The Best of Brandy
Encyclopedia
The Best of Brandy is the first compilation album
by American
recording artist Brandy Norwood
. Completing her contract with Atlantic Records
after eleven years with the company, it was released in March and April 2005 on most international music markets.
The album comprises nearly all of her singles released between the years of 1994 and 2004, compiling her first four studio albums Brandy
(1994), Never Say Never (1998), Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac
(2004), as well as songs she contributed to film soundtracks such as Waiting to Exhale
(1995) and Set It Off
(1996). While featuring no original material, the greatest hits
disc contains rare tracks such as a 1995 cover of Michael Jackson
's "Rock with You," her international single "Another Day in Paradise
" and an exclusive censored version of the single remix of "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" featuring female rappers Da Brat
and Shaunta.
The Best of Brandy was appreciated by contemporary critics who noted the creativity of Norwood's back-catalogue. It debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200
albums chart, selling about 26,000 units in its opening week, and became a top thirty success in Australia
and the United Kingdom
.
, Brandy's publicist Courtney Barnes announced that the singer had requested and was granted an unconditional release from her recording contract with the music label, her record company since 1994, as Norwood was at "a place where [she wants] some change in her life [and] wanted to move on" musically. Brandy was subsequently asked to complete her contract with the release of a greatest hits
collection, a plan which she considered a true compliment and showcase for her development as a recording artist over ten years. "I'm really proud of it," Brandy said about the compilation album the following year. "When you get a chance to step back, you notice all these great things you've done and all these great people that you've worked with. The album is a celebration of me being in the industry for so long, and I'm still going." In addition, Norwood declared her satisfaction with the conclusion of her Atlantic era: "I just thought it was a great idea - to put 18 songs together of the best of everything that I’ve done made me feel really good. And also, it is giving me a reason to move on from everything I’ve done. I’m excited about putting it out and also putting it behind me."
commended that Norwood "helped soundtrack highs and lows, especially highs, with your so fresh/so clean stable of killer singles. Now that they’re collected like this, it’s like my own personal time capsule. Here’s to another decade, Brandy. As Aaliyah sang, you’re more than a woman, and the pop/R&B landscape is richer for your presence in it. Thanks." He gave the album an "A" rating.
In his review for Slant Magazine
, Sal Cinquemani criticized Warner Music and Atlantic for "botching the promotion of her last studio album [Afrodisiac
]" and Brandy's subsequent drop. He was however positive with the album's track lisiting, stating: "The collection is capped off with non-album tracks like the #2 hit "Sittin' Up in My Room
" and covers of Michael Jackson
's "Rock with You
" and Phil Collins
's "Another Day in Paradise
," which, though it's not exactly a labor of love for Brandy's longtime label home, makes The Best of a must-have for the hardest-core Moesha
fans." He rated the compilation three and a half out of five stars.
and number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart, selling about 26,000 units in its opening week. It remained five weeks within the chart and was left uncertified by the RIAA. Internationally, the compilation album entered the top thirty in Australia
and the United Kingdom
only, where it reached number 25 and 24 respectively, but enjoyed short runs on the national albums charts. In addition, the album reached number 92 on the European Top 100 Albums
chart.
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
recording artist Brandy Norwood
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
. Completing her contract with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
after eleven years with the company, it was released in March and April 2005 on most international music markets.
The album comprises nearly all of her singles released between the years of 1994 and 2004, compiling her first four studio albums Brandy
Brandy (album)
Brandy is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer Brandy, released by Atlantic Records on September 27, 1994 in North America, December 5 in the United Kingdom and on several dates in Europe, starting on February 3, 1995....
(1994), Never Say Never (1998), Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac
Afrodisiac
Afrodisiac is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Brandy Norwood, released by Atlantic Records on June 28, 2004 on most international territories and on June 29, 2004 in Canada and the United States...
(2004), as well as songs she contributed to film soundtracks such as Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 romance film starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett, directed by Forest Whitaker. The movie was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Dennis Haysbert, Michael Beach, Gregory Hines, Donald Faison and Mykelti...
(1995) and Set It Off
Set It Off
Set It Off is a 1996 action and crime film directed by F. Gary Gray, and stars Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise , as four close friends in Los Angeles, California who decide to plan and execute a bank robbery...
(1996). While featuring no original material, the greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
disc contains rare tracks such as a 1995 cover of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's "Rock with You," her international single "Another Day in Paradise
Another Day in Paradise
"Another Day in Paradise" is a song by Phil Collins released as the first single from his number-one album But Seriously . As with his song from Genesis, "Man on the Corner" "Another Day in Paradise" was written to bring attention to the problem of homelessness; as such, the song was a substantial...
" and an exclusive censored version of the single remix of "U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" featuring female rappers Da Brat
Da Brat
Shawntae Harris , better known as Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies, making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album.-Early life:...
and Shaunta.
The Best of Brandy was appreciated by contemporary critics who noted the creativity of Norwood's back-catalogue. It debuted at number 27 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...
albums chart, selling about 26,000 units in its opening week, and became a top thirty success in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Background
On November 1, 2004, four months after the release of her fourth studio album with Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, Brandy's publicist Courtney Barnes announced that the singer had requested and was granted an unconditional release from her recording contract with the music label, her record company since 1994, as Norwood was at "a place where [she wants] some change in her life [and] wanted to move on" musically. Brandy was subsequently asked to complete her contract with the release of a greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
collection, a plan which she considered a true compliment and showcase for her development as a recording artist over ten years. "I'm really proud of it," Brandy said about the compilation album the following year. "When you get a chance to step back, you notice all these great things you've done and all these great people that you've worked with. The album is a celebration of me being in the industry for so long, and I'm still going." In addition, Norwood declared her satisfaction with the conclusion of her Atlantic era: "I just thought it was a great idea - to put 18 songs together of the best of everything that I’ve done made me feel really good. And also, it is giving me a reason to move on from everything I’ve done. I’m excited about putting it out and also putting it behind me."
Critical response
The Best of Brandy received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman of Allmusic gave the compilation four and a half out of five stars and commented that "the disc is straightforward and rather thorough in its makeup, compiling almost all of Brandy's charting singles, [and] though the last two albums evidently didn't produce big singles, they're just as strong and fresh as the first two — so this set, unlike so many other anthologies from her contemporaries, hardly confirms dwindling creativity or popularity." Thomas Inskeep from Stylus MagazineStylus Magazine
Stylus Magazine was an online music and film magazine launched in 2002. It featured long-form music journalism, four daily music reviews, movie reviews, a number of different podcasts, an MP3 blog, and a text blog....
commended that Norwood "helped soundtrack highs and lows, especially highs, with your so fresh/so clean stable of killer singles. Now that they’re collected like this, it’s like my own personal time capsule. Here’s to another decade, Brandy. As Aaliyah sang, you’re more than a woman, and the pop/R&B landscape is richer for your presence in it. Thanks." He gave the album an "A" rating.
In his review for Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
, Sal Cinquemani criticized Warner Music and Atlantic for "botching the promotion of her last studio album [Afrodisiac
Afrodisiac
Afrodisiac is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Brandy Norwood, released by Atlantic Records on June 28, 2004 on most international territories and on June 29, 2004 in Canada and the United States...
]" and Brandy's subsequent drop. He was however positive with the album's track lisiting, stating: "The collection is capped off with non-album tracks like the #2 hit "Sittin' Up in My Room
Sittin' up in My Room
"Sittin' Up in My Room" is a song by American singer Brandy, written and produced by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds for the soundtrack of the 1995 motion picture Waiting to Exhale...
" and covers of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's "Rock with You
Rock with You
"Rock With You" was written by Rod Temperton and recorded by Michael Jackson. It was released on November 3, 1979, as the second single from Michael Jackson's fifth album, Off the Wall. Written by Heatwave group member and songwriter Rod Temperton, who also wrote Jackson's 1984 song "Thriller"...
" and Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
's "Another Day in Paradise
Another Day in Paradise
"Another Day in Paradise" is a song by Phil Collins released as the first single from his number-one album But Seriously . As with his song from Genesis, "Man on the Corner" "Another Day in Paradise" was written to bring attention to the problem of homelessness; as such, the song was a substantial...
," which, though it's not exactly a labor of love for Brandy's longtime label home, makes The Best of a must-have for the hardest-core Moesha
Moesha
Moesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.-Overview:The show...
fans." He rated the compilation three and a half out of five stars.
Chart performance
In the United States, The Best of Brandy debuted at number 27 on the Billboard 200Billboard 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...
and number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart, selling about 26,000 units in its opening week. It remained five weeks within the chart and was left uncertified by the RIAA. Internationally, the compilation album entered the top thirty in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
only, where it reached number 25 and 24 respectively, but enjoyed short runs on the national albums charts. In addition, the album reached number 92 on the European Top 100 Albums
European Top 100 Albums
The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100...
chart.
Track listing
North American editionCredits and personnel
- Dallas Austin - producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
- Babyface - producer
- Liz Barrett - project assistant
- Marc Baptiste - photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Mike City - producer
- Phil Collins - composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
- Keith Crouch - producer
- Sara Cumings - art direction, designDesignDesign as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
- LaShawn Daniels - composer
- Ginger Dettman - project assistant
- Malia Doss - project assistant
- Mike Engstrom - product manager
- Roger Erickson - cover photo, photography
- Alan Fletcher - project assistant
- David Foster - producer
- Annaliese Harmon - project assistant
- Dan Hersch - remasteringAudio masteringMastering, a form of audio post-production, is the process of preparing and transferring recorded audio from a source containing the final mix to a data storage device ; the source from which all copies will be produced...
- Jacqueline Hilliard - composer
- Robin Hurley - project assistant
- Bill Inglot - remastering
- Fred Jerkins III - producer
- Rodney Jerkins - producer
- Kipper Jones - producer
- Quincy Jones - producer
- Johnny de Mairo - producer
- Jonathan Mannion - photography
- Mark McKenna - project assistant
- Sonja Norwood - managementManagementManagement in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
- QDIII - producer
- Ray J - performer
- Guy Roche - producer
- Timbaland - producer
- Becky Wagner - project assistant
- Kanye West - producer
- Corey Williams - project assistant
- Steve Woolard - project assistant
Charts
| Chart (2005) | Provider | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... |
25 |
| European Top 100 Albums European Top 100 Albums The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100... |
IFPI | 92 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
BPI British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... /The Official Charts Company |
24 |
| 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... |
Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... |
27 |
| U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
11 | |
Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | March 28, 2005 |
| Austria | April 4, 2005 |
| Germany | |
| Switzerland | |
| Canada | April 5, 2005 |
| United States | |
| France | April 12, 2005 |
External links
- ForeverBrandy.com — official site