Yes I Am (Melissa Etheridge album) explained

Yes I Am
Type:studio
Artist:Melissa Etheridge
Cover:Melissa Etheridge - Yes I Am.jpg
Released:[1]
Recorded:A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California[2]
Genre:Blues rock, hard rock[3]
Label:Island
Producer:Melissa Etheridge, Hugh Padgham
Prev Title:Never Enough
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Your Little Secret
Next Year:1995

Yes I Am is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on September 21, 1993. The title is generally thought to refer to Etheridge's recent coming out as a lesbian, confirming long-standing rumors about her personal life.[4] However, in 2018, Etheridge clarified that in fact the title for the track and album were not statements regarding her sexual identity.[5] Yes I Am is the pivotal album that gave Etheridge national and international recognition.[6] The rock ballad "Come to My Window" was the first single released from the album, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its video featured the actress Juliette Lewis having a nervous breakdown. This single was quickly followed by "I'm the Only One", which became a major hit in the US and reached No. 8 on the Hot 100, and "If I Wanted To", which reached No. 16.

By 2010, the album had sold over 4,348,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[7] In 2018, Etheridge went on tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Yes I Ams release and also re-released the album with eight bonus tracks.[8]

Recording and production

The songs on Yes I Am were recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California. The album was produced by Etheridge and Hugh Padgham, who also engineered the album. Padgham had previously worked mainly with British artists and bands including Genesis, David Bowie and Sting. He also produced Etheridge's next album, Your Little Secret.

The main musicians backing Etheridge were Kevin McCormick (who had co-produced her previous albums), Mauricio Fritz Lewak, Waddy Wachtel and Scott Thurston. Pino Palladino replaced McCormick on several tracks and David Sutton replaced him on one song. Ian McLagen and James Fearnley also made appearances.

Reception

In their review, Billboard noted that "working with Etheridge for the first time, veteran producer Padgham has not tampered with the formula that made the rock singer/songwriter's first three works album rock standbys. Here, she scores with bluesy lead single "I'm The Only One" and tracks "If I Only Wanted To," "Come To My Window," and "All- American Girl." [9]

In their review, Allmusic stated that "Melissa Etheridge wasn't out of the closet when she released Yes I Am in 1993, yet it's hard not to notice the defiant acclamation in the album's title. This barely concealed sense of sexual identity seeps out from the lyrics, and it informs the music as well, which is perhaps the most confident she has ever been. It's also the most professional she's ever been."[10]

Track listing

All songs written by Melissa Etheridge.

  1. "I'm the Only One" – 4:54
  2. "If I Wanted To" – 3:55
  3. "Come to My Window" – 3:55
  4. "Silent Legacy" – 5:22
  5. "I Will Never Be the Same" – 4:41
  6. "All American Girl" – 4:05
  7. "Yes I Am" – 4:24
  8. "Resist" – 2:57
  9. "Ruins" – 4:53
  10. "Talking to My Angel" – 4:48

Personnel

The following people contributed to Yes I Am:

Technical

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993–94)Peak
position
Canadian Top Albums[11] 18
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)[12] 43

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)Position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[13] 94
Chart (1994)Position
US Billboard 200[14] 57

Decade-end charts

Awards

Grammy Awards|-|rowspan="3"| 1995|rowspan="2"| "Come to My Window"|Best Female Rock Vocal Performance| |-|rowspan="2"|Best Rock Song| |-| I'm the Only One| |-|}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r188048|pure_url=yes}} Yes I Am – Melissa Etheridge ]. Stephen Thomas . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . . United States . June 30, 2011.
  2. Yes I Am . . 1993 . 13 . CD liner . . 422–848 660-2 . New York City, New York, United States.
  3. Book: Brackett, Nathan . Christian Hoard . The Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon and Schuster . 2004 . New York City, New York . 283 . 0-7432-0169-8 . registration . rolling stone melissa etheridge album guide. .
  4. News: She calls it as she sees it. Grady. Marie P.. July 11, 2008. Houston Chronicle. January 21, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604010637/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/5883506.html. June 4, 2011. dead.
  5. Melissa Etheridge Demystifies Rumors That She Used 1993 Album Title 'Yes I Am' To Come Out. April 23, 2021. Billboard. September 21, 2018.
  6. Web site: October 3, 2018. Melissa Etheridge's pivotal 'Yes I Am' album turns 25. October 7, 2020. NJArts. Robert. Ferraro.
    - Melissa Etheridge Demystifies Rumors That She Used 1993 Album Title 'Yes I Am' To Come Out. October 7, 2020. Billboard. September 21, 2018.
  7. Ask Billboard: Records About Records. Billboard. Gary. Trust. August 5, 2010. February 17, 2020.
  8. Melissa Etheridge Demystifies Rumors That She Used 1993 Album Title 'Yes I Am' To Come Out. October 7, 2020. Billboard. September 21, 2018.
  9. Album Reviews. Billboard Music Week. October 2, 1993 . 74 . July 18, 2024.
  10. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Yes I Am - Melissa Etheridge Album AllMusic . Allmusic . July 18, 2024 . en.
  11. October 23, 1993 . 100 Albums (CD's & Cassettes . . 58 . 15 . PHP . 0315-5994 . June 30, 2011 .
  12. European Top 100 Albums. Eurotipsheet. 10. 44. October 30, 1993. 19. 29800226. World Radio History.
  13. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 1993. Dutch Charts. nl. February 23, 2021.
  14. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994. Billboard. January 2, 2013. February 23, 2021.
  15. Geoff Mayfield . 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s . . December 25, 1999 . October 15, 2010.