{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = The Essential: Toni Braxton | type = greatest | artist = [[Toni Braxton]] | cover = Tetb.jpg | alt = | released = February 20, 2007 (U.S.) | recorded = 1990–2005 | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] | length = | label = [[LaFace Records]]<BR>[[Som Livre]] (Brazil) | producer = {{Flat list| *[[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]] *[[Teddy Bishop (record producer)|Teddy Bishop]] *[[David Foster]] *[[Mannie Fresh]] *Royal Garden *[[Irv Gotti]] *[[Vincent Herbert]] *[[Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]] *[[R. Kelly]] *[[Klarmann/Weber]] *[[Frankie Knuckles]] *[[Keri Lewis]] *[[Steve Mac]] *[[The Neptunes]] *[[L.A. Reid]] *[[Jazze Pha]] *[[Tony Rich]] *[[Chink Santana]] *[[Daryl Simmons]] *[[Soulshock & Karlin]] *[[Junior Vasquez]] *[[Bryce Wilson]]}} | prev_title = [[Libra (Toni Braxton album)|Libra]] | prev_year = 2005 | next_title = [[The Best So Far (Toni Braxton album)|The Best So Far]] | next_year = 2007 | misc = }}
'''''The Essential Toni Braxton''''' is a [[compilation album]] by the American recording artist [[Toni Braxton]] in [[Sony BMG]]'s ''The Essential'' series. Released on February 20, 2007, it follows the earlier compilations ''[[Ultimate Toni Braxton]]'', released in 2003, and Braxton's ''[[Platinum & Gold Collection (Toni Braxton album)|Platinum & Gold Collection]]'', released in 2004. ''The Essential'' is a 2 disc album with thirty-six of Braxton's best songs. It also includes a song done with her sister group [[The Braxtons]], "The Good Life".
== Background == "The Essential Toni Braxton" became Braxton's second compilation, following 2003's "[[Ultimate Toni Braxton]]". The compilation contains 2 discs, with the first containing the majority of her hits, and the second containing non-singles from her previous albums, as well as remixes, collaborations and unreleased tracks. It was released on February 20, 2007, in the [[United States]].<ref name=allmusic/>
=== Content === In addition to her previous hits, including "[[Another Sad Love Song]]", "[[Breathe Again]]", "[[Un-Break My Heart]]", "[[You're Makin' Me High]]", "[[He Wasn't Man Enough]]" and others, the first disc contains "Tell Me", from her 2002 album "[[More Than a Woman (album)|More Than a Woman]]" and "[[Give U My Heart]]", a duet with [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]] to the soundtrack of the 1992 film ''[[Boomerang (soundtrack)|Boomerang]]''. The second disc contains some singles who performed very moderate on charts, such as "[[Hit the Freeway]]", many songs from her 1996 album "[[Secrets (Toni Braxton album)|Secrets]]", the duet with [[Il Divo]], "[[The Time of Our Lives (Il Divo and Toni Braxton song)|The Time of Our Lives]]", remixes from her remix compilation, "[[Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection]]", as well as her first single with her sisters, [[The Braxtons]], called "[[Good Life (The Braxtons song)|Good Life]]".<ref name=allmusic/><ref name=popmatters/>
== Critical reception == {{Music ratings | rev1 = [[Allmusic]] | rev1Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|title=The Essential Toni Braxton - Allmusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-essential-toni-braxton-mw0000774002|work=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=November 23, 2013}}</ref> | rev2 = [[PopMatters]] | rev2Score = (5/10)<ref name=popmatters>{{cite news|title=Toni Braxton: The Essential Toni Braxton | PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/toni-braxton-the-essential-toni-braxton/|accessdate=November 23, 2013|newspaper=[[PopMatters]]|date=February 21, 2007}}</ref> }} Andy Kellman of ''[[Allmusic]]'' gave to the compilation a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, writing that the album "amounts to an expanded update of 2003's [[Ultimate Toni Braxton]], nearly doubling the content and digging deeper into the discography of one of the biggest R&B artists of the '90s. With the exception of favoring the R. Kelly remix of "How Many Ways" over the original, this set retains Ultimate's core 15 tracks while wisely choosing to use the studio version of "Seven Whole Days" instead of a live take. [...] Another pleasant surprise, tucked at the very end, is the inclusion of "Good Life," a 1990 single released by Toni and her four sisters as the Braxtons. If you want only the big hits, Ultimate will still do fine, but this set offers a more rounded and representative look back."<ref name=allmusic/>
Mike Joseph of ''[[PopMatters]]'' gave the album 5 out of 10 stars, writing that, "It's hard to imagine why this album was even released. [...] and while it's a nice thing to have, it's by no means essential. This compilation contains just about every popular note Braxton ever offered, with a couple of mediocre dance mixes thrown in to add a bit of value to the project. [...] As a single disc containing all the necessary hits, it's the album you should probably bypass this bloated Essential set in favor of."<ref name=popmatters/>
== Chart performance == "The Essential Toni Braxton" charted on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart, peaking at number 48, remaining for two weeks on the chart.<ref name=billboard/>
==Track listings==
===The Essential Toni Braxton=== Source:<ref name=allmusic/> {{Track listing | headline = Disc one | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = [[Love Shoulda Brought You Home]] | note1 = from ''[[Toni Braxton (album)|Toni Braxton]]'', 1993 | writer1 = {{Flat list| *[[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds]] *[[Daryl Simmons]] *Bo Watson}} | extra1 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *[[L.A. Reid]] *Daryl Simmons}} | length1 = 4:56 | title2 = [[I Love Me Some Him]] | note2 = from ''[[Secrets (Toni Braxton album)|Secrets]]'', 1996 | writer2 = {{Flat list| *[[Soulshock & Karlin]] *[[Andrea Martin (musician)|Andrea Martin]] *Gloria Stewart}} | extra2 = SoulShock & Karlin | length2 = 5:09 | title3 = Tell Me | note3 = from ''[[More Than a Woman (album)|More Than a Woman]]'', 2002 | writer3 = {{Flat list| *[[Anita Baker]] *Anthony Bias *[[Toni Braxton]] *Louis Johnson *[[Keri Lewis]]}} | extra3 = Keri Lewis | length3 = 4:09 | title4 = [[You're Makin' Me High]] | note4 = from ''Secrets'', 1996 | writer4 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *[[Bryce Wilson]]}} | extra4 = Babyface, Wilson | length4 = 4:28 | title5 = [[He Wasn't Man Enough]] | note5 = from ''[[The Heat (Toni Braxton album)|The Heat]]'', 2000 | writer5 = {{Flat list| *[[LaShawn Daniels]] *[[Fred Jerkins III]] *[[Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins]] *[[Harvey Mason Jr.]]}} | extra5 = Darkchild | length5 = 4:22 | title6 = [[Just Be a Man About It]] Feat. [[Dr. Dre]] | note6 = from ''The Heat'', 2000 | writer6 = {{Flat list| *[[Johntá Austin]] *[[Teddy Bishop (record producer)|Teddy Bishop]] *Braxton *[[Bryan-Michael Cox]]}} | extra6 = {{Flat list| *Bishop *Braxton *Cox}} | length6 = 4:51 | title7 = [[I Belong to You/How Many Ways|How Many Ways]] ([[R. Kelly]] remix) | note7 = from ''Toni Braxton'', 1993 | writer7 = {{Flat list| *Braxton *[[Philip Field (musician)|Philip Field]]<ref>U. S. Copyright Office PA0000780172 / 1995-12-18 Supplement to: PA0000674487 / 1993</ref> *[[Vincent Herbert]]}} | extra7 = Herbert | length7 = 5:47 | title8 = [[Breathe Again]] | note8 = from ''Toni Braxton'', 1993 | writer8 = Babyface | extra8 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Reid *Simmons}} | length8 = 4:30 | title9 = [[You Mean the World to Me (Toni Braxton song)|You Mean the World to Me]] | note9 = from ''Toni Braxton'', 1993 | writer9 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Reid *Simmons}} | extra9 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Reid *Simmons}} | length9 = 4:57 | title10 = [[I Belong to You/How Many Ways|I Belong to You]] | note10 = from ''Toni Braxton'', 1993 | writer10 = {{Flat list| *Vassal Benford *Ronald Spearman}} | extra10 = Benford | length10 = 3:54 | title11 = [[How Could an Angel Break My Heart]] | note11 = from ''Secrets'', 1996 | writer11 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Braxton}} | extra11 = Babyface | length11 = 4:21 | title12 = [[Un-Break My Heart]] | note12 = from ''Secrets'', 1996 | writer12 = [[Diane Warren]] | extra12 = [[David Foster]] | length12 = 4:31 | title13 = [[Another Sad Love Song]] | note13 = from ''Toni Braxton'', 1993 | writer13 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Simmons}} | extra13 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Reid *Simmons}} | length13 = 5:02 | title14 = [[Seven Whole Days]] | note14 = from ''Toni Braxton'', 1993 | writer14 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Reid}} | extra14 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Reid *Simmons}} | length14 = 6:20 | title15 = [[I Don't Want To]] | note15 = from ''Secrets'', 1996 | writer15 = [[R. Kelly]] | extra15 = Kelly | length15 = 4:17 | title16 = [[Give U My Heart]] | note16 = duet with [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]]) (from ''[[Boomerang (soundtrack)|Boomerang: Original Soundtrack Album]]'', 1992 | writer16 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Reid *Simmons *Watson}} | extra16 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Reid *Simmons}} | length16 = 4:00 }} {{Track listing | headline = Disc two | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = The Heat | note1 = from ''The Heat'', 2000 | writer1 = {{Flat list| *Braxton *[[Keri Lewis]]}} | extra1 = {{Flat list| *Braxton *Lewis}} | length1 = 3:31 | title2 = Gimme Some | note2 = featuring [[Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes]] of [[TLC (group)|TLC]]) (from ''The Heat'', 2000 | writer2 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Braxton *[[Lisa Lopes]] *[[Jazze Pha]]}} | extra2 = {{Flat list| *Babyface *Pha}} | length2 = 4:04 | title3 = There's No Me Without You | note3 = from ''Secrets'', 1996 | writer3 = Babyface | extra3 = Babyface | length3 = 4:20 | title4 = Why Should I Care | note4 = from ''Secrets'', 1996 | writer4 = Babyface | extra4 = Babyface | length4 = 4:26 | title5 = [[Spanish Guitar (song)|Spanish Guitar]] (Royal Garden Flamenco Remix) | note5 = from ''[[Spanish Guitar (song)|Spanish Guitar]]'', 2000 | writer5 = Warren | extra5 = [[Royal Garden]] | length5 = 4:36 | title6 = I'm Still Breathing | note6 = from ''The Heat'', 2000 | writer6 = Warren | extra6 = Foster | length6 = 4:16 | title7 = Me & My Boyfriend | note7 = from ''More Than a Woman'', 2002 | writer7 = {{Flat list| *[[Tamar Braxton]] *Toni Braxton *Darryl Harper *[[Irving Lorenzo]] *Andre Parker *Ricky Rouse *[[Tupac Shakur]] *Tyrone Wrice}} | extra7 = {{Flat list| *[[Irv Gotti]] *[[Chink Santana]]}} | length7 = 3:44 | title8 = Give It Back | note8 = featuring [[Big Tymers]]) (from ''More Than a Woman'', 2002 | writer8 = {{Flat list| *Tamar Braxton *Toni Braxton *Byron Thomas *[[Birdman (rapper)|Bryan Williams]]}} | extra8 = [[Mannie Fresh]] | length8 = 3:39 | title9 = [[The Time of Our Lives (Il Divo and Toni Braxton song)|The Time of Our Lives]] | note9 = duet with [[Il Divo]]) (from ''[[Libra (Toni Braxton album)|Libra]]'', 2005 and ''[[Voices from the FIFA World Cup]]'', 2006 | writer9 = [[Jörgen Elofsson]] | extra9 = [[Steve Mac]] | length9 = 3:18 | title10 = He Wasn't Man Enough (Junior Vasquez Marathon Remix) | note10 = from ''[[Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection]]'', 2005 | writer10 = {{Flat list| *Daniels *Jerkins III *"Darkchild" *Mason Jr.}} | extra10 = [[Junior Vasquez]] | length10 = 3:45 | title11 = Un-Break My Heart (Frankie Knuckles' Franktidrama club remix) | note11 = from ''Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection'', 2005 | writer11 = Warren | extra11 = [[Frankie Knuckles]] | length11 = 8:28 | title12 = [[Hit the Freeway]] | note12 = featuring [[Loon (rapper)|Loon]]) (from ''More Than a Woman'', 2002 | writer12 = {{Flat list| *[[Chauncey Hawkins]] *[[Pharrell Williams]]}} | extra12 = [[The Neptunes]] | length12 = 3:48 | title13 = Come On Over Here | note13 = from ''Secrets'', 1996 | writer13 = {{Flat list| *[[Tony Rich]] *[[Marc Nelson (singer)|Marc Nelson]] *Darrell Spencer}} | extra13 = {{Flat list| *Reid *Rich}} | length13 = 3:37 | title14 = [[Let It Flow (song)|Let It Flow]] | note14 = from ''Secrets'', 1996 | writer14 = Babyface | extra14 = Babyface | length14 = 4:23 | title15 = The Little Things | note15 = from ''[[Ultimate Toni Braxton]]'', 2003 | writer15 = R. Kelly | extra15 = R. Kelly | length15 = 4:32 | title16 = [[Good Life (The Braxtons song)|Good Life]] | note16 = performed by [[The Braxtons]]) (''previous unreleased'', 1990 | writer16 = {{Flat list| *Ernesto Phillips *Felix Weber}} | extra16 = [[Klarmann/Weber]] | length16 = 4:16 }}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable" !align="center"|Country !align="center"|Peak<br>position !align="center"|Certification !align="center"|Sales |- |align="left"|[[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart]]<ref name=billboard>{{cite web|title=Toni Braxton - Chart History - Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/430180/toni-braxton/chart?f=333|work=[[Billboard Magazine]]|accessdate=November 23, 2013}}</ref> |align="center"|48 |align="center"|Not Certified |align="center"|20,000 |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Toni Braxton}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Essential Toni Braxton, The}} [[Category:Toni Braxton compilation albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by Bryan-Michael Cox]] [[Category:Albums produced by David Foster]] [[Category:Albums produced by the Neptunes]] [[Category:Albums produced by R. Kelly]] [[Category:2007 greatest hits albums]]