Ricky Martin [1999]

by Martin,Ricky

Overview

It was just a matter of time before Ricky Martin broke into the pop mainstream. By the end of the '90s, he was no longer the kid that used to be in Menudo or the General Hospital heartthrob -- he was a genuine star, ready to bust out of the Latin pop ghetto. His dynamic performance at the 1999 Grammys stole the show, announcing his presence to middle America -- and conveniently paving the way for the May release of Ricky Martin, his second eponymous album but first English-language record. Like most records that are crafted to sell an artist to a larger audience -- think Celine Dion's Falling Into You -- Ricky Martin is a big, bold album with something to please everyone, from his longtime Latin fans to housewives with a weakness for dramatic ballads. Reportedly two years in the making, the album never makes a wrong move, balancing infectious dance-pop with immaculately crafted power ballads, mid-tempo pop, straight-ahead rockers, and, of course, the inevitable cameos: Madonna on "Be Careful (Cuidado con Mi Corazon)" and Meja on "Private Emotion." Since each track has been so carefully constructed to stand on its own (most likely as a single), the album plays as a series of moments, some more thrilling than others. Although there is inarguably some filler cluttering the record -- and although the production sounds weirdly dated, with tracks like "I Count the Minutes" and "She's All I Ever Had" sounding for all the world as if they were cut in 1985 -- most of the moments work and the opening quartet ("Livin' la Vida Loca," "Spanish Eyes," "She's All I Ever Had," and the irresistibly stupid "Shake Your Bon-Bon") is positively intoxicating. If the rest of the album doesn't live up to the opening salvo, Martin does carry the day with his fine voice and undeniable charisma -- even when the songs aren't distinctive, he brings them alive. And that's the sign of a true star. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	05/11/1999
Label:	C2 Records / Columbia
UPC:	0886978866226
Rank:	222851

Tracks

1. Livin' La Vida Loca
2. Spanish Eyes
3. She's All I Ever Had
4. Shake Your Bon-Bon
5. Be Careful [Cuidado Con Mi Caraz¿¿n]
6. I Am Made of You
7. Love You For a Day
8. Private Emotion
9. The Cup of Life [Spanish Radio Edit] [The Official Song of the World Cup, France '98]
10. You Stay With Me
11. Livin' La Vida Loca [Spanish Version]
12. I Count the Minutes
13. Bella (She's All I Ever Had)
14. Mar¿¿a [Spanglish Radio Edit]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ricky Martin   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Madonna   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Meja   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Luis Enrique   Guest Artist,Percussion
Kenny Aronoff   Guest Artist,Drums
Robi Rosa   Guest Artist,Co-Producer,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Jon Secada   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Gyan   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
William Orbit   Guest Artist,Guitar,Keyboards
Tony Concepcion   Flugelhorn,Trumpet,Cornet,Soloist
Richard Locker   Cello,Viloncello
Paquito Hechavarria   Piano
Damian LeGassick   Keyboards
Skyler Jett   Vocals (Background)
Andy Stein   Violin
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Robert Chausow   Violin
Richard Altenbach   Violin
Brian Dembow   Viola
Larry Corbett   Cello
Armen Garabedian   Violin
Bruce Dukov   Violin
Stefanie Fife   Cello
Archie Pena   Percussion
John Kricker   Trombone
Claytoven Richardson   Vocals (Background)
Brian Leonard   Violin
Joyce Hammann   Violin
Todd Reynolds   Violin
Clayton Haslop   Violin
Joel Derouin   Violin
Bonnie Allen   Vocals (Background)
Rob Hyman   Organ
Rene Toledo   Guitar
Michael Landau   Guitar (Electric)
Lamar Alsop   Violin
Mark Orrin Shuman   Cello
Denyse Buffum   Viola
Stephen Erdody   Cello
Andrew Stein   Violin
John Wittenberg   Violin
David Ewart   Violin
Aimee Kreston   Violin
Al Hershberger   Violin
Julian Barber   Viola
Herman "Teddy" Mulet   Horn
Maurice Grants   Cello
Sue Pray   Viola
Barry Finclair   Viola
Jorge Moraga   Viola
Assa Drori   Violin
Sue Ann Carwell   Vocals (Background)
Matthew Raimondi   Violin
Manny Lopez   Guitar
Darius Campo   Violin
Conesha Monet   Vocals (Background)
Erik Friedlander   Cello,Viloncello
Hugh McDonald   Bass
Johana Krejci   Violin
Dan Neufeld   Viola
Randall Barlow   Guitar,Trumpet
Gil Romero   Violin
Donna Allen   Vocals (Background)
Suzie Katayama   Cello
Martin Agee   Violin
Regis Iandiorio   Violin
Dana Teboe   Trombone
Lee Levin   Drums
Juan Vincente Zambrano   Keyboards
Dennis Karmazyn   Cello
Jorge Casas   Bass (Upright)
Alfred Brown   Viola
Janet Lakatos   Viola
Henry Gronnier   Violin
Barbara Porter   Violin
Harris Goldman   Violin
Ruth Bruegger   Violin
Shari Zippert   Violin
Ken Yerke   Violin
Hernan Mulet   Horn
Karen Milne   Violin
John Scanlon   Viola
Ming Yeh   Violin
Vage Ayrikyan   Cello
Eddie Salkin   Flute (Alto)
Jennifer Bellusci   Violin
John Dexter   Viola
Pat Johnson   Violin,Violin
Eve Butler   Violin
Margaret Magill   Violin
John Hayhurst   Viola
Debra Shufelt   Viola
Lazaro Rodriguez   Guitar
Rachel Purkin   Violin
Michael Markman   Violin
Caryl Paisner   Cello,Viloncello
Berj Garabedian   Violin
Susan Chatman   Violin
Laura Oatts   Violin
Rusty Anderson   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Eric Bazilian   Guitar,Mandolin,Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String),Guitar (12 String Acoustic),Guitar (12 String Electric)
Juliet Haffner   Viola
Jennifer Munday   Violin
Mari Tsumura   Violin
Kwihee Shamban   Violin
Elizabeth Lim   Violin
Michael Ferril   Violin
Michele Richards   Violin
Tony Posk   Violin
Eve Sprecher   Violin
Richard Treat   Cello
Karen Ritscher   Viola
Roberta Cooper   Cello,Viloncello
Anthony Posk   Violin
Gerry Hilera   Violin
Tommy Anthony   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
David Campbell   Conductor,Conductor,String Conductor
Amy Hershberger   Violin
Virginia Frazier   Violin
Daniel Smith   Cello
Ricardo Suarez   Bass,Bass
Ann Leathers   Violin
Rafael Solano   Percussion
Max Ellen   Violin
Daniel Lopez   Percussion,Percussion
Olbin Burgos   Shaker,Brushes,Percussion
Walter Afanasieff   Keyboards
Miwako Watanabe   Violin
Randy Cantor   Keyboards
David Heiss   Cello,Viloncello
Conesha Monet Owens   Vocals (Background)
Susan Pray   Viola
Eric Kerley   French Horn
Barbra Porter   Violin
Alex Saris   Drums
Angie Rosa   Vocals (Background)
Tiffany Hu   Violin
Rebecca Bunnel   Violin
Natalie Cummins   Violin
Lilly Ho Chen   Violin
Jorge Moranga   Viola
John Waltz   Cello
Igor Kiskachi   Violin
Barry Findair   Viola
Damian LaGassick   Keyboards
Rebecca Bunnell   Violin
Igor Kiskatchi   Violin
Vicky Miscolczy   Viola
Dale Stuckenbruck   Violin
Hector Garrido   Conductor,Horn Conductor,String Conductor
Rudy Stein   Cello
George Noriega   Bass,Organ,Sitar,Bazouki,Vocoder,Bouzouki,Keyboards,Guitar (Nylon String)
Dan Shea   Keyboards
Sheldon Sanov   Violin
Steve Richards   Cello
David Stenske   Viola
Anatoly Rosinsky   Violin
Dennis Molchan   Violin
Lynn Grants   Viola
Tod French   Cello
Mark Markman   Violin
Endre Granat   Violin
Karen Karlsrud   Violin
Julien Barber   Viola
Dan Warner   Guitar (Acoustic)
Laura Seaton   Violin
John Walz   Cello
Mihail Zinovyev   Viola
Robert Berg   Viola
Brian Benning   Violin
Kenneth Burward-Hoy   Viola
Jorge Calandrelli   Conductor,String Conductor
Jerry Epstein   Viola
David Siegel   Clarinet,Clavinet
Alan Grunfeld   Violin
Gerardo Hilera   Violin
Vaje Ayrikian   Cello
Julie Green   Cello,Viloncello
Elizabeth Wilson   Violin
Murray Adler   Violin
Marti Sweet   Violin
Henry Ferber   Violin
Regis Landiorio   Violin
Bob Sanov   Violin
Belinda Whitney-Barratt   Violin
Gerald Tarack   Violin
Bob Peterson   Violin
Horia Moroaica   Violin
Maryhelen Ewing   Viola
Mary Helen Ewing   Viola
Matthew Funes   Viola
Rita Quintero   Vocals (Background)
Lisa Johnson   Violin
Razdan Kuyumjian   Violin
Lily Ho Chen   Violin
Laura Seaton Finn   Violin
Elliot Rosoff   Violin
Natalie Cenovia Cummins   Violin
Gyan Evans   Vocals (Background)
Edward Kuhn   Violin
Mark Shuman   Cello,Viloncello
Diva Goodfriend-Koven   Flute (Alto)
Todd French   Cello
Victoria Miskolczy   Viola
Kenneth Yerke   Violin
Thomas Diener   Viola
Tiffany Yi Hu   Violin
Edward Salkin   Flute (Alto)
Dan Smith   Cello
Ethel Abelson   Violin

Technical Credits

Patrick McCarthy   Mixing,Engineer
Damian LeGassick   Programming
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Skyler Jett   Performer
Angelo Medina   Executive Producer
Khris Kellow   Programming,Bass Programming
Tony Mardini   Assistant Engineer
Elliot Scheiner   Engineer
Joe Chiccarelli   Engineer
Juliet Haffner   String Contractor,Contractor
Dave Reitzas   Engineer
John Pace   Engineer,String Engineer
Madonna   Composer,Producer,Performer
Desmond Child   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer,Mixing Supervision
Jon Secada   Composer,Producer
Sebastian Krys   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Rob Chiarelli   Engineer
Mark Endert   Engineer
Rob Hyman   Composer
Robi Rosa   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Programming,Bass Programming
Mick Guzauski   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Jim Porto   Assistant Engineer
David Frazer   Engineer
William Orbit   Composer,Producer
Diane Warren   Composer
Emilio Estefan, Jr.   Executive Producer
Charles Dye   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Scott Canto   Engineer
Randall Barlow   Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,String Arrangements
Ian Blake   Composer,Producer
Benny Faccone   Engineer,String Engineer
Juan Vincente Zambrano   Arranger,Composer,Horn Arrangements,Rhythm Arrangements
Jorge Casas   Performer
Lester Mendez   Programming
Randy Cantor   Programming,Arranger
Deborah Castillero   Lyricist,English Translations,Composer
Chris Apostle   Project Coordinator
Peter McCabe   Engineer
Steve Menezes   Assistant Engineer
Erwin Gorostiza   Design,Art Direction
Jonathan Antin   Hair Stylist
Jennifer Bellusci   Performer
Iris Aponte   Production Coordination
Wassim Zreik   Assistant Engineer
Rik Pekkonen   Engineer,String Engineer
Pat McCarthy   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Javier Garza   Engineer,Remixing,Remix Engineer,Mixing Engineer,Additional Production
Don Hahn   Engineer,String Engineer,String Contractor
Eric Bazilian   Composer
Chris Wiggins   Assistant Engineer
Freddy Pinero, Jr.   Engineer
Marcelo Anez   Engineer
Diego Uchitel   Photography
Pablo Flores   Producer,Remixing,Additional Production
David Campbell   Arranger,Contractor,String Arrangements,Orchestra Contractor,Orchestral Arrangements
Joanna Ifrah   A&R
Leo Herrera   Assistant Engineer
German Ortiz   Assistant Engineer
Nathan Malki   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Meja   Duet
Luis Gomez Escolar   Composer
KC Porter   Composer,Producer
Ricky Martin   Performer
Walter Afanasieff   Producer,Programming,Drum Programming,Rhythm Programming,Additional Production
Greg Bleck   Programming
Wassim Zarick   Assistant Engineer
Mick Marshall   Assistant Engineer
Marcelo Anez Fontana   Engineer
Cem Sarlhan   Assistant Engineer
Damian LaGassick   Programming
Robert Valdez   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Hector Garrido   Arranger,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
George Noriega   Composer,Producer
Dan Shea   Programming
Jules Gondar   Engineer
Jeff Gregory   Assistant Engineer
Jorge Calandrelli   Arranger,String Arrangements
David Gleeson   Engineer
Jose Luis Vega   Image Construction
Charlie Pakkari   Assistant Engineer
Dave Frazier   Engineer
Tom McWilliams   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Ed Williams   Assistant Engineer
Craig Lozowick   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Danita Ruiz   Project Coordinator
Brian Coleman   Production Coordination
Gustavo Bonnet   Assistant Engineer
Charlie Paakkari   Assistant Engineer
Alfred Figueroa   Assistant Engineer