Compatible with all MP3 players including iPod, iPad, iTunes and Window Media Player
Personnel includes: Babyface (guitar, piano, Wurlitzer, keyboards, synthesizer, Vocoder, drum programming, background vocals); Reggie Griffin (guitar, saxophone); Michael Thompson (guitar); Bruce Dukov, Clayton Haslop (violin); Bob Becker (viola); Larry Corbett (cello); Brandon Fields (saxophone); Greg Phillinganes, Alex Alessandroni, Patrice Rushen (piano); Nathan East (bass); Larry Bunker (timpani, percussion); Luis Conte, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Track Masters (drum programming); Kevon Edmonds, Melvin Edmonds, Marc Nelson, Debra Killings (background vocals).
All songs written by Babyface except "This Is How It Works" (Babyface/Lisa Lopes), "And I Gave My Love To You" (Babyface/Sonja Marie), "Count On Me" (Babyface/Whitney Houston/Michael Houston) and "My Funny Valentine" (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart).
"Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," written by Babyface, won a 1997 Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
WAITING TO EXHALE was nominated for 10 additional Grammys. The album was nominated for Album Of The Year, and "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" was also nominated for Song Of The Year and Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or For Television.
"Sittin' Up In My Room," another Babyface composition, was also nominated for Best R&B Song. "It Hurts Like Hell," also by Babyface, and "Count On Me," by Babyface, Michael Houston and Whitney Houston, were also nominated for Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or For Television.
Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans' performance of "Count On Me" was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. "Not Gon' Cry" (Mary J. Blige), "Sittin' Up In My Room" (Brandy) and "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" (Whitney Houston) were all nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Just as the film version of Terry McMillan's novel WAITING TO EXHALE explores the relationship between four African-American women, the Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds-produced soundtrack features only the female rulers of the Black Music charts. As a unified collection, it allows the ladies to state their case to the world (albeit on the strength of mostly Babyface-penned songs). It also gives hip-hop-soul princesses (SWV, Faith Evans, Brandy) a chance to rub shoulders with soul music's reigning queens (Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Toni Braxton), and represents the passing of the torch from the old school to the new school artists.
At the forefront of WAITING TO EXHALE are two tracks by Whitney Houston, who also stars in the film. The gentle "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" plays like an early-'60s girl-group ballad, but carries the instrumental trappings of modern soul, with Houston softly articulating on the inner answers of the heart's self-generating questions. Though she finds herself asking these very same questions on "Why Does It Hurt So Bad," she's nowhere near as underspoken. As the background vocals drive the ballad towards a forceful crescendo, Whitney steps into the light, delivering escalated vocal swoops and between-line asides, firmly proving her stature as the genre's top diva.
Houston is not WAITING TO EXHALE's only attraction. Chaka Khan's relaxed reading of "My Funny Valentine" does more to realign the funkateer with classic pop singers than it does to funkify the Rodgers and Hart standard. Mary J. Blige sounds downright mellow on "Not Gon' Cry," a modern blues dirge. And leave it to TLC to provide the collection with its rump-shaking moment. "This Is How It Works" grooves on an Arabic synthesizer line and a Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes rap that clearly spells out the title's sexual innuendo, adding a single moan to the soundtrack's many exhaled sighs.
Personnel: Patti LaBelle, Shanna, TLC, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Chanté Moore (vocals, background vocals); SWV, Faith Evans, For Real, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Sonja Marie, Toni Braxton, Brandy, CeCe Winans (vocals); Babyface (guitar, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, synthesizer, vocoder, background vocals); Michael Thompson , Reggie Griffin (guitar); Bruce DSpin (1/97, p.59) - Ranked #16 on Spin's list of the '20 Best Albums of '96.' Entertainment Weekly (10/12/01, p.43) - Ranked #88 in EW's "100 Best Movie Soundtracks" Entertainment Weekly (12/1/95, p.73) - "...the album goes down easy, just as you'd expect from a package framed by Whitney Houston tracks....the soundtrack waits to exhale, hovering in sensuous suspense." - Rating: B Musician (3/96, p.92) - "...this is a Babyface album. Not only did he write all the new songs, but it's his empathy and melodic gift that sets the stage for these performances..." New York Times (Publisher) (1/6/96, p.C16) - Included on Jon Pareles' and Stephen Holden's list of the Top 10 Albums of `95 - "Kenneth (Babyface) Edmonds gathers most of the sultriest female singers in current rhythm-and-blues... and matches them with his own tender, gently pulsating songs..."
excellent very soothing and relaxing....nice end to an hectic day. Submitted by virginiquestyles2001 (Sanford ,N.C.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 3 found this helpful.
Classic Ish............. You Will Never Find Or Hear A Album Like This For Many Years To Come. This cd makes you good about yourself after a stressfull day. With Great Lyrics And Production This Iz A Must Have For Every1. Submitted by ksk_soundkrew (toronto, canada) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 3 found this helpful.
One of the BEST CDs in the World!!! I am not one to buy CDs. But this one is a must have. You will NOT regret making this purchase. I had this CD years ago. Every time I lost it for whatever reason I would just buy it again! Every selection is a smooth hot hit. If you're not in love, you will be. If you are in love, you will be more in love. Submitted by LaTonya (New Jersey) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 2 found this helpful.
Great Piece Without a doubt one of the best soundtracks in years. The list of women artists and the material will likely not happen again. That reason alone is enough to get this cd. Just about every song here is worthy. My favorites are of course the pre-trouble Whitney songs, Brandy, SWV, Faith, Shaunna, Sonja Marie, Chaka Khan and Mary J Blige. I don't think you'll see another soundtrack so well put together in a long, long while.
While it is nearly impossible to pick a favorite song here, I'd have to go with the ones by SWV, Chaka Khan and Faith, in that order. I think this CD has the makings of a future classic. Submitted by marcusj_j (Aurora, IL, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 2 found this helpful.
DON'T WAIT ...EXHALE NOW!!!!!! ANOTHER MUST GET CD. EVERY SINGLE ON HERE IS WORTH LISTENING TO, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. A SONG FOR EVERYONE, YOUNG AND OLD...I'M OVER FORTY AND THE MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER NOW THAN IT DID BEFORE. AND GETS BETTER AND BETTER. SOON TO BE A GREAT CLASSIC.. Submitted by LAIDESS212 (FRESNO, CALIFORNIA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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