''The Woman I Am'' is the eighth studio album by American R&B/ funk singer Chaka Khan, released on

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...

in 1992. It was Khan's first studio album since 1988's '' CK'' and due to artistic differences between Khan and Warner Bros. Records it was also to be her final full-length release for the label. The entire album is dedicated to her friend

Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...

, who died the previous year.

Composition

The album mainly focuses on material from the contemporary R&B, soul and funk genres and was Khan's debut as executive producer in charge of production. The main producer on the album was the

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

winning jazz multi-instrumentalist Marcus Miller but it also includes Khan's first collaborations with

Arif Mardin Arif Mardin (March 15, 1932 – June 25, 2006) was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco and country. He worked at Atlantic Records for o ...

since 1986's ''

Destiny Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often ...

''; "This Time" and the closing track "Don't Look at Me That Way", both co-produced by Mardin's son

Joe Mardin Joe Mardin (born Yusuf Mardin) is a Turkish-American music producer, arranger and engineer from New York City. He is a Berklee College of Music graduate and is the son of the Turkish American producer Arif Mardin. Joe Mardin is also a conductor, ...

. " Love You All My Lifetime" saw Khan teaming up with Scritti Politti's

David Gamson David Gamson is an American keyboardist/musician (also a producer, songwriter, arranger, engineer). Originally hailing from New York, he has worked with, among others, Kesha, Kelly Clarkson, Jessie J, Adam Lambert, Chaka Khan, Charli XCX, Meshel ...

– who incidentally had also produced the opening track on ''Destiny'' with its confusingly similar title; "Love of a Lifetime". The single track "I Want" features a guest appearance by William Galison on harmonica and the suggestive ballad "You Can Make the Story Right" was recorded with bassist and producer Wayne Braithwaite, best known for his work with

Will Downing Wilfred "Will" Downing (born November 29, 1963) is an American singer and songwriter. He is married to singer Audrey Wheeler, who was a member of the R&B group Unlimited Touch. Biography Downing enrolled in Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn ...

and

Kenny G Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956), known professionally as Kenny G, is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and producer. His 1986 album ''Duotones'' brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the best-selling artis ...

Singles

''The Woman I Am'' includes seven single releases; " Love You All My Lifetime" written by German composer duo

Klarmann/Weber Klarmann/Weber is a German songwriting and record production duo, consisting of Irmgard Klarmann and Felix Weber. The duo have composed and produced music since the late 1970s. In the 1980s, Klarmann/Weber established their name in Germany and in ...

which became a number one on '' Billboards Dance Singles chart as well as #2 on R&B (Pop #68, UK #49), "You Can Make the Story Right" written by Gabrielle Goodman & Wayne Bathwaite reached #8 on the US R&B Billboard charts, "I Want" (US R&B #62), "Give Me All", "Facts of Love" and the Diane Warren-penned ballad "Don't Look at Me That Way" (UK #73), "The Woman I Am" written by Dyan Cannon, Chaka Khan & Brenda Russell, failed to chart in the UK. Both lead single "Love You All My Lifetime" and "Give Me All" were issued in a wide variety of dance remixes by among others Frankie Knuckles.

Commercial success

''The Woman I Am'' became Khan's highest-charting album on the US R&B Albums chart since 1984's '' I Feel for You'', peaking at #9. The album won Khan a

for

Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female The Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (previously called Best Rhythm and Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Female) was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Award ...

in 1993. Since Khan's 1995 album ''Dare You to Love Me'' was shelved by the

label and instead only partly made available on greatest hits compilations and movie soundtracks, it was to be six years before she released another full-length album, the

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...

co-produced ''

Come 2 My House ''Come 2 My House'' is the ninth studio album by American R&B/ funk singer Chaka Khan released on the NPG Records label in 1998. ''Come 2 My House'' was Khan's first full-length album since 1992's '' The Woman I Am'', due to the Warner Bros. R ...

'' on his label

NPG Records NPG Records is a record label that was owned by Prince and run by Trevor Guy. "NPG" is short for New Power Generation. It was founded to release his music after Paisley Park Records was shut down by Warner Bros. Records in 1994. Though the 1994 c ...

. As of 2005, ''The Woman I Am'' has sold 197,000 copies in United States according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Critical reception

In his review of ''The Woman I Am'',

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 databa ...

's Alex Henderson describes the album as "high-tech, yet warm instead of mechanical. And on songs ranging from the melancholy "Telephone" to the introspective title song and the appealing single "Love You All My Lifetime," it's clear that Khan was given strong material to work with."[

review, Alex Henderson]

Track listing

#"Everything Changes" (Khan, Ben Marguiles) – 4:38 #"Give Me All" (Jerry Barnes, Katreese Barnes) – 4:24 #"Telephone" ( Hans-Jürgen Buchner, Khan) – 4:21 (4:06 on LP) #"Keep Givin' Me Lovin'" (Camus Mare Celli, Khan, Andres Levin,

Mica Paris Michelle Antoinette Wallen (born 27 April 1969), known professionally as Mica Paris (), is an English singer, presenter and actress. Paris was born in Islington in North London, but moved to Brockley, South London, when she was nine. She rel ...

) – 4:32 #"Facts of Love" (Werner Hammer, Khan, Harald Schneck, Ralf Zang) – 4:35 #" Love You All My Lifetime" (Irmgard Klarmann, Felix Weber) – 4:43 (4:16 on LP) #"I Want" (Donald D. Bowden, Janice Dempsey, James McKinney) – 5:50 (4:20 on LP) #"You Can Make the Story Right" (Wayne Braithwaite, Gabrielle Goodman) – 6:32 (4:49 on LP) #"Be My Eyes" (Daryll Duncan, Khan) – 4:24 (3:50 on LP) #"This Time" (David Lasley, Robin Lerner, Marsha Malamet) – 5:16 #"The Woman I Am" (

Dyan Cannon Dyan Cannon (born Samille Diane Friesen; January 4, 1937) is an American actress, director, screenwriter, producer, and editor. Her accolades include a Saturn Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Academy Award nominations, and a star on the Holly ...

, Khan, Brenda Russell) – 5:09 (4:52 on LP) #"Love With No Strings" (Wesley Magoogan,

Maggie Ryder Maggie Ryder is an English singer/songwriter and musician, principally known as a backing singer for bands such Queen and Eurythmics. Career In her early career, Ryder was the keyboard player with British funk/rock band Krakatoa. She co-wr ...

) – 5:00 (not included on LP) #"Don't Look at Me That Way" ( Diane Warren) – 4:50 (4:20 on LP)

Personnel

Production

* Chaka Khan – executive producer in charge of production (entire album), producer track: 9 *

Benny Medina Benny Medina (born January 24, 1958) is an American record executive, talent manager, and television producer. Early life and education Medina was born in East Los Angeles, California, of Dominican parents into a poor family. The death of hi ...

and Steve Margo – executive album producers * Marcus Miller – producer tracks: 1, 3, 7, 11 * Jerry Barnes – producer track: 2 * Katreese Barnes – producer track: 2 * Ralf Zang – producer tracks: 4, 5 *

– producer track: 6 * Wayne Braithwaite – producer track: 8 * Gary Haase – producer track: 9, 12 * George Whitty – producer track: 9, 12 *

– producer tracks: 10, 13 *

– producer tracks: 10, 13

Other notable personnel

Terry Burrus Terrance Corley Burrus is an American keyboardist, composer, dj, record producer, conductor, business, realty and fashion designer executive. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he started touring as a teenager, playing with jazz fusion violinist Mi ...

– synthesizer solo track: 1 * Steve Ferrone – drums track: 1, 3 * Gene Williams – programming, synthesizer track: 2 * Ras Tschaka Tonge – timbales track: 3 *

Abraham Laboriel Abraham Laboriel López Sr. (born July 17, 1947) is a Mexican-American bassist who has played on over 4,000 recordings and soundtracks. ''Guitar Player'' magazine called him "the most widely used session bassist of our time". Laboriel is the f ...

– bass guitar track: 6 *

Bobby Lyle Robert Lyle (born March 11, 1944) is a jazz pianist/organist and educator. Early life Lyle was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 11, 1944 to parents Robert and Elise Lyle. He grew up in a musical household after the family moved from Memphis ...

– Rhodes and clavinet track: 6 * William Galison – harmonica track: 7 *

George Whitty George Whitty is an American musician, composer, record producer, audio engineer and music educator, currently living near Los Angeles, California, United States. He won an Emmy Award in 2014 for his work as a composer for the television series, '' ...

– programming, synthesizer, piano, bass guitar and drums tracks: 9, 12 * Everette Harp – alto saxophone track: 11 * Anthony Jackson – bass guitar track: 12 *

Dave Koz David Stephen Koz (born March 27, 1963) is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, record producer, and radio personality based in California. Early life Dave Koz was born in Encino, California, to Jewish parents: Norman, a dermatologis ...

– saxophone track: 13 *

Bryan Sutton Bryan Sutton is an American musician. Primarily known as a flatpicking acoustic guitar player, Sutton also plays mandolin, banjo, ukulele, and electric guitar. He also sings and writes songs. Biography Early career Sutton's grandfather and ...

– guitar *

Wah Wah Watson Melvin M. Ragin (December 8, 1950 – October 24, 2018), known professionally as "Wah Wah Watson", was an American guitarist who was a member of The Funk Brothers, the studio band for Motown Records. Career A native of Richmond, Virginia, Melvi ...

– guitar track: 6 *

Jeff Pevar Jeff Pevar is an American musician who has recorded and toured with numerous renowned artists as well as having a solo career. Pevar recorded a debut record on his label Pet Peev Music™, called ''From The Core'', which was released in Decembe ...

- guitar track 3

Non-album tracks and remixes

* "Love You All My Lifetime" (Album Version Edit) – 4:18 * "Love You All My Lifetime" (Love Suite 12" Mix Act 1) – 8:15 * "Love You All My Lifetime" (Love Suite 12" Mix Act 2 Dub) – 4:25 * "Love You All My Lifetime" (The Diva Edit) – 8:01 * "Love You All My Lifetime" (Diva Dub) – 7:03 * "Love You All My Lifetime" (Garage Mix W/Strings) – 6:50 * "Love You All My Lifetime" (House Mix) – 6:50 * "Love You All My Lifetime" (Love And Kisses Breakdown Mix) – 7:06 * "Love You All My Lifetime (Single Remix) – 4:02 * "Give Me All" (Classic Club Mix) – 6:22 * "Give Me All" (Extended Version R&B) – 7:13 * "Give Me All" (Fierce Club Version) – 7:00

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

External links

*
The Woman I Am
' at

Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woman I Am, The 1992 albums Chaka Khan albums Albums produced by Arif Mardin Albums produced by Marcus Miller Warner Records albums