# The Essential Toni Braxton

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2007 greatest hits album by Toni Braxton

The Essential: Toni Braxton Greatest hits album by Toni Braxton Released February 20, 2007 (U.S.) Recorded 1990–2005 Genre R&B Label LaFace Records Som Livre (Brazil) Producer Babyface 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 Toni Braxton chronology Libra (2005) The Essential: Toni Braxton (2007) The Best So Far (2007)

***The Essential Toni Braxton*** is a [compilation album](/source/Compilation_album) by the American recording artist [Toni Braxton](/source/Toni_Braxton) in [Sony BMG](/source/Sony_BMG)'s *The Essential* series. Released on February 20, 2007, it follows the earlier compilations *[Ultimate Toni Braxton](/source/Ultimate_Toni_Braxton)*, released in 2003, and Braxton's *[Platinum & Gold Collection](/source/Platinum_%26_Gold_Collection_(Toni_Braxton_album))*, 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](/source/The_Braxtons), "The Good Life".

## Background

"The Essential Toni Braxton" became Braxton's second compilation, following 2003's "[Ultimate Toni Braxton](/source/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](/source/United_States).[1]

### Content

In addition to her previous hits, including "[Another Sad Love Song](/source/Another_Sad_Love_Song)", "[Breathe Again](/source/Breathe_Again)", "[Un-Break My Heart](/source/Un-Break_My_Heart)", "[You're Makin' Me High](/source/You're_Makin'_Me_High)", "[He Wasn't Man Enough](/source/He_Wasn't_Man_Enough)" and others, the first disc contains "Tell Me", from her 2002 album "[More Than a Woman](/source/More_Than_a_Woman_(album))" and "[Give U My Heart](/source/Give_U_My_Heart)", a duet with [Babyface](/source/Babyface_(musician)) to the soundtrack of the 1992 film *[Boomerang](/source/Boomerang_(soundtrack))*. The second disc contains some singles who performed very moderate on charts, such as "[Hit the Freeway](/source/Hit_the_Freeway)", many songs from her 1996 album "[Secrets](/source/Secrets_(Toni_Braxton_album))", the duet with [Il Divo](/source/Il_Divo), "[The Time of Our Lives](/source/The_Time_of_Our_Lives_(Il_Divo_and_Toni_Braxton_song))", remixes from her remix compilation, "[Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection](/source/Un-Break_My_Heart%3A_The_Remix_Collection)", as well as her first single with her sisters, [The Braxtons](/source/The_Braxtons), called "[Good Life](/source/Good_Life_(The_Braxtons_song))".[1][2]

## Critical reception

Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic [1] PopMatters (5/10)[2]

Andy Kellman of *[Allmusic](/source/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](/source/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."[1]

Mike Joseph of *[PopMatters](/source/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."[2]

## Chart performance

"The Essential Toni Braxton" charted on the [Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums](/source/Top_R%26B%2FHip-Hop_Albums) chart, peaking at number 48, remaining for two weeks on the chart.[3]

## Track listings

### The Essential Toni Braxton

Source:[1]

Disc one No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 1. "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" (from Toni Braxton, 1993) Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds Daryl Simmons Bo Watson Babyface L.A. Reid Daryl Simmons 4:56 2. "I Love Me Some Him" (from Secrets, 1996) Soulshock & Karlin Andrea Martin Gloria Stewart SoulShock & Karlin 5:09 3. "Tell Me" (from More Than a Woman, 2002) Anita Baker Anthony Bias Toni Braxton Louis Johnson Keri Lewis Keri Lewis 4:09 4. "You're Makin' Me High" (from Secrets, 1996) Babyface Bryce Wilson Babyface, Wilson 4:28 5. "He Wasn't Man Enough" (from The Heat, 2000) LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins Harvey Mason Jr. Darkchild 4:22 6. "Just Be a Man About It Feat. Dr. Dre" (from The Heat, 2000) Johntá Austin Teddy Bishop Braxton Bryan-Michael Cox Bishop Braxton Cox 4:51 7. "How Many Ways (R. Kelly remix)" (from Toni Braxton, 1993) Braxton Philip Field[4] Vincent Herbert Herbert 5:47 8. "Breathe Again" (from Toni Braxton, 1993) Babyface Babyface Reid Simmons 4:30 9. "You Mean the World to Me" (from Toni Braxton, 1993) Babyface Reid Simmons Babyface Reid Simmons 4:57 10. "I Belong to You" (from Toni Braxton, 1993) Vassal Benford Ronald Spearman Benford 3:54 11. "How Could an Angel Break My Heart" (from Secrets, 1996) Babyface Braxton Babyface 4:21 12. "Un-Break My Heart" (from Secrets, 1996) Diane Warren David Foster 4:31 13. "Another Sad Love Song" (from Toni Braxton, 1993) Babyface Simmons Babyface Reid Simmons 5:02 14. "Seven Whole Days" (from Toni Braxton, 1993) Babyface Reid Babyface Reid Simmons 6:20 15. "I Don't Want To" (from Secrets, 1996) R. Kelly Kelly 4:17 16. "Give U My Heart" (duet with Babyface) (from Boomerang: Original Soundtrack Album, 1992) Babyface Reid Simmons Watson Babyface Reid Simmons 4:00

Disc two No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length 1. "The Heat" (from The Heat, 2000) Braxton Keri Lewis Braxton Lewis 3:31 2. "Gimme Some" (featuring Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of TLC) (from The Heat, 2000) Babyface Braxton Lisa Lopes Jazze Pha Babyface Pha 4:04 3. "There's No Me Without You" (from Secrets, 1996) Babyface Babyface 4:20 4. "Why Should I Care" (from Secrets, 1996) Babyface Babyface 4:26 5. "Spanish Guitar (Royal Garden Flamenco Remix)" (from Spanish Guitar, 2000) Warren Royal Garden 4:36 6. "I'm Still Breathing" (from The Heat, 2000) Warren Foster 4:16 7. "Me & My Boyfriend" (from More Than a Woman, 2002) Tamar Braxton Toni Braxton Darryl Harper Irving Lorenzo Andre Parker Ricky Rouse Tupac Shakur Tyrone Wrice Irv Gotti Chink Santana 3:44 8. "Give It Back" (featuring Big Tymers) (from More Than a Woman, 2002) Tamar Braxton Toni Braxton Byron Thomas Bryan Williams Mannie Fresh 3:39 9. "The Time of Our Lives" (duet with Il Divo) (from Libra, 2005 and Voices from the FIFA World Cup, 2006) Jörgen Elofsson Steve Mac 3:18 10. "He Wasn't Man Enough (Junior Vasquez Marathon Remix)" (from Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection, 2005) Daniels Jerkins III "Darkchild" Mason Jr. Junior Vasquez 3:45 11. "Un-Break My Heart (Frankie Knuckles' Franktidrama club remix)" (from Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection, 2005) Warren Frankie Knuckles 8:28 12. "Hit the Freeway" (featuring Loon) (from More Than a Woman, 2002) Chauncey Hawkins Pharrell Williams The Neptunes 3:48 13. "Come On Over Here" (from Secrets, 1996) Tony Rich Marc Nelson Darrell Spencer Reid Rich 3:37 14. "Let It Flow" (from Secrets, 1996) Babyface Babyface 4:23 15. "The Little Things" (from Ultimate Toni Braxton, 2003) R. Kelly R. Kelly 4:32 16. "Good Life" (performed by The Braxtons) (previous unreleased, 1990) Ernesto Phillips Felix Weber Klarmann/Weber 4:16

## Charts

Country Peak position Certification Sales U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart[3] 48 Not Certified 20,000

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-allmusic_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-allmusic_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-allmusic_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-allmusic_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-allmusic_1-4) ["The Essential Toni Braxton - Allmusic"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-essential-toni-braxton-mw0000774002). *[Allmusic](/source/Allmusic)*. Retrieved November 23, 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-popmatters_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-popmatters_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-popmatters_2-2) ["Toni Braxton: The Essential Toni Braxton | PopMatters"](https://www.popmatters.com/review/toni-braxton-the-essential-toni-braxton/). *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)*. February 21, 2007. Retrieved November 23, 2013.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-billboard_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-billboard_3-1) ["Toni Braxton - Chart History - Billboard"](http://www.billboard.com/artist/430180/toni-braxton/chart?f=333). *[Billboard Magazine](/source/Billboard_Magazine)*. Retrieved November 23, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** U. S. Copyright Office PA0000780172 / 1995-12-18 Supplement to: PA0000674487 / 1993

v t e Toni Braxton Studio albums Solo Toni Braxton Secrets The Heat Snowflakes More Than a Woman Libra Pulse Sex & Cigarettes Spell My Name Duet Love, Marriage & Divorce Compilation albums Ultimate Toni Braxton Platinum & Gold Collection Artist Collection: Toni Braxton Un-Break My Heart: The Remix Collection Breathe Again: Toni Braxton at Her Best The Essential Toni Braxton The Best So Far Playlist: The Very Best of Toni Braxton Video albums From Toni with Love... The Video Collection Tours Secrets Tour Libra Tour 2013 Summer Tour Toni Braxton & Babyface Live The Hits Tour As Long as I Live Tour Related articles Discography List of songs Awards and nominations Braxton Family Values Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart The Braxtons Category

Authority control databases MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Essential Toni Braxton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Essential_Toni_Braxton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Essential_Toni_Braxton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.