Keith Sweat is the fifth studio album by the American singer Keith Sweat. It was released by Elektra Records on June 25, 1996, in the United States. The single, "Twisted", made it to number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, his biggest hit ever on that chart. "Nobody" peaked at number 3 on the same chart. Both songs are his final two of six hits to reach number one on the R&B singles chart and gave Sweat two more Top 5 pop hits in eight years since his first single, "I Want Her".

Keith Sweat
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 25, 1996
StudioThe Sweat Shop, Deep, Southern Tracks (Atlanta)
Genre
Length48:28
LabelElektra
Producer
  • C-Love
  • Doc
  • H.O.P.
  • Eric McCaine
  • Fitzgerald Scott
  • Keith Sweat
  • Tizone
  • Alphonso "Doc" Walker
  • William "Billy Bad" Ward
Keith Sweat chronology
Get Up On It
(1994)
Keith Sweat
(1996)
Still in the Game
(1998)
Singles from Keith Sweat
  1. "Twisted"
    Released: June 4, 1996
  2. "Nobody"
    Released: September 17, 1996
  3. "Just a Touch"
    Released: 1997
  4. "Come with Me"
    Released: 1997

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
Robert Christgau [2]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[3]
Hartford Courant(favorable)[4]
Los Angeles Times    [5]
Muzik     [6]
Vibe(favorable)[7]
USA Today    [8]

AllMusic editor Leo Stanley found that "Sweat turns in a typically stylish and sophisticated set of urban soul and new jack swing, all highlighted by his silky singing. Sweat's main talent is for smooth ballads, and Keith Sweat is filled with excellent selections, including the seductive 'Come with Me', which features guest vocals by Ronald Isley. The album does bog down a bit with uneven material, but its high points are as captivating as any of Sweat's previous work."[1] In a lukewarm review, Los Angeles Times writer Connie Johnson wrote "what sounded new in 1987 may not be groundbreaking today, but Sweat can still crank out a Jeep jam or a temperature-teasing boudoir ballad with the best of them."[5]

Chart performance edit

The album is the most successful of Sweat's career. It went to the US Billboard 200, debuting at number 5; it was the final of five consecutive albums from the artist to reach number one on the Top R&B Albums chart. The album has occasionally re-entered the Billboard 200, with the most recent occurrence being the week of February 19, 2011.[9] On July 7, 2004, Keith Sweat was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of four million copies in the United States.[10] In 1996, the singles "Twisted" and "Nobody" were both certified platinum by the RIAA, for shipments of one million copies in the US.[10]

Track listing edit

Keith Sweat track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Twisted" (featuring Kut Klose and Pretty Russ)
Lavonn Battle
McCaine4:30
2."Funky Dope Lovin'" (featuring Gerald Levert, Aaron Hall and Buddy Banks)William "Billy Bad" WardWard4:51
3."Yumi"
  • McCaine
  • Sweat
McCaine4:21
4."Whatever You Want"
  • Fitzgerald Scott
  • Sweat
Scott4:18
5."Just a Touch"
H.O.P. Productions5:03
6."Freak with Me" (featuring Lil' Bud and Tizone)
  • John Howcott
  • Emanuel Officer
  • Donald Parks
  • Sweat
H.O.P. Productions4:44
7."Nature's Rising (Interlude)"
  • Craig Love
  • Sweat
C-Love0:55
8."Come with Me" (featuring Ronald Isley)
  • Love
  • Scott
  • Sweat
Scott3:56
9."In the Mood"
  • McCaine
  • Sweat
McCaine3:45
10."Show Me the Way (Interlude)"
  • Allen "Grip" Smith
  • Sweat
Sweat2:50
11."Nobody" (featuring Athena Cage)
  • Scott
  • Sweat
Scott4:24
12."Chocolate Girl"
  • Sweat
  • Alphonso "Doc" Walker
  • Walker
  • Tizone
4:45
Total length:48:28

Personnel edit

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Certifications for Keith Sweat
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Stanley, Leo (August 1, 2003). Keith Sweat - Keith Sweat. AllMusic. Retrieved on April 18, 2011.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1996). Robert Christgau: CG: Keith Sweat. The Village Voice. Retrieved on April 18, 2011.
  3. ^ Eddy, Chuck (July 19, 1996). Keith Sweat | Music. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on April 18, 2011.
  4. ^ Catlin, Robert (July 11, 1996). Album Review -- Keith Sweat -- Keith Sweat. Hartford Courant. Retrieved on April 18, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Johnson, Connie (December 8, 1996). Making a list? Checking it twice? Here are some h to keep befuddled spouses, parents of teenagers and others on the right track.. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on April 18, 2011.
  6. ^ Springer, Jacqueline (August 1996). "Keith Sweat: Keith Sweat" (PDF). Muzik. No. 15. p. 112. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  7. ^ Meyer, Rudi (August 1996). "Keith Sweat, 'Keith Sweat' (Elektra)". The Washington Post. 4 (6). Vibe Media Group: 135. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  8. ^ Jones, Steve (July 2, 1996). "Bryan Adams regresses; Dylan is redone -- with strings". USA Today. Gannett Company: 7.D. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  9. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com (in Dutch). Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  10. ^ a b RIAA - Gold & Platinum: Keith Sweat Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on April 18, 2011.
  11. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Keith Sweat – Keith Sweat". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  12. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Keith Sweat – Keith Sweat" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Keith Sweat – Keith Sweat" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  14. ^ "Charts.nz – Keith Sweat – Keith Sweat". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  15. ^ "Keith Sweat | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  16. ^ "Keith Sweat Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  17. ^ "Keith Sweat Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  18. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  20. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1997". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  22. ^ "American album certifications – Keith Sweat – Keith Sweat". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 21, 2020.

External links edit