Back at One (album)
Back at One | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 21, 1999 | |||
Studio |
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Motown | ||||
Producer |
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Brian McKnight chronology | ||||
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Singles from Back at One | ||||
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Back at One is the fifth studio album by American singer
Upon its release, the album received generally mixed reviews from music critics. A commercial success, Back at One sold 144,000 units in its first week of release, reaching number seven on the US Billboard 200. McKnight's most successful album to date, it sold more than 3.0 million copies worldwide and was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and platinum by Music Canada. The album produced three singles, including its title track which reached number two in the US, and garnered nominations for the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album.
Background
In 1997, Brian McKnight released his third studio album
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
Billboard | favorable[3] |
Los Angeles Times | [4] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from
Writing for Billboard, Michael Paoletta found that "like its predecessor, 1997's Anytime, Back at One finds the singer keeping it sublime yet simple on an acoustic-based set. This, of course, allows McKnight ample room to showcase his smooth, simmering vocals."[3] In her review for the Los Angeles Times, Connie Johnson wrote that "McKnight records the ultimate background music, ideally suited for a candlelight dinner for two, not to mention more intimate interludes – music that's not distracting, in other words. McKnight is certainly not unpredictable [...] Everything is as classy and correct as one would expect from a McKnight project. Basically, it's pretty but not essential."[4]
Chart performance
In the United States, Back at One debuted and peaked at number seven on the
"Back at One", the album's title track, was issued as the album's lead single. It reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and hit number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming McKnight's highest-charting single to date. In addition, it became a top ten hit in Canada and New Zealand, and entered the top thiry in Australia and the Netherlands. Jerkins-produced "Stay or Let It Go" was released on a double single with the song "Win", McKnight's contribution to the soundtrack of the 2000 American drama film Men of Honor. It reached the lower half of the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 26 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, with "Win" reaching number 51. Third and final single "6, 8, 12" entered the top fifty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Last Dance" |
| McKnight | 4:45 |
2. | "Stay" | McKnight | McKnight | 4:23 |
3. | "Played Yourself" |
|
| 4:16 |
4. | "Back at One" | McKnight | McKnight | 4:23 |
5. | "Stay or Let It Go" |
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| 4:40 |
6. | "6, 8, 12" |
| McKnight | 4:07 |
7. | "You Could Be the One" |
|
| 5:39 |
8. | "Shall We Begin" | McKnight | McKnight | 3:59 |
9. | "Gothic Interlude" | McKnight | McKnight | 1:00 |
10. | "Can You Read My Mind" |
| McKnight | 3:57 |
11. | "Lonely" | McKnight | McKnight | 4:26 |
12. | "Cherish" | McKnight | McKnight | 4:05 |
13. | "Home" | McKnight | McKnight | 4:22 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a co-producer.
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Back at One.[14]
- Tom Bender – mixing assistant (tracks 4, 6)
- Jerry Christie – assistant engineer (track 10)
- Derek "Hot Sauce" Cumming – guitars (track 11)
- LaShawn Daniels – vocal production (tracks 3, 5)
- Dylan "3D" Dresdow – mixing assistant (tracks 1, 2, 7-13)
- Jean-Marie Horvat – engineer and mixing (tracks 3, 5)
- Dave Fredric – assistant engineer (track 2)
- Mick Guzauski – mixing (tracks 4, 6)
- Anthony Jeffries – engineer (track 7)
- Fred Jerkins III – music and production (tracks 3, 5)
- Rodney Jerkins – music and production (tracks 3, 5)
- pedal steel(track 6)
- Harvey Mason, Jr.– additional music, programming, Pro Tools, and engineer (tracks 3, 5)
- percussion(4)
- "McNoche" – guitars (tracks 2, 6, 8, 10, 12)
- Bill K. Meyers – orchestral arrangements (tracks 4, 13)
- Anthony Nance – co-producer (track 7), drum programming (1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 12), synth bass (1), keyboards (7)
- Dave "Hard Drive" Pensado – mixing (tracks 1, 2, 7-13)
- Herb Powers – mastering
- Wayne S. Rodrigues – Scratches(track 10)
- Mary Ann Souza – assistant engineer (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6-9, 11-13)
- Tommy Vicari – orchestral engineer (tracks 4, 13)
- Chris Wood – engineer (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6-13)
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[13] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[10] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b c d e "The Real Brian McKnight Pt. 2". irockjazz.com. June 10, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- ^ a b allmusic review
- ^ a b Paoletta, Michael (25 September 1999). "Review". Billboard. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Johnson, Connie (August 11, 1995). "McKnight Returns to Form With Mellowness and Reliability". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ )
- MTV.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "Brian McKnight Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "Brian McKnight Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ "Brian McKnight Brings Holiday Show to SugarHouse Casino". businesswire.com. September 3, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "American album certifications – Brian McKnight – Anytime". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Best of 1999". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Best of 2000". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "Canadian album certifications – Brian McKnight – Anytime". Music Canada. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- Motown Records. 1999.)
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link - ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 182.
- ^ "Brian McKnight Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. October 4, 1999. Archived from the original on October 7, 1999. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Brian McKnight – Back at One" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
- ^ "Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000". Jam!. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
External links
- Back at One at Discogs (list of releases)