Total (Total album)

Total is the debut album by American female R&B trio Total. It was released by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records on January 30, 1996 in the United States. Chiefly produced by Bad Boy head Sean "Puffy" Combs, the album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 and reached the top five of the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Total was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and spawned the hit singles "Can't You See", "No One Else", "Kissin' You" and "Do You Think About Us"/"When Boy Meets Girl".

Total
Studio album by
Total
ReleasedJanuary 30, 1996 (1996-01-30)
Recorded1995
Genre
Length56:44
Label
Producer
Total chronology
Total
(1996)		 Kima, Keisha, and Pam
(1998)
Singles from Total
  1. "Can't You See"
    Released: March 27, 1995
  2. "No One Else"
    Released: November 28, 1995
  3. "Kissin' You"
    Released: April 15, 1996
  4. "Do You Think About Us?"
    Released: October 7, 1996

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[2]
The Los Angeles Times[3]
Muzik[4]

Allmusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine found that "while the album is simply too long to sustain the quality" of their previous "singles "Can't You See" and "No One Else," most of the record is filled with deep, seductive funk that follows through on the group's promise."[1] Entertainment Weekly's Dimitri Ehrlich wrote that "with a buttery delivery and enough sass to kill an elephant, this trio of hip-hop/soul vixens gives TLC good cause to be frightened. Brimming with irresistibly funky loops and gritty grooves, the self-titled Total is a pleasure from start to finish. Rap assists from label mate The Notorious B.I.G. are the cherry on top."[2] Connie Johnson from The Los Angeles Times felt that "the three singers themselves generate little heat. The vocals on the best cuts, “Can't You See” and “Do You Think About Us?,” mostly evoke Faith Evans and T-Boz of TLC. Except for the lasciviousness of “Who Is This,” Total doesn't distinguish itself from other divas."[3]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro" (featuring Puff Daddy) Chad Elliott0:54
2."Do You Know"
3:23
3."No One Else" (featuring Da Brat)
4:28
4."Whose Is It?" (Interlude) 
2:28
5."Kissin' You"
Saadiq4:42
6."Do You Think About Us?"
  • Saadiq
  • Johnson
Saadiq4:33
7."Definition of a Bad Girl" (Interlude) 
  • Elliott
  • Combs
1:10
8."Can't You See" (featuring The Notorious B.I.G.)
Combs4:41
9."Someone like You"
  • Thompson
  • Combs
  • Smith
4:35
10."Tell Me"
  • Herbert
  • Burrell
4:37
11."Love Is All We Need"
  • Robinson
  • Thompson
  • Combs
  • Thompson
  • Combs
4:00
12."Don't Ever Change"
  • Robinson
  • Spivey
  • Thompson
  • Combs
  • Thompson
  • Combs
4:14
13."Spend Some Time"
  • Poke
  • Combs
4:18
14."When Boy Meets Girl"
4:18
15."No One Else (Puff Daddy Remix)" (featuring Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown & Da Brat)
4:28

Sample credits

  • "Do You Know" contains a sample from "Same Beat (Part 1)" as performed by Fred Wesley and The J.B.'s.
  • "No One Else" contains a sample from "South Bronx" as performed by KRS-1.
  • "Can't You See" contains elements from "The Payback" as performed by James Brown.
  • "Someone like You" contains a sample from "Save their Souls" as performed by Hamilton Bohannon.
  • "Tell Me" contains a sample from "Help Somebody Please" as performed by The O'Jays.
  • "Love Is All We Need" contains excerpts from "Atomic Dog" as performed by George Clinton.
  • "Don't Ever Change" samples "Computer Love" as performed by Zapp.
  • "Spend Some Time" contains a sample from "Love TKO" as performed by Teddy Pendergrass.
  • "When Boy Meets Girl" incorporates re-recorded portions of "Love You Inside Out" as written and performed by The Bee Gees.

Credits

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Total (Total) at AllMusic. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  2. Ehrlich, Dimitri (March 15, 1996). "'Total' Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. Johnson, Connie (March 16, 1996). "Album Reviews : * Total, "Total," Bad Boy Entertainment/Arista". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. Springer, Jacqueline (May 1996). "Total: Total" (PDF). Muzik. No. 12. p. 106. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  5. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2925". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  6. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  7. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  8. "Total Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. "Total Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  10. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  11. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  12. "American album certifications – Total – Total". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
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