Love, Marriage & Divorce | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 4, 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2013 | |||
Studio | Brandon's Way Recording Los Angeles County, California, U.S. | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 43:39 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Producer |
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Toni Braxton chronology | ||||
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Babyface chronology | ||||
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Singles from Love, Marriage & Divorce | ||||
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Check out Love, Marriage & Divorce by Toni Braxton & Babyface on Amazon Music. Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on Amazon.com. You get the lyrics and who the song was written by and Toni & Babyface's thank you's in other words you get the full album experience! The album is perfect for these two, like Stacy Lattisaw & Johnny. Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage & Divorce - Amazon.com Music. Toni & Babyface's thank you's in other words you get the full album experience!
Love, Marriage & Divorce is a collaborative studio album by American recording artists Toni Braxton and Babyface, released on February 4, 2014, by Motown Records. As of July 2, 2014 the album sold 211,000 copies in the U.S.[1]. The album won Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.
— Braxton describing her collaboration with Babyface.[2]
Fifa 12 game download. Love, Marriage & Divorce includes eleven tracks including their Adult R&B #1 single, 'Hurt You' as well as the second single 'Where Did We Go Wrong'. The album was originally due for release on November 25, 2013, although its release was delayed until the week before Valentine's Day.[3] The album is Babyface's first new studio album in nearly seven years and Toni's first new album since 2010's Pulse.[4] Shortly before the release of Love, Marriage & Divorce, Braxton announced that it would be her final studio album, as she wanted to retire and focus on a film career.[5][6] Since its release, she has reversed her decision and announced a sequel to the recording due to the album's success.
'Hurt You' released as the lead single on August 17, 2013. The audio video was released to Braxton's VEVO account on August 19, 2013.[7] On September 7, 2013, the song debuted at number 17 on Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart,[8] The music video was released on Braxton and Babyface's joint VEVO account October 11, 2013.[9] On December 14, 2013 'Hurt You' rose to the number 1 spot on Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart for four weeks.[10]
The song spent 41 weeks on the Adult R&B Songs chart before exiting the Top 20 Chart.[11] This marked Braxton's seventh No. 1 hit on the Adult R&B Songs chart and first since her 2000 release 'Just Be a Man About It'.[12] The song also hit number 16 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart.[13][14]
'Where Did We Go Wrong?' released as the second single on December 17, 2013. The song was instantly given to fans once they had pre-ordered the album.[15] The audio video was released to VEVO on December 19, 2013.[16]
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
ABC News | [17] |
AllMusic | [18] |
Cuepoint (Expert Witness) | A–[19] |
Los Angeles Times | (favorable) |
Rolling Stone | [20] |
The album was met with positive reviews from critics. ABC News gave the album a 4 out 5 start rating, describing the album as 'This record seems gloriously stuck in a time warp. Honestly, Babyface and Braxton give us a glimpsing reminder of what high-quality R&B radio used to offer its listeners. Even when the two are hitting the 'divorce' part of the record, it never sounds like a downer. It's two pros rekindling the pop magic. Considering this is Babyface's first album in 7 years and Braxton's first album in 4 years, this album delivers a much needed shot in the arm. This record was an extremely smart move.'[21]
Andy Kellman from AllMusic gave the album a 3 out 5 star rating, stating 'On Love, Marriage & Divorce, Toni Braxton and Babyface, creative partners going back to the early '90s, rekindle their musical relationship. Both endured broken marriages, and presumably it's those experiences that inform the material here -- a succinct collection of 11 songs, eight of which are duets.'[18]
Robert Christgau from Cuepoint gave the album a A- rating, stating 'Through one number-one album, two number-two albums, one Vegas run, two Disney-on-Broadway runs, one season of Dancing With the Stars, two bankruptcies, and, absolutely, one divorce, Braxton has been as content-free as a soul diva can be. No wonder Kenny Edmunds grabbed her early on‑-she was platinum putty in his hands.'[19]
The album was also nominated for World's Best Album at the 2014 World Music Awards. The album won Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.[22]
The album debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 67,000 copies, making it Braxton's sixth US top-ten album. It also entered at number one on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[23] The album debuted at number 75 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 7 on the UK R&B Chart.[24][25]
Credits adapted from liner notes[26] and Allmusic.[27] All lead vocals by Toni Braxton and Babyface, except where noted; all tracks produced by Babyface, except where noted.
Standard edition[28] | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
1. | 'Roller Coaster' | 4:23 | |
2. | 'Sweat' |
| 4:27 |
3. | 'Hurt You' | 4:10 | |
4. | 'Where Did We Go Wrong' |
| 3:37 |
5. | 'I Hope That You're Okay' (lead vocals: Babyface) | 3:54 | |
6. | 'I Wish' (lead vocals: Braxton) | Braxton | 3:03 |
7. | 'Take It Back' |
| 4:05 |
8. | 'Reunited' | 3:18 | |
9. | 'I'd Rather Be Broke' (lead vocals: Braxton; producers: Babyface, Dixon, The Rascals) |
| 3:38 |
10. | 'Heart Attack' | 3:52 | |
11. | 'The D Word' |
| 5:12 |
Total length: | 43:39 |
Target deluxe edition bonus tracks[29] | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
12. | 'Let's Do It' | 3:45 | |
13. | 'One' |
| 2:22 |
Total length: | 6:07 |
Credits adapted from liner notes[26] and Allmusic.[30]
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
---|---|---|
South Africa (RISA)[43] | 2× Platinum | 80,000 |
United States (RIAA)[1] | 211,000^ | |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
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(help)On Love, Marriage & Divorce, Toni Braxton and Babyface, creative partners going back to the early '90s, rekindle their musical relationship. Both endured broken marriages, and presumably it's those experiences that inform the material here -- a succinct collection of 11 songs, eight of which are duets. The emphasis is on divorce, indicated from the very beginning on 'Roller Coaster,' where Babyface enters with 'Today I got so mad at you, it's like I couldn't control myself.' The set finishes with the bittersweet 'The D Word,' seemingly a Sade homage, in which Babyface confesses 'You still own my heart, forever and ever and ever.' Moments that deviate from issues of romantic strife are few. The duo don't seem nearly as connected to them. 'Sweat,' a slinking groove, is like the 'Love During War' to Robin Thicke's 'Love After War,' while 'Heart Attack,' near the album's end, is a retro-disco move that seems more like a throw-in than a crucial part of the album. The sequence of songs plays out like scenes on shuffle. Either that, or the relationship is extremely up and down; the singers sometimes sound as if they are addressing ex-lovers from other relationships. 'Reunited' is a blissful ballad, but it's followed by the embittered 'I'd Rather Be Broke,' where Braxton asserts, 'Just because your money's strong don't mean you can do the things that you do.' Babyface is civil and clear-headed on 'I Hope That You're Okay,' claiming he 'can't go through the motions anymore,' but Braxton follows with a solo spotlight, 'I Wish,' that seems drawn from a different situation: 'I hope she creeps on you with somebody who is 22/I swear to God, I'm gonna be laughing at you every day.' As a narrative, the album can be hard to follow, but it's not as if breakups have a simple arc with a steady, unwavering decline. While most of these songs are ballads, Babyface rarely pulls out his acoustic guitar -- a saving grace for those who tired of hearing it throughout the '90s. This is a solid addition to both artists' discographies. The romantically content won't want to go anywhere near it.
Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Babyface / Toni Braxton | 4:23 | |
2 | Antonio Dixon / Kenneth Edmonds / Daryl Simmons | 4:27 | |
3 | Toni Braxton / Antonio Dixon / Kenneth Edmonds / Daryl Simmons | 4:10 | |
4 | Babyface / Toni Braxton | 3:36 | |
5 | Kenneth Edmonds / Daryl Simmons | 3:53 | |
6 | Babyface / Toni Braxton | 3:04 | |
7 | Toni Braxton / Antonio Dixon / Kenneth Edmonds / Daryl Simmons | 4:05 | |
8 | Toni Braxton / Antonio Dixon / Kenneth Edmonds / Daryl Simmons | 3:17 | |
9 | Toni Braxton / Antonio Dixon / Kenneth Edmonds / Kameron Glasper / Khristopher Riddick-Tynes / Leon Thomas | 3:37 | |
10 | Babyface / Toni Braxton | 3:51 | |
11 | Toni Braxton / Kenneth Edmonds | 5:13 |