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 Corazón)" 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, All Music Guide
William Orbit (Guitar), William Orbit (Keyboards), William Orbit (Producer), Desmond Child (Producer), Bruce Dukov (Violin), Bruce Dukov (Concert Master), Sue Ann Carwell (Vocals (Background)), Jon Secada (Vocals (Background)), Luis Enrique (Percussion), Ricky Martin (Vocals), Ricky Martin (Vocals (Background)), Ricky Martin (Main Performer), Ricky Martin (Performer), Elizabeth Wilson (Violin), Ethel Abelson (Violin), Murray Adler (Violin), Martin Agee (Violin), Donna Allen (Vocals (Background)), Lamar Alsop (Violin), Richard Altenbach (Violin), Rusty Anderson (Guitar), Chris Apostle (Project Coordinator), Kenny Aronoff (Drums), Julien Barber (Viola), Belinda Whitney-Barratt (Violin), Eric Bazilian (Guitar (Electric)), Eric Bazilian (Guitar (12 String Acoustic)), Mari Tsumura (Violin), Alfred Brown (Viola), Denyse Buffum (Viola), Kenneth Burward-Hoy (Viola), Jorge Calandrelli (Conductor), Jorge Calandrelli (String Arrangements), David Campbell (Conductor), David Campbell (Orchestra Contractor), Darius Campo (Violin), Scott Canto (Engineer), Randy Cantor (Arranger), Randy Cantor (Keyboards), Randy Cantor (Programming), Jorge Casas (Performer), Robert Chausow (Violin), Rob Chiarelli (Engineer), Joe Chiccarelli (Engineer), Madonna (Producer), Madonna (Performer), Brian Coleman (Production Coordination), Tony Concepcion (Trumpet), Tony Concepcion (Flugelhorn), Larry Corbett (Cello), Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion), Brian Dembow (Viola), Joel Derouin (Violin), John R. Dexter (Viola), Assa Drori (Violin), Charles Dye (Engineer), Charles Dye (Mixing), Max Ellen (Violin), Jerry Epstein (Viola), Stephen Erdody (Cello), Emilio Estefan, Jr. (Executive Producer), Mary Helen Ewing (Viola), Henry Ferber (Violin), Stefanie Fife (Cello), Dave Frazier (Engineer), Erik Friedlander (Violoncello), Armen Garabedian (Violin), Berj Garabedian (Violin), Hector Garrido (Conductor), Hector Garrido (Horn Arrangements), Hector Garrido (String Arrangements), Gerald Tarack (Violin), David Gleeson (Engineer), Harris Goldman (Violin), Diva Goodfriend Koven (Flute (Alto)), Endre Granat (Violin), Maurice Grants (Cello), Julie Green (Viloncello), Alan Grunfeld (Violin), Mick Guzauski (Mixing), Juliet Haffner (Viola), Don Hahn (Engineer), Clayton Haslop (Violin), Tiffany Hu (Violin), Rob Hyman (Organ), Skyler Jett (Vocals (Background)), Skyler Jett (Performer), Ted Jensen (Mastering), Lisa Johnson (Violin), Pat Johnson (Violin), Karen Karlsrud (Violin), Dennis Karmazyn (Cello), Khris Kellow (Programming), Janet Lakatos (Viola), Michael Landau (Guitar (Electric)), Regis Landiorio (Violin), Ann Leathers (Violin), Brian Leonard (Violin), Lee Levin (Drums), Richard Locker (Cello), Manny López (Guitar), Peter McCabe (Engineer), Patrick McCarthy (Engineer), Patrick McCarthy (Mixing), Hugh McDonald (Bass), Lester Mendez (Programming), Dennis Molchan (Violin), Jorge Moraga (Viola), Dan Neufeld (Viola), Rik Pekkonen (Engineer), Archie Pena (Percussion), Barbara Porter (Violin), Sue Pray (Viola), Rita Quintero (Vocals (Background)), Matthew Raimondi (Violin), Dave Reitzas (Engineer), Claytoven Richardson (Vocals (Background)), Anatoly Rosinsky (Violin), Elliott Rosoff (Violin), Bob Sanov (Violin), Sheldon Sanov (Violin), Elliot Scheiner (Engineer), Laura Seaton (Violin), Dan Shea (Keyboards), Dan Shea (Programming), Mark Orrin Shuman (Cello), Rafael Solano (Percussion), Eve Sprecher (Violin), David Stenske (Viola), Marti Sweet (Violin), Dana Teboe (Trombone), Richard Treat (Cello), Miwako Watanabe (Violin), John Wittenberg (Violin), Ming Yeh (Violin), Ken Yerke (Violin), Mihail Zinovyev (Viola), Shari Zippert (Violin), Anthony Posk (Violin), Ian Blake (Producer), Olbin Burgos (Percussion), Olbin Burgos (Shaker), Susan Chatman (Violin), Mark Endert (Engineer), Michael Ferril (Violin), Matt Funes (Viola), Sebastián Krys (Engineer), Elizabeth Lim (Violin), Daniel Smith (Cello), Dale Stuckenbruck (Violin), John Walz (Cello), David Ewart (Violin), Daniel Lopez (Percussion), K.C. Porter (Producer), John Kricker (Trombone), Suzie Katayama (Cello), Damian leGassick (Keyboards), Damian leGassick (Programming), Bob Peterson (Violin), Freddy Piñero, Jr. (Engineer), Eddie Salkin (Flute (Alto)), Ricardo Suarez (Bass), Dan Warner (Guitar (Acoustic)), Walter Afanasieff (Producer), Walter Afanasieff (Drum Programming), Erwin Gorostiza (Art Direction), Erwin Gorostiza (Design), Benny Faccone (Engineer), Diego Uchitel (Photography), Paquito Hechavarria (Piano), Robi Rosa (Guitar (Acoustic)), Robi Rosa (Vocals (Background)), Robi Rosa (Producer), Tommy Anthony (Guitar (Acoustic)), Tommy Anthony (Guitar (Electric)), Randall Barlow (Guitar), Randall Barlow (Trumpet), Randall Barlow (Programming), Randall Barlow (Engineer), Randall Barlow (String Arrangements), Roberta Cooper (Cello), George Noriega (Organ), George Noriega (Bass), George Noriega (Sitar), George Noriega (Producer), George Noriega (Bazouki), George Noriega (Guitar (Nylon String)), Juan Vincente Zambrano (Arranger), Juan Vincente Zambrano (Keyboards), Pablo Flores (Producer), Javier Garza (Engineer), Leo Herrera (Assistant Engineer), Joanna Ifrah (A&R), Steve Menezes (Assistant Engineer), Chris Wiggins (Assistant Engineer), Rudy Stein (Cello), Karen Ritscher (Viola), Meja (Duet), Jose Luis Vega (Image Construction), Robert Valdez (Engineer), Alfred Figueroa (Assistant Engineer), Al Hershberger (Violin), Angelo Medina (Executive Producer), Laura Oatts (Violin), Wassim Zreik (Assistant Engineer), Rachel Purkin (Violin), Gil Romero (Violin), Lynn Grants (Viola), Jennifer Bellusci (Performer), Robert Berg (Viola), Jonathan Antin (Hair Stylist), Iris Aponte (Production Coordination), Jules Gondar (Engineer), Brian Benning (Violin), Eve Butler (Violin), Jennifer Munday (Violin), Jim Porto (Assistant Engineer), Conesha Monet (Vocals (Background)), Gerry Hilera (Violin), Gustavo Bonnet (Assistant Engineer), Tony Mardini (Assistant Engineer), Herman "Teddy" Mulet (Horn), David Siegel (Clarinet), Ed Williams (Assistant Engineer), Jeff Gregory (Assistant Engineer), John Hayhurst (Viola), Vaje Ayrikian (Cello), Ruth Bruegger (Violin), Thomas Dienner (Viola), Virginia Frazier (Violin), Tod French (Cello), Mark Markman (Violin), Vicky Miscolczy (Viola), Horia Moroaica (Violin), Craig Lozowick (Engineer), Craig Lozowick (Assistant Engineer), Nathan Malki (Engineer), Nathan Malki (Assistant Engineer), Germán Ortiz (Assistant Engineer), Pat Johnson (Violin), Aimee Kreston (Violin), David Heiss (Viloncello), Henry Gronnier (Violin), Danita Ruiz (Project Coordinator), Steve Richards (Cello)
Ricky Martin is the fifth album by the Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. Released by Sony on May 11, 1999 (see 1999 in music), it has been credited for worldwide sales of over 17 million copies. This album is Ricky’s third which marketed in the United States and is his first album in English. Ricky Martin includes Ricky’s first #1 hit "Livin' La Vida Loca", and "Be Careful (Cuidado Con Mi Corazón)", a duet with Madonna. When Ricky Martin hit the record stores, it sold over 660,000 copies in its first week and debuted at #1. This album became one of the top-selling albums of 1999, and was certified 7 times platinum, selling over 22 million copies worldwide to date.
Some editions of the album include two bonus tracks: "I'm On My Way" and a Spanish version of "Spanish Eyes" titled "La Diosa del Carnaval". The track listing became a bit different:
Ricky Martin Tour (1992) ·Me Amaras Tour (1993 - 1994) ·A Medio Vivir Tour (1995 - 1997) ·Vuelve World Tour (1998) ·Livin' la Vida Loca World Tour (1999 - 2000) ·
Una Noche Con Ricky Martin World Tour (2005 - 2006) ·Black & White Tour (2007)
![Ricky Martin [1999]](http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/drd400/d450/d45012061m5.jpg)
