Toni Braxton (album)

Braxton and her four sisters—Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar—signed with Arista Records as the Braxtons in 1989. The following year, the group released their debut single, "Good Life".{{cite web |url = http://www.vibe.com/music/search/artist.html?id=UCAgICAzNzU3Ng |title = Toni Braxton |access-date = December 18, 2006 |work = Vibe |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071112190035/http://www.vibe.com/music/search/artist.html?id=UCAgICAzNzU3Ng |archive-date = November 12, 2007}} Though the song was commercially unsuccessful, it attracted the attention of record executive Antonio "L.A." Reid and record producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who were shopping around for talent for their new label LaFace Records. Instead of signing the quintet, they opted to offer Braxton a contract as a solo artist. With only one year to finish at Bowie State University, where she was studying to become a music teacher, she relocated to Atlanta to pursue a singing career.

The first single, "Another Sad Love Song", peaked at numbers seven and two on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, respectively. The album's second single, "Breathe Again", reached the top five of both the Hot 100 and R&B charts and at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Other singles were released from Toni Braxton in 1994, including "You Mean the World to Me", "Seven Whole Days", and the double A-side "I Belong to You"/"How Many Ways".

In Japan, the album was released as Love Affair, also a song on the album. The Japanese edition contains the same track listing as the standard version; the only difference is the Obi strip and the bonus lyrics booklet written in Japanese.

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Wynn |first=Ron |author-link=Ron Wynn |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/toni-braxton-mw0000099255 |title=Toni Braxton – Toni Braxton |website=AllMusic |access-date=October 4, 2015}}

| rev2 = Chicago Tribune

| rev2score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}{{cite news |last=May |first=Mitchell |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/10/07/toni-braxtontoni-braxton-laface-starstar-12the-producing/ |title=Toni Braxton: Toni Braxton (LaFace) |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=October 7, 1993 |access-date=April 8, 2013}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = C{{cite magazine |last=Fox |first=Marisa |url=http://www.ew.com/article/1993/07/23/toni-braxton/ |title=Toni Braxton |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |issue=180 |date=July 23, 1993 |issn=1049-0434 |access-date=October 4, 2015}}

| rev4 = Los Angeles Times

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Connie |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-05-ca-31800-story.html |title=Toni Braxton, 'Toni Braxton,' LaFace/Arista |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 5, 1993 |access-date=October 17, 2011}}

| rev5 = The Philadelphia Inquirer

| rev5score = {{Rating|2|4}}{{cite news |last=Moon |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Moon |title=Toni Braxton: Toni Braxton (Arista) |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=August 22, 1993 |issn=0885-6613}}

| rev6 = Q

| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |title=Toni Braxton: Toni Braxton |magazine=Q |issue=163 |date=April 2000 |page=106 |issn=0955-4955}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last=McAlley |first=John |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/tonibraxton/albums/album/114402/review/5946326/toni_braxton |title=Toni Braxton: Toni Braxton |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=670 |date=November 25, 1993 |issn=0035-791X |access-date=October 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709030218/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/tonibraxton/albums/album/114402/review/5946326/toni_braxton |archive-date=July 9, 2008 |url-status=dead}}

| rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last=Harris |first=Keith |chapter=Toni Braxton |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t9eocwUfoSoC&pg=PA103 |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |edition=4th |year=2004 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/103 103]–104 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8}}

| rev9 = The Tampa Tribune

| rev9score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news |last=Stengel |first=Catherine |title=Toni Braxton, Toni Braxton (LaFace) |newspaper=The Tampa Tribune |date=August 27, 1993 |issn=1042-3761}}

| rev10 = USA Today

| rev10score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |last=Jones |first=James T. IV |title=Young soul divas turn hearts afire |newspaper=USA Today |date=July 27, 1993 |issn=0734-7456}}

}}

Toni Braxton received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Ron Wynn from AllMusic said that the album showcased Braxton as "an elegant and earthy songstress, nicely balancing those seemingly divergent sentiments [...] Braxton's husky, enticing voice sounds hypnotic, dismayed, and disillusioned [...] but she's never out of control, indignant, or so anguished and hurt that she fails to retain her dignity." Los Angeles Times critic Connie Johnson wrote: "Sounding like an unlikely hybrid of Phyllis Hyman, Anita Baker and Tracy Chapman, Braxton's sultry, earthy delivery makes her a standout in today's R&B arena." Similarly, People found that "when Braxton slides into her lower register she echoes Anita Baker, and when she skips around the higher notes there's also a hint of Whitney Houston. The influences are there, but Toni Braxton is most definitely her own woman. On this sophisticated, stylish and soulful album, she slates her case."{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-toni-braxton-vol-40-no-8/ |title=Picks and Pans Review: Toni Braxton |magazine=People |date=August 23, 1993 |access-date=May 30, 2020}}

Mitchell May, writing for the Chicago Tribune, noted that "Braxton wisely lets the mood of a tune dictate her approach, allowing her to supply an emotional depth that perhaps even the songwriters didn't know was there." He also found, however, that "the disc loses steam around midpoint." In a mixed review, Rolling Stone journalist John McAlley felt that "Braxton has got chops and spunk... And, yes, there are a handful of songs in which she gets to do the do. But there's not a poet in the house among LaFace's family of writer-producers – no Smokey Robinson, no Linda Creed. And for all its polish, too much of the music on Toni Braxton mistakes melodrama for passion and set pieces for soul." Marisa Fox of Entertainment Weekly found much of the album "generic" and concluded that Braxton "can sing, but there's nothing in her songs or delivery to set her apart from any number of wine-cooler R&B divas." Village Voice critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "neither" rating in his Consumer Guide book.{{cite book |chapter=Toni Braxton: Toni Braxton |chapter-url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=8787 |access-date=June 30, 2020 |title=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |title-link=Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |publisher=St. Martin's Griffin |year=2000 |isbn=0-312-24560-2}}

The album earned Braxton several awards, including three Grammy Awards (for Best New Artist and two consecutive awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1994 and 1995). She also won two American Music Awards (for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist and Favorite New Adult Contemporary Artist) in 1994 and another one in 1995 (for Favorite Soul/R&B Album).

Toni Braxton debuted at number 36 on the Billboard 200 for the week ending July 31, 1993.{{cite magazine |last=Mayfield |first=Geoff |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1993/1993-07-31-Billboard-Page-0077.pdf |title=Between the Bullets: Top Priority |magazine=Billboard |volume=105 |issue=31 |date=July 31, 1993 |page=81 |issn=0006-2510 |via=World Radio History}} Following Braxton's appearance at the American Music Awards of 1994, the album rose from number seven to number one in its 31st week on the chart, on the issue dated February 26, 1994, becoming the first number-one album for LaFace Records.{{cite magazine |last=Bronson |first=Fred |author-link=Fred Bronson |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1994/1994-02-26-Billboard-Page-0090.pdf |title=The Wait Is Worth for Toni Braxton |magazine=Billboard |volume=106 |issue=9 |date=February 26, 1994 |page=94 |issn=0006-2510 |via=World Radio History}} It spent a second non-consecutive week atop the Billboard 200 for the week ending March 19, 1994, following the 36th Annual Grammy Awards.{{cite magazine |last=Mayfield |first=Geoff |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1994/1994-03-19-Billboard-Page-0085.pdf |title=Between the Bullets: Grand Grammy Slam |magazine=Billboard |volume=106 |issue=13 |date=March 19, 1994 |page=89 |issn=0006-2510 |via=World Radio History}} The album has sold 5,135,000 copies in the United States and 10 million copies worldwide.{{cite web |last=Maza |first=Erik |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2011-04-toni_braxtons_declining_record-story.html |title=Toni Braxton's decade-long record sales slump |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=April 11, 2011 |access-date=May 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617015616/https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2011-04-toni_braxtons_declining_record-story.html |archive-date=June 17, 2018}}{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ArUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58 |title=Toni Braxton: Back on Top After Bankruptcy |magazine=Jet |volume=98 |issue=6 |date=July 17, 2000 |page=58 |issn=0021-5996 |via=Google Books}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 53:18

| title1 = Another Sad Love Song

| writer1 = {{hlist|Babyface|Daryl Simmons}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|L.A. Reid|Babyface|Simmons}}

| length1 = 5:01

| title2 = Breathe Again

| writer2 = Babyface

| extra2 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons}}

| length2 = 4:29

| title3 = Seven Whole Days

| writer3 = {{hlist|Babyface|Antonio Reid}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons}}

| length3 = 6:22

| title4 = Love Affair

| writer4 = {{hlist|Tim Thomas|Ted Bishop}}

| extra4 = Tim & Ted

| length4 = 4:28

| title5 = Candlelight

| writer5 = {{hlist|Gaylor D|John Barnes}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons}}

| length5 = 4:36

| title6 = Spending My Time with You

| writer6 = Bo & McArthur

| extra6 = Bo & McArthur

| length6 = 4:08

| title7 = Love Shoulda Brought You Home

| writer7 = {{hlist|Babyface|Simmons|Bo Watson}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons}}

| length7 = 4:56

| title8 = I Belong to You

| writer8 = {{hlist|Vassal Benford {{small|(also music)}}|Ronald Spearman}}

| extra8 = Benford

| length8 = 3:53

| title9 = How Many Ways

| writer9 = {{hlist|Vincent Herbert {{small|(also music)}}|Toni Braxton|Ben Garrison {{small|(music)}}|Noel Goring {{small|(music)}}|Keith Miller{{ref|a|[a]}}|Philip Field{{ref|a|[a]}}|Anthony Beard{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| extra9 = Herbert

| length9 = 4:45

| title10 = You Mean the World to Me

| writer10 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons}}

| length10 = 4:53

| title11 = Best Friend

| writer11 = {{hlist|Braxton|Vance Taylor}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Ernesto Phillips|Braxton{{ref|b|[b]}}}}

| length11 = 4:28

| title12 = Breathe Again

| note12 = Reprise

| writer12 = Babyface

| extra12 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons}}

| length12 = 1:19

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = European edition bonus track{{cite AV media notes |title=Toni Braxton |type=European edition liner notes |others=Toni Braxton |publisher=LaFace Records |year=1993 |id=73008-26007-2}}

| total_length = 59:29

| title13 = Give U My Heart

| note13 = Mad Ball Mix

| writer13 = {{hlist|Watson|Babyface|Reid|Simmons}}

| extra13 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons|Herbert{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length13 = 6:11

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = Spanish edition bonus track{{cite AV media notes |title=Toni Braxton |type=Spanish edition liner notes |others=Toni Braxton |publisher=LaFace Records |year=1993 |id=74321-21261-2}}

| total_length = 63:59

| title14 = Breathe Again

| note14 = Spanish version

| writer14 = Babyface

| extra14 = {{hlist|Reid|Babyface|Simmons|K. C. Porter{{ref|d|[d]}}}}

| length14 = 4:30

}}

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} Despite not being credited as songwriters of "How Many Ways" in the album's liner notes, Keith Miller, Philip Field, and Anthony Beard are listed as songwriters by ASCAP and BMI.{{cite web |url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/380350156 |title=How Many Ways (Work ID: 380350156) |publisher=ASCAP |access-date=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?SearchForm.View_Count=&SearchForm.Main_Search=BMI+Work+ID&SearchForm.Main_Search_Text=1857645&SearchForm.Search_Type=bmi |title=How Many Ways (BMI Work #1857645) |publisher=BMI |access-date=March 31, 2021}}
• {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} signifies a co-producer
• {{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} signifies a remixer and additional producer
• {{sup|{{note|d|[d]}}}} signifies a remix producer

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Toni Braxton.{{cite AV media notes |title=Toni Braxton |type=liner notes |others=Toni Braxton |publisher=LaFace Records |year=1993 |id=73008-26007-2}}

{{div col}}

• Toni Braxton – lead vocals {{small|(all tracks)}}; background vocals {{small|(tracks 1–6, 8–12)}}
• Kayo – bass {{small|(tracks 1, 5–7, 10)}}
• Babyface – keyboards {{small|(tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 10, 12)}}; background vocals {{small|(track 7)}}
• L.A. Reid – drums {{small|(tracks 1–3, 5–7, 10, 12)}}
• Debra Killings – background vocals {{small|(tracks 1, 7)}}
• DeRock – percussion {{small|(tracks 2, 3, 10)}}
• Vance Taylor – keyboards {{small|(tracks 3, 5, 10)}}; acoustic piano {{small|(track 7)}}
• Pamela Copeland – background vocals {{small|(tracks 3, 4)}}
• Tammy Davis – background vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• Keisha Jackson – background vocals {{small|(track 3)}}
• Tim & Ted – drums, keyboards {{small|(track 4)}}
• Skip Pruitt – saxophone {{small|(track 4)}}
• Tim Thomas – background vocals {{small|(track 4)}}
• Tye-V – background vocals {{small|(track 4)}}
• Bo Watson – keyboards {{small|(tracks 6, 7)}}; synthesizer programming, vocal arrangement, rhythm arrangement {{small|(track 6)}}
• McArthur – guitar {{small|(track 6)}}
• Tomi M – guitar {{small|(track 6)}}
• Trina Broussard – background vocals {{small|(track 7)}}
• Valerie Davis – background vocals {{small|(track 8)}}
• Rex Rideout – keyboards, programming {{small|(track 11)}}
• Ernesto Phillips – guitar {{small|(track 11)}}
• Orlando Phillips – bass guitar {{small|(track 11)}}

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• L.A. Reid – production {{small|(tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 10, 12)}}; mixing {{small|(tracks 1–7, 12)}}; executive production
• Babyface – production {{small|(tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 10, 12)}}; executive production
• Daryl Simmons – production {{small|(tracks 1–3, 5, 7, 10, 12)}}
• Jim "Z" Zumpano – engineering {{small|(tracks 1–7, 10, 12)}}
• John Rogers – engineering {{small|(track 1)}}
• Barney Perkins – mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 7)}}; engineering {{small|(track 7)}}
• Dave Way – mixing {{small|(tracks 2–5, 12)}}
• John Frye – mixing assistance {{small|(tracks 2–6, 12)}}; additional MIDI programming {{small|(tracks 2, 3, 10, 12)}}; engineering assistance {{small|(track 6)}}
• Tim & Ted – production {{small|(track 4)}}
• Ron Horvath – engineering {{small|(track 4)}}
• Phil Tan – engineering {{small|(track 4)}}
• Thom Kidd – engineering {{small|(track 4)}}
• Ted Bishop – engineering {{small|(track 4)}}
• Brad Gilderman – engineering {{small|(track 5)}}
• Randy Walker – technician {{small|(track 5)}}
• Bo & McArthur – production {{small|(track 6)}}
• Jason Schablik – engineering assistance {{small|(track 6)}}
• Jon Gass – mixing {{small|(track 6)}}
• Fil Brown – engineering {{small|(track 7)}}
• Steve Schwartzberg – engineering {{small|(track 7)}}
• Matt Westfield – engineering {{small|(track 7)}}
• Sean Young – engineering {{small|(track 7)}}
• Milton Chan – mixing assistance {{small|(track 7)}}
• Vassal Benford – production {{small|(track 8)}}
• Victor Flores – engineering, mixing {{small|(track 8)}}
• Vincent Herbert – production, mixing {{small|(track 9)}}
• Ben Garrison – engineering, mixing {{small|(track 9)}}
• Ernesto Phillips – production, mixing {{small|(track 11)}}
• Toni Braxton – co-production {{small|(track 11)}}
• Bill Plummer – engineering {{small|(track 11)}}
• Bob Rosa – mixing {{small|(track 11)}}
• Dana Vlcek – mix engineering assistance {{small|(track 11)}}
• Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
• Constance Armstrong – album coordination
• Davett Singletary – project coordination

{{div col end}}

• Susan Mendola – art direction
• Daniela Federici – photography

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for Toni Braxton}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Toni Braxton|title=Toni Braxton|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1993|source=book|id=41}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Toni Braxton|title=Toni Braxton|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=1993|date=June 16, 1995|access-date=October 4, 2015}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=トニー・ブラクストン (Toni Braxton)|title=ラブ・アフェア (Love Affair)|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1993|certyear=1997|certmonth=5|access-date=April 8, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Toni Braxton|title=Toni Braxton|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1993|access-date=November 16, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Toni Braxton|title=Toni Braxton|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1993|id=1994-03-25|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|date=March 27, 1994}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Toni Braxton|title=Toni Braxton|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1993|certyear=1994|id=7654-3031-2|date=March 1, 1994|access-date=March 31, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Toni Braxton|title=Toni Braxton|award=Platinum|number=8|type=album|date=February 28, 1997|access-date=September 21, 2015|salesamount=6,107,000|salesref={{efn|As of April 2011, Toni Braxton had sold 5,135,000 copies in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan, with an additional 972,000 copies sold at BMG Music Club.{{cite web |last=David |first=Barry |url=http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=47877 |title=Shania, Backstreet, Britney, Eminem and Janet Top All Time Sellers |website=Music Industry News Network |date=February 18, 2003 |access-date=May 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319131506/http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=47877 |archive-date=March 19, 2015}} Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046724/ask-billboard |title=Ask Billboard: One More for 'One More Time'? |magazine=Billboard |date=January 25, 2008 |access-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102051334/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046724/ask-billboard |archive-date=January 2, 2019}}}}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=yes|salesamount=10,000,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

• List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1994
• List of Billboard 200 number-one R&B albums of 1993

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Toni Braxton}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1993 debut albums

Category:Albums produced by Babyface (musician)

Category:Albums produced by L.A. Reid

Category:Arista Records albums

Category:LaFace Records albums

Category:Toni Braxton albums