Moods...Moments is the debut studio album by American singer Monifah. It was released by Uptown Records on March 26, 1996, in the United States. The album was mostly produced by Heavy D, with additional production by Poke & Tone, Kip Collins, Vincent Herbert, Rheji Burrell, and Spaceman Patterson. It earned positive reviews and reached number 42 on the US Billboard 200 and number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Moods...Moments
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 26, 1996
Recorded1995
GenreR&B[1]
Length62:21
LabelUptown
Producer
Monifah chronology
Moods...Moments
(1996)
Mo'hogany
(1998)
Singles from Moods...Moments
  1. "I Miss You (Come Back Home)"
    Released: December 1995
  2. "You"
    Released: May 14, 1996[2]
  3. "You Don't Have to Love Me"
    Released: January 14, 1997[3]
  4. "I Still Love You"
    Released: 1996

Three charting singles were released from the album, including "I Miss You (Come Back Home)", "You", and "You Don't Have to Love Me". Lead single "I Miss You (Come Back Home)" was certified Gold, as was the second single "You" which peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track "Nobody's Body" was featured on the soundtrack to the comedy film To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything! Julie Newmar (1995).

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
Billboard(favorable)[4]
Cash Box(favorable)[5]
Robert Christgau [6]
Entertainment WeeklyB[7]
Hartford Courant(favorable)[8]
Los Angeles Times    [9]
People(favorable)[10]
Rolling Stone     [11]
USA Today    [12]

In his review for AllMusic, editor Leo Stanley found that "Monifah's rich voice is the first thing you notice on her debut album, Moods...Moments, and it's the thing that keeps the album afloat through its occasional dull spots [...] For the most part, producer Heavy D provides her with enough first-rate songs to make sure that we not only notice the gift, but that we don't forget it once the album is through, either. [His] songs are varied and soulful, giving her a proper showcase for her prodigous talents. Moods...Moments does have a handful of weak songs and could have benefitted from some trimming, but that doesn't prevent the album from being a simply stellar debut."[1]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
  • Alfred Antoine
  • Andre Evans
  • Antoine
  • Evans
0:40
2."You"Heavy D4:23
3."It's Alright"Heavy DHeavy D6:08
4."You Don't Have to Love Me"
  • Heavy D
  • Terri Robinson
4:34
5."Nobody's Body"Heavy D5:28
6."Don't Waste My Time"
  • Heavy D
  • Red Hot Lover Tone
3:49
7."Lay with You"Heavy D
  • Heavy D
  • William "Spaceman" Patterson[b]
5:22
8."Interlude"
  • Antoine
  • Evans
  • Antoine
  • Evans
0:49
9."I Miss You (Come Back Home)"
  • Heavy D
  • Robinson
  • Heavy D
  • Collins[a]
3:53
10."All I Want"
  • Antoine
  • Evans
  • Antoine
  • Evans
3:39
11."You've Got My Heart"
  • Burrell
  • Herbert
  • Burrell
  • Herbert
4:42
12."Everything You Do"Olivier4:04
13."You Should Have Told Me"
  • Antoine
  • Evans
  • Antoine
  • Evans
4:17
14."Jesus Is Love" (featuring Boys Choir of Harlem)Lionel Richie
  • Heavy D
  • Bill Esses
  • Dave Cintron[a]
6:40
15."I Miss You (Come Back Home) (Remix)" (featuring AZ)
Heavy D3:53

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies co-producer

Sample credits

  • "You" Contains elements from "Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz" as performed by Biz Markie.
  • "Don't Waste My Time" contains elements from "Superman Lover" as performed by Johnny "Guitar" Watson.
  • "Everything You Do" contains elements from "Someone Who Will Take the Place of You" as performed by Isaac Hayes.
  • "I Miss You (Come Back Home) (Remix)" contains elements from "Slippin' into Darkness" as by performed by War.

Charts

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Moods...Moments at AllMusic
  2. ^ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1145. May 10, 1996. p. 38. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "CHR: New Music Now - Supers Highlight First-Quarter Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. January 10, 1997. p. 30. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Reynolds, J.R. (June 15, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 73. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Miro, Peter (June 15, 1996). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  6. ^ Robert Christgau review
  7. ^ "Moods...Moments". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2021-02-26.
  8. ^ Hartford Courant review
  9. ^ Johnson, Connie (July 7, 1996). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  10. ^ People review
  11. ^ Decurtis, Anthony; Henke, James; Miller, Jim; George-Warren, Holly (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music. Random House. ISBN 9780679737285.
  12. ^ USA Today review
  13. ^ "Monifah Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "Monifah Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  15. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2021.