenny G.[1] Over a "lulling" ballad melody, the lyrics detail a lover's wayward behavior.[1] "Let It Flow", included on the soundtrack to Waiting to Exhale, eventually became a staple of urban contemporary radio.[1] The song is a sultry tune that requires the singer to reach down to her lowest register.[1] On "Why Should I Care", Braxton ascends to a high, breathy croon,[1] while on "I Don't Want To", R. Kelly provides the soft bump-and-grind sound,[2] in a song about a romance in denial,[1] and "I Love Me Some Him" was written by Andrea Martin and Gloria Stewart and produced by Soulshock & Karlin.

Singles

The album's lead single, "You're Makin' Me High", earned Braxton her first number-one single on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. Its B-side, "Let It Flow", was an airplay success and was featured on the soundtrack to the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale. The second single, "Un-Break My Heart", became a commercial success worldwide, peaking at number one on the Hot 100 for 11 consecutive weeks, number one on the Hot Dance Club Play, and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while topping the charts in several other countries. The third single from the album, "I Don't Want To", reached the top 20 of the Hot 100 and the top 10 of the R&B chart. Its B-side, "I Love Me Some Him", was a major airplay success domestically. The fourth official single, "How Could an Angel Break My Heart", which features Kenny G on the saxophone, became another top-40 entry in the United Kingdom, while failing to enter the charts in the US.

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Secrets received generally positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic wrote that Braxton's "vocal talent is what unites Secrets and makes it into a first-rate contemporary R&B collection. Braxton is a singer who can cross over into the smooth confines of adult contemporary radio without losing or betraying the soul that lies at the foundation of her music, and her talent burns at its brightest on Secrets."[6] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly praised the "core Braxton/Babyface collaborations" on the album as "diverse, witty, and exquisitely modulated", noting Braxton's "technical range" and "ability to deliver SecretsTemplate:' sermons of sensuality—little gospels of good and bad loving—with unusual eloquence."[1] Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice, stated, "The apprentice diva of the debut was modest, composed, virtually anonymous. I'll take the right It Girl anytime—especially one who insists on getting her props."[7] David Fricke from Rolling Stone commented, "As designer champagne 'n' anguish R&B goes, Secrets goes down nice and easy."[3]

Commercial performance

Secrets debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 (behind Metallica's Load) and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 170,000 copies in its first week.[8][9] The album was certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 3, 2000,[10] and as of April 2011, it had sold 5,364,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[11] It sold an additional 927,000 copies through BMG Music Club.[12] In Canada, the album peaked at number four on RPMTemplate:'s albums chart,[13] and was certified septuple platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) on December 31, 1997, denoting shipments in excess of 700,000 units.[14]

The album debuted at number 54 on the UK Albums Chart for the week ending June 29, 1996,[15] before peaking at number 10 in its 30th week on the chart, on January 25, 1997.[16] On April 1, 1997, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified Secrets double platinum for shipments of over 600,000 copies.[17] In continental Europe, the album topped the charts in Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland, while reaching the top five in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, and Sweden, and the top 10 in Ireland.[18][19][20] In Oceania, the album reached number 11 in both Australia and New Zealand;[18] it has been certified double platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and gold by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).[21][22] By May 2010, Secrets had sold 15 million copies worldwide.[23]

Track listing

Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing

Notes

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Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Secrets.[24]

Musicians

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  • Toni Braxton – lead vocals, background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; all vocals (tracks 3, 6, 8, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; vocal arrangement (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Tony Rich – arrangement, all instruments, background vocals (track 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Marc Nelson – background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Shanice Wilson – background vocals (tracks 1, 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Randy Walker – MIDI programming (tracks 2, 3, 6–9, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Bryce Wilson – drum programming, keyboard programming (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Babyface – keyboards (tracks 2, 3, 6, 7–9, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; guitar (tracks 2, 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; background vocals (tracks 2, 7, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; drum programming (tracks 3, 6, 7, 9, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; acoustic guitar, electric guitar (tracks 3, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; synthesizers (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Chanté Moore – background vocals (tracks 2, 7, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Jakkai Butler – background vocals (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Reggie Hamilton – bass (track 3)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Luis Conte – percussion (tracks 3, 7, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangement, string conducting (tracks 3, 6, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • David Foster – arrangement, keyboard programming (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Simon Franglen – Synclavier programming (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Dean Parks – acoustic guitar (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Michael Thompson – electric guitar (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; guitar (track 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • L.A. Reid – background vocal arrangement (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Tim Thomas – background vocal arrangement (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Keith Crouch – arrangement, B3 organ, all other instruments, vocal arrangement (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Sherree Ford-Payne – background vocals (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Greg Phillinganes – piano (tracks 6, 7, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; Rhodes (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Nathan East – bass (tracks 6, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Kenny G – saxophone (tracks 6, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Reggie Griffin – guitar (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • R. Kelly – arrangement, background vocals, all instruments (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Soulshock & Karlin – arrangement (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Andrea Martin – background vocals (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

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Technical

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  • Tony Rich – production (track 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • L.A. Reid – production (track 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; executive production
  • NealHPogue – recording (track 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Leslie Brathwaite – recording (track 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • John Frye – recording assistance (track 1)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Jon Gass – mixing (tracks 1, 3, 7, 8, 11, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Babyface – production (tracks 2, 3, 6–9, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".; executive production
  • Bryce Wilson – production (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Brad Gilderman – recording (tracks 2, 3, 6–9, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Russell Elevado – recording (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Paul Boutin – recording assistance (tracks 2, 3, 6–9, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Robbes Stieglitz – recording assistance (tracks 2, 3, 6–9, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Bryan Reminic – recording assistance (track 2)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • "Bassy" Bob Brockmann – mixing (tracks 2, 9)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Kyle Bess – recording assistance (tracks 3, 6–8, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Brandon Harris – recording assistance (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Richard Huredia – recording assistance (tracks 3, 6, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Ivy Skoff – production coordination (tracks 3, 6–9, 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • David Foster – production (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Felipe Elgueta – recording (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Mick Guzauski – mixing (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Marnie Riley – mixing assistance (track 4)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Keith Crouch – production, recording (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Eugene Lo – recording (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Booker T. Jones III – mixing (track 5)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Jin Choi – recording assistance (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Jon Shrive – recording assistance (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Bill Kinsley – recording assistance (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Brad Haehnel – recording assistance (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Al Schmitt – string engineering (track 6)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Glen Marchese – recording assistance (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Larry Schalit – recording assistance (track 8)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • R. Kelly – production, mixing (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Peter Mokran – recording, mixing (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • John Merchant – recording assistance (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Frank Gonzales – recording assistance (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Ron Lowe – mixing assistance (track 10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Soulshock & Karlin – production (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Manny Marroquin – recording (track 11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Dave Reitzas – string engineering (track 12)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
  • Toni Braxton – executive production

Template:Div col end

Artwork

  • Toni Braxton – creative direction
  • Davett Singletary – art direction
  • D.L. Warfield – design
  • Nigel Sawyer – design assistance
  • Randee St. Nicholas – photography

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Release history

Release dates and formats for Secrets
Region Date Format Edition Label Ref.
United States June 18, 1996 CD Standard Template:Hlist [56]
Germany June 24, 1996 BMG [57]
Japan July 10, 1996 [58]
United Kingdom July 15, 1996 Template:Hlist Arista [59]
July 1, 2016 CD 20th Anniversary Funkytowngrooves [60]
Japan July 20, 2016 Solid [61]

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Toni Braxton

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  53. ↑ The first list is the list of best-selling domestic albums of 2000 in Finland and the second is that of the best-selling foreign albums:
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