On How Life Is

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Template:DMCA Script error: No such module "Unsubst-infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". On How Life Is is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray. It was released on July 1, 1999, by Epic Records and Clean Slate. Produced by Andrew Slater, it became Gray's best-selling album to date, selling 3.4 million copies in the United States and seven million copies worldwide.[1][2]

The album's second single, "I Try", became an international success, topping the charts in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand,[3][4] while reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100.[5] The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2001.[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[7]
Chicago Sun-TimesStarStarStarHalf star[8]
Robert ChristgauStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[9]
Entertainment WeeklyB[10]
The GuardianStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[11]
The IndependentStarStarStarStarStar[12]
Los Angeles TimesStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[13]
Pitchfork8.5/10[14]
QStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[15]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg[16]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[17]

On How Life Is was met with highly positive reviews from music critics upon its release, with many praising Gray's songwriting and vocal performance. Q rated the album four out of five stars, calling it a "confident, bluesy soul debut [...] with a lived-in sound – as if Rod Stewart were a girl."[15]

Track listing

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Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of On How Life Is.[20]

Musicians

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  • Macy Gray – lead vocals, vocal arrangements (all tracks); backing vocals (tracks 1, 3–5, 10)
  • Dawn Beckman – backing vocals (tracks 1–3, 5–9)
  • Musiic Galloway – backing vocals (tracks 1–3, 5–10)
  • Jeremy Ruzumna – backing vocals (track 1); organ (tracks 1, 4–6, 8); piano (tracks 1, 7, 10); electric piano, Moog (track 2); Farfisa, clavinet (track 3); Rhodes (tracks 5, 6); Optigan, Chamberlin (track 10)
  • David Wilder – backing vocals (track 1); bass (tracks 1, 4)
  • Jinsoo Lim – guitar (tracks 1, 2)
  • Arik Marshall – guitar (tracks 1, 7–10)
  • Lenny Castro – percussion (tracks 1, 2, 7–9)
  • Matt Chamberlain – percussion (tracks 1, 3, 9, 10); drums (all tracks)
  • Darryl Swann – backing vocals, guitar (track 3); programming (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8–10); vocal arrangements (all tracks)
  • DJ Kiilu – turntables (tracks 2, 8, 9); programming (track 8)
  • Jon Brion – Chamberlin (tracks 2, 3, 8, 10); synths (tracks 3, 8); guitar (tracks 3–6, 8–10); piano (tracks 4, 10); orchestra bells (track 4); vibes (tracks 7, 8); marimba (track 8); Optigan (track 10)
  • Patrick Warren – vibes (track 2); Chamberlin (tracks 2–4, 7, 8); synths (track 3); Rhodes, Wurlitzer (track 9)
  • Dion Derek Murdock – bass (tracks 2, 6)
  • Sy Smith – backing vocals (tracks 3, 5, 7)
  • Bendrix Williams – guitar (track 4)
  • Rami Jaffee – synths (track 5); piano, Optigan, Chamberlin (track 10)
  • Blackbyrd McKnight – guitar (track 5)
  • Gabriel Moses – guitar (track 5)
  • Steve Baxter – horn (track 6)
  • Charlie Green – horn (track 6)
  • Michael Harris – horn (track 6)
  • Miles Tackett – guitar (track 6)
  • Greg Richling – bass (tracks 6–10)
  • David Campbell – string arrangement (track 7)
  • Jay Joyce – guitar (track 7)
  • Ngozi Inyama – sax solo (track 8)

Technical

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  • Andrew Slater – production
  • Dave Way – recording, mixing
  • Darryl "D-Style" Swann – additional engineering
  • Howard Willing – first assistant engineer
  • Dave Reed – second assistant engineer
  • Kevin Dean – second assistant engineer
  • Jeff Walch – second assistant engineer
  • Michelle Forbes – second assistant engineer
  • Sherry Sutcliff – production coordination

Artwork

  • Stéphane Sednaoui – photography
  • Hooshik – art direction, design
  • Frank Harkins – art direction

Charts

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Certifications and sales

Template:Certification Table Separator
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45] 4× Platinum 280,000 
Austria (IFPI Austria)[46] Gold 25,000 
Belgium (BRMA)[47] Gold 25,000 
Canada (Music Canada)[48] 3× Platinum 300,000 
Denmark — 59,134[49]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[50] Gold 20,496[50]
France (SNEP)[51] Gold 0 
Germany (BVMI)[52] Gold 250,000 
Netherlands (NVPI)[53] Gold 50,000 
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54] 4× Platinum 60,000 
Norway (IFPI Norway)[55] Platinum 50,000 
Sweden (GLF)[56] Gold 40,000 
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[57] Platinum 50,000 
United Kingdom (BPI)[58] 4× Platinum 1,200,000 
United States (RIAA)[59] 3× Platinum 3,400,000[2]
Europe (IFPI)[60] 2× Platinum 2,000,000 

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Label Ref.
Japan July 1, 1999 Sony [19]
United States July 27, 1999 Epic [61]

Notes

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References

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  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Skanse, Richard (February 22, 2001). "Steely Dan, U2 Top Grammys". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
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  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Cox, Tom (July 9, 1999). "Irresistible sister". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
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