Love, Marriage & Divorce

Love, Marriage & Divorce
Studio album by Toni Braxton and Babyface
Released February 4, 2014 (2014-02-04)
Recorded 2013
Brandon's Way Recording
Los Angeles, California
Genre
Length 43:39
Label Motown
Producer
Toni Braxton chronology
Pulse
(2010)		 Love, Marriage & Divorce
(2014)		 Braxton Family Christmas
(2015)
Babyface chronology
Playlist
(2007)		 Love, Marriage & Divorce
(2014)		 Return of the Tender Lover
(2015)
Singles from Love, Marriage & Divorce
  1. "Hurt You"
    Released: August 17, 2013
  2. "Where Did We Go Wrong"
    Released: December 17, 2013

Love, Marriage & Divorce is a collaborative studio album by American recording artists Toni Braxton and Babyface, released on February 4, 2014, by Motown Records. As of July 2, 2014 the album sold 211,000 copies in the U.S.[1]

Background

"I think because Babyface and I have both gone through divorces, we can relate and we can collaborate together on this topic and make it so others who have gone through this situation can relate."

— Braxton describing her collaboration with Babyface.[2]

Love, Marriage & Divorce includes eleven tracks including their Adult R&B #1 single, "Hurt You" as well as the second single "Where Did We Go Wrong". The album was originally due for release on November 25, 2013, although its release was delayed until the week before Valentine's Day.[3] The album is Babyface's first new studio album in nearly seven years and Toni's first new album since 2010's Pulse.[4] Shortly before the release of Love, Marriage & Divorce, Braxton announced that it would be her final studio album, as she wanted to retire and focus on a film career.[5][6] Since its release, she has reversed her decision and announced a sequel to the recording due to the album's success.

Reception and critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
ABC News[7]
AllMusic[8]
CuepointA–[9]
Los Angeles Times(favorable)
Rolling Stone[10]

The album was met with positive reviews from critics. ABC News gave the album a 4 out 5 start rating, describing the album as "This record seems gloriously stuck in a time warp. Honestly, Babyface and Braxton give us a glimpsing reminder of what high-quality R&B radio used to offer its listeners. Even when the two are hitting the "divorce" part of the record, it never sounds like a downer. It's two pros rekindling the pop magic. Considering this is Babyface's first album in 7 years and Braxton's first album in 4 years, this album delivers a much needed shot in the arm. This record was an extremely smart move."[11]

Andy Kellman from AllMusic gave the album a 3 out 5 star rating, stating "On Love, Marriage & Divorce, Toni Braxton and Babyface, creative partners going back to the early '90s, rekindle their musical relationship. Both endured broken marriages, and presumably it's those experiences that inform the material here -- a succinct collection of 11 songs, eight of which are duets."[8]

Robert Christgau from Cuepoint gave the album a A- rating, stating "Through one number-one album, two number-two albums, one Vegas run, two Disney-on-Broadway runs, one season of Dancing With the Stars, two bankruptcies, and, absolutely, one divorce, Braxton has been as content-free as a soul diva can be. No wonder Kenny Edmunds grabbed her early on‑-she was platinum putty in his hands."[9]

Singles

"Hurt You" released as the lead single on August 17, 2013. The audio video was released to Braxton's VEVO account on August 19, 2013.[12] On September 7, 2013, the song debuted at number 17 on Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart,[13] The music video was released on Braxton and Babyface's joint VEVO account October 11, 2013.[14] On December 14, 2013 "Hurt You" rose to the number 1 spot on Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart for four weeks.[15]

The song spent 41 weeks on the Adult R&B Songs chart before exiting the Top 20 Chart.[16] This marked Braxton's seventh No. 1 hit on the Adult R&B Songs chart and first since her 2000 release "Just Be a Man About It".[17] The song also hit number 16 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart.[18][19]

"Where Did We Go Wrong?" released as the second single on December 17, 2013. The song was instantly given to fans once they had pre-ordered the album.[20] The audio video was released to VEVO on December 19, 2013.[21]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 67,000 copies, making it Braxton's sixth US top-ten album. It also entered at number one on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[22] The album debuted at number number 75 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 7 on the UK R&B Chart chart.[23][24]

Track listing

Love, Marriage & Divorce – Standard version[27]
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Roller Coaster"  
Babyface 4:23
2. "Sweat"  
  • Edmonds
  • Simmons
  • Dixon
  • Dixon
Babyface 4:27
3. "Hurt You"  
  • Toni Braxton
  • Edmonds
  • Simmons
  • Dixon
Babyface 4:10
4. "Where Did We Go Wrong"  
  • Edmonds
  • Braxton
Babyface 3:37
5. "I Hope That You're Okay" (performed by Babyface)
  • Edmonds
  • Simmons
Babyface 3:54
6. "I Wish" (performed by Toni Braxton)BraxtonBabyface 3:03
7. "Take It Back"  
  • Braxton
  • Edmonds
  • Simmons
  • Dixon
Babyface 4:05
8. "Reunited"  
  • Braxton
  • Edmonds
  • Simmons
  • Dixon
Babyface 3:18
9. "I'd Rather Be Broke" (performed by Toni Braxton)
  • Braxton
  • Dixon
  • Khristopher Riddick-Tynes
  • Leon Thomas
  • Edmonds
  • Kameron Glasper
  • Babyface
  • Antonio Dixon
  • The Rascals
 3:38
10. "Heart Attack"  
  • Braxton
  • Edmonds
  • Simmons
Babyface 3:52
11. "The D Word"  
  • Braxton
  • Edmonds
Babyface 5:12
Total length:
 43:39
Target Deluxe edition bonus tracks[28]
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
12. "Let's Do It"  
  • Edmonds
  • Braxton
Babyface 3:45
13. "One"  
  • Edmonds
  • Simmons
Babyface 2:22
Total length:
 6:07

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes[25] and Allmusic.[29]

Accolades

The album was also nominated for World's Best Album at the 2014 World Music Awards. The album won Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.[30]

Charts

Chart (2014) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[31] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[32] 4
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[33] 5
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[34] 6
Korean Albums (GAON)[35] 3
South African Albums (RISA)[36] 1
UK Albums (OCC)[37] 75
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[38] 2
US Billboard 200[39] 4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[40] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
South Africa (RISA)[41] 2× Platinum 80,000
United States (RIAA)[1] 211,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. 1 2 Mendizabal, Amaya (September 1, 2016). "Beyonce, Pharrell Williams Lead Mid-Year SoundScan R&B/Hip-Hop Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Toni Braxton & Babyface Delay 'Love, Marriage & Divorce' Album Until 2014", October 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Toni Braxton and Babyface's 'Love, Marriage & Divorce' Delayed Until 2014", Singersroom, October 24, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Toni Braxton and Babyface Album Delayed Until 2014", Rap-Up.
  5. ↑ Simpson, Leah. "'My heart isn't in it anymore': Toni Braxton announces her retirement from music... and says she'd 'like to play a lesbian' in a movie". dailymail.co.uk. The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  6. ↑ Morgan, Glennisha. "Toni Braxton Says She's Retiring From Music But Wants To Play A Lesbian On Screen". huffingtonpost.com. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
  7. ↑ Braxton, Edmonds, Toni, Kenneth 'Babyface'. "Review: Toni Braxton & Babyface - 'Love, Marriage & Divorce'". tonibraxtonandbabyface.com. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "Review: Love, Marriage & Divorce Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (January 23, 2015). "Robert Christgau: Expert Witness". Cuepoint. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  10. ↑ Rob Tannenbaum, "Love, Marriage & Divorce" (review), Rolling Stone, April 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ Raible, Allan. "Record Release Rundown: The Latest From Broken Bells, Toni Braxton & Babyface, Marissa Nadler and Mary Lambert". ABC News. ABC News. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Toni Braxton, Babyface - Hurt You (Audio)". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Adult R&B Songs & Music Chart Billboard". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Toni Braxton, Babyface - Hurt You". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Adults R&B Songs & Music Chart Billboard". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Adult R&B Songs & Music Chart Billboard June 14, 2014". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Toni Braxton and Babyface's 'Hurt You' Hits No.1 on Two Charts". Singersroom. December 11, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Toni Braxton : Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Toni Braxton – Chart history". Billboard.
  20. ↑ "Receive "Where Did We Go Wrong?" when pre-ordering "Love, Marriage & Divorce" on iTunes!". Toni Braxton & Babyface. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Toni Braxton, Babyface - Where Did We Go Wrong?". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  22. ↑ Mendizabal, Amaya (July 2, 2014). "Beyonce, Pharrell Williams Lead Mid-Year SoundScan R&B/Hip-Hop Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  23. ↑ . The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved on February 13, 2014.
  24. ↑ . The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved on February 13, 2014.
  25. 1 2 Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage & Divorce (Motown Records)
  26. ↑ "Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage & Divorce". album review and credits. allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  27. ↑ "Toni Braxton & Babyface reveal tracklisting for "Love, Marriage and Divorce"". GrooveVolt. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  28. ↑ "Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage, & Divorce - Only at Target", Target.
  29. ↑ "Toni Braxton & Babyface - Love, Marriage & Divorce". credits. allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
  30. ↑ 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees: R&B Category
  31. ↑ "Ultratop.be – TONI BRAXTON & BABYFACE – LOVE MARRIAGE & DIVORCE" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Ultratop.be – TONI BRAXTON & BABYFACE – LOVE MARRIAGE & DIVORCE" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – TONI BRAXTON & BABYFACE – LOVE MARRIAGE & DIVORCE" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  34. ↑ 恋愛～結婚～離婚 (in Japanese). oricon.co.jp. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  35. ↑ Gaon Albums Chart 2014-02-08 (in Korean). gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  36. ↑ "South African Top 20 Albums Chart". RSG (Recording Industry of South Africa). Archived from the original on March 15, 2014.
  37. ↑ "TONI BRAXTON | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  39. ↑ "TONI BRAXTON – Chart history" Billboard 200 for TONI BRAXTON. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  40. ↑ "TONI BRAXTON – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for TONI BRAXTON. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  41. ↑ Pommells, Ayara (September 10, 2015). "Toni Braxton x Babyface Awarded In South Africa". Retrieved December 5, 2015.
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