Playlist (Babyface album)

Playlist is the seventh studio album by American singer Babyface. It was released by Mercury Records on September 18, 2007 in the United States. His debut with the then-newly re-launched label, Playlist consists of eight covers of folk and soft rock songs and two original compositions. The album reached the top ten on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Its lead single, the James Taylor cover "Fire and Rain," became a hit on the US Adult Contemporary chart.

Playlist
Studio album by Babyface
Released	September 18, 2007
Length	40:45
Label	Mercury
Producer	Babyface
Babyface chronology
Grown & Sexy (2005) Playlist (2007) Love, Marriage & Divorce (2014)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

AllMusic editor Andy Kellman found that Babyface "put a lot of heart and soul into the material, all of which connected with him as a youngster listening to '70s AM radio [...] Apart from Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," everything is suited for Babyface, often to the point where the songs don't sound tremendously different from what he has written during the last several years [...] n addition to the eight covers, there are two new songs, both of which fit into the album's scheme sonically while being far from lightweight subject-wise."[1]

Track listing

All track were produced by Babyface.[2]

Playlist track listing

No.	Title	Original artist(s)	Length
1.	"Shower the People"	James Taylor	4:37
2.	"Fire and Rain"	James Taylor	4:59
3.	"Not Going Nowhere"	Babyface	5:24
4.	"Time in a Bottle"	Jim Croce	3:00
5.	"Wonderful Tonight"	Eric Clapton	3:42
6.	"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"	Bob Dylan	3:23
7.	"Longer"	Dan Fogelberg	3:24
8.	"The Soldier Song"	Babyface	4:17
9.	"Please Come to Boston"	Dave Loggins	4:318
10.	"Diary"	David Gates	3:41
Total length:			40:45

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[2]

Performers and musicians

• Babyface – composer, keyboard, drum programming, acoustic guitar, bass
• Sasha Allen – background vocals
• Brandy – background vocals
• Eric Clapton – composer
• Jim Croce – composer
• Bob Dylan – composer
• Ethan Farmer – bass
• Dan Fogelberg – composer
• Brian Frasier Moore – drums
• David Gates – composer
• Rob Lewis – Fender Rhodes, piano, Wurlitzer
• Doug Livingston – guitar (steel)
• Dave Loggins – composer
• Rafael Padilla – percussion
• Dean Parks – acoustic guitar
• Greg Phillinganes – piano
• Michael Ripoll – acoustic guitar
• Keith Slettedahl – background vocals

Technical

• Babyface – producer
• Paul Boutin – recording and mixing engineer
• James Minchin – photography
• Herb Powers – mastering

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[3]	48
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4]	7

References

1. Kellman, Andy. "Playlist". Allmusic. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
2. Playlist (booklet). Mercury Records. 2007.
3. "Babyface Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
4. "Babyface Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2020.