Only Human (Jeffrey Osborne album)

Only Human is the sixth studio album by American singer Jeffrey Osborne. It was released by Arista Records on November 20, 1990.[1] His debut with the label, it reached number 9 on the US Top R&B Albums chart.[2]

Only Human
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 20, 1990
Length51:11
LabelArista
Producer
Jeffrey Osborne chronology
One Love – One Dream
(1988)
Only Human
(1990)
Something Warm for Christmas
(1997)

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[4]
Q[1]

AllMusic editor Ed Hogan found that "while it could be argued that Osborne's A&M albums were generally "too pop," he seems absolutely regenerated on Only Human, digging his vocal chops into material that accommodates his extensive range. It's a head-scratcher as to why this is his only Arista release; it would have been very interesting to hear Osborne continue in this mode."[3] Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Osborne’s voice is so silky and warm that he can anchor a varied collection of songs – ranging from the up-tempo [...] to the more personal, blustery [...] For any other singer, such an eclectic mix of musical styles like in Only Human, might seem like a desperate, unfocused grab for pop-chart success. But for Osborne it’s merely a reflection of a 20-year-long career that has dominated both black and pop radio [...] For all his forays into many musical genres, Osborne seems most at home, as he always has, in the ballads, where the drum machines don’t crowd his voice."[4] Ian Cranna in Q Magazine remarked that "the chief pleasure here is in Osborne's confident, accomplished singing".[1]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."If My Brother's in Trouble"
Shep Pettibone4:33
2."Only Human"
Eastmond4:53
3."Good Things Come to Those Who Wait"Glenn "Daddy-O" BoltonDaddy-O, Kendo Scott5:06
4."The Morning After I Made Love to You"
  • Eastmond
  • Osborne
Eastmond4:27
5."Lay Your Head"
  • Eastmond
  • Osborne
Eastmond4:59
6."Baby Wait a Minute"
  • Darryl Duncan
  • Osborne
Osborne, Duncan4:13
7."Sending You a Love Song"
  • Eastmond
  • Osborne
Eastmond4:49
8."Feel Like Making Love"Eugene McDanielsOsborne, Robert Brookins4:35
9."Back in Your Arms"
  • Eastmond
  • Osborne
Eastmond4:13
10."Nitetime"
  • Eastmond
  • Osborne
Eastmond4:42
11."Getting Better All the Time"Sam DeesEastmond4:44
2012 expanded edition[5]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."If My Brother's in Trouble" (Extended Hip Hop Mix)
  • Clift
  • Barratt
Pettibone5:10
13."If My Brother's in Trouble" (Dub Mix)
  • Clift
  • Barratt
Pettibone5:34
14."If My Brother's in Trouble" (Club Mix)
  • Clift
  • Barratt
Pettibone7:23
15."Only Human" (7" Single Version)
  • Eastmond
  • Osborne
Eastmond4:33
16."Never"
  • Osborne
  • Brookins
  • Osborne
  • Brookins
4:39

Personnel

  • Jeffrey Osborne – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11), arrangements (6, 8)
  • Terry Burrus – keyboards (1)
  • Alan Friedman – programming (1)
  • Barry Eastmond – keyboards (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11), drum programming (2, 5, 7, 9, 10), arrangements (2, 4, 5, 7, 9–11), synth solo (7), string arrangements and conductor (9, 11)
  • Eric Rehl – synthesizers (2, 4, 7, 9–11), synthesizer programming (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11)
  • Ron Skies – additional synthesizer programming (2)
  • Kendo Scott – keyboards (3)
  • Darryl Duncan – all instruments (6), arrangements (6)
  • Robert Brookins – all keyboards (8), all programming (8), arrangements (8)
  • Mike Campbell – guitars (2, 5)
  • Georg Wadenius – guitars (4)
  • Nick Moroch – guitars (11)
  • Anthony Jackson – bass (4, 11)
  • Sam Sims – bass (9)
  • Buddy Williams – drums (4)
  • Terry Silverlight – drums (11)
  • Vincent Henry – alto sax solo (4)
  • Grover Washington Jr. – alto sax solo (5)
  • Al Boson – vocal arrangements (3)
  • Edith Wint – string contractor (9, 11)
  • Richard Hendrickson – concertmaster (9, 11)
  • Kathryn Russell – backing vocals (1)
  • Dian Sorel – backing vocals (1)
  • Lillias White – backing vocals (1)
  • B.J. Nelson – backing vocals (2, 9)
  • Karen Anderson – backing vocals (3)
  • Cydné Monet – backing vocals (3)
  • Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (4)
  • Dennis Collins – backing vocals (4)
  • Yolanda Lee – backing vocals (4, 7, 10)
  • Nikki Richards – backing vocals (4)
  • Alex Brown – backing vocals (6, 8)
  • Joey Diggs – backing vocals (6)
  • Portia Griffin – backing vocals (6)
  • BRIGHT EYES – rap (6)
  • Lynn Fiddmont – backing vocals (8)
  • Marlena Jeter – backing vocals (8)
  • Keith John – backing vocals (8)

Production

  • P. Dennis Mitchell – recording engineer (1)
  • Earl Cohen – recording and mixing (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11)
  • Khaliq-O-Vision (Khaliq Glover) – recording (6, 8), mixing (6)
  • Keith Cohen – mixing (8)
  • Carl Beatty – string recording (9, 11)
  • Curt Frasca – assistant engineer (1)
  • Garvey Clark Jr. – recording and mix assistant (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11)
  • Mike Harlow – recording and mix assistant (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11)
  • Dave Lebowitz – recording and mix assistant (2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11)
  • Tracy Chisholm – assistant engineer (6)
  • Kimm James – assistant engineer (8)
  • Carolyn Quan – art direction, design
  • Adrian Buckmaster – photography
  • Cecille Parker – wardrobe stylist
  • Rudy Calvo – grooming, make-up
  • Jack Nelson – management

Studios

  • Recorded at Axis Studios, East Bay Studios, Soundtrack Studios and Greene Street Recording (New York, NY); Studiodad Digital (Brooklyn, NY); Wings West Recording (Northridge, CA).
  • Strings recorded at Right Track Recording (New York, NY).
  • Mixed at The Sandbox Studios (Easton, CT); Soundcastle and Larrabee Sound Studios (Hollywood, CA).

Charts

References

  1. Cranna, Ian (5 March 1991). "Only Human review". Q Magazine. 55: 76.
  2. "Jeffrey Osborne Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  3. "Only Human". AllMusic. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  4. "Only Human". Entertainment Weekly. December 21, 1990. Archived from the original on 2015-11-18. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  5. "Only Human – Expanded Edition". iTunes (US). May 1990. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  6. "Jeffrey Osborne Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  7. "1991 Year-End Chart – Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
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