My Everything is the sixth studio album by American singer Anita Baker. It was released by Blue Note Records on September 7, 2004, in the United States. It was Baker's first album for the label and her first album of new material in ten years. For her comeback album, Baker wanted to be "in control" of everything, and once again teamed up with Barry J. Eastmond and George Duke. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds also contributed. Baker wrote or co-wrote eight of the album's ten tracks. The last track, "Men in My Life" was written for her then-husband and two sons.
The album debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and reached the top of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 132,000 copies in its first week. By May 2005, the album had sold 568,000 copies in the US and been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Thom Jurek wrote that "some may be frustrated that, after such a long time, Baker doesn't push the envelope more stylistically. This may be true in terms of the material itself, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Right down the line, Baker delivers on what she does best [...]. This is a worthy return, qualitatively standing head and shoulders above most everything else in its class." Beth Johnson, writing for Entertainment Weekly, remarked that "Baker picks up where she left off in '94. Granted, there isn't a monster hit on My Everything on par with her R&B; classics like "Sweet Love," but in these say-anything times it's next to revolutionary that she can whip her warm, luxurious voice into take-me-now passion while keeping it entirely."
Track listing
Personnel and credits
Musicians
Anita Baker – vocals, backing vocals Barry J. Eastmond – all keyboards, percussion, backing vocals George Duke – additional synthesizers, percussion Leo Colon – additional synthesizers Eric Rehl – additional synthesizers Russell Ferrante – acoustic piano (9) Babyface – guitars, backing vocals Phil Hamilton – guitars Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars Robert Randolph – guitars Gerald Albright – bass Alex Al – bass Nathan East – bass Reggie Hamilton – bass Jimmy Haslip – bass Ron Jenkins – bass Al Turner – bass Bernard Davis – drums Steve Ferrone – drums Will Kennedy – drums Ricky Lawson – drums Bashiri Johnson – percussion Rafael Padilla – percussion (6) Gary Bias – tenor saxophone (1, 9) Dan Higgins – baritone saxophone (1, 9), tenor saxophone (1, 9) Eric Marienthal – alto sax solo (9) Reggie Young – trombone (1, 9) Gary Grant – trumpet (1, 9) Jerry Hey – trumpet (1, 9) The Ridgeway Sisters – backing vocals (1) Gordon Chambers – backing vocals Perri – backing vocals Kenya Ivey – backing vocals (6) Music arrangements Anita Baker – arrangements (1–5, 7–10) Barry J. Eastmond – arrangements (1–5, 7–10), horn arrangements (1, 9) Jerry Hey – horn arrangements (1, 9) The Ridgeway Sisters – BGV arrangement (1) Babyface – arrangements (6) Russell Ferrante – arrangements (9)
Production
Anita Baker – executive producer, wardrobe Maria Eastmond – production coordinator Shaneika D. Brooks – project manager Gordon H. Gee – creative director Greenberg Kingsley – design Andrew Eccles – photography Q – hair Reggie Wells – make-up Evan Ross – wardrobe Technical credits Anita Baker – engineer (1–5, 7–10) Dylan Dresdow – engineer (1–5, 7–10) Barry J. Eastmond – engineer (1–5, 7–10) Allen Sides – engineer (1–5, 7–10) Kevin Syzmanski – engineer (1–5, 7–10), assistant engineer (1–5, 7–10) Ghian Wright – engineer (1–5, 7–10) George Duke – mixing (1–5, 7–10) Erik Zobler – mixing (1–5, 7–10) Paul Boutin – recording (6) Jon Gass – mixing (6) Greg Burns – assistant engineer (1–5, 7–10) Jared Nugent – assistant engineer (1–5, 7–10) Tom Wilber – assistant engineer (1–5, 7–10) Stefaniah McGowan – mix assistant (1–5, 7–10) Edward Quesada – mix assistant (6)
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2004) Peak positionCanadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)85Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)22
Year-end charts Chart (2004) Position US Billboard 200 179 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) 50
Certifications
See also List of Billboard number-one R&B/hip-hop albums of 2004
References