Desde Un Principio: From the Beginning
Encyclopedia
Desde un principio: From the Beginning is a greatest hits
album by American singer Marc Anthony
released on November 9, 1999, by RMM
. The album was a result from Anthony leaving RMM Records and signing on with Columbia Records
. It contains twelve tracks during his years with RMM, two duets with Jennifer Lopez
and La India
respectively, and "Preciosa".
The album was praised by Allmusic's Jose Promis, who complimented it as an "ideal introduction" to the artist but complained about the songs being truncated, especially towards the end. The album received a Billboard Latin Music Award
for "Latin Greatest Hits Album of the Year". It reached #1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums and Billboard Tropical Albums
charts and was also named the best-selling album of 2000 on both. It was certified gold by the RIAA
for shipments of 500,000 copies.
in 1997, disputes between Marc Anthony and RMM executive Ralph Mercado
had begun over business practices. Columbia Records
had approached Anthony to sign a contract with the record label. However Mercado would not allow Anthony to leave RMM Records owing to an earlier contract stating that Anthony was committed to record two more albums for the record label. Anthony filed a lawsuit against RMM Records, and with the backing of Columbia Records, they bought out the rest of the contract. As part of the settlement, Anthony allowed RMM Records to release a greatest hits from his earlier records.
, Todo a su tiempo
, and Contra la corriente
. "No me ames" is a duet with Jennifer Lopez
which was included on her debut album On The 6
. For the album, the tropical version was used. Another duet, "Vivir lo nuestro", features La India
and was originally recorded on the RMM Records compilation album, Combinacion Perfecta. "Preciosa" is a cover of Rafael Hernández's song which Anthony had recorded for a tribute album to Hernandez, Romance Del Cumbanchero – La Musica del Rafael Hernández.
chart, the album debuted at #1 on the week of November 27, 1999, and it remained at the position for five months. On the Billboard 200
, the album peaked at #151. According to Billboard, it was best-selling album of 2000 for the Latin Albums and Tropical Albums charts. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
In 2001, Anthony received a Billboard Latin Music Award
for "Latin Greatest Hits Albums of the Year".
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album by American singer Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
released on November 9, 1999, by RMM
RMM Records & Video
RMM Records, also known as RMM Records & Video Corp, was an independent Latin music record label based in New York City, The record label was formed originally as RMM Management by one of Fania Records promoter Ralph Mercado, but in 1987 it started operating as a record label, with Angelito...
. The album was a result from Anthony leaving RMM Records and signing on with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. It contains twelve tracks during his years with RMM, two duets with Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
and La India
La India
La India , known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa" , is a singer of salsa. She has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.-Early years:...
respectively, and "Preciosa".
The album was praised by Allmusic's Jose Promis, who complimented it as an "ideal introduction" to the artist but complained about the songs being truncated, especially towards the end. The album received a Billboard Latin Music Award
Billboard Latin Music Awards
The Billboard Latin Music Awards grew out of the Billboard Music Awards program from Billboard Magazine, an industry publication charting the sales and radio airplay success of musical recordings. The awards began in 1990...
for "Latin Greatest Hits Album of the Year". It reached #1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums and Billboard Tropical Albums
Tropical Albums
Tropical Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. Established in June 1985, the chart compiles information about the top-selling albums in genres like salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato, which are frequently considered tropical music...
charts and was also named the best-selling album of 2000 on both. It was certified gold by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for shipments of 500,000 copies.
Background
After the release of Contra la corrienteContra La Corriente (Marc Anthony album)
Contra la corriente is the third studio album released by American singer Marc Anthony on October 21, 1997 by RMM Records. The album was produced by Puerto Rican musician Angel "Cucco" Peña, with most of the songs written by Panamanian composer Omar Alfanno. The album was well-received by critics...
in 1997, disputes between Marc Anthony and RMM executive Ralph Mercado
Ralph Mercado
Ralph Mercado Jr. was a promoter of Latin American music — Latin Jazz, Latin rock, merengue and salsa — who established a network of businesses that included promoting concerts, managing artists, Radio Mundo Musical a record label the most important in the Latin industry during 1980-1990, film...
had begun over business practices. Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
had approached Anthony to sign a contract with the record label. However Mercado would not allow Anthony to leave RMM Records owing to an earlier contract stating that Anthony was committed to record two more albums for the record label. Anthony filed a lawsuit against RMM Records, and with the backing of Columbia Records, they bought out the rest of the contract. As part of the settlement, Anthony allowed RMM Records to release a greatest hits from his earlier records.
Music
The album includes fifteen songs, most of which come from Anthony's recordings with RMM. Four songs were selected from each of his earlier albums: Otra notaOtra Nota
Otra nota is the debut album by American singer Marc Anthony that was released on January 26, 1993, by RMM Records. Produced by Sergio George, it was the first album by Anthony to record in salsa after starting his career as a freestyle musician...
, Todo a su tiempo
Todo A Su Tiempo (Marc Anthony album)
Todo a su tiempo is the second studio album by American recording artist Marc Anthony, released by RMM Records on May 30, 1995. The album was produced by Sergio George, who was also involved with production of Anthony's debut studio album, Otra Nota. The album comprises of five new...
, and Contra la corriente
Contra La Corriente (Marc Anthony album)
Contra la corriente is the third studio album released by American singer Marc Anthony on October 21, 1997 by RMM Records. The album was produced by Puerto Rican musician Angel "Cucco" Peña, with most of the songs written by Panamanian composer Omar Alfanno. The album was well-received by critics...
. "No me ames" is a duet with Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
which was included on her debut album On The 6
On the 6
On the 6 is the debut studio album by American recording artist Jennifer Lopez, released on June 1, 1999 by Work Records. It debuted at number eight on the U.S. Billboard 200 the week of June 19, 1999, with first-week sales of 112,000 copies, remaining in the top 20 for 11 weeks and on the chart...
. For the album, the tropical version was used. Another duet, "Vivir lo nuestro", features La India
La India
La India , known also as "La Princesa de la Salsa" , is a singer of salsa. She has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards.-Early years:...
and was originally recorded on the RMM Records compilation album, Combinacion Perfecta. "Preciosa" is a cover of Rafael Hernández's song which Anthony had recorded for a tribute album to Hernandez, Romance Del Cumbanchero – La Musica del Rafael Hernández.
Commercial reception
The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums on the week of November 27, 1999. It reached #1 on the following week. On the Billboard Tropical AlbumsTropical Albums
Tropical Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. Established in June 1985, the chart compiles information about the top-selling albums in genres like salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato, which are frequently considered tropical music...
chart, the album debuted at #1 on the week of November 27, 1999, and it remained at the position for five months. On the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, the album peaked at #151. According to Billboard, it was best-selling album of 2000 for the Latin Albums and Tropical Albums charts. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Critical reception
Jose Promis of Allmusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars. He described it as a "superb collection" and that wrote that Desde Un Principio "proves a wonderful introduction to the music of Marc Anthony, a singer that, undoubtedly, will one day rank among the best." However he also complained about the songs being "severely truncated", especially near the end of the songs.In 2001, Anthony received a Billboard Latin Music Award
Billboard Latin Music Awards
The Billboard Latin Music Awards grew out of the Billboard Music Awards program from Billboard Magazine, an industry publication charting the sales and radio airplay success of musical recordings. The awards began in 1990...
for "Latin Greatest Hits Albums of the Year".
Track listing
Chart performance
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
151 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Tropical Albums Tropical Albums Tropical Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. Established in June 1985, the chart compiles information about the top-selling albums in genres like salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato, which are frequently considered tropical music... |
1 |