Wikipedia

Individuality (Can I Be Me?)

Individuality (Can I Be Me?) is the third studio album by American vocalist Rachelle Ferrell. It was released on August 15, 2000, through Capitol Records. Recording sessions took place at Le Gonks West and Andora Recording Studio in Los Angeles, at The Blue Room in Philadelphia, and at O'Henry Sound Studios in Burbank. All songs overdubbed and mixed by Erik Zobler at Le Gonks West, a studio owned by George Duke, who served as producer of the album. It features guest appearances from Jonathan Butler and Russ Barnes.

Individuality (Can I Be Me?)
Studio album by
Rachelle Ferrell
ReleasedAugust 15, 2000
Recorded1999–2000
Studio
Genre
Length59:47
LabelCapitol
Producer
Rachelle Ferrell chronology
Rachelle Ferrell
(1992) 		Individuality (Can I Be Me?)
(2000) 		Live In Montreux 91-97
(2002)
Singles from Individuality (Can I Be Me?)
  1. "Satisfied"
    Released: 2000
  2. "I Forgive You"
    Released: 2001

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz[2]

The album peaked at number 71 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, at number 16 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 1 on the Jazz Albums chart in the United States. Individuality (Can I Be Me?) spawned two singles: "Satisfied" and "I Forgive You". Both singles made it to the Adult R&B Songs chart, reaching #11 and #13 respectively.

In 2001, Ferrell appeared on an episode of Emeril Live, performing songs from Individuality with her brother, a backup singer, while Emeril prepared dishes for a jazz brunch.[3]

Release

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In the June 3, 2000, issue, Billboard reported that the album would be released by Capitol on August 15.[4]

Critical reception

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Writing for Out, critic Jolyon Helterman compared Ferrell to Nina Simone and called the album "just the dark, rich, brooding sound you want in the background during a candlelit dinner".[5]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Rachelle Ferrell, except track 1 written with Jef Lee Johnson

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Individuality (Can I Be Me?)"Rachelle Ferrell4:53
2."Sista"
3:59
3."Will You Remember Me?"
  • Rachelle Ferrell
  • Jef Lee Johnson
6:17
4."I Forgive You"Rachelle Ferrell5:30
5."I Gotta Go"Rachelle Ferrell5:06
6."Why You Wanna Mess It All Up?"Rachelle Ferrell5:30
7."Gaia" (featuring Jonathan Butler)
5:44
8."Run to Me"Rachelle Ferrell4:04
9."Reflections of My Heart" (featuring Russ Barnes)
  • Rachelle Ferrell
  • George Duke
5:10
10."Satisfied"
  • Rachelle Ferrell
  • George Duke
5:32
11."I Can Explain"Rachelle Ferrell8:02
Total length:59:47

Personnel

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  • Rachelle Ferrell – vocals, lyrics, producer (track 3), executive producer
  • Jonathan Butler – vocals, guitar (track 7)
  • Russ Barnes – vocals (track 9), backing vocals (tracks: 1, 6)
  • Kenny Lattimore – backing vocals (tracks: 1, 6)
  • Jef Lee Johnson – lyrics (track 1), guitar (tracks: 1–6, 8, 9, 11), bass & keyboards (tracks: 1, 3), producer (track 3), recording (tracks: 1, 3)
  • George Duke – keyboards (tracks: 2–11), keyboard bass & guitar (tracks: 1, 3), producer (tracks: 1, 2, 4–11)
  • Tony Maiden – guitar (track 11)
  • Byron Lee Miller – bass (tracks: 4–6, 8, 11)
  • John "Lil' John" Roberts – drums (tracks: 1–3, 9, 10)
  • Ricardo Jordan – drums (tracks: 4–7, 11)
  • Lenny Castro – percussion (tracks: 4–6, 8, 9)
Technical
  • Erik Zobler – recording (tracks: 2, 4–11), mixing
  • Wayne Holmes – assistant engineering
  • Rob Brill – assistant engineering (tracks: 4–6, 8)
  • Bryan Jackson – assistant engineering (tracks: 4–6, 8)
  • James Stone – assistant engineering (track 11)
  • Tommy Steele – art direction
  • Norman Moore – design
  • Ann Smalley – design
  • Beth Herzhaft – photography
  • Corine Duke – production coordinator
  • Kent Blackwelder Management – management

Chart history

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Chart (2000) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 71
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] 16
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[8] 1

References

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  1. ^ Gallucci, Michael. "Individuality (Can I Be Me?) – Rachelle Ferrell". AllMusic. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2004). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. London: Virgin. p. 298. ISBN 9781852271831. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  3. ^ Taylor, Chuck, ed. (August 11, 2001). "Dishing with the Chef". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 32. p. 86. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Gail (June 3, 2000). "Janet Jackson Single First 'Nutty' Release; Soundtrack to Sequel Via Def Jam/Def Soul". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 23. p. 33. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Helterman, Jolyon (September 2000). "Fall Preview". Out: 52. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  6. ^ "Rachelle Ferrell Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "Rachelle Ferrell Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "Rachelle Ferrell Chart History (Top Jazz Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
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