Brown Sugar is the debut studio album by American musician D'Angelo, released on July 3, 1995, through EMI. The album was recorded during 1994 and 1995 in sessions at Battery Studios and RPM Studios in New York City and at the Pookie Lab in Sacramento. Its production, instrumentation, arrangements, and songwriting were primarily handled by D'Angelo, who employed both vintage recording equipment and modern electronic devices. The songs feature earnest lyrics about love and romance, set against a fusion of contemporary R&B and traditional soul music with elements of funk, quiet storm, and hip hop music.
Brown Sugar debuted at number six on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart, selling 300,000 copies in its first two months. With the help of its four singles, it spent 65 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and received platinum certification within a year of its release. Brown Sugar was also met with widespread acclaim and earned D'Angelo several accolades, including four Grammy Award nominations. Regarded by music journalists as a pivotal release in neo soul, the album brought commercial exposure to the burgeoning musical movement amid the prominence of producer-driven, digitally approached R&B. Brown Sugar is also widely credited with launching the neo-soul movement, with the term "neo soul" in fact even being coined by D'Angelo's manager Kedar Massenburg in the short time after the album became a success.
Brown Sugar All songs composed, written, arranged, performed and produced by D'Angelo, except where indicated. Executive producer: Kedar Massenburg for Kedar Entertainment, Inc. A&R direction: Gary Harris and Kedar Massenburg Management: Kedar Entertainment, Inc. A&R administration: Laura Rinaldi Business management: V. Brown & Co. Legal representation: Fred Davis, Esq. Additional assistant engineers: Suz Dweyer, Julio Peralta, Martin Czember Mastered by Herb Powers Jr. at Hit Factory Mastering, NYC Art direction: Henry Marquez Design: C.M.O.N. Photography: Per Gustafson
1 - Brown Sugar Written by D'Angelo and Ali Shaheed Muhammed Produced by D'Angelo and Ali Shaheed Muhammad Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo All instruments by D'Angelo Drum programming by Ali Shaheed Muhammad Recorded at Battery Studios, NYC Additional engineering by Tim Latham at Soundtrack, NYC Mixed by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: G-Spot
2 - Alright Written by D'Angelo Produced by D'Angelo and Bob Power Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo All instruments by D'Angelo Guitar by Bob Power Recorded by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: G-Spot Mixed by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC
3 - Jonz in My Bonz Written by D'Angelo and Angie Stone Produced by D'Angelo Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo All instruments by D'Angelo Guitar by Bob Power Recorded by G-Spot at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: Rob Farrell, Chaz Harper Mixed by Russell Elevado at Battery Studios, NYC Additional engineering by Tim Latham at Battery Studios, NYC
4 - Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine Written by D'Angelo Produced by D'Angelo and Bob Power Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo Guitar by Bob Power All other instruments by D'Angelo Recorded by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: G-Spot Mixed by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC
5 - Shit, Damn, Motherfucker Written by D'Angelo Produced by D'Angelo and Bob Power Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo Guitar by Bob Power All other instruments by D'Angelo Recorded by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: G-Spot Mixed by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC
6 - Smooth Written by D'Angelo and Luther Archer Produced by D'Angelo and Bob Power Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo Bass by Larry Grenadier Guitar by Mark Whitfield Drums by Gene Lake All other instruments by D'Angelo Recorded by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: G-Spot Mixed by Bob Power at Battery Studios, NYC
7 - Cruisin' Written by William Robinson and Marvin Tarplin Produced by D'Angelo Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo All instruments by D'Angelo Orchestra conductor and arranger: Dunn Pierson Orchestra contractor and copyist: Eugene Bianco Flute and piccolo: Laura Vivino Violins: Gerald Tarack, Marilyn Wright, Regis Iandorio, Matthew Raimondi, Masako Yanagita, Natalie Kriegler, Alexander Simionescu, Winterton Garvey Viola: Julien Barber, Olivia Koppell, Sue Pray, Eufrosina Railenu Cello: Jesse Levy, Seymour Barab Recorded by G-Spot at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: Rob Farrell Additional recording by Butch Jones at Back Pocket Studios, NYC Mixed by G-Spot at Battery Studios, NYC Additional engineering by Tim Latham at Quad Studios, NYC
8 - When We Get By Written by D'Angelo Produced by D'Angelo Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo Trumpet by Bob "Bassy" Brockman All other instruments by D'Angelo Recorded by G-Spot at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: Rob Farrell Mixed by Russell Elevado at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: Chaz Harper Additional engineering by Tim Latham at Battery Studios, NYC
9 - Lady Written by D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq Produced by D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq Bass by Raphael Saadiq Piano by Tim Christian Guitar by Raphael Saadiq Additional guitar by D'Angelo Recorded by Darrin Harris at Pookie Lab, Sacramento, CA Additional recording by G-Spot at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: Rob Farrell, Chaz Harper Mixed by Russell Elevado at Battery Studios, NYC Additional engineering by Tim Latham at Quad Studios, NYC
10 - Higher Written by D'Angelo, Luther Archer and Rodney Archer Produced by D'Angelo and Bob Power Vocal arrangements by D'Angelo All vocals by D'Angelo Musical arrangements by D'Angelo Bass by Will Lee Drums by Ralph Rolle Rhythm guitar by Bob Power All other instruments by D'Angelo Recorded by Bob Power at RPM Studios, NYC Additional recording at Battery Studios, NYC Assistant engineer: G-Spot Mixed by Bob Power at RPM Studios, NYC
