After 7 (album) explained

After 7
Type:	Studio
Artist:	After 7
Cover:	After7-Front.jpg
Released:	August 22, 1989
Recorded:	1988–1989
Studio:	Elumba Studios, Studio Masters, Soundscape Studios, Galaxy Sound Studios
Genre:	R&B, new jack swing
Length:	35:24
Label:	Virgin
Producer:	Gemma Corfield (executive) L.A. Reid & Babyface De'Rock & Kayo
Next Title:	Takin' My Time
Next Year:	1992

After 7 is the debut album by After 7.^{[1] [2]} Released in 1989, the album was certified platinum by the RIAA on November 27, 1990,^[3] and spawned two No. 1 R&B hits, "Ready or Not" and "Can't Stop." Those songs also reached No. 7 and No. 6, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100.

Critical reception

The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that the album "benefits more from the ingenuity of producers L.A. Reid and BabyFace than from the skill of singers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds."

Track listing

1. "Don't Cha' Think" – 3:59 (Don Parks, Daryl Simmons, Kayo)
2. "Heat of the Moment" – 4:27 (Babyface, L.A. Reid)
3. "Can't Stop" – 4:07 (Babyface, Reid)
4. "My Only Woman" – 4:41 (Kayo, Reid, Simmons)
5. "Love's Been So Nice" – 4:27 (Babyface, Parks)
6. "One Night" – 5:00 (Babyface, Reid)
7. "Ready or Not" – 4:35 (Babyface, Reid)
8. "Sayonara" – 4:03 (Babyface, Reid)

Personnel

• Keith Mitchell, Kevon Edmonds, Melvin Edmonds: Vocals
• L.A. Reid: Drums, Percussion
• Babyface: Keyboards, Bass
• Kayo: Moog Bass, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion
• Daryl Simmons: Keyboards, Drums, Percussion
• Donald Parks: Synthesizer Programming (Fairlight CMI, Oberheim OB-8, Emulator II, Yamaha DX7)
• Dee Bristol, Kathy Hazzard, Lynn Mabry: Additional Vocal Backing

Production

• Tracks 1 and 4 arranged, produced and mixed by De'rock and Kayo. Recorded by David Rideau.
• Tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 arranged and produced by L.A. & Babyface; tracks 2, 6 and 7 co-produced by De'rock and Kayo. Track 2 recorded by David Rideau and Tim Jacquette; mixed by Keith Cohen and L.A. Reid. Track 3 recorded by Jon Gass, Jon Gaggenheim and Keith Cohen; mixed by Keith Cohen. Track 5 recorded by Jon Gass; mixed by Barney Perkins, De'rock and Kayo. Track 6 recorded by David Rideau, Donnell Sullivan and Jon Gass; mixed by Keith Cohen. Track 7 recorded by Donnell Sullivan and Jon Gass; mixed by Barney Perkins. Track 8 recorded by Jon Gass; mixed by De'rock, Kayo and Keith Cohen.
• Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989–1991)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[4]	124
US Billboard 200^[5]	35
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[6]	3

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)	Position
US Billboard 200^[7]	64
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[8]	4

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Source |Melvin Edmonds Of Legendary R&B Group After 7 Gone at age 65. May 20, 2019.
2. Web site: After 7 | Biography & History. AllMusic.
3. Web site: Gold & Platinum: After 7 - RIAA Searchable Database. Recording Industry Association of America. August 5, 2015.
4. Web site: After 7 ARIA chart history (albums), received from ARIA in May 2024. ARIA. Imgur.com. July 7, 2024. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
5. Web site: After 7, TLP. Billboard. March 12, 2021. subscription.
6. Web site: After 7, BLP. Billboard. March 12, 2021. subscription.
7. Web site: Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. March 12, 2021.
8. Web site: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. March 12, 2021.