Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating AllMusic [ 1]
In a retrospective review for AllMusic , editor Craig Lytle noted that "Campbell emerged as a true soul singer with I'm Ready , his second album. The Texas native had the good fortune of working with some of the best producers and writers in the business to construct an excellent work [...] There is much to savor on this album."[ 1]
The album sold over 2 million copies, reaching double Platinum status, and yielded the biggest R&B hit of his career, the #1 R&B single "Can We Talk ". The album produced 3 more charting singles with "I'm Ready ", "Always In My Heart " and "Don't Say Goodbye Girl ". To date this has been Tevin's biggest selling album and many considered this album to be the high mark of his career despite the fact he was only 16 when he recorded the album. The album was nominated for 3 Grammy Awards : 1994 Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance – Male ("Can We Talk"), 1995 Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance – Male ("I'm Ready"), and Best Rhythm & Blues Album. Prince was credited as Paisley Park for his contributions to the album as a songwriter, arranger, and producer.[ 2]
Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Can We Talk " 4:44 2. "Don't Say Goodbye Girl " 4:30 3. "Interlude" 0:13 4. "The Halls of Desire" Prince Prince 4:36 5. "I'm Ready " Babyface 4:45 6. "What Do I Say" Walden Mike Mani[a] Monty Seward[a] 4:55 7. "Uncle Sam" 3:57 8. "Interlude" 0:29 9. "Paris1798430" Prince Prince 3:37 10. "Always in My Heart " 5:40 11. "Interlude" 0:09 12. "Shhh" Prince Prince 4:55 13. "Brown Eyed Girl" 3:48 14. "Infant Child" Walden Walden 2:42
Notes
^[a] ^[a]
Credits adapted from album's liner notes.[ 3]
Eric Anest – engineer (tracks 4, 7, 9)
Michael B. – drums (tracks 4, 12) Babyface – producer, instruments, and background vocals (tracks 1, 5, 10) Tommy Barbarella – keyboards (tracks 4, 12) Louis Biancaniello – associate producer, keyboards, programming, and synthesizer arrangements (tracks 2, 13) Vernon "Ice" Black – acoustic guitar (track 6)
Atlanta Bliss – horns (tracks 4, 9, 12) Nicole Bradin – background vocals (track 14)
Michael Brauer – mixing (tracks 4, 7, 9, 12) Tevin Campbell – lead vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4-7, 9, 10, 12-14) , background vocals (tracks 1, 5, 10) Milton Chan – assistant engineer (track 10)
Bruck Dawit – assistant mix engineer (tracks 4, 7, 9, 12) David Eike – assistant engineer (track 6)
David "Frazeman" Frazer – mixing and vocal engineer (tracks 2, 6, 13, 14)
Lori Fumar – assistant engineer (track 10)
Tom Garneau – engineer (tracks 4, 9)
Nikita Germaine – background vocals (track 14)
Brad Gilderman – engineer (track 10)
Preston Glass – sitar (track 6) , background vocals (track 14) William "DJ" Graves – scratches (track 4)
Sandy Griffith – background vocals (track 14)
Ray Hahnfeldt – engineer (tracks 4, 7) , additional engineering (track 12)
Jerry Hey – conductor and string arrangements (track 6) Charlie Hunter – electric guitar (track 6) Skyler Jett – background vocals (track 14)
Kathleen Johnson – background vocals (tracks 7, 12)
Kirk Johnson – additional production (track 7) , percussion (track 4)
Quincy Jones – executive producerEllen Keating – background vocals (track 14)
Janice Lee – production coordinator (tracks 2, 6, 13, 14)
Eric Leeds – horns and horn arrangements (tracks 4, 9, 12) Tony Lindsay – background vocals (track 14) Mike Mani – associate producer, keyboards, and programming (track 6)
Frank "Killer Bee" Martin – synthesized strings (track 14)
Leslie Matthews – background vocals (track 14)
Benny Medina – executive producerSteve Noonan – engineer (tracks 4, 9, 12)
Barney Perkins – mixing (track 10)
Prince – producer, arranger, and executive producer (tracks 4, 7, 9, 12) Marc "Elvis" Reyburn – engineer (tracks 2, 6, 13, 14)
Claytoven Richardson – background vocals (track 14) Rail Rogut – assistant engineer (tracks 1, 5, 10) , strings engineer (track 6)
Matt Rohr – assistant engineer (tracks 2, 6, 13, 14)
Marc Russo – soprano saxophone (track 13)
Levi Seacer Jr. – guitar (track 4) Monty Seward – associate producer, keyboards, and programming (track 6)
Cynthia Shiloh – production coordinator (tracks 2, 6, 13, 14)
Daryl Simmons – producer (tracks 1, 5, 10) Ivy Skoff – production coordinator (tracks 1, 5, 10)
Donnell Sullivan – engineer (tracks 1, 5)
Sonny T. – bass (tracks 4, 12) Jeanie Tracy – background vocals (track 14) Kevin Walden – production coordinator (tracks 2, 6, 13, 14)
Narada Michael Walden – producer and arranger (tracks 2, 6, 13, 14) , rhythm and vocal arrangements (tracks 2, 6) , piano (track 14) Randy Walker – MIDI technician (tracks 1, 5, 10)
Steve Warner – assistant engineer (tracks 1, 5)
Dave Way – mixing (tracks 1, 5) Ulrich Wild – assistant engineer (tracks 1, 5) Jim "Z" Zumpano – engineer (tracks 1, 5)
^ a b c Lytle, Craig. Tevin Campbell: I'm Ready > Review at AllMusic . Retrieved September 27, 2011.
^ Light, Elias (February 12, 2021). "A Teenage Tevin Campbell Didn't Feel Ready to Sing Prince's Songs. Now, He's Glad He Did" . Rolling Stone the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2024 . ^ I'm Ready (booklet). Qwest , Warner Bros. 1993.^ "Australiancharts.com – Tevin Campbell – I'm Ready" . Hung Medien. Retrieved October 16, 2020.^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard ^ "Tevin Campbell Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1993" . Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2020 .^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994" . Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2020 .^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994" . Billboard . Retrieved October 16, 2020 .^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1995 Albums" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association .^ "American album certifications – Tevin Campbell – I'm Ready" . Recording Industry Association of America .
