Yes I Am
Encyclopedia
Yes I Am is the fourth studio album
by American
singer-songwriter
Melissa Etheridge
, released by Island Records
on September 21, 1993 (see 1993 in music
). The title is generally thought to refer to Etheridge's recent coming out
as a lesbian
, confirming long-standing rumors about her personal life. This is the album that gave Melissa Etheridge national recognition. The rock ballad "Come to My Window" was the first video from the album, with Etheridge and her guitar and actress Juliette Lewis
having a nervous breakdown. This single brought the album into the public consciousness and was quickly followed by "I'm the Only One" (a U.S. #8 hit) and "If I Wanted To" (U.S. #16).
, California
. The album was produced
by Etheridge and Hugh Padgham
, who also engineered
the album. Hugh Padgham had previously worked many with British
artists and bands including Genesis
, David Bowie
, and Sting; among others. Padgham would also produce Etheridge's next album, Your Little Secret
.
The main musicians backing Melissa were Kevin McCormick—who had co-produced Melissa's previous albums—, Mauricio Fritz Lewak, and Waddy Wachtel
, and Scott Thurston
. Pino Palladino
replaced McCormick on several tracks and David Sutton replaced him on one song. Ian McLagen and James Fearnley
also made appearances.
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Etheridge
Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals...
, released by Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
on September 21, 1993 (see 1993 in music
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
). The title is generally thought to refer to Etheridge's recent coming out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, confirming long-standing rumors about her personal life. This is the album that gave Melissa Etheridge national recognition. The rock ballad "Come to My Window" was the first video from the album, with Etheridge and her guitar and actress Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis is an American actress and musician. She gained international fame for her role in the 1991 thriller Cape Fear for which she was nominated for both an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress...
having a nervous breakdown. This single brought the album into the public consciousness and was quickly followed by "I'm the Only One" (a U.S. #8 hit) and "If I Wanted To" (U.S. #16).
Recording and production
The songs on Yes I Am were recorded at A&M Studios in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The album was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by Etheridge and Hugh Padgham
Hugh Padgham
Hugh Padgham is a British record producer. He has won many awards, including four Grammys, with Producer of the Year and Engineer of the Year. A 1992 poll in Mix magazine voted him one of the world's Top Ten Most Influential Producers....
, who also engineered
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
the album. Hugh Padgham had previously worked many with British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
artists and bands including Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, and Sting; among others. Padgham would also produce Etheridge's next album, Your Little Secret
Your Little Secret
Your Little Secret is the fifth album by singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released in 1995. The album contained three singles, "Your Little Secret", "I Want to Come Over", and "Nowhere to Go"...
.
The main musicians backing Melissa were Kevin McCormick—who had co-produced Melissa's previous albums—, Mauricio Fritz Lewak, and Waddy Wachtel
Waddy Wachtel
Robert "Waddy" Wachtel is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work...
, and Scott Thurston
Scott Thurston
Scott Troy Thurston is an American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and session musician. He is currently a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, in which he sings harmony vocals and plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica....
. Pino Palladino
Pino Palladino
Pino Palladino is a Welsh bass guitarist who gained fame playing primarily rock and roll, blues rock, and rhythm and blues music, although he has been lauded for his ability to play most genres of popular music, including jazz, neo soul, and funk...
replaced McCormick on several tracks and David Sutton replaced him on one song. Ian McLagen and James Fearnley
James Fearnley
James Fearnley is an English musician. He plays accordion in the folk/punk band The Pogues.As a child he was a choir treble, but his voice changed at the age of sixteen. He took piano lessons but did not enjoy it, so he chose to learn the guitar instead...
also made appearances.
Track listing
All songs written by Melissa EtheridgeMelissa Etheridge
Melissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals...
.
- "I'm the Only OneI'm the Only One"I'm the Only One" is a Melissa Etheridge song that appears on her 1993 album Yes I Am. The single itself was released in 1993, and hit number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Adult Contemporary charts in January 1995...
" – 4:54 - "If I Wanted To" – 3:55
- "Come to My WindowCome to My Window"Come to My Window" is a Grammy Award-winning song by Melissa Etheridge released in 1994 on her 1993 album Yes I Am. This was the first song to be released after Etheridge publicly announced her sexual orientation of being a lesbian. With the driving force of gay rights, the song gained a lot of...
" – 3:55 - "Silent Legacy" – 5:22
- "I Will Never Be the Same" – 4:41
- "All American Girl" – 4:05
- "Yes I Am" – 4:24
- "Resist" – 2:57
- "Ruins" – 4:53
- "Talking to My Angel" – 4:48
Personnel
The following people contributed to Yes I Am:- Melissa EtheridgeMelissa EtheridgeMelissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals...
– vocalSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
s, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
s, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Waddy WachtelWaddy WachtelRobert "Waddy" Wachtel is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work...
– electric guitar - Scott ThurstonScott ThurstonScott Troy Thurston is an American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and session musician. He is currently a member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, in which he sings harmony vocals and plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica....
– keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s - Kevin McCormick – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mauricio Fritz Lewak – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Hugh PadghamHugh PadghamHugh Padgham is a British record producer. He has won many awards, including four Grammys, with Producer of the Year and Engineer of the Year. A 1992 poll in Mix magazine voted him one of the world's Top Ten Most Influential Producers....
– producer, mixing engineerMixing engineerA mix engineer is the person responsible for incorporating all the different recorded elements of music to make the final version of a song. These mixing professionals have many years of experience and training with audio equipment which has enabled them to master the art of audio mixing... - Greg Goldman – assistant engineer
- John Aguto – assistant engineer
- Mike Baumgartner – assistant engineer
- Bob LudwigBob LudwigBob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
– masteringMastering engineerA mastering engineer is one skilled in the practice of taking audio that has been previously mixed in either the analog or digital domain as mono, stereo, or multichannel formats and preparing it for use in distribution, whether by physical media such as a CD, vinyl record, or as some method of... - Pino PalladinoPino PalladinoPino Palladino is a Welsh bass guitarist who gained fame playing primarily rock and roll, blues rock, and rhythm and blues music, although he has been lauded for his ability to play most genres of popular music, including jazz, neo soul, and funk...
– bass - David Sutton – bass on "All American Girl"
- James FearnleyJames FearnleyJames Fearnley is an English musician. He plays accordion in the folk/punk band The Pogues.As a child he was a choir treble, but his voice changed at the age of sixteen. He took piano lessons but did not enjoy it, so he chose to learn the guitar instead...
– accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
on "Talking to My Angel" - Ian McLagen – organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
on "I Will Never Be the Same"
Album
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Top 50 Albums | 39 |
| Austrian Top 75 Albums | 22 |
| Canadian Top Albums | 18 |
| German Albums | 31 |
| Netherlands Top 100 Albums | 2 |
| Swiss Top 100 Albums | 17 |
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Top 40 Albums | 20 |
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
15 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "I'm the Only One" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 10 |
| 1994 | "All American Girl" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 24 |
| 1994 | "Come to My Window" | Adult Contemporary | 4 |
| 1994 | "Come to My Window" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 22 |
| 1994 | "Come to My Window" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 25 |
| 1994 | "Come to My Window" | Top 40 Mainstream | 13 |
| 1994 | "I'm the Only One" | Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| 1994 | "I'm the Only One" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 10 |
| 1994 | "I'm the Only One" | Top 40 Mainstream | 4 |
| 1995 | "Come to My Window" | Adult Top 40 | 27 |
| 1995 | "Come to My Window" | Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 4 |
| 1995 | "Come to My Window" | Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 5 |
| 1995 | "I'm the Only One" | Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| 1995 | "I'm the Only One" | Adult Top 40 | 28 |
| 1995 | "I'm the Only One" | The Billboard Hot 100 | 8 |
| 1995 | "I'm the Only One" | Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 2 |
| 1995 | "I'm the Only One" | Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 5 |
| 1995 | "I'm the Only One" | Top 40 Mainstream | 4 |
| 1995 | "If I Wanted To" | Adult Contemporary | 17 |
| 1995 | "If I Wanted To" | Top 40 Mainstream | 10 |
End of decade charts
| Chart (1990-1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 100 |
Awards
Grammy Awards| Year | Winner | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "Come to My Window" | Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance The Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance was an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to female recording artists for works containing quality vocal performances in the rock music genre... |