Yes I Am (Melissa Etheridge album)

Yes I Am
Studio album by Melissa Etheridge
Released	September 21, 1993[1]
Recorded	A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California[2]
Genre	Rock, blues rock
Length	43:54
Label	Island
Producer	Melissa Etheridge, Hugh Padgham[2]
Melissa Etheridge chronology
Never Enough (1992) Yes I Am (1993) Your Little Secret (1995)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Entertainment Weekly	B[3]
Robert Christgau	C+[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[5]

Yes I Am is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on September 21, 1993 (see 1993 in music).^[1] The title is generally thought to refer to Etheridge's recent coming out as a lesbian, confirming long-standing rumors about her personal life.^[6] This is the album that gave Etheridge national recognition. The rock ballad "Come to My Window" was the first single released from the album, which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its video featured actress Juliette Lewis having a nervous breakdown. This single brought the album into the public consciousness and was quickly followed by "I'm the Only One", which became a major hit and reached No. 8 on the Hot 100, and "If I Wanted To", which hit No. 16.

Recording and production

The songs on Yes I Am were recorded at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California. The album was produced by Etheridge and Hugh Padgham, who also engineered the album.^[2] Hugh Padgham had previously worked many with British artists and bands including Genesis, David Bowie, and Sting; among others. Padgham would also produce Etheridge's next album, Your Little Secret.

The main musicians backing Melissa were Kevin McCormick—who had co-produced Melissa's previous albums—, Mauricio Fritz Lewak, and Waddy Wachtel, and Scott Thurston. Pino Palladino replaced McCormick on several tracks and David Sutton replaced him on one song. Ian McLagen and James Fearnley also made appearances.^[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Melissa Etheridge.

1. "I'm the Only One" – 4:54
2. "If I Wanted To" – 3:55
3. "Come to My Window" – 3:55
4. "Silent Legacy" – 5:22
5. "I Will Never Be the Same" – 4:41
6. "All American Girl" – 4:05
7. "Yes I Am" – 4:24
8. "Resist" – 2:57
9. "Ruins" – 4:53
10. "Talking to My Angel" – 4:48

Personnel

The following people contributed to Yes I Am:^[2]

• Melissa Etheridge – vocals, electric guitars, acoustic guitars, producer
• Waddy Wachtel – electric guitar
• Scott Thurston – keyboards
• Kevin McCormick – bass
• Mauricio Fritz Lewak – drums, percussion
• Hugh Padgham – producer, mixing engineer
• Greg Goldman – assistant engineer
• John Aguto – assistant engineer
• Mike Baumgartner – assistant engineer
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Pino Palladino – bass
• David Sutton – bass on "All American Girl"
• James Fearnley – accordion on "Talking to My Angel"
• Ian McLagan – organ on "I Will Never Be the Same"

Charts

Album

Chart (1993)	Peak position
Australian Top 50 Albums[7]	39
Austrian Top 75 Albums[8]	22
Canadian Top Albums[9]	18
German Albums[10]	31
Netherlands Top 100 Albums[11]	2
Swiss Top 100 Albums[12]	17

Chart (1994)	Peak position
New Zealand Top 40 Albums[13]	20

Chart (1995)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[14]	15

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1993	"I'm the Only One"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	10
1994	"All American Girl"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	24
1994	"Come to My Window"	Adult Contemporary	4
1994	"Come to My Window"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	22
1994	"Come to My Window"	The Billboard Hot 100	25
1994	"Come to My Window"	Top 40 Mainstream	13
1994	"I'm the Only One"	Adult Contemporary	1
1994	"I'm the Only One"	The Billboard Hot 100	10
1994	"I'm the Only One"	Top 40 Mainstream	4
1995	"Come to My Window"	Adult Top 40	27
1995	"Come to My Window"	Top 40 Adult Recurrents	4
1995	"Come to My Window"	Top 40 Adult Recurrents	5
1995	"I'm the Only One"	Adult Contemporary	1
1995	"I'm the Only One"	Adult Top 40	28
1995	"I'm the Only One"	The Billboard Hot 100	8
1995	"I'm the Only One"	Top 40 Adult Recurrents	2
1995	"I'm the Only One"	Top 40 Adult Recurrents	5
1995	"I'm the Only One"	Top 40 Mainstream	4
1995	"If I Wanted To"	Adult Contemporary	17
1995	"If I Wanted To"	Top 40 Mainstream	10

End of decade charts

Chart (1990–1999)	Position
U.S. Billboard 200[15]	100

Awards

Grammy Awards

Year	Nominee/work	Award	Result
1995	"Come to My Window"	Best Female Rock Vocal Performance	Won
		Best Rock Song	Nominated
	I'm the Only One		Nominated

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Yes I Am - Melissa Etheridge". AllMusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
2. Yes I Am (CD liner). Melissa Etheridge. New York City, New York, United States: Island Records. 1993. p. 13. 422–848 660-2.
3. Sandow, Greg (September 24, 1993). "Yes I Am Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
4. Christgau, Robert (November 23, 1993). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
5. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 283. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
6. Grady, Marie P. (July 11, 2008). "She calls it as she sees it". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
7. "Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am (Album)" (ASP). Australian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
8. "Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am (Album)" (ASP). Austrian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
9. "100 Albums (CD's & Cassettes" (PHP). RPM. 58 (15). October 23, 1993. ISSN 0315-5994. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
10. "Chartverfolgung / ETHERIDGE, MELISSA / Longplay". Music Line (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
11. "Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am (Album)" (ASP). Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
12. "Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am (Album)" (ASP). Schweizer Hitparade. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
13. "Melissa Etheridge – Yes I Am (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
14. "Yes I Am – Melissa Etheridge". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
15. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). "1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.