''The Best of Brandy'' is the first
greatest hits album
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
by American singer
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
. It was released on March 28, 2005 by
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
, completing her contract with the label after being signed since 1994.
The album comprises nearly all of Norwood's 1994–2004 singles, compiling her first four studio albums ''
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
'' (1994), ''
Never Say Never'' (1998), ''
Full Moon
The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth's perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (when the ecliptic coordinate system, ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon opp ...
'' (2002) and ''
Afrodisiac'' (2004), as well as songs she contributed to film
soundtrack
A soundtrack is recorded music accompanying and synchronised to the images of a motion picture, drama, book, television program, radio program, or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack o ...
s such as ''
Waiting to Exhale
''Waiting to Exhale'' is a 1995 American romance film directed by Forest Whitaker (in his feature film directorial debut) and starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett. The film was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMil ...
'' (1995) and ''
Set It Off'' (1996). While it features no original material, the album includes rare tracks such as a 1995 cover of
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
's "
Rock with You
"Rock with You" was written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. It was first offered to Karen Carpenter, while she was working on her first solo album, but she turned it down. It was released on November 3, 1979, by Epic Records as ...
", her international single "
Another Day in Paradise
"Another Day in Paradise" is a song recorded by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. Produced by Collins along with Hugh Padgham, it was released as the first single from his number-one album '' ...But Seriously'' (1989). As wi ...
" and the single remix of "
U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)
"U Don't Know Me (Like U Used To)" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written by Isaac Phillips, Paris Davis, Sean Bryant, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Norwood for her second studio album '' Never Say Never'' (1998). ...
".
''The Best of Brandy'' received generally favorable reviews from critics, who noted the creativity of Norwood's back-catalog.
It debuted at number 27 on the US
''Billboard'' 200, selling 26,000 units in its first week.
Outside the United States, "
Who Is She 2 U
"Who Is She 2 U" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood from her fourth studio album, '' Afrodisiac'' (2004). It was written by Candice Nelson, Walter Millsap III and Timbaland, and produced by the latter. The song is built aroun ...
"–the second US single from ''Afrodisiac''–was released as a single in support of ''The Best of Brandy''.
Release
On November 1, 2004, four months after the release of ''
Afrodisiac'', her fourth studio album with
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...
, 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
he wantssome change in her life
ndwanted to move on" musically.
Brandy was subsequently asked to complete her contract with the release of a
greatest hits
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
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 reception
''The Best of Brandy'' received generally favorable reviews from music critics.
Andy Kellman of
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
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,
ndthough 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'' magazine 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 both
Warner Music
Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG) is an American multinational entertainment and record label conglomerate headquartered in New York City. It is one of the " big three" recording companies and t ...
and Atlantic for "botching the promotion of her last studio album
Afrodisiac''.html" ;"title="'
Afrodisiac''">'
Afrodisiac'' and Norwood'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" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written and produced by Babyface and recorded by Norwood for the soundtrack of the 1995 film ''Waiting to Exhale'', starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett. ...
" and covers of
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
's "
Rock with You
"Rock with You" was written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. It was first offered to Karen Carpenter, while she was working on her first solo album, but she turned it down. It was released on November 3, 1979, by Epic Records as ...
" and
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...
's "
Another Day in Paradise
"Another Day in Paradise" is a song recorded by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. Produced by Collins along with Hugh Padgham, it was released as the first single from his number-one album '' ...But Seriously'' (1989). As wi ...
", 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'' () is an American television sitcom that aired on UPN from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Denise Mitchell, an African-American teenager living with her upper middle class famil ...
'' fans."
He rated the compilation three and a half out of five stars.
Less enthusiastic, Chris Taylor from
MusicOMH
MusicOMH (stylized as musicOMH) is a London-based online music magazine which publishes independent reviews, features and interviews from across all genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.
History
MusicOMH was founded and launched by ...
felt that album proved that Norwood was "a fine wine that has never quite fully matured
..he overall result is a middling collection which ultimately leaves one frequently fast-forwarding, wondering what could have been."
Commercial performance
In the United States, ''The Best of Brandy'' debuted at number 27 on the
''Billboard'' 200 and number 11 on the
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated J ...
chart, selling 26,000 units in its first week.
It spent a total of five weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200.
Internationally, the album entered the top thirty in Australia and the United Kingdom only, where it reached numbers 25 and 24 respectively, but enjoyed short runs on the charts.
In addition, the album reached number 92 on the
European Top 100 Albums
The European Top 100 Albums chart was the European adaptation of the ''Billboard'' 200 albums chart. It ran from March 1984 until December 2010. Also commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums, the chart showcased the sales of an act in 19 E ...
chart.
The album was certified silver by the
British Phonographic Industry
British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the British recorded music industry's Trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards, the Classic BRIT Awards, National Album Day, is home to the Mercury Prize, and co-owns the Official Charts Company with th ...
(BPI) in September 2019, for 60,000 units sold in the United Kingdom.
The album was released on vinyl for the first time on February 11, 2022. It charted in the UK on the Official Hip Hop and R&B albums Chart Top 40 at number 17 on February 18, 2022.
Track listing
Notes
* denotes additional producer
* denotes vocals producer
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''The Best of Brandy''.
*
Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfirmed events inv ...
– producer
*
Babyface Babyface or Baby Face can refer to:
Nicknames
* Lester Joseph Gillis a.k.a. Baby Face Nelson, an infamous 1930s bank robber
* Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette (1933–1971), an American hard bop and soul-jazz musician
* "Baby Face", Jimmy McLarnin ...
– producer
*Liz Barrett – project assistant
*Marc Baptiste – photography
*
Mike City
Mike City (born Michael Flowers) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for producing the singles "I Wish" for Carl Thomas, " Heard It All Before" for Sunshine Anderson, "Full Moon" for Brandy and "One Woman M ...
– producer
*
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...
– composer
*
Keith Crouch
Keith Edward Crouch is an American songwriter and music producer. Crouch began his career as a songwriter at the age of fifteen and landed his first gig at seventeen. From 1993 to 1994, Crouch produced six songs for Brandy's self-titled debut al ...
– producer
*Sara Cumings – art direction, design
*
LaShawn Daniels
LaShawn Ameen Daniels (December 28, 1977 – September 3, 2019) was an American songwriter, vocal producer and arranger known for his songwriting credits on songs by artists such as Brandy, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Michael Jacks ...
– composer
*Ginger Dettman – project assistant
*Malia Doss – project assistant
*Mike Engstrom – product manager
*
Roger Erickson – cover photo, photography
*Alan Fletcher – project assistant
*
David Foster
David Walter Foster (born November 1, 1949) is a Canadian musician, composer, arranger, record producer and music executive who chaired Verve Records from 2012 to 2016. He has won 16 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations. His music career spans mor ...
– producer
*Annaliese Harmon – project assistant
*Dan Hersch – remastering
*Jacqueline Hilliard – composer
*Robin Hurley – project assistant
*Bill Inglot – remastering
*
Fred Jerkins III
Fred Jerkins III, also known as Uncle Freddie, is an American songwriter and record producer who is best known for his work with his brother Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. Jerkins has co-written several hit songs with Rodney Jerkins and LaShawn Dani ...
– producer
*
Rodney Jerkins
Rodney Roy Jerkins (born July 29, 1977), also known by his stage name Darkchild, is an American record producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has collaborated with a broad range of popular artists.
Jerkins has won multiple Grammy Awards. Among hi ...
– producer
*Kipper Jones – producer
*
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
– producer
*Johnny de Mairo – producer
*
Jonathan Mannion
Jonathan Mannion (born December 3, 1970) is a photographer and film director. Mannion has shot over 300 album covers working with hip hop and R&B performers including Jay Z, Dr. Dre, Aaliyah, Outkast, Nas, Nicki Minaj, Brandy Norwood and Kendri ...
– photography
*Mark McKenna – project assistant
*Sonja Norwood – management
*
QDIII
Quincy Delight Jones III (born 23 December 1968), better known as QDIII, QD3 and Snoopy, is an English-born Swedish-American music producer and film producer.
Family
Jones was born in Wimbledon, London, the son of Swedish model Ulla Andersson an ...
– producer
*
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. (born January 17, 1981), known professionally as Ray J, is an American singer, actor, and television personality. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Carson, California, he is the younger brother of recording a ...
– performer
*
Guy Roche
Guy Roche is a record producer and songwriter who is best known for the hit singles he has co-written/co-produced for Christina Aguilera, which are " What a Girl Wants", " I Turn to You", and "Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You)". He also co-wr ...
– producer
*
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley (born March 10, 1972), known professionally as Timbaland, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. He has received widespread acclaim for his innovative production work and distinc ...
– producer
*Becky Wagner – project assistant
*
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
– producer
*Corey Williams – project assistant
*Steve Woolard – project assistant
Charts
Certifications
Release history
See also
*
Album era
The album era was a period in English-language popular music from the mid-1960s to the mid-2000s in which the album was the dominant form of recorded music expression and consumption. It was primarily driven by three successive music recording ...
Notes
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Best Of Brandy, The
2005 greatest hits albums
Albums produced by Dallas Austin
Albums produced by Rodney Jerkins
Albums produced by David Foster
Albums produced by Quincy Jones
Albums produced by Guy Roche
Brandy Norwood albums
Hip hop soul compilation albums
Contemporary R&B compilation albums
Pop compilation albums