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On How Life Is

 
Album Review: On How Life Is
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On How Life Is

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  • Artist: Macy Gray
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: July 27, 1999
  • Total Time: 44:55
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Macy Gray is such an assured, original vocalist that it's hard to believe On How Life Is is her debut album. She recalls a number of other vocalists, particularly jazz singers like Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, but she is unquestionably from the post-hip-hop generation, which is evident not just from the sound of the record, but the style of her songwriting, which is adventurous and unpredictable. Thankfully, she's worked with a producer (Andrew Slater, who pulled a similar trick with Fiona Apple's debut, Tidal) that lets her run wild and helps her find sounds that match her ideas. That's not to say that On How Life Is is a perfect album -- at times, Gray attempts more than she can achieve -- but it's always captivating, even during its stumbles. And when it works, it soars higher than most contemporary R&B. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Why Didn't You Call Me (Lyrics) Jeremy Ruzumna, Macy Gray Macy Gray (3:14)
Do Something (Lyrics) Macy Gray Macy Gray (4:57)
Caligula (Lyrics) Daryle Swann, Jeremy Ruzumna, Macy Gray Macy Gray (4:38)
I Try (Lyrics) Jeremy Ruzumna, Macy Gray, David Wilder, Jinsoo Lim Macy Gray (3:59)
Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak (Lyrics) Macy Gray Macy Gray (3:57)
I Can't Wait to Meetchu (Lyrics) Miles Om Tackett, Macy Gray Macy Gray (5:18)
Still (Lyrics) Bill Esses, Jeremy Ruzumna, Macy Gray, Jeff Blue Macy Gray (4:15)
I've Committed Murder (Lyrics) Daryle Swann, Jeremy Ruzumna, Macy Gray Macy Gray (4:59)
A Moment to Myself Mark Morales, Miles Om Tackett, Jeremy Ruzumna, Macy Gray Macy Gray (4:00)
The Letter Matt Sherrod, Jeremy Ruzumna, Jamie Houston, Macy Gray Macy Gray (5:38)

Credits

Jon Brion (Synthesizer), Jon Brion (Guitar), Jon Brion (Piano), Jon Brion (Marimba), Jon Brion (Chamberlin), Jon Brion (Orchestra Bells), David Campbell (String Arrangements), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Matt Chamberlain (Percussion), Matt Chamberlain (Drums), Kevin Dean (Assistant Engineer), Michael Harris (Horn), Rami Jaffee (Synthesizer), Jay Joyce (Guitar), Andrew Slater (Producer), Miles Om Tackett (Guitar), Patrick Warren (Synthesizer), Patrick Warren (Vibraphone), Patrick Warren (Chamberlin), Howard Willing (Assistant Engineer), Charlie Green (Horn), Steve Baxter (Horn), Dawn Beckman (Vocals (Background)), Jeremy Ruzumna (Organ), Jeremy Ruzumna (Piano), Jeremy Ruzumna (Piano (Electric)), Jeremy Ruzumna (Vocals (Background)), Jeremy Ruzumna (Clavinet), Jeremy Ruzumna (Moog Synthesizer), Jeremy Ruzumna (Farfisa Organ), Jeremy Ruzumna (Fender Rhodes), Stephane Sednaoui (Photography), Greg Richling (Bass), Benny Williams (Guitar), Dave Reed (Assistant Engineer), Macy Gray (Vocals (Background)), Macy Gray (Main Performer), Dave Way (Engineer), Dave Way (Mixing), Kilu Beckwith (Programming), Sye Smith (Vocals (Background)), David Wilder (Bass), David Wilder (Vocals (Background)), Gabriel Moses (Guitar)
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Wikipedia: On How Life Is
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
On How Life Is
Studio album by Macy Gray
Released July 1, 1999 (1999-07-01)
(see release history)
Recorded 1998–1999
A&M Studios
Paramount Studios
Sunset Sound Recorders
(Hollywood, Los Angeles, California)
Genre R&B, soul, neo soul
Length 44:55
Label Epic
Producer Andrew Slater
Professional reviews
Macy Gray chronology
On How Life Is
(1999)		 The Id
(2001)
Singles from On How Life Is
  1. "Do Something"
  2. "I Try"
  3. "Still"
  4. "Why Didn't You Call Me"

On How Life Is is the debut album by American R&B-soul singer–songwriter Macy Gray, released in the United States on July 27, 1999 by Epic Records and produced by Andrew Slater.

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Why Didn't You Call Me" (Macy Gray, Jeremy Ruzumna) – 3:14
  2. "Do Something" (Gray, Darryl Swann, Ruzumna, Dion Murdock, Patrick Brown, Raymon Murray, Rico Wade, Cameron Gipp, Robert Barnett, André Benjamin, Antwan Patton, Thomas Burton, Greg Mays, Daryl Barnes, George Clinton, Jr., Garry Shider, Bernard Worrell) – 4:57
    • Contains a sample of OutKast's "Git Up, Git Out" (Patrick Brown, Raymon Murray, Rico Wade, Cameron Gipp, Robert Barnett, André Benjamin, Antwan Patton, Thomas Burton) and Nice & Smooth's "Funky for You" (Greg Mays, Daryl Barnes, George Clinton, Jr., Garry Shider, Bernard Worrell)
  3. "Caligula" (Gray, Swann, Ruzumna) – 4:38
  4. "I Try" (Gray, Ruzumna, Jinsoo Lim, David Wilder) – 3:59
  5. "Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak" (Gray, Ruzumna, Murdock) – 3:57
  6. "I Can't Wait to Meetchu" (Gray, Swann, Ruzumna, Miles Tackett) – 5:18
  7. "Still" (Gray, Ruzumna, Bill Esses, Jeff Blue) – 4:15
  8. "I've Committed Murder" (Gray, Swann, Ruzumna, Kiilu Beckwith, Eddie Harris, Francis Lai, Carl Sigman) – 4:59
    • Contains a sample of Eddie Harris' "Live Right Now" (Eddie Harris) and an interpolation of Francis Lai & His Orchestra's "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" (Francis Lai, Carl Sigman)
  9. "A Moment to Myself" (Gray, Ruzumna, Tackett, Mark Morales, Damon Wimbley) – 4:00
  10. "The Letter" (Gray, Jamie Houston, Matt Sherrod) – 5:38
Australian and Japanese edition
  1. "Rather Hazy" – 3:10

Personnel

Musicians

  • Arik Marshall – guitar
  • DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight – guitar
  • Gabriel Moses – guitar
  • Dion Murdock – bass
  • Greg Richling – bass
  • Jeremy Ruzumna – organ, piano, electric piano, backing vocals, clavinet, Moog synthesizer, Farfisa organ, Fender Rhodes, Chamberlin, Optigan
  • Sy Smith – backing vocals
  • Darryl Swann – guitar, backing vocals
  • Miles Tackett – guitar
  • Patrick Warren – synthesizer, electric piano, Wurlitzer, vibraphone, Chamberlin
  • David Wilder – bass, backing vocals
  • Bendrix Williams – guitar

Production

  • Kiilu Beckwith – programming
  • David Campbell – string arrangements
  • Kevin Dean – assistant engineer
  • Michelle Forbes – assistant engineer
  • Hooshik – artwork
  • Dave Reed – assistant engineer

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[1] 3
U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers[2] 1
Chart (2000) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[3] 1
Austrian Albums Chart[3] 3
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[3] 9
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[3] 44
Canadian Albums Chart[2] 2
Danish Albums Chart[4] 1
Dutch Albums Chart[3] 28
Chart (2000) Peak
position
Finnish Albums Chart[3] 16
French Albums Chart[3] 24
German Albums Chart[5] 19
Italian Albums Chart[6] 29
Japanese Albums Chart[7] 61
New Zealand Albums Chart[3] 1
Norwegian Albums Chart[3] 2
Swedish Albums Chart[3] 5
Swiss Albums Chart[3] 6
U.S. Billboard 200[2] 4
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[2] 9

Certifications

Territory Certifier Certification Sales
Australia ARIA 4× platinum[8] 280,000
Austria IFPI Gold[9] 10,000
Canada CRIA 3× platinum[10] 300,000
Europe IFPI 2× platinum[11] 2,000,000
Finland Gold[12] 20,496
France SNEP Gold[13] 100,000
Germany IFPI Gold[14] 100,000
Netherlands NVPI Gold[15] 35,000
New Zealand RIANZ 4× platinum[16] 60,000
Norway IFPI Platinum[17] 30,000
Sweden Gold[18] 20,000
Switzerland Platinum[19] 50,000
United Kingdom BPI 3× platinum[20] 1,200,000
United States RIAA 3× platinum[21] 3,200,000[22]

Release history

Country Date Label
Japan July 1, 1999 Epic
United Kingdom July 5, 1999 Sony
Switzerland July 7, 1999 Epic
United States July 27, 1999
Canada
Australia August 16, 1999 Sony

References

  1. ^ "Chart Stats – Macy Gray – On How Life Is". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=6241. Retrieved 2008-03-16. 
  2. ^ a b c d "On How Life Is > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hpfwxqrkldke~T3. Retrieved 2008-03-16. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Macy Gray – On How Life Is – swisscharts.com". swisscharts.com. http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Macy+Gray&titel=On+How+Life+Is&cat=a. Retrieved 2008-03-16. 
  4. ^ "Macy Gray – On How Life Is – TOP20.dk". TOP20.dk. http://top20.dk/album/402-420. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  5. ^ "Musicline.de – Macy Gray – On How Life Is" (in German). Musicline.de. http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/GRAY%2CMACY/On+How+Life+Is/longplay. Retrieved 2008-07-22. 
  6. ^ "Classifica Artisti" (in Italian). FIMI. http://www.fimi.it/classifiche.asp?idtipo_classifica=1&idclassifica=773&archivio=true. Retrieved 2008-03-18. 
  7. ^ "On How Life Is – Oricon" (in Japanese). Oricon. http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/106314/1/. Retrieved 2009-10-05. 
  8. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Albums". ARIA. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-2000.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  9. ^ "IFPI Austria – Gold & Platin Datenbank" (in German). IFPI. March 17, 2000. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  10. ^ "CRIA: Gold & Platinum – October 2001". CRIA. October 22, 2000. http://www.cria.ca/gold/1001_g.php. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  11. ^ "Platinum Europe annual roundup: new qualifiers, more countries and European acts prosper in 2000". IFPI. January 16, 2001. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/20010116.html. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  12. ^ "IFPI Finland – Macy Gray" (in Finnish). IFPI. http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/artistit/macy+gray. Retrieved 2008-04-19. 
  13. ^ "Certifications Albums Or – année 2000" (in French). SNEP. July 6, 2000. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/monopage.xml?id=259165&year=2000&type=8. Retrieved 2008-04-20. 
  14. ^ "IFPI Germany – Gold/Platin-Datenbank" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=1&strSuche=On+How+Life+Is. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  15. ^ "NVPI – Goud/Platina" (in Dutch). NVPI. http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=61112&documentid=1237807&zoekform=60463&formposted=yes. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  16. ^ "New Zealand Top 50 Albums (see "Chart #1217 – Sunday 9 July 2000")". RIANZ. http://www.rianz.org.nz/rianz/chart.asp. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  17. ^ "IFPI Norway – Salgstrofeer" (in Norwegian). IFPI. http://www.ifpi.no/sok/index_trofe.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  18. ^ "IFPI Sweden – Guld & Platina – År 2000" (in Swedish) (PDF). IFPI. March 27, 2000. http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/ar-20002.pdf. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  19. ^ "Swiss Certifications – Awards 2000". swisscharts.com. http://swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=2000. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  20. ^ "BPI Certified Awards". BPI. March 10, 2000. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx. Retrieved 2009-05-10. 
  21. ^ "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". RIAA. September 8, 2000. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=On%20How%20Life%20Is&artist=Macy%20Gray&perPage=25. Retrieved 2008-04-18. 
  22. ^ Martens, Todd (September 27, 2001). "Jay-Z's 'Blueprint' Enters Second Week At No. 1". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1063322. Retrieved 2008-12-14. 
Preceded by
All the Way… A Decade of Song by Celine Dion		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
January 3, 2000 – February 21, 2000		 Succeeded by
Play by Moby
Preceded by
Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Play by Moby		 New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart number-one album
January 23, 2000 – February 13, 2000 (first run)
April 23, 2000 (second run)		 Succeeded by
Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Platinum Album by Vengaboys
Preceded by
Aquarius by Aqua		 Danish Albums Chart number-one album
April 10, 2000		 Succeeded by
Everything Glows by D-A-D
v • d • e
Macy Gray
Studio albums
On How Life Is · The Id · The Trouble with Being Myself · Big
Other albums
Singles
Other singles
Related articles

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