Tonight (Silk album)
| Tonight | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 23, 1999 | |||
| Recorded |
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| Length | 74:32 | |||
| Label | Elektra | |||
| Producer |
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| Silk chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Tonight | ||||
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Tonight is the third studio album by American R&B group Silk, released on March 23, 1999 on Elektra Entertainment.[1] It was their first album in four years and the reason for the break was due to the group wanting to be more involved in the creative process.[2] Another reason for the hiatus was due to the lackluster performance of their previous album Silk (1995), which caused the group to seek new management after dealing with financial and legal issues.[3][1] After severing ties with their former managers, they were managed by Sonja Norwood, mother of singer/actress Brandy Norwood.[1] They were soon given the green light to record a new album by Elektra's then-president Sylvia Rhone, who let them take their time to record the album until they had the right songs.[3]
Most of the production duties were split between group member Gary Jenkins and producer Darrell "Delite" Allamby. The latter was brought in due to his previous work with Gerald Levert, Busta Rhymes and LSG.[3][1] Additional production was provided by Maurice Wilcher, Steve "Million Dollar Man" Morales, and Donald Parks. Tonight peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard 200 and number eight on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album spawned the hit single "If You", which peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their biggest hit since "Freak Me" (1993) and follow-up "Meeting In My Bedroom". Tonight proved to be their second most successful album, right behind their 1992 debut Lose Control. The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1999.[4]
Critical reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found Tonight "a little predictable. If you're at all familiar with the previous two records, you know what to expect lyrically and musically from every track on the record, and chances are, you won't be too disappointed by this slightly over-produced, ballad-heavy set. The uninitiated may find the constant sex talk a little ridiculous and monotonous, but they'll likely groove on Darrell "Delite" Allamby's production, which updates classic '70s soul and funk. It can be a little glossy and glib, as well as a little lightweight in the songwriting department, but that Allamby production makes Tonight fairly effective romantic mood music – even with Silk's vocal histrionics."[5]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Return" (Interlude) |
| Jenkins | 2:35 |
| 2. | "Tonight" |
| Allamby | 3:45 |
| 3. | "Let's Make Love" |
| Allamby | 4:41 |
| 4. | "If You" |
| Allamby | 5:37 |
| 5. | "Meeting in My Bedroom" |
| Allamby | 5:06 |
| 6. | "Satisfied" | Jenkins |
| 2:17 |
| 7. | "Baby Check Your Friend" |
|
| 5:01 |
| 8. | "I Wonder" |
|
| 4:30 |
| 9. | "Sexcellent" |
| Allamby | 3:51 |
| 10. | "Love You Down" |
|
| 4:13 |
| 11. | "Superstar" |
| Jenkins | 4:39 |
| 12. | "Playa Road" |
| Jenkins | 5:12 |
| 13. | "Please Don't Go" |
| Allamby | 5:06 |
| 14. | "Back In My Arms" |
| Wilcher | 4:11 |
| 15. | "Turn-U-Out" |
|
| 4:50 |
| 16. | "If You" (2000 Watts Remix) |
|
| 4:11 |
| 17. | "The Vaughn Harper Interview" |
| 4:40 |
Notes
Personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Tonight.[8][7]
Performers and musicians
- Darrell "Delite" Allamby – background vocals, keyboards, programming
- Anthony "A.D." Donelson – guitar
- Kenneth "Kenny Flav" Dickerson – keyboards, programming
- Jerry Flowers – drum programming
- Ben "Smooth" Howe – keyboards, programming
- Gary Jenkins – guitar, keyboards, programming
- Avery Johnson – drum programming
- Link – background vocals
- Terrence T. Nelson – drum programming
- Ninja – guitar
- Paul Pesco – guitar
- Zack Scott – drums
- Silk – background vocals
- Maurice Wilcher – keyboards, programming
Technical
- Darrell "Delite" Allamby – executive producer, engineer
- Alli – art direction and design
- Kwaku Alston – photography
- Ben Arrindell – engineer
- Chris Diaz – recording engineer
- Kenneth "Kenny Flav" Dickerson – engineer
- Paul Fleming – recording engineer
- John Grimes – recording engineer
- Shawn Grove – recording engineer
- Bryan Kinkead – recording engineer
- Paul Logus – mixing engineer
- Rico Lumpkins – engineer
- Vernon Mungo – engineer
- Terrence T. Nelson – recording engineer
- Herb Powers – mastering engineer
- Silk – executive producer
- Brian Smith – recording engineer
- Jason Stokes – recording engineer
- Darryl Williams – executive producer
- Jimmy Zupano – recording engineer
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications[edit]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[12] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history[edit]
| Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | March 23, 1999 | Elektra | [5] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Nathan, David (February 27, 1999). Silk Adds Wrinkles To Sensual Songs (newspaper ed.). billboard.com. pp. 27, 28. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
- ^ Rogers, Deana. "Silk remains smooth after third album". thelantern.com. The Lantern. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
- ^ a b c "Silk – Interview". hiponline.com. Hip Online. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
- ^ "Billboard". 2000-02-05.
- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "(Tonight > Overview)". AllMusic. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "Tonight". Silk album tracklisting. allmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
- ^ a b Silk – Tonight (CD liner notes). Elektra Entertainment Group. 62234-2
- ^ "Silk- Tonight". album credits. allmusic.com. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
- ^ "Silk Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "Silk Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1999". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
- ^ "American album certifications – Silk – Tonight". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 8, 2022.