One in a Million

Aaliyah | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 27, 1996)
• Original Release Date: August 27, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic/Q Records
• ASIN: B000002JWP
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (156 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,443 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Priceless Slice of R&B History..., September 5, 2001

By 

Knyte "To The Stars" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: One in a Million (Audio CD)

From start to finish, the 'One In A Million' album is a priceless slice of R&B history: the original "Timbaland" sound made its debut (the studder/"kut-kut" beats), and introduced Missy Elliott. I personally regard this album as a "sonic portrait" of a young woman who was confident, gentle, elegant, alluring, mysterious, positive, down-to-earth, and fun.

In the summer/fall of 1996 (when this album was released), R&B and Hip Hop music was becoming very exciting. Dr. Dre had just left Death Row records, and Puffy's Bad Boy records was really heating up. Notable acts and their songs included: Blackstreet's "No Diggity", Keith Sweat's "Twisted", the New Edition "Home Again" reunion, 112's "Only You", and LL Cool J's "Loungin (Who do you luv?)" remix featuring Total.

That summer/fall, we also experienced a major tragedy - the passing of the late, great Tupac Shakur. Now in the summer/fall of 2001, we are dealing with the passing of Aaliyah, and the news hit this reviewer hard. I can remember dancing with friends at house parties back in 1994 to "Back & Forth". I also remember later that summer just loving both versions of "At Your Best", her second single - particularly the mysterious sound and video of the remix...

Flash back to 1996: I was a sophomore at the University Of California at Santa Barbara, and I'm listening to "One In A Million" in my friend's car - and we love it. Aaliyah's new sound was undeniable, and I'll try to describe it...

"Beats 4 Da Streets" is a Missy/Timbaland intro that flows right into "Hot Like Fire" - a delicate and mysterious street cut (later remixed into the fifth U.S. single). "One In A Million" comes in next, and this 'percussive ballad' will forever be a classic. "A Girl Like You" (featuring Treach from Naughty By Nature) sounds like a throwback to her 'Age Ain't Nuthin But A Number' days...it's a fresh party starter.

"If Your Girl Only Knew" is the seductive midtempo that set things off for Aaliyah as the album's lead single. I absolutely loved "Choosy Lover", a syrupy 80s flavored Isley's remake that segues into a new-school version that works just as well. Then on "Got To Give It Up", Aaliyah sounds like she's giving Janet Jackson a major run for her money on this playful Marvin Gaye remake featuring rapper Slick Rick. "4 Page Letter" is an amazingly vulnerable 'percussive ballad' that served as the album's third U.S. single in the spring of 1997.

The next few songs serve to fill out the album nicely - particularly "Giving You More", "I Gotcha Back" (with it's West Coast aftershocks), and the ballad "Never Giving Up" - but it's "Heartbroken" that really did it for me. A third 'percussive ballad' in the vein of "One In A Million" and "4 Page Letter", "Heartbroken" easily could have been a single, but for now it will remain a hidden gem...

We continue on with "Never Comin Back" which is GREAT (has a live feel), "Ladies In Da House" with Timbaland and Missy, and her vocally powerful ballad, "The One I Gave My Heart To" (which became the fourth U.S. single). The outro, "Came To Give Love" then ends the 'One In A Million' album perfectly...

Later that fall, Ginuwine made his debut, and by the summer/fall of 1997, the "Superfriends" musical collective of Aaliyah, Timbaland, Missy, Ginuwine and Magoo had been formed, along with R&B group Playa; it was a beautiful thing...

Aaliyah, you will be truly missed...

C.H.R.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aaliyah's Best CD, July 24, 2004

By 

Westley (Stuck in my head) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: One in a Million (Audio CD)

Aalyiah's second CD, "One in a Million," displayed her artistic growth and moved her to the forefront of R&B artists. Whereas her first CD was produced completely by R. Kelly, Aaliyah went for a more varied sound on this CD by using a number of producers, notably Timbaland. In addition, Missy Elliot provides "vocal arrangements" and raps on the CD - it's probably the best incorporation of Missy's sound ever. The CD was one of the first big hits produced by Timbaland with Missy Elliot, and it really signaled a change in the sound of R&B music.

"If Your Girl Only Knew" was the first single (#11 on the Top 100) and features Timbaland rapping. It still sounds really contemporary, even though the sound has been copied by innumerable producers and artists. "One in a Million" is perhaps the best song on the CD, with Missy Elliot on background vocals and a great "chirping cricket" sound effect. Although it wasn't released as a single, it went to #25 on the Top 100 Airplay chart. The biggest song off the CD was the ballad, "The One I Gave My Heart To," which went to #9 and was certified for gold sales.

However, nearly every song on the CD is great - several more songs should have been released, particularly "Hot Like Fire" and the remake of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" (with a rap by Slick Rick). "Choosy Lover" is another one of my favorites; a remake of an old Isley Brothers' song that has a great, laid-back groove that flips part-way through to become more urgent. Even though "One in a Million" was released back in 1996, I still really love listening to this CD. A real breakthrough that still sounds great: a real reminder of Aalyiah's tremendous talent.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album Is the Bomb!, November 25, 2001

By 

Lucille Mcgee (East Point,GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One in a Million (Audio CD)

I'm A really big aalyah fan and i consider this her best album.
1)Beats 4 da streets intro-THis is the best intro i've heard
2)Hot like fire-good song but they should have put the timbaland remix here.
3.One in a million-Excellent song!Highlight of the album.
4.A girl like you-Great song it grows on you.
5)If your girl only knew-Tight song.Really good beats.
6)Choosey lover(old school/new school)-A bit long and slow But the new school is tight!
7)Got to give it up- One word...WACK!The rest of the songs are good especially No.8-4 page letter,13.heartbroken,16.the one I gave my heart to,17-the outro is really tight! rip Aaliyah!