Words (Tony Rich album)

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Words
Tonyrich.jpg
Studio album by
The Tony Rich Project
ReleasedJanuary 16, 1996
Recorded1995, Doppler Studios
GenreR&B, neo soul
Length41:34
LabelLaFace, Arista
ProducerTony Rich, Antonio M. Reid (exec.)
The Tony Rich Project chronology
Words
(1996) 		Birdseye
(1998)
Singles from Words
  1. "Nobody Knows"
    Released: November 7, 1995
  2. "Like a Woman"
    Released: August 5, 1996
  3. "Leavin'"
    Released: November 11, 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4/5 stars[1]
Robert Christgau(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)(3-star Honorable Mention)[2]
Entertainment WeeklyA[3]
Los Angeles Times3.5/4 stars[4]
New York Times(favorable)[5]
Q4/5 stars[6]
Rolling Stone3/5 stars[7]
USA Today3/4 stars[8]
Washington Post(favorable)[9]

Words is the debut album by American R&B musician Tony Rich (under the moniker "The Tony Rich Project"), released January 16, 1996 on LaFace Records. The album is produced, written, arranged and performed by Rich. In 1997, the album won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.[10]

At the start of 1996 with the acoustic R&B ballad, "Nobody Knows", the song was a hit peaking at #2 for 2 weeks, going platinum, and spending almost a year on the Billboard Hot 100 (47 weeks).[11]

In total three singles were released from Words: "Nobody Knows", "Like a Woman", and "Leavin'".

Track listing[]

All songs written by Tony Rich except "Nobody Knows" (written by Joe Rich & Don DuBose).[12]

  1. "Hey Blue" – 3:48
  2. "Nobody Knows" – 5:06
  3. "Like a Woman" – 4:08
  4. "Grass is Green" – 4:08
  5. "Ghost" – 4:21
  6. "Leavin'" – 3:44
  7. "Billy Goat" – 4:11
  8. "Under Her Spell" – 4:24
  9. "Little Ones" – 3:37
  10. "Missin' You" – 3:49

Personnel[]

Adapted credits from the album's liner notes.[13]

  • Tony Rich - all instruments, vocals, programming
  • Nuri - additional vocals on "Under Her Spell"
  • Joe Rich - keyboards on "Nobody Knows
  • John Frye - 2nd acoustic guitar on "Ghost"
  • Peter Moore - acoustic guitar on "Nobody Knows" and "Missin' You"
  • Reggie Griffin - electric guitar on "Hey Blue" & "Missin' You", solo & rhythm guitars on "Like a Woman", feedback on "Ghost", wah wah guitar on "Billy Goat"
  • Colin Wolfe - bass guitar on "Ghost"

References[]

  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Words - The Tony Rich Project". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (May 21, 1996). "Consumer Guide May 21, 1996". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on 2009-08-05.
  3. ^ Browne, David (February 23, 1996). "WORDS Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  4. ^ Hilburn, Robert (January 28, 1996). "A Savory, Soulful Debut". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
  5. ^ Columnist. "The Tony Rich Project: Words". The New York Times: 30. February 11, 1996.
  6. ^ Columnist. "The Tony Rich Project: Words". Q: 115. March 2000.
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ Ayers, Anne. "The Tony Rich Project, Words". USA Today: 3.D. January 30, 1996.
  9. ^ Joyce, Mike. "Rich, Harper: Singers First, Writers Second". The Washington Post: February 7, 1996.
  10. ^ "Tony Rich's GRAMMY Awards history". grammy.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  11. ^ "The Tony Rich Project Chart History: Nobody Knows". Billboard.com. n.d. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  12. ^ Words (liner notes). The Tony Rich Project. LaFace. Arista. 1996. ARCD-6022.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Words (liner notes). The Tony Rich Project. LaFace. Arista. 1996. ARCD-6022.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)


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