Released: July 13, 1993
Label: LaFace ∙ Arista
Genre: R&B ∙ pop ∙ soul
Producer: Babyface ∙ Vassal Benford ∙ Bo & McArthur ∙ Vincent Herbert ∙ Ernesto Phillips ∙ L.A. Reid ∙ Daryl Simmons ∙ Tim & Ted
We called her the First Lady of LaFace. She was our Diva. Clive had Whitney, Tommy had Mariah and we had Toni.
Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds on Toni Braxton.
Toni Michele Braxton has been an important piece to R&B music for over 30 years. Toni’s signature contralto voice has always been sultry, remarkable, sensual and rich, & her musical catalog has always been top tier. Born and raised in Severn, Maryland, Braxton was the eldest of six children (4 of whom are musicians in their own right) and grew up in a strict religious household.
Braxton and her four sisters (Traci, Towanda, Trina & Tamar) formed their own group, titled The Braxtons and were signed to Arista Records in 1989. Their first single was titled Good Life, and was released in 1990.
The group’s debut single peaked at number 79 on the Billboard R&B charts, not getting the success it deserved. However, the song caught the attention of Antonio “L.A” Reid & Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who were former members of The Deele and became a songwriting duo writing hits for artists like Bobby Brown, Pebbles and Whitney Houston. Reid & Edmonds formed their own record label that they named LaFace Records, singing acts like TLC & Damian Dame to their label in the early 90s.
The duo convinced Toni to sign to their label, and made her grand “solo” entrance to the world on the 1992 soundtrack to the film Boomerang on her debut single Give U My Heart, a duet with Babyface..giving Toni her first top 40 hit on the pop charts and her first top 2 hit on the R&B charts.
Toni Braxton’s eponymous debut studio album was released on July 13, 1993 by LaFace Records and Arista Records. Toni Braxton the album’s themes of betrayal, infidelity, heartbreak, love/romance, and melancholy captures the essence of what and who Toni is as an artist while having elements of R&B/soul, Jazz and new jack swing.
Toni Braxton was an album that set her apart from her contemporaries at the time because she knew (& still does) how to serenade an audience with not only her beauty, but her voice. Toni Braxton peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200 & Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts respectively, selling over 10 million copies worldwide.
The album earned Toni many awards including three Grammy Award for Best New Artist and two consecutive Grammy awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1994 and 1995. Toni Braxton has also since been certified 8x platinum by the RIAA. The album was also LaFace’s first number 1 album.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Toni Braxton.
Another Sad Love Song
Written by Kenneth Edmonds ∙ Daryl Simmons
The album opens with Another Sad Love Song, a masterpiece of a song where the singer is reminded by her ex-boyfriend by every single song that’s playing on the radio. Released as the lead single, Another Sad Love Song gave Toni her first top ten hits on the pop & R&B charts, peaking at numbers 7 & 2 respectively. Another Sad Love Song also received the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance!
Breathe Again
Written by Kenneth Edmonds
Breathe Again captures the beauty and essence of the dynamic of Babyface & Living Legend Toni Braxton in my Tamar voice. From a lyrical perspective, the song speaks of a relationship that is over, and Toni gets a sense of nostalgia when she reminisces about the good times she had with him.
Breathe Again became an international success for Braxton, reaching the top ten in multiple countries around the world, peaking at number 3 and 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 & Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts respectively.
***Breathe Again contains an interpolation of I’d Rather Give You My Bitch by Sugar Free, and was covered by Babyface featuring Shanice.
Seven Whole Days
Written by Kenneth Edmonds ∙ Antonio Reid
Seven Whole Days is a top tier record!!! From a lyrical perspective, the song is about a romance that is declining and the lack of communication isn’t making things better for the singer. Released as the third single from the album, Seven Whole Days wasn’t eligible to chart on the Billboard pop & R&B charts since the single wasn’t officially a single in the US, but peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B songs & R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts respectively.
***Seven Whole Days was covered by The Whispers.
Love Affair
Written by Tim Thomas ∙ Ted Bishop
Love Affair is one of my favorites on the album, and rightfully so! From a lyrical perspective, the song is about the singer letting someone who’s interested in her that she has a boyfriend…but at the same time she’s trying to resist temptation since she finds him attractive. It is definitely a classic in her catalog and doesn’t get talked about enough when people discuss this album.
Candlelight
Written by John Barnes ∙ Gaylor D
Candlelight is one of the most romantic records on the album, that I love so much. From a lyrical perspective, Candlelight is about how lonely the singer is until the thought of her lover makes her feel complete until they’re together again. The thought of being with your lover by candlelight is truly magical honestly. I love everything about it. Another classic gem produced by Babyface, L.A. & Daryl Simmons.
Spending My Time with You
Written by Bo & McArthur
Spending My Time With You is one of the album’s uptempo songs, with influences of new jack swing. Lyrically, the song is self explanatory: Toni is loving spending quality time with the one she’s with!
***Spending My Time With You contains a sample of Impeach The President by The Honey Drippers.
Love Shoulda Brought You Home
Written by Kenneth Edmonds ∙ Daryl Simmons ∙ Bo Watson
Love Shoulda Brought You Home was the debut solo single for Toni, even though it was originally not meant to be for her. The song was originally written for Anita Baker (whom Toni was always compared to over the years) and declined due to her pregnancy at the time. It was eventually recorded by Toni and featured on the Boomerang soundtrack.
From a lyrical perspective, the song ties into the film’s plot where the characters Angela & Marcus are having a spat about Marcus sleeping with his boss, and she tells him “Love should’ve brought your ass home last night.” The themes of betrayal and infidelity are poignant throughout the song, with the heartbreaken Toni making us feel every single lyric from her gut. A SONGSTRESS!
Released as a single from the soundtrack, the song gave Toni her second consective top 40 hit on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 33. Love Shoulda Brought You Home also gave Toni another top ten hit on the R&B charts, peaking at number 2 and staying on the chart for 27 weeks.
I Belong to You
Written by Vassal Benford ∙ Ronald Spearman
I Belong to You is another uptempo number from Toni, and lyrically the song has the singer singing about her infatuation with her significant other. The song was released as a double single with How Many Ways, peaking at number 8 on the R&B charts and 28 on the pop charts respectively. The song was nominated for Best Female Vocal Performance at the 1996 Grammys.
***I Belong to You contains an interoplation of Best of My Love by The Emotions.
How Many Ways
Written by Vincent Herbert ∙ Toni Braxton ∙ Ben Garrison ∙ Noel Goring ∙ Keith Miller ∙ Phillip Field ∙ Anthony Beard
How Many Ways is FOREVER A FUCKING VIBE! Lyrically, the song is about the singer expressing the many ways there are to love her significant other. & as she should!!!!! The song was released as a double single with I Belong to You, peaking at number 8 on the R&B charts and 28 on the pop charts respectively.
***How Many Ways contains a sample of God Make Me Funky by The Headhunters featuring The Pointer Sisters.
You Mean the World to Me
Written by Antonio Reid ∙ Kenneth Edmonds ∙ Daryl Simmons
And if you give your very best to bring me happiness, I’ll show you just how much I adore you! ‘Cause you mean the world to me, you are my everything. I swear the only thing that matters, matters to me!
Toni Braxton, You Mean the World to Me, 1993.
Released as the album’s fourth single, You Mean the World to Me is a song where Toni is telling her man how much he means to her, but he gotta get it together before she be out of the door! The song was a hit on the radio, which gave Toni top ten hits on the pop & R&B charts at numbers 7 & 3.
Best Friend
Written by Toni Braxton ∙ Vance Taylor
Best Friend is the final full length song on the album , and is lyrically about the singer telling her significant other that the damage is done after he was with her best friend. Chile a mess!
Breathe Again (Reprise)
Written by Kenneth Edmonds
If I never feel you in my arms again
If I never feel your tender kiss again
If I never hear I love you now and then
Will I never make love to you once again
Please understand if love ends
Then I promise you, I promise you
That, that I shall never breathe again
Breathe again
Breathe again
That I shall never breathe again
Breathe again
Breathe again
Breathe again
That I shall never breathe again…
Toni Braxton was the perfect introduction to a career that still going strong to this day! Toni has since gone on to release 9 successful albums, but it is always a special treat to revisit the greatness of her debut. It is effortless. Legendary. Timeless. Perfection. -MW.
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