Face2Face (Babyface album)

Face2Face is the fifth studio album from R&B singer, Babyface. It was his first album in five years after 1996's The Day. It was also his first album released on Arista Records, which reunited him with his former songwriting and production partner L.A. Reid who was the president of Arista at the time of the album's release.[5]

Face2Face
Studio album by
Babyface
ReleasedSeptember 11, 2001
Recorded2000–01
GenreR&B, hip hop, neo soul
Length58:58
LabelNu America, Arista
ProducerL.A. Reid (exec.), Babyface, Mike City, The Neptunes, Megahertz, Tim & Bob, Heavy D, Buckwild, Anthony Nance, Brion James
Babyface chronology
Love Songs
(2001)		 Face2Face
(2001)		 The Essential Babyface
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyD ()[2]
Los Angeles Times[3]
Robert ChristgauA− [4]

Face2Face was a radical departure from his previous works, as the balladeer was focused on more uptempo songs. The album was also different due to Babyface working with outside producers on roughly half of the album. Producers on the album included Tim & Bob, Heavy D, The Neptunes, Diggin' in the Crates producer Buckwild, Brian McKnight's associate producer Anthony Nance and Dan Reed Network member Brion James.

Reviews of the album were mixed, as critics and fans didn't know what to make of Babyface's new musical direction.[6] Face2Face is notable for being one of a few albums released on the same day as the September 11 attacks.[7] It was released alongside other recordings such as Slayer's God Hates Us All, Jay-Z's The Blueprint, Dream Theater's Live Scenes From New York, Mariah Carey's Glitter, Fabolous's Ghetto Fabolous & Nickelback's Silver Side Up.[8]

Track listing
  1. "Outside In/Inside Out" (Mike City, Kenneth Edmonds) – 3:16
  2. "There She Goes" (Kenneth Edmonds, Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams) – 4:31
  3. "What If" (Kenneth Edmonds) – 4:07
  4. "Stressed Out" (Kenneth Edmonds, Chad Hugo, Pharrell Williams) – 3:35
  5. "Baby's Mama" (featuring Snoop Dogg) (Calvin Broadus, Kenneth Edmonds, Dorsey Wesley, Damon Thomas) – 3:55
  6. "How Can U Be Down" (Kenneth Edmonds) – 4:41
  7. "Work It Out" (Kenneth Edmonds, Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson) – 4:11
  8. "I Keep Callin'" (Kenneth Edmonds, Heavy D, Brion James, Anthony Nance) – 4:29
  9. "With Him" (Kenneth Edmonds) – 4:45
  10. "Wish U Was My Girl" (Jason Edmonds, Kenneth Edmonds) – 4:02
  11. "U Should Know" (Jason Edmonds, Kenneth Edmonds) – 3:52
  12. "Don't Take It So Personal" (Kenneth Edmonds, Brion James, Anthony Nance) – 3:43
  13. "Still in Love With U" (Jason Edmonds, Kenneth Edmonds) – 4:00
  14. "Lover and Friend" (Anthony "Buckwild" Best, Jason Edmonds, Kenneth Edmonds) – 5:51

Personnel
  • Keyboard Programming: Babyface, The Neptunes, Mike City, Megahertz, Heavy D, Anthony Nance, Brion James, Tim Kelley
  • Drum Programming: Tim Kelley, Anthony Nance, Buckwild, The Neptunes, Mike City
  • Bass: Babyface
  • Acoustic Guitar: Babyface
  • Electric Guitar: Babyface, Bob Robinson, Brion James
  • Wurlitzer and Fender Rhodes: Wayne Lindsey
  • Hammind B-3 Organ: Bob Robinson
  • Background vocals: Babyface, Mike City, Pharrell Williams, Latrelle Simmons
  • Recording: Paul Boutin, Brian Garten
  • Mixing: Jean Marie Horvat, Josean Posey, Edward Quesada, Derek Carlson
  • Executive Producer: Antonio "L.A." Reid
  • A&R Direction: Pete Farmer
  • A&R Coordination: Pamela Grant & DeMonica Santiago-Plummer
  • Photography: Christian Lantry, Sante D'Orazio
  • Art Direction, Design: Gravillis, Inc.

Charts

References
  1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Face2Face at AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  2. Seymour, Craig (2000-12-01). "MUSIC REVIEW: Face2Face: Kenneth Babyface Edmonds". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  3. Weingarten, Marc (2001-09-16). "Record Rack: A Strong Crop in Fall's First Harvest". latimes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  4. Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Album: Babyface: Face2Face". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  5. Huey, Steve. "Babyface - Biography". billboard.com. Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  6. "Babyface tries being 'Grown & Sexy'". today.com. NBC News. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  7. Mitchell, Gail (July 23, 2005). Babyface Is Back (Paperback ed.). Billboard Magazine. p. 31. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  8. Kangas, Chaz. "September 11th, 2001 Was a "Super Tuesday" of Album Releases". villagevoice.com. Village Voice. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  9. "フェイス 2 フェイス／ベイビーフェイス-リリース-ORICON STYLE-ミュージック" [Highest position and charting weeks for Face2Face by Babyface]. oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Original Confidence. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  10. "Allmusic: Face2Face : Charts & Awards : Billboard Albums". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  11. "RIAJ > The Record > November 2001 > Certified Awards (September 2001)" (PDF). Recording Industry Association of Japan (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2014-02-17.
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