My Way (Usher album)

Last updated
My Way
Usher - My Way.png
Studio album by
Usher
ReleasedSeptember 16, 1997
Length40:21
Label
Producer
Usher chronology
Usher
(1994)		My Way
(1997)		 Live
(1999)
Singles from My Way
  1. "You Make Me Wanna..."
    Released: August 5, 1997
  2. "Nice & Slow"
    Released: January 6, 1998
  3. "My Way"
    Released: June 9, 1998

My Way is the second studio album by American singer Usher. It was released on September 16, 1997, by LaFace Records in North America. The album features guest appearances from Monica, Jermaine Dupri, and Lil' Kim. The album was supported by three singles, all multi platinum-selling: "Nice & Slow", "My Way", and "You Make Me Wanna...".

Contents

With most of the album production by Babyface and Dupri, the album became a commercial success, debuting at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and peaking at number four. The album also reached number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and eventually topped the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for three weeks. It was certified seven times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). My Way became Usher's breakthrough album and earned him a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "You Make Me Wanna...".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [2]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [3]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]

In a 1997 review, The Source magazine said with My Way, "Usher proves that he's aiming to become more than just R&B music's best kept secret". [6] Asondra R. Hunter from Vibe said that Usher is sensual through his mild and gentle tone and tasteful, refined lyrics. [7] Robert Christgau, writing in The Village Voice , deemed "Just Like Me" and "You Make We Wanna..." as the album's highlights, and quipped that Usher was "the sweetest nonvirgin a mama could ask". [8] He gave My Way a one-star honorable mention, [2] indicating "a worthy effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well like." [9] In a negative review for Rolling Stone , David Fricke felt that the album has too many downtempo songs, and criticized the writing and production quality. [10]

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave My Way four out of five stars and praised Usher's vocal restraint, but noted inconsistency in quality. [1] In a 2002 review, Q magazine also gave it four stars and wrote that it established Usher's reputation as a young and skillful performer of R&B slow jams. [4] Keith Harris, writing in The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), gave it three-and-a-half stars and said that, although Dupri's combination of hi-hat hits, acoustic-guitar arpeggios, and occasional guest raps from him and Lil Kim can inhibit the album, My Way was the work of a significant, enterprising artist. [5] Yahoo! Music's Billy Johnson Jr. credited the album for Usher's breakthrough into the music industry, and lauded the production of the three singles. [11]

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
Complex The Best R&B Albums of '90s
36

Commercial performance

My Way debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 chart dated October 4, 1997, selling 66,000 copies in its first week in the United States. [13] [14] It entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at number four on that same week. [15] The album rose to number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums on January 10, 1998; it topped the chart for three consecutive weeks, [16] and remained on the chart for a total of seventy-five weeks. [17] My Way peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, and spent seventy-nine weeks on that chart. [18] It has since been certified six times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over six million copies in the United States. As of 2002, it had sold six million copies in the United States and seven million copies worldwide. In September 2022 (25th anniversary), the album was finally certified to have sold seven million copies in the US alone. [19]

Track listing

My Way track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
1."You Make Me Wanna..."
3:39
2."Just Like Me" (featuring Lil' Kim)
3:26
3."Nice & Slow"
3:48
4."Slow Jam" (featuring Monica)
Babyface4:43
5."My Way"
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Raymond
3:35
6."Come Back" (featuring Jermaine Dupri)
3:47
7."I Will"
Williams3:55
8."Bedtime"BabyfaceBabyface4:45
9."One Day You'll Be Mine"
3:23
10."You Make Me Wanna..." (Extended Version)
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Raymond
5:19
Total length:40:20
25th Anniversary Edition – bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)ProducerLength
11."You Make Me Wanna..." (Ryan James Carr remake)
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Raymond
  • Dupri
  • Seal [a]
  • Ryan James Carr [b]
  • Justus West [b]
3:02
12."Nice & Slow" (Ryan James Carr remake)
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Raymond
  • Casey
3:12
13."My Way" (Ryan James Carr remake – instrumental)
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Raymond
3:32
14."You Make Me Wanna..." (Ryan James Carr remake – instrumental)
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Raymond
3:02
15."Nice & Slow" (Ryan James Carr remake – instrumental)
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Raymond
  • Casey
3:12
16."My Way" (Ryan James Carr remake)
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Raymond
3:32
Total length:59:55

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits are adapted from Allmusic and album's liner notes. [22] [23]

Charts

Certifications

Sales and certifications for My Way
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [45] Gold35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [46] 2× Platinum200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI) [47] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [48] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [49] 7× Platinum7,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for My Way
RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesSeptember 16, 1997 [1]
VariousSeptember 16, 2022 [50]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Confessions</i> (Usher album) 2004 studio album by Usher

Confessions is the fourth studio album by American singer Usher. It was released on March 23, 2004, by Arista Records. Recording sessions for the album took place from 2003 to 2004, with its production on the album being handled by his longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri, along with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Lil Jon, among others. Primarily an R&B album, Confessions showcases Usher as a crooner through a mixture of ballads and up-tempos, incorporating musical genres of dance-pop, hip hop, and crunk. The album's themes generated controversy about Usher's personal relationships; however, the album's primary producer Jermaine Dupri claimed the album reflects Dupri's own personal story.

<i>CrazySexyCool</i> 1994 studio album by TLC

CrazySexyCool is the second studio album by American girl group TLC, released on November 15, 1994, by LaFace and Arista Records. Following the group's record deal, they released their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip in 1992 to positive reviews and commercial success. The group began working on a follow-up in 1993 but experienced an unproductive recording process due to personal issues, notably those of member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who was struggling with alcoholism and her volatile relationship with football player Andre Rison. The album's recording lasted until September 1994, with Lopes' role diminished while she was in rehab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jermaine Dupri</span> American record producer and rapper (born 1972)

Jermaine Dupri Mauldin is an American record producer, rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Raised in Atlanta as the son of Columbia Records executive Michael Mauldin, he began his career in music production at the age of nine. He discovered the teen hip hop duo Kris Kross in 1991. Dupri wrote and produced their 1992 single "Jump," which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 and was named the 23rd most successful song of that decade. He established his own record label, So So Def Recordings in a joint venture with Columbia the following year.

<i>8701</i> 2001 album by Usher

8701 is the third studio album by American singer Usher, released in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2001, and in the United States on August 7, 2001, by Arista Records. Recording was handled by several producers including The Neptunes, Jermaine Dupri, Babyface, Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Mike City, Bryan Michael Cox, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Although intended for an October 31, 2000, release under the title All About U, the album was delayed numerous times, following the leak of several tracks onto the online music store Napster. Usher subsequently recorded new tracks and released the album under the new title, 8701, which is derived from Usher singing for the first time in his local church in 1987 and the album's US release date of August 7, 2001. The single "Can U Help Me" was supplied with Windows XP Service Pack 2 and later Windows versions to showcase Windows Media Player 11 and higher WMP versions.

<i>Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival</i> 1997 studio album by Wyclef Jean

Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival, also known simply as The Carnival, is the debut studio album released by Haitian hip hop musician Wyclef Jean. The album was released on 24 June 1997. Wyclef Jean also served as the album's executive producer. The album features guest appearances from Celia Cruz and The Neville Brothers and multiple appearances from Jean's former Fugees bandmates, Lauryn Hill and Pras.

<i>Man vs. Machine</i> 2002 studio album by Xzibit

Man vs. Machine is the fourth studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 1, 2002. Special guests include Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, M.O.P, and Nate Dogg. Producers on the album include Rick Rock, Bink, Rockwilder, Erick Sermon, DJ Premier, and Dr. Dre. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with over 156,000 copies sold in its first week. Since then album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was the last album released by Loud Records before it went defunct the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Make Me Wanna...</span> 1997 single by Usher

"You Make Me Wanna..." is a song by American recording artist Usher. It was released on August 5, 1997, by LaFace Records and Arista Records as the lead single from Usher's second studio album, My Way (1997). "You Make Me Wanna..." was written by Usher along with Jermaine Dupri and Manuel Seal, who both produced the tune. An R&B, soul and pop song in C minor, it makes use of acoustic guitar, hi-hat and bell instrumentation. The song focuses on a love triangle relationship, with the protagonist wishing to leave his girlfriend for his erstwhile best friend, with a hook in which Usher states, "You make me wanna leave the one I'm with and start a new relationship with you". The record won a Billboard Music Award, a Soul Train Music Award, and a WQHT Hip Hop Award, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

<i>Chris Brown</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Chris Brown

Chris Brown is the debut album by American singer Chris Brown, released on November 29, 2005, through Jive Records. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Scott Storch, Cool & Dre, Oak Felder, Bryan-Michael Cox and the Underdogs among others. The album also features guest appearances by Juelz Santana, Lil Wayne, Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri.

LSG is an R&B supergroup, composed of R&B artists Gerald Levert from Cleveland, Ohio, Keith Sweat from Harlem, New York and Johnny Gill from Washington, D.C. The group's name "LSG" is derived from the first letter in the last name of each artist.

<i>Ill Give All My Love to You</i> 1990 studio album by Keith Sweat

I'll Give All My Love to You is the second studio album by the American R&B recording artist Keith Sweat. It was released on June 12, 1990, and went to number one on the Top R&B albums chart and number 6 on the Billboard 200. It spawned Sweat's second and third number 1 R&B hits: "Make You Sweat" and the title track, while "Merry Go Round" and "Your Love Part 2" were Top 5 R&B hits.

<i>Beware of Dog</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Lil Bow Wow

Beware of Dog is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Bow Wow. It was released on September 26, 2000, through So So Def Recordings and Columbia Records. Recording sessions took place from 1999 to 2000, with Lil' Bow Wow's mentor Jermaine Dupri primarily producing the album, and Xscape, Jagged Edge, Da Brat and Snoop Dogg, among others, appearing as guests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Usher discography</span>

American singer Usher has released nine studio albums, ten compilation albums, eight extended plays, and 81 singles. His music has been released on the LaFace, Arista, Jive, and RCA record labels. Usher has sold more than 33 million albums in the United States alone and over 65 million albums worldwide. With over 150 million total records sold worldwide, he is one of the best selling music artists of all time. He has nine number-one singles and 18 Hot 100 top-ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100. In 1994, Usher released his self-titled debut album in North America, producing three singles that had moderate chart success, and the album sold more than 500,000 copies. His follow-up 1997 album My Way sold over 8 million copies worldwide, becoming his breakthrough album. It is certified seven-times platinum in the US, and spawned three successful singles, including his first UK number-one hit, "You Make Me Wanna...", and first US Hot 100 number-one song, "Nice & Slow". Usher's success continued in 2001, with his third studio album, 8701. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. The album produced two number-one singles, such as "U Remind Me" and "U Got It Bad". In 2002, the album was certified five-times platinum in the US for sales of 5 million copies. As of 2010, its worldwide sales stand at over 8 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Boo (Usher and Alicia Keys song)</span> 2004 single by Usher and Alicia Keys

"My Boo" is a duet between American R&B singers Usher and Alicia Keys, written by the artists alongside Adonis Shropshire, Manuel Seal, and Jermaine Dupri, the latter of whom produced it with No I.D.—who is uncredited. It was included on the re-release of Usher's fourth studio album, Confessions (2004). The song was released as the album's fourth single on August 29, 2004.

<i>Love Always</i> 1997 studio album by K-Ci & JoJo

Love Always is the debut album of American R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo, released on June 17, 1997, by MCA Records. It was recorded at various studios in New York and the Los Angeles area in 1996 and 1997. It was produced by JoJo and several others, including DeVante Swing, Jon-John Robinson, James Mtume, and Jeff Redd. The duo were originally a part of Jodeci before this album.

<i>Totally Krossed Out</i> 1992 studio album by Kris Kross

Totally Krossed Out is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Kris Kross. It was produced and largely written by Jermaine Dupri and Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo and released on March 31, 1992, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. After developing a musical concept for the duo, Dupri and Nicolo spent two years writing and producing the album.

<i>Double Up</i> (R. Kelly album) 2007 studio album by R. Kelly

Double Up is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter R. Kelly. It was released by Jive Records on May 29, 2007 in the United States, with distribution handled by Zomba Label Group. The album features the contributions with guest appearances and also the productions, which was handled by R. Kelly, along with Swizz Beatz, The Runners, Snoop Dogg, Khao, Nelly, Chamillionaire and Polow da Don.

<i>Here I Stand</i> (Usher album) 2008 studio album by Usher

Here I Stand is the fifth studio album by the American singer Usher, released on May 13, 2008, by LaFace Records. Inspired by love for his then-wife—Tameka Foster—and son, Usher recorded many ballads for the album. Prior to the album's recording, Usher split with his mother, Jonnetta Patton, as manager and hired Benny Medina. Usher's estranged father died months before the release of Here I Stand; this also influenced themes of the album. It was originally to be titled Measure of a Man, but the singer named it Here I Stand to mark "a new chapter in life".

<i>Raymond v. Raymond</i> 2010 studio album by Usher

Raymond v. Raymond is the sixth studio album by American singer Usher, released on March 26, 2010, by LaFace Records. Production for the album took place in 2009 and was handled by several producers, including Jermaine Dupri, The Runners, Ester Dean, Polow da Don, RedOne, Jim Jonsin, Danja, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Bangladesh, Zaytoven, and Tricky Stewart.

<i>The Heist</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

The Heist is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. It was released on October 9, 2012, by Macklemore LLC, distributed under the Alternative Distribution Alliance. The album was independently self-produced, self-recorded and self-released by the duo, with no mainstream promotion or support. After the album's release, the duo hired Warner Music Group's radio promotion department to help the push with their singles for a small percentage of the sales.

<i>Darkness and Light</i> (John Legend album) 2016 studio album by John Legend

Darkness and Light is the sixth studio album by American singer, songwriter, and pianist John Legend. It was released on December 2, 2016, by Columbia Records, as well as his last album to be released with GOOD Music, following the end of his five-album contract with the label.

References

  1. 1 2 3 My Way – Usher. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved on June 24, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Album: Usher: My Way". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week . January 31, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Review: My Way". Q . London: 148. August 2002.
  5. 1 2 Harris et al. 2004, p. 839.
  6. ↑ "Review: My Way". The Source . New York: 174. November 1997.
  7. ↑ Hunter, Asondra R. (October 1997). "Revolutions". Vibe . New York: 170. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  8. ↑ Christgau, Robert (January 27, 1998). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . New York. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Key to Icons". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ Fricke, David (December 25, 1997). "Usher: My Way". Rolling Stone . New York. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2013.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ↑ Johnson Jr., Billy. "My Way". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  12. ↑ "The 50 Best R&B Albums of the '90s". Complex. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  13. ↑ Basham, David (December 13, 2001). "Got Charts? Usher's Platinum Mine; A Tolkien Spell; An Ill-Fated Concept". MTV News. Viacom. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Billboard 200". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. October 4, 1997. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. October 4, 1997. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ "Usher – Chart history: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  18. 1 2 "Usher Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  19. ↑ Hopwood, Christian (2002). "Usher 8701 Review". BBC Music. BBC . Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  20. ↑ "My Way/Usher Live". Amazon.de . Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  21. ↑ My Way (CD liner). Usher. LaFace Records. 1997.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ↑ My Way – Usher: Credits. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved on June 24, 2013.
  23. ↑ My Way (booklet). LaFace, Arista. 1997.
  24. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Usher – My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Usher Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Top 10 R&B Albums". The Gazette . January 15, 1998. p. B6 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Usher – My Way" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Usher – My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Charts.nz – Usher – My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Usher – My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Usher – My Way". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  34. ↑ "Usher | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  35. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Usher Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  37. ↑ "Albums: Top 100 of 1997". Jam!. Archived from the original on March 20, 2001. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Albums: Year-end Top 200". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1998". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  42. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  43. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  44. ↑ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). "1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  45. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  46. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Usher – My Way". Music Canada.
  47. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Usher – My Way" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers.Enter My Way in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2001 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  48. ↑ "British album certifications – Usher – My Way". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  49. ↑ "American album certifications – Usher – My Way". Recording Industry Association of America.
  50. ↑ "My Way (25th Anniversary Edition)". Spotify . Retrieved February 12, 2024.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.