Faith (Faith Evans album)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Faith
Studio album by
Faith Evans
ReleasedAugust 29, 1995
RecordedNovember 1994 – June 1995
StudioThe Hit Factory (New York City)
GenreR&B[1]
Length62:10
Label
Producer
Faith Evans chronology
Faith
(1995) 		Keep the Faith
(1998)
Singles from Faith
  1. "You Used to Love Me"
    Released: July 13, 1995
  2. "Soon as I Get Home"
    Released: September 21, 1995
  3. "Ain't Nobody"
    Released: October 26, 1995
  4. "Come Over"
    Released: January 24, 1996

Faith is the debut studio album by American singer

Jean-Claude Olivier
, among others.

The album, which spawned the

RIAA in March 1996. Faith contains a cover of the Rose Royce's single "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" which featured an appearance from Mary J. Blige on the album's original pressings.[2]

Production

Newly contracted to

Total,[5] but Evans wrote to the track after hearing the music and it was the first song finished for her album.[4] The second single "Soon As I Get Home" was done to pass the time at the studio because Thompson had a flight to catch later that day.[4][5] As he was about to leave, he received a call from Combs insisting he record the music Evans heard him play before he got on the plane.[4][5] Evans later left a message on Thompson's answering machine - which was the song she wrote and recorded.[5] Thompson said the song was finished and he didn't add any other touches to it.[4]

Another song on the album, "You Don't Understand", was primarily influenced by Evans' marriage to

Teddy Riley came looking for Hollister and overheard the two singing "Reasons". Riley then suggested to Combs that it should be made into a full song.[5] Faith was recorded primarily at The Hit Factory and Combs' personal studio Daddy's House Recording - both of which were based in New York City
.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[6]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[7]

Faith received critical acclaim upon its release. Entertainment Weekly gave the album an A− rating, describing Faith as "packed with sensual, smoky R&B torch songs and titanium-hard hip-hop beats--Faith seems set to take her place at the top of the mountain of young soul divas."[1] Vibe complimented the album's vocal production, noting that Evans "possesses a perfect voice. Folks have likened that voice to rain, and it's an appropriate metaphor [...] can sound as lilting as a summer shower or as electric as a thunderstorm. Her instrument's potential seems boundless [...] more Whitney than Mary, more classic than nouveau."[8] The Source praised Sean Combs' production, writing that "for those closet sentimentalists or those who like to get their slow drag on [...] when you're working with the man who perfected the remix, there's still a good chance that Faith will not only be pumping on rainy nights in the crib but also on summer days in the Land Cruisers too."[9] AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine remarked that Faith "proves that she is as powerful in the spotlight as she is behind the scenes. Evans builds on a basic, hip-hop-influenced funk, alternating between simmering grooves and sultry ballads. Faith does have a couple of dull spots, but the album is a first-class debut."[6]

Commercial performance

Released on August 29, 1995, the album became a success based on the hit singles "You Used to Love Me", "Soon as I Get Home" and "Ain't Nobody". It was certified

platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) with over 1,000,000 copies sold.[10]

Track listing

Faith track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Faith (Interlude)"Faith Evans
You Used to Love Me
"
  • Evans
  • Combs
  • Thompson
4:28
12."Give It to Me"
  • Evans
  • Combs
  • Thompson
4:35
13."You Don't Understand"
  • Evans
  • Combs
  • Thompson
5:01
14."Don't Be Afraid"
  • Evans
  • LaTrice Shaw
Herb Middleton4:55
CD-only bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Reasons"
  • Evans
  • Combs
  • Thompson
5:01
Total length:62:10

Sample credits

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Faith
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Faith (1995)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  2. ^ Arceneaux, Michael. "It's Time We Stop Treating Faith Evans As Just Biggie's Widow". vh1.com. Viacom International, Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  3. Allmusic. MTV
    . Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Interview: Chucky Thompson Talks Creating Faith Evans' Debut "Faith" and the History Behind the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa" (Part 2)". youknowigotsoul.com. You Know I Got Soul. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Williams, Chris. "Producer Chucky Thompson recalls crafting Faith Evans' debut album, Faith (1995) | Return To The Classics". soulculture.com. Soul Culture. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Allmusic review
  7. ^ Rolling Stone Album Guide
  8. ^ (9/95, p. 192)
  9. ^ (9/95, p. 104)
  10. ^ Smaldino, Denise (April 30, 2008). "Sean Combs earns platinum, gold". Variety. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  11. ^ "Faith Evans Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  12. ^ "Faith Evans Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  13. ^ "1995 Year-End Chart – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  14. ^ "1995 Year-End Chart – Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  15. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  16. ^ "American album certifications – Faith Evans – Faith". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 2017-04-12.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Faith_(Faith_Evans_album)&oldid=1204802534"