- My Life (Mary J. Blige album)
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My Life Studio album by Mary J. Blige Released November 28, 1994 Recorded 1993–1994 Genre R&B, hip hop soul, soul Length 64:59 Label Uptown/MCA Producer Sean "Puffy" Combs (Executive), The Hitmen (Including Chucky Thompson & Nashiem Myrick), Poke, Mr. Dalvin Professional reviews The reviews parameter has been deprecated. Please move reviews into the “Reception” section of the article. See Moving reviews into article space.
- Allmusic
[1]
- Robert Christgau
[2]
- Entertainment Weekly (B)[3]
- NME (7/10)[4]
- Rolling Stone
[5]
- Spin (mixed)[6]
- The Washington Post (favorable)[7]
Mary J. Blige chronology What's the 411? Remix
(1992)My Life
(1994)Share My World
(1997)Singles from My Life - "Be Happy"
Released: October 26, 1994 - "I'm Goin' Down"
Released: January 18, 1995 - "Mary Jane (All Night Long)"
Released: February 8, 1995 - "You Bring Me Joy/I Love You"
Released: May 28, 1995 - "My Life"
Released: June 29, 1995
My Life is the second studio album from American R&B and soul singer Mary J. Blige, Released by Uptown/MCA Records on November 29, 1994. Recording sessions for the album began in fall of 1993 and ended almost one year later. Many of the topics on My Life deal with clinical depression, Blige's battling with both drugs and alcohol, as well as being in an abusive relationship. Similar to her debut album What's the 411?, My Life features vast production from Sean Combs, who provided a hip hop soul sound.
Considered to be her breakthrough album, My Life became Mary J. Blige's second album to reach the top ten of the Billboard 200 charts, peaking at number seven, and debuting at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for eight weeks. The album was nominated at the 1996 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album, while in December of the same year, the album was certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for excess in sales of over three million copies.[8] and won the Billboard Music Award for Best R&B Album.
Though receiving mostly mixed to favorable reviews upon its release, the album's reception among music critics and writers has improved over time, with some regarding it as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2002, Blender ranked My Life number 57 on their 100 greatest American albums of all time list,[9] in 2003, the album was ranked number 279 on Rolling Stone magazine's the 500 greatest albums of all time,[10] and in 2006, it was included in Time's 100 greatest albums of all time list.[11]
The sequel to the album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1), is scheduled to be released on November 21, 2011.
Contents
Overview
Following the success of her debut album, What's the 411?, and a remixed version in 1993, Blige went into the recording studio in the fall of 1993 to record her second album, My Life. The album was a breakthrough for Blige, who at this point was in a clinical depression, battling both drugs and alcohol, as well as being in an abusive relationship with K-Ci Hailey, which was reported in several tabloids. In this period, Blige would once again dominate the charts with her singles: the Top 40 hit "Be Happy", a cover version of Rose Royce's 1977 hit "I'm Goin' Down", and "Mary Jane (All Night Long)", an elucidation of the Mary Jane Girls' "All Night Long", Rick James's "Mary Jane", and Teddy Pendergrass's hit "Close the Door". The album uses primary soul samples from R&B musicians such as Curtis Mayfield, Roy Ayers, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Rick James, and his protegès, the Mary Jane Girls.
Other memorable songs include a cover version of Aretha Franklin's hit single "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman", "You Bring Me Joy" (which samples "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me" by Barry White) and "My Life," alongside an official remix version of the song "Be With You", which features Lauryn Hill rapping on the introduction and closing verses. (In 1998, Lauryn Hill would duet with Blige on the hip hop soul ballad "I Used to Love Him" on Hill's album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.)
She has annouced that her sequel to the album, My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1), is scheduled to be released on November 21, 2011 under Blige's label, Matriarch Records and Geffen Records.
Chart performance
My Life was released in the United States on November 28, 1994, and debuted on January 14, 1995 on the Billboard 200, peaking at #7, quickly selling a successful 200,000 copies in its first week of sales, and atop the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart at #1 for eight consecutive weeks. It eventually was the most successful R&B album on the Billboard Year-End chart for 1995. Singles from the album that have been released so far:
- "Be Happy" - the album's lead single, was released within a month of after the release of "My Life", peaked at #6 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" - the second single overall, debuting at #37 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- "I'm Going Down" - A cover version of Rose Royce's 1977 hit, the song debuted at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
- "You Bring Me Joy" - the fourth single, released in May 1995, debuted at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #29 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Track listing
No. Title Producer(s) Length 1. "Intro" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 1:04 2. "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 4:39 3. "You Bring Me Joy" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 4:13 4. "Marvin Interlude" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 0:36 5. "I'm The Only Woman" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 4:30 6. "K. Murray Interlude" Nashiem Myrick, Chucky Thompson 0:22 7. "My Life" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 4:17 8. "You Gotta Believe" Herb Middleton, Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 5:02 9. "I Never Wanna Live Without You" Herb Middleton, Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 6:17 10. "I'm Goin' Down" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 3:42 11. "My Life Interlude" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 1:15 12. "Be With You" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 4:26 13. "Mary's Joint" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 5:02 14. "Don't Go" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 4:59 15. "I Love You" Chucky Thompson, Sean "Puffy" Combs 4:31 16. "No One Else" Mr. Dalvin 4:14 17. "Be Happy" Sean "Puffy" Combs, Poke 5:49 International bonus track No. Title Producer Length 18. "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" Sean "Puffy" Combs 2:56 Samples
- "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" samples "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls and "Close the Door" by Teddy Pendergrass
- "You Bring Me Joy" samples "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me" by Barry White
- "I'm The Only Woman" samples "Give Me Your Love" by Curtis Mayfield and "For the Love of Money" by The O'Jays
- "K. Murray Interlude" contains a portion of "Who Shot Ya" by The Notorious B.I.G.
- "My Life" samples "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" by Roy Ayers
- "Don't Go" samples "Goodbye" by Guy, "Stay with Me" by DeBarge, "Brazilian Rhyme (Beijo)" by Earth, Wind & Fire, and "Speak to My Heart" by the New York Restoration Choir featuring Donnie McClurkin
- "I Love You" samples "Ike's Mood" by Isaac Hayes and "Hollywood's World" by DJ Hollywood
- "No One Else" samples "Free at Last" by Al Green and "La Di Da Di" by Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh
- "Be Happy" samples "You're Too Good To Me" by Curtis Mayfield and "I Want You" by Marvin Gaye
- "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" - Aretha Franklin cover
- "Be Happy (Remix)" samples "Money (Dollar Bill Ya'll)" by Jimmy Spicer
- "Be With You" samples "High Powered" by Dr. Dre featuring RBX, The Lady of Rage and Daz Dillinger
Personnel
- André Harrell - Executive Producer
- Big Bub - Vocals (Background)
- Bob Brockmann - Engineer, Keyboards, Mixing
- Bruce Purse - Trumpet
- Prince Charles Alexander - Engineer, Flute, Mixing, Piccolo, Producer, Sax (Tenor)
- Chucky Thompson - Keyboards, Multi Instruments, Producer
- Dalvin DeGrate - Arranger, Multi Instruments
- Darryl Pearson - Bass
- Debra Young - Production Coordination
- Diane Monroe - Violin
- Eileen Folson - Cello
- Faith Evans - Songwriter, Vocals (Background)
- Frank Colon - Percussion
- Fred McFarlane - Keyboards
- Gloria Agostini - Harp
- Herb Middleton - Keyboards, Multi Instruments
- Herb Powers - Mastering
- JoDee Stringham - Design
- K-Ci & JoJo - Arranger, Vocals (Background)
- Keenya Mauldin - Hair Stylist
- Latonya J. Blige - Vocals (Background)
- Lenny Underwood - Piano
- Lesa Terry - Violin
- Mark Ledford - Trumpet
- Mary J. Blige - Main Performer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Nasheim Myrick - Engineer, Programming
- Regina Carter - Violin
- Richard Travali - Engineer
- Rob Paustian - Engineer, Mixing
- Sam Fine - Make-Up
- Sante d'Orazio - Photography
- Sean "Puffy" Combs - Executive Producer, Producer
- Sybil Pennix - Stylist
- Tim Dawg - Associate Executive Producer
- Tony Maserati - Engineer, Mixing
- Victor Bailey - Bass
- Vincent Henry - Sax (Alto)
Charts
Chart (1993) Peak
positionU.S. Billboard 200 7 U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[12] 1 UK Albums Chart 2 Accolades
Publication Country Accolade Year Rank Blender United States The 100 Greatest American Albums of All time 2002 57 Entertainment Weekly The 100 Best Albums from 1983 to 2008 2008 70 Rolling Stone 50 Essential Female Albums 2002 17 Rolling Stone The 100 Greatest Albums of the 90s 2010 63 Rolling Stone The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 2003 279 Rolling Stone The Essential Recordings of the 90s 1999 * Time Top 100 Albums of All Time 2006 * Vibe 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century 1999 * Vibe 150 Albums That Define the Vibe Era (1992-2007) 2007 * The Rough Guide Soul: 100 Essential CDs 2000 * The New Nation United Kingdom Top 100 Albums by Black Artists 38 FNAC France The 1000 Best Albums of All Time 2008 862 See also
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1994 (U.S.)
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1995 (U.S.)
- Billboard Year-End
References
- ^ Swihart, Stanton. Review: My Life. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. Consumer Guide: My Life. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ Hopkins, Tracy. Review: My Life. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ Columnist. Review: My Life. NME: 34. January 7, 1995.
- ^ Hoard, Christian. Review: My Life. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ Bernstein, Jonathan. Review: My Life. Spin. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ Columnist. Review: My Life. Washington Post: G12. November 27, 1994.
- ^ United States Certifications My Life. riaa.com. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ Columnist. My Life Accolades. acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ Columnist. The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ Columnist. Time's All-TIME 100 Albums. Time. Retrieved on 2010-03-13.
- ^ "What's the 411? (1992)". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/album/mary-j-blige/what-s-the-411/48980. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
External links
- My Life at Discogs
- My Life accolades at acclaimedmusic.net
Mary J. Blige Studio albums Live albums The Tour • My Collection of Love Songs (Live)Remix albums Compilations Home media 411 Videos • Live from Los Angeles • An Intimate Evening with Mary J. Blige: Live from The House of BluesConcert tours Share My World Tour • The Mary Show Tour • No More Drama Tour • Love & Life Tour • The Breakthrough Experience Tour • Heart of the City Tour • Growing Pains European Tour • Love Soul Tour • Music Saved My Life TourRelated articles Book ·
Category
Discography What's the 411? "You Remind Me" · "Real Love" · "Reminisce" · "Sweet Thing" · "Love No Limit" · "You Don't Have to Worry" · "My Love"My Life Share My World Mary No More Drama Love & Life The Breakthrough Reflections - A Retrospective Growing Pains Stronger With Each Tear "The One" · "I Am" · "Each Tear" · "We Got Hood Love"My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1) "25/8" · "Mr. Wrong"Soundtracks Guest appearances "Check It Out" · "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" · "Can't Knock the Hustle" · "Lean on Me" · "911" · "Back 2 Life 2001" · "Come Close" · "I Try" · "Ain't No Way" · "Be Easy" · " Runaway Love" · "Wake Up Call (Mark Ronson Remix)" · "You're Welcome" · "Just Stand Up!" · "IfULeave" · "Remember Me" · "This Is To Mother You" · "What Child Is This" · "Hard Times Come Again No More" · "Bridge Over Troubled Water" · "It Ain't Over, Til' It's Over" ·Promotional singles "Someone to Love Me (Naked)" ·Book ·
Category
Categories:- 1994 albums
- Mary J. Blige albums
- Albums produced by Sean Combs
- Uptown Records albums
- MCA Records albums
- Allmusic
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