Secrets is the second studio album by American singer
Toni Braxton, released on June 18, 1996, by
LaFace Records and
Arista Records. The album was nominated for
Best Pop Album at the
1997 Grammy Awards. Secrets has been certified eight-times platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Worldwide, the album has sold over 15 million copies. In support of the album, Braxton embarked on the
Secrets Tour, playing dates in North America and Europe from August 1996 to October 1997.
Composition
The album's first song "Come On Over Here" is a "finger-poppingly upbeat", sultry groove track produced by Tony Rich. It was described as "a neo-
Motown composition".[3] The second track and lead single, the airily funky "
You're Makin' Me High", was produced by
Babyface and Bryce Wilson.[3] It was also nominated for a
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.[4] The third track "There's No Me Without You" is a romantic song.[5] The fourth track and second single "
Un-Break My Heart" is a ballad written by
Diane Warren.[6] She played the finished song to
Arista Records president
Clive Davis, who thought it would be perfect for Braxton. With background vocals by
Shanice Wilson and production by
David Foster, the song spent 11 weeks at number one on
pop radio stations and 14 weeks at number one on
adult contemporary radio in late 1996.[6] It also won a
Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1997.[4] It is a song of blistering heartbreak, as Braxton sings to her former lover, begging him to return to her and undo all the pain he has caused.[7] The fifth track "Talking in His Sleep" is about
adultery.[5]
The album's lead single, "
You're Makin' Me High", earned Braxton her first number-one single on both the
Billboard Hot 100 and the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. Its
B-side, "
Let It Flow", was an airplay success and was featured on the
soundtrack to the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale. The second single, "
Un-Break My Heart", became a commercial success worldwide, peaking at number one on the Hot 100 for 11 consecutive weeks, number one on the
Hot Dance Club Play, and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while topping the charts in several other countries. The third single from the album, "
I Don't Want To", reached the top 20 of the Hot 100 and the top 10 of the R&B chart. Its B-side, "
I Love Me Some Him", was a major airplay success domestically. The fourth official single, "
How Could an Angel Break My Heart", which features
Kenny G on the saxophone, became another top-40 entry in the United Kingdom, while failing to enter the charts in the US.
Secrets received generally positive reviews from
music critics.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from
AllMusic wrote that Braxton's "vocal talent is what unites Secrets and makes it into a first-rate contemporary R&B collection. Braxton is a singer who can cross over into the smooth confines of adult contemporary radio without losing or betraying the soul that lies at the foundation of her music, and her talent burns at its brightest on Secrets."[2]Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly praised the "core Braxton/Babyface collaborations" on the album as "diverse, witty, and exquisitely modulated", noting Braxton's "technical range" and "ability to deliver Secrets' sermons of sensuality—little gospels of good and bad loving—with unusual eloquence."[3]Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice, stated, "The apprentice diva of the
debut was modest, composed, virtually anonymous. I'll take the right It Girl anytime—especially one who insists on getting her props."[15]David Fricke from Rolling Stone commented, "As designer champagne 'n' anguish R&B goes, Secrets goes down nice and easy."[5]
The album debuted at number 54 on the
UK Albums Chart for the week ending June 29, 1996,[23] before peaking at number 10 in its 30th week on the chart, on January 25, 1997.[24] On April 1, 1997, the
British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified Secrets double platinum for shipments of over 600,000 copies.[25] In continental Europe, the album topped the charts in Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland, while reaching the top five in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, and Sweden, and the top 10 in Ireland.[26][27][28] In Oceania, the album reached number 11 in both Australia and New Zealand;[26] it has been certified double platinum by the
Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and gold by the
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).[29][30] By May 2010, Secrets had sold 15 million copies worldwide.[31]
^As of April 2011, Secrets had sold 5,364,000 copies in the United States according to
Nielsen SoundScan,[19] with an additional 927,000 sold at
BMG Music Club.[20] Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the
BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[94]
Secrets is the second studio album by American singer
Toni Braxton, released on June 18, 1996, by
LaFace Records and
Arista Records. The album was nominated for
Best Pop Album at the
1997 Grammy Awards. Secrets has been certified eight-times platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Worldwide, the album has sold over 15 million copies. In support of the album, Braxton embarked on the
Secrets Tour, playing dates in North America and Europe from August 1996 to October 1997.
Composition
The album's first song "Come On Over Here" is a "finger-poppingly upbeat", sultry groove track produced by Tony Rich. It was described as "a neo-
Motown composition".[3] The second track and lead single, the airily funky "
You're Makin' Me High", was produced by
Babyface and Bryce Wilson.[3] It was also nominated for a
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.[4] The third track "There's No Me Without You" is a romantic song.[5] The fourth track and second single "
Un-Break My Heart" is a ballad written by
Diane Warren.[6] She played the finished song to
Arista Records president
Clive Davis, who thought it would be perfect for Braxton. With background vocals by
Shanice Wilson and production by
David Foster, the song spent 11 weeks at number one on
pop radio stations and 14 weeks at number one on
adult contemporary radio in late 1996.[6] It also won a
Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 1997.[4] It is a song of blistering heartbreak, as Braxton sings to her former lover, begging him to return to her and undo all the pain he has caused.[7] The fifth track "Talking in His Sleep" is about
adultery.[5]
The album's lead single, "
You're Makin' Me High", earned Braxton her first number-one single on both the
Billboard Hot 100 and the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. Its
B-side, "
Let It Flow", was an airplay success and was featured on the
soundtrack to the 1995 film Waiting to Exhale. The second single, "
Un-Break My Heart", became a commercial success worldwide, peaking at number one on the Hot 100 for 11 consecutive weeks, number one on the
Hot Dance Club Play, and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while topping the charts in several other countries. The third single from the album, "
I Don't Want To", reached the top 20 of the Hot 100 and the top 10 of the R&B chart. Its B-side, "
I Love Me Some Him", was a major airplay success domestically. The fourth official single, "
How Could an Angel Break My Heart", which features
Kenny G on the saxophone, became another top-40 entry in the United Kingdom, while failing to enter the charts in the US.
Secrets received generally positive reviews from
music critics.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine from
AllMusic wrote that Braxton's "vocal talent is what unites Secrets and makes it into a first-rate contemporary R&B collection. Braxton is a singer who can cross over into the smooth confines of adult contemporary radio without losing or betraying the soul that lies at the foundation of her music, and her talent burns at its brightest on Secrets."[2]Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly praised the "core Braxton/Babyface collaborations" on the album as "diverse, witty, and exquisitely modulated", noting Braxton's "technical range" and "ability to deliver Secrets' sermons of sensuality—little gospels of good and bad loving—with unusual eloquence."[3]Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice, stated, "The apprentice diva of the
debut was modest, composed, virtually anonymous. I'll take the right It Girl anytime—especially one who insists on getting her props."[15]David Fricke from Rolling Stone commented, "As designer champagne 'n' anguish R&B goes, Secrets goes down nice and easy."[5]
The album debuted at number 54 on the
UK Albums Chart for the week ending June 29, 1996,[23] before peaking at number 10 in its 30th week on the chart, on January 25, 1997.[24] On April 1, 1997, the
British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified Secrets double platinum for shipments of over 600,000 copies.[25] In continental Europe, the album topped the charts in Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland, while reaching the top five in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, and Sweden, and the top 10 in Ireland.[26][27][28] In Oceania, the album reached number 11 in both Australia and New Zealand;[26] it has been certified double platinum by the
Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and gold by the
Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).[29][30] By May 2010, Secrets had sold 15 million copies worldwide.[31]
^As of April 2011, Secrets had sold 5,364,000 copies in the United States according to
Nielsen SoundScan,[19] with an additional 927,000 sold at
BMG Music Club.[20] Nielsen SoundScan does not count albums sold through clubs like the
BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s.[94]