Spell My Name

by Toni Braxton

Overview

Recorded for Island, Spell My Name follows the Def Jam-issued Sex & Cigarettes by only two years. That's the shortest period between proper Toni Braxton studio albums. Granted, this is similarly compact, even with its appended tracks: the solo version of the pre-album single "Do It," and another Babyface collaboration, a devotional ballad grounded in classic Southern soul that doesn't fit with what precedes it. The title song is pulsing modern quiet storm concerning a dalliance with a lover half Braxton's age, played by duet partner Johnny Yukon with Drake-like deference (thereby flipping the standard older man/younger woman scenario more than her Trey Songz collaboration a decade earlier). Apart from the finely applied strings and a sense of temptation, it's not really representative of the album. Braxton spends the rest of the set succumbing to desire recognized as ill-fated, mourning unfulfillment, waving off a cheating ex, and swearing during the emotional peak -- in one of many piano ballads -- that she wishes nothing but the best for the one who got away, while each wrenched note conveys devastation. Only the pleasant if indistinctive neo-disco opener is uptempo. The rest is mostly glowering ballads and conflicted slow jams, exemplified by the smoldering slow stepper "Move On," featuring the compatible H.E.R. on sympathetic background vocals and guitar. Braxton's elegant distress cuts through everything with conviction. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	12/04/2020
Label:	Island
UPC:	0602507453688

Tracks

1. Dance
2. Do It
3. Gotta Move On
4. Fallin'
5. Spell My Name
6. O.V.E.Rr.
7. Happy Without Me
8. Saturday Night
9. Do It
10. Nothin'

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Toni Braxton   Primary Artist,Bass,Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Missy Elliott   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
H.E.R.   Primary Artist,Guitar,Featured Artist
Paul Boutin   Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion
Demonte Posey   Strings
Percy Bady   Keyboards
Pete Johnson   Strings,Strings
Eric Walls   Guitar
Kenneth Edmonds   Guitar (Electric)
Antonio Dixon   Bass,Keyboards
Dapo Torimiro   Bass
Ray Holton   Bass,Guitar
Hannon Lane   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
Johnny Yukon   Vocals
Jordon Manswell   Drums,Beatbox,Percussion
Sammy Perez   Guitar
Jordan Maswell   Drums,Percussion
Jonathan Martin   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Soundz   Producer
Paul Boutin   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Vocal Producer,Executive Producer,String Arrangements
Demonte Posey   Arranger,Programming,Drum Programming,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Percy Bady   Composer
Missy Elliott   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Remixing,Remix Engineer
Kameron Corvet   Composer
Kenneth Edmonds   Composer,Producer
Chris Braide   Producer,Songwriter
Frank Nitty   Songwriter
Toni Braxton   Composer,Producer,Songwriter,Vocal Producer,Executive Producer
Antonio Dixon   Composer,Producer,Songwriter,Programming,Horn Arrangements,String Arrangements
Glenn Schick   Mastering Engineer
Dapo Torimiro   Composer,Producer
Herb Powers   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Gharah Degeddingseze   Composer,Producer,Songwriter
Tyler Johnson   Composer
Gabrielle Rosen   A&R
Darcus Beese   Executive Producer
Patrick Smith   Composer
Kevin Ross   Composer,Songwriter
Benjamin Wright   Arranger
Jeremy Felton   Composer,Songwriter
Kenneth Coby   Composer,Engineer,Songwriter
Hannon Lane   Engineer,Producer,Remixing,Programming
Frank Brim   Composer
Jermi Thomas   A&R
Christopher Braide   Composer
Kameron Glasper   Composer
Reggie Dozier   Recording,String Engineer
Kirby Lauryen   Composer,Songwriter
Johnny Yukon   Composer
Badriia Bourelly   Composer
Ashley Pawlak   Art Direction
Akeel Henry   Composer,Producer,Songwriter
Jordon Manswell   Composer,Producer
Ashante Reid   Composer
Angelica Vila   Composer
Perey Bady   Songwriter
Milley Mobely   Photography
Jordan Maswell   Producer,Songwriter
Jonathan Martin   Composer,Producer
Melissa Elliott   Composer