Only Human (Jeffrey Osborne album)

Only Human
Studio album by Jeffrey Osborne
Released	November 20, 1990
Genre	Funk Soul
Length	51:11
Label	Arista
Producer	Robert Brookins Darryl Duncan Barry J. Eastmond Jeffrey Osborne Shep Pettibone Kendo Scott
Jeffrey Osborne chronology
One Love – One Dream (1988) Only Human (1990) Something Warm for Christmas (1997)

Only Human is the sixth studio album by American singer Jeffrey Osborne. It was released by Arista Records on November 20, 1990. ^[1] His debut with the label, it reached number 9 on the US Top R&B Albums chart. ^[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	A− [4]
Q	[1]

AllMusic editor Ed Hogan found that "while it could be argued that Osborne's A&M albums were generally "too pop," he seems absolutely regenerated on Only Human, digging his vocal chops into material that accommodates his extensive range. It's a head-scratcher as to why this is his only Arista release; it would have been very interesting to hear Osborne continue in this mode." ^[3] Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Osborne’s voice is so silky and warm that he can anchor a varied collection of songs – ranging from the up-tempo [...] to the more personal, blustery [...] For any other singer, such an eclectic mix of musical styles like in Only Human, might seem like a desperate, unfocused grab for pop-chart success. But for Osborne it’s merely a reflection of a 20-year-long career that has dominated both black and pop radio [...] For all his forays into many musical genres, Osborne seems most at home, as he always has, in the ballads, where the drum machines don’t crowd his voice." ^[4] Ian Cranna in Q Magazine remarked that "the chief pleasure here is in Osborne's confident, accomplished singing". ^[1]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"If My Brother's in Trouble"	William Clift David Barratt	Shep Pettibone	4:33
2.	"Only Human"	Barry J. Eastmond Jeffrey Osborne	Eastmond	4:53
3.	"Good Things Come to Those Who Wait"	Glenn "Daddy-O" Bolton	Daddy-O, Kendo Scott	5:06
4.	"The Morning After I Made Love to You"	Eastmond Osborne	Eastmond	4:27
5.	"Lay Your Head"	Eastmond Osborne	Eastmond	4:59
6.	"Baby Wait a Minute"	Darryl Duncan Osborne	Osborne, Duncan	4:13
7.	"Sending You a Love Song"	Eastmond Osborne	Eastmond	4:49
8.	"Feel Like Making Love"	Eugene McDaniels	Osborne, Robert Brookins	4:35
9.	"Back in Your Arms"	Eastmond Osborne	Eastmond	4:13
10.	"Nitetime"	Eastmond Osborne	Eastmond	4:42
11.	"Getting Better All the Time"	Sam Dees	Eastmond	4:44

2012 expanded edition ^[5]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
12.	"If My Brother's in Trouble" (Extended Hip Hop Mix)	Clift Barratt	Pettibone	5:10
13.	"If My Brother's in Trouble" (Dub Mix)	Clift Barratt	Pettibone	5:34
14.	"If My Brother's in Trouble" (Club Mix)	Clift Barratt	Pettibone	7:23
15.	"Only Human" (7" Single Version)	Eastmond Osborne	Eastmond	4:33
16.	"Never"	Osborne Brookins	Osborne Brookins	4:39

Personnel

• Jeffrey Osborne – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11), arrangements (6, 8)
• Terry Burrus – keyboards (1)
• Alan Friedman – programming (1)
• Barry Eastmond – keyboards (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11), drum programming (2, 5, 7, 9, 10), arrangements (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11), synth solo (7), string arrangements and conductor (9, 11)
• Eric Rehl – synthesizers (2, 4, 7, 9–11), synthesizer programming (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11)
• Ron Skies – additional synthesizer programming (2)
• Kendo Scott – keyboards (3)
• Darryl Duncan – all instruments (6), arrangements (6)
• Robert Brookins – all keyboards (8), all programming (8), arrangements (8)
• Mike Campbell – guitars (2, 5)
• Georg Wadenius – guitars (4)
• Nick Moroch – guitars (11)
• Anthony Jackson – bass (4, 11)
• Sam Sims – bass (9)
• Buddy Williams – drums (4)
• Terry Silverlight – drums (11)
• Vincent Henry – alto sax solo (4)
• Grover Washington Jr. – alto sax solo (5)
• Al Boson – vocal arrangements (3)
• Edith Wint – string contractor (9, 11)
• Richard Hendrickson – concertmaster (9, 11)
• Kathryn Russell – backing vocals (1)
• Dian Sorel – backing vocals (1)
• Lillias White – backing vocals (1)
• B.J. Nelson – backing vocals (2, 9)
• Karen Anderson – backing vocals (3)
• Cydné Monet – backing vocals (3)
• Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (4)
• Dennis Collins – backing vocals (4)
• Yolanda Lee – backing vocals (4, 7, 10)
• Nikki Richards – backing vocals (4)
• Alex Brown – backing vocals (6, 8)
• Joey Diggs – backing vocals (6)
• Portia Griffin – backing vocals (6)
• BRIGHT EYES – rap (6)
• Lynne Fiddmont – backing vocals (8)
• Marlena Jeter – backing vocals (8)
• Keith John – backing vocals (8)

Production

• P. Dennis Mitchell – recording engineer (1)
• Earl Cohen – recording and mixing (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11)
• Khaliq-O-Vision (Khaliq Glover) – recording (6, 8), mixing (6)
• Keith Cohen – mixing (8)
• Carl Beatty – string recording (9, 11)
• Curt Frasca – assistant engineer (1)
• Garvey Clark Jr. – recording and mix assistant (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11)
• Mike Harlow – recording and mix assistant (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11)
• Dave Lebowitz – recording and mix assistant (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11)
• Tracy Chisholm – assistant engineer (6)
• Kimm James – assistant engineer (8)
• Carolyn Quan – art direction, design
• Adrian Buckmaster – photography
• Cecille Parker – wardrobe stylist
• Rudy Calvo – grooming, make-up
• Jack Nelson – management

Studios

• Recorded at Axis Studios, East Bay Studios, Soundtrack Studios and Greene Street Recording (New York, NY); Studiodad Digital (Brooklyn, NY); Wings West Recording (Northridge, CA).
• Strings recorded at Right Track Recording (New York, NY).
• Mixed at The Sandbox Studios (Easton, CT); Soundcastle and Larrabee Sound Studios (Hollywood, CA).

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peak position US Billboard 200 [6] 95 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [2] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1991) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [7] 21

References

1. Cranna, Ian (March 5, 1991). "Only Human review". Q Magazine. 55: 76.
2. "Jeffrey Osborne Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
3. "Only Human". AllMusic . Retrieved August 15, 2021.
4. "Only Human". Entertainment Weekly . December 21, 1990. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
5. "Only Human – Expanded Edition". iTunes (US). May 1990. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
6. "Jeffrey Osborne Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
7. "1991 Year-End Chart – Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard . January 2, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2021.