I'm Ready is the second studio album by American singer Tevin Campbell. It was released in the United States by Qwest Records on October 26, 1993. Feeling pressured to deliver a successful follow-up to his 1991 debut T.E.V.I.N., Campbell reteamed with Narada Michael Walden and Prince who each contributed four tracks to the album, while Babyface co-produced three tracks with Daryl Simmons.
The album earned generally favorable reviews from music critics, who praised I'm Ready for its strong songwriting and Campbell's mature and versatile vocals. Commercially, the album outperformed its predecessor. It opened at number 18 on the US Billboard 200, selling 1.7 million copies, while going 2× Platinum. The album also peaked at number 14 in Australia, where it reached Gold status. I'm Ready was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best R&B Album category.
Background
When Campbell started working on I'm Ready late in 1992, he was still just 16, yet already felt significant pressure to deliver a successful follow-up.[2] This time, he exercised much greater vocal and creative control, collaborating closely with each producer to craft songs and emotions that truly resonated with him.[3] During pre-production, Campbell's team ditched many of the producers on T.E.V.I.N., including Al B. Sure! and Arthur Baker.[2]Narada Michael Walden, however, stayed on board and became one of the album's key holdovers, once again contributing four songs.[2] Campbell's mother Rhonda urged to add Babyface, who would go on to contribute three track to the album along with Daryl Simmons.[2]
While Prince had contributed one song to T.E.V.I.N., he now took on a much larger role, also coaching Campbell. Credited as Paisley Park for his contributions to the album as a songwriter, arranger, and producer,[2] Campbell originally sought Prince to produce the entire album, but the collaboration ultimately failed to materialize because he was unable to reach a financial agreement with the label.[3] Titled after its second single, Campbell initially thought about calling the album Young, Gifted and Black but changed his mind when he did not record the same-titled song from Aretha Franklin's 1972 album.[3]
Connie Johnson, writing for The Los Angeles Times, found that I'm Ready was "totally free of filler" and added: "This 10-song package contains first-rate songs by Prince, Babyface and Narada Michael Walden." She called "Uncle Sam" and the "three other songs Prince contributed are the strongest and steamiest on the album. Although his background is heavily church-oriented, Campbell manages to sound comfortable in this racier setting. Elsewhere on the record [he] never takes a false step."[6]Washington Post critic Geoffrey Himes called I'm Ready a "superb second album." He also cited Prince's "songs as the album’s four best tracks" and complimented Campbell for his "astonishingly mature vocal," which de described as "smart and angry but free of whining or ranting." While he found Walden's four songs "not as impressive but are perfectly respectable," he declared Daryl Simmons and Babyface's songs equally good.[7]
Entertainment Weekly gave the album a A- rating, writing that "Campbell's voice, even at 16, is still cotton-candy sweet,"[5] while Vibe editor Christian Wright remarked that I'm Ready was "Campbell's coming of age. Particularly on the smooth ballads, he shines. At the end of "Can We Talk," his voice soars, then flutters like a feather in a light breeze."[3] Lynn Norment from Ebony remarked that "Campbell delivers the smooth vocals and danceable rhythms that his fans have come to expect and love [...] With this recording, executive produced by Quincy Jones and Benny Medina, the talented young singer demonstrates that the title song, "I'm Ready," is not an empty boast."[8] In a retrospective review for AllMusic, editor Craig Lytle noted that "Campbell emerged as a true soul singer with I'm Ready, his second album. The Texas native had the good fortune of working with some of the best producers and writers in the business to construct an excellent work [...] There is much to savor on this album." Lytle rated the album four ouf of five stars.[4]
In the United States, I'm Ready debuted and peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 in the week of November 13, 1993.[9] It marked Campbell's first top 20 entry on the chart.[9] The album also opened at number four on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, peaking at number three in its fourth week on the chart.[10]I'm Ready was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 12, 1994, and reached Platinum status on February 10 and double Platinum staus on September 8 of the same year.[1] By June 1996, it had sold over 1.7 million copies domestically.[11]Billboard ranked it fifth on its 1994 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums year-end chart.[12] Elsewhere, the album reached number 14 on the Australian Albums Chart.[13] In 1995, it was cerified Gold by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for shipment figures in excess of 35,000 units.[14]
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