Aaliyah One In A Million CD

Personnel includes: Aaliyah, Tavarius Polk (vocals); Rodney Jerkins (rap vocals, various instruments); Slick Rick (rap vocals); D.J. Simmons (acoustic guitar); Michael J. Powell (guitar); Daryl Simmons (keyboards, drum programming); Freddie Washington, Ronnie Garrett (bass); Paulinho da Costa (percussion); Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Xavier Harris, Demetrius Hart, Pierre Heath, Tann (background vocals).
Producers include: Timbaland, Kay-Gee, Darren Lighty, Vincent "V.H." Herbert, Craig King.
Engineers include: Jimmy Douglas, Pat Dilett, Ben Garrison.
Aaliyah's second album doesn't necessarily prove that she is indeed One in a Million, but it does showcase more depth and talent than her acclaimed debut. That's not only due to the greater variety of material on One in a Million, or to the way that her producers (Vincent Herbert, Jermaine Dupri, and many others) immaculately produce each track, but it is also due to the fact that Aaliyah's singing is smoother, more seductive, and stronger than before. It might not be the commercial juggernaut of Age Ain't Nothin' but a Number, but One in a Million is a more consistently satisfying album. ~ Leo Stanley
Aaliyah's debut paved the way for a legion of teen-aged female R&B singers, including Brandy, Monica and 702. Aaliyah is no kid, though; she sings with a maturity that belies her age. Much about her life has changed, but she remains a mature young lady who sings about the ups and downs of true love experiences on this follow-up record.
Obviously a trained singer, Aaliyah glides easily between vocal ranges. Her soft style is more refined than the over-exaggerated riffs of other R&B songstresses. As on her first album, she pays tribute to the Isley Brothers, this time with "Choosey Lover." She adds more old-school flavor with her remake of the Marvin Gaye classic "Got To Give It Up."

Reissue

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.76) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's."
Q (10/96, p.153) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...With her smooth, sweetly seductive vocal firmly to the fore, she works through a set of predominantly slow and steamy swingbeat numbers, all clipped beats, luxurious melodies and dreamy harmonies..."
Vibe (10/96, p.133) - "...Aaliyah's voice is tender--slightly stronger than [Janet] Jackson's anemic falsetto, but with the same pop appeal....The hip hop-inspired production is solid and supportive..."
The Source (2/97, p.86) - "...ONE IN A MILLION resides on a different plane than the legion of sophomore attempts that produce only one or two gold singles....Aaliyah is ready to showcase her mature side. Her best songs are about relationship woes..."