Yes I Am | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 21, 1993 [1] | |||
Recorded | A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California [2] | |||
Genre | Blues rock, hard rock [3] | |||
Length | 43:54 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Producer | Melissa Etheridge, Hugh Padgham [2] | |||
Melissa Etheridge chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Calgary Herald | B [4] |
Robert Christgau | C+ [5] |
Entertainment Weekly | B [6] |
Philadelphia Inquirer | [7] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [3] |
Yes I Am is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on September 21, 1993. [1] The title is generally thought to refer to Etheridge's recent coming out as a lesbian, confirming long-standing rumors about her personal life. [8] However, in 2018, Etheridge clarified that in fact the title for the track and album were not statements regarding her sexual identity. [9] Yes I Am is the pivotal album that gave Etheridge national and international recognition. [10] The rock ballad "Come to My Window" was the first single released from the album, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its video featured the actress Juliette Lewis having a nervous breakdown. This single was quickly followed by "I'm the Only One", which became a major hit in the US and reached No. 8 on the Hot 100, and "If I Wanted To", which reached No. 16.
By 2010, the album had sold over 4,348,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan. [11] In 2018, Etheridge went on tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Yes I Am's release and also re-released the album with eight bonus tracks. [12]
The songs on Yes I Am were recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California. The album was produced by Etheridge and Hugh Padgham, who also engineered the album. [2] Padgham had previously worked mainly with British artists and bands including Genesis, David Bowie and Sting. He also produced Etheridge's next album, Your Little Secret .
The main musicians backing Etheridge were Kevin McCormick (who had co-produced her previous albums), Mauricio Fritz Lewak, Waddy Wachtel and Scott Thurston. Pino Palladino replaced McCormick on several tracks and David Sutton replaced him on one song. Ian McLagen and James Fearnley also made appearances. [2]
In their review, Billboard noted that "working with Etheridge for the first time, veteran producer Padgham has not tampered with the formula that made the rock singer/songwriter's first three works album rock standbys. Here, she scores with bluesy lead single "I'm The Only One" and tracks "If I Only Wanted To," "Come To My Window," and "All- American Girl." [13]
In their review, Allmusic stated that "Melissa Etheridge wasn't out of the closet when she released Yes I Am in 1993, yet it's hard not to notice the defiant acclamation in the album's title. This barely concealed sense of sexual identity seeps out from the lyrics, and it informs the music as well, which is perhaps the most confident she has ever been. It's also the most professional she's ever been." [14]
All songs written by Melissa Etheridge.
The following people contributed to Yes I Am: [2]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | "Come to My Window" | Best Female Rock Vocal Performance | Won |
Best Rock Song | Nominated | ||
I'm the Only One | Nominated |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada) [27] | 2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [28] | 6× Platinum | 6,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist. Her eponymous debut album was released in 1988 and became an underground success. It peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 and its lead single, "Bring Me Some Water", garnered Etheridge her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female in 1989. Her second album, Brave and Crazy, appeared that same year and earned Etheridge two more Grammy nominations. In 1992, Etheridge released her third album, Never Enough, and its lead single, "Ain't It Heavy", won Etheridge her first Grammy Award.
Breakdown is the sixth album by singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1999. A Limited Edition version of the album was simultaneously released featuring three bonus tracks.
Lucky is the eighth album by singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 2004. The album made a debut on Billboard chart at No. 15 with almost 92,000 copies sold.
Melissa Etheridge is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1988.
Brave and Crazy is the second album by singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1989. As of 2010, the album has sold 632,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Never Enough is the third album by singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1992. As of 2010, the album has sold 997,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Your Little Secret is the fifth studio album by singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1995. It was her most successful album on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at number six. The album also contained three singles, "Your Little Secret", "I Want to Come Over", and "Nowhere to Go". "I Want to Come Over" went on to reach No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Nowhere to Go" peaked at No. 40. As of 2010, the album has sold 1,348,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
"Come to My Window" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1993 as the second single from her fourth studio album, Yes I Am (1993). This was the first song to become a hit after Etheridge publicly announced that she was a lesbian. With the driving force of gay rights, the song gained substantial airplay on radio stations, mostly through call-in requests. The song debuted on the Billboard charts after the first week of its release, reaching number 25 on the chart, remaining on the Hot 100 for 44 weeks and being certified Gold. The song also charted in Canada, reaching number 13 on the RPM Top Singles chart. It was the second song from Etheridge that earned her a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. In 2019, Billboard included "Come to My Window" in its list of the "30 Lesbian Love Songs".
Main Offender is the second studio album by Keith Richards, released in 1992 between the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels and Voodoo Lounge projects.
"I'm the Only One" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge from her fourth studio album, Yes I Am (1993). It was released as the first single in September 1993, reaching number 12 in Canada and number 26 in the Netherlands. In the United States, it was slow to gain momentum, but after the success of "Come to My Window", it was re-released, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in January 1995. It remains Etheridge's biggest hit on either chart.
The Awakening is the ninth album by rock singer Melissa Etheridge and her ninth studio album. It was released on September 25, 2007. The rock album conveys Etheridge's current autobiographical, religious and political perspectives. Etheridge made the album to convey parts of her story and journey along with her love for God. In the album's booklet, she included a letter to all who buy it starting with "Dear Friend".
"No Souvenirs" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, release as the second single from her second album, Brave and Crazy, in August 1989. Despite peaking at number 95 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the song experienced more success internationally, reaching number 30 in Australia and number four in Canada, where it became Etheridge's highest-charting single until "I Want to Come Over" reached number one in 1996.
"Bring Me Some Water" is the debut single of American singer Melissa Etheridge. It was released in 1988 and became a hit in several countries, reaching the top 20 in Australia, New Zealand, and on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
"Like the Way I Do" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released as the second US single from her first album, Melissa Etheridge (1988). In the United Kingdom, "Don't You Need" was released as the second single.
A New Thought for Christmas is a 2008 Christmas album by rock singer Melissa Etheridge, released on September 30, 2008.
4th Street Feeling is the twelfth studio album by American rock musician Melissa Etheridge, released on September 4, 2012 by Island Records, produced by Jacquire King and Steve Booker, with all tracks co-produced by Etheridge. The album was recorded at the "House of Blues Studio" in Encino, California. It features twelve tracks on the standard release and three bonus tracks on the deluxe edition.
This Is M.E. is the thirteenth studio album by American rock/pop musician Melissa Etheridge, released on September 30, 2014 by Etheridge's own label ME Records, which is distributed by Primary Wave Records. It features eleven tracks on the standard release and four bonus tracks on the Target exclusive version.
"Your Little Secret" is the first single and title track from American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge's fifth studio album of the same name (1995). The song was released to US radio stations on October 9, 1995.
The Medicine Show is the fifteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge. The album was released on April 12, 2019, by Concord Records and her own MLE Music.
One Way Out is a 2021 studio album by American rock musician Melissa Etheridge.
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