Brian McKnight (album) explained

Brian McKnight
Type:	studio
Artist:	Brian McKnight
Cover:	Brianmcknight-brianmcknight.jpg
Recorded:	1991–1992
Genre:	R&B soul^[1] smooth jazz^[2]
Length:	63:15
Label:	Mercury
Producer:	Brian McKnight, Brandon Barnes
Next Title:	I Remember You
Next Year:	1995

Brian McKnight is the debut studio album of R&B singer Brian McKnight, released in 1992 by Mercury Records. It features his then-highest charting single, "One Last Cry", which reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and sold 500,000 copies.^[3] The album itself was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Critical response

Brian McKnight received positive reviews from most music critics. Entertainment Weekly writer Havelock Nelson, gave the album an A-rating citing that "McKnight is the most comforting R&B singer-songwriter to emerge since Keith Washington early last year."

Personnel

All instruments performed by Brian McKnight except where noted.

• David Anderson – bass guitar (track 12)
• Brandon Barnes – drums and keyboard programming (tracks 2 and 9)
• James Blair – drums (track 12)
• Gerry Brown – backing vocals (track 1)
• Cedric Dent – piano (track 10)
• Clare Fischer – strings (tracks 6 and 10)
• The Four Horns – horn arrangements (track 1)
• Louis Johnson – bass guitar (tracks 2 and 4)
• Kipper Jones – backing vocals (track 11)
• Ricky Lawson – drums (tracks 5, 8 and 9)
• Fred McFarlane – keyboards (track 11)
• Claude McKnight – backing vocals (tracks 10 and 13)

• Fred McKnight – lead guitar (track 8)
• Julie McKnight – backing vocals (track 4)
• B.J. Nelson – backing vocals (track 11)
• Kelly O'Neal – saxophone (track 12)
• Phase 5 – drum programming (tracks 1, 3 and 11), keyboard programming (track 1)
• John R. Robinson – drums (track 10)
• Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar (track 10)
• Take 6 (Claude V. McKnight, Mark Kibble, David Thomas) – backing vocals (track 10)
• Darryl Tibbs – percussion (track 12)
• Wah Wah Watson – electric guitar (tracks 1 and 2)
• Vanessa Williams – backing vocals (track 1)
• John Willis – lead guitar (track 9), acoustic guitar (track 6)

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[4]	75
Chart (1993)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[5]	44

Notes and References

1. Book: Stewart, Alison. Brian McKnight. . 2004 . . 4th . Brackett . Nathan . Hoard . Christian . 0-7432-0169-8 . 530.
2. Book: Stewart, Alison. Brian McKnight. . 2004 . . 4th . Brackett . Nathan . Hoard . Christian . 0-7432-0169-8 . 530.
3. Best-Selling Records of 1993 . Billboard. BPI Communications. January 15, 1994 . May 4, 2015 . 73 . 0006-2510. 106. 3.
4. Web site: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Best of 1992. Billboard. January 8, 2020.
5. Web site: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Best of 1993. Billboard. January 8, 2020.