The Trouble with Being Myself

The Trouble with Being Myself
Studio album by Macy Gray
Released April 28, 2003 (2003-04-28)
Recorded
Genre
Length 49:00
Label Epic
Producer
Macy Gray chronology
The Id
(2001)		 The Trouble with Being Myself
(2003)		 The Very Best of Macy Gray
(2004)
Singles from The Trouble with Being Myself
  1. "When I See You"
    Released: April 24, 2003
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The A.V. Clubmixed[3]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[4]
The Guardian[5]
PopMatterspositive[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Spin[8]
Uncut[9]
USA Today[10]
The Village VoiceB+[11]

The Trouble with Being Myself is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray, released on April 28, 2003 by Epic Records. The album peaked at number 44 on the Billboard 200, and by February 2007, it had sold 134,000 copies in the United States.[12] Despite not being a major commercial success for Gray, The Trouble with Being Myself received mostly positive reviews. The album spawned the single "When I See You".

Track listing

All lyrics written by Macy Gray. 

No. TitleMusicProducer(s) Length
1. "When I See You"  
 3:43
2. "It Ain't the Money" (featuring Pharoahe Monch)
  • Gray
  • Ruzumna
  • Indrizzo
  • Meldal-Johnsen
  • Beck Hansen
  • Pharoahe Monch
  • Gray
  • DJ Kiilu Grand[a]
 4:07
3. "She Ain't Right for You"  
  • Ruzumna
  • Indrizzo
  • Meldal-Johnsen
  • Gray
  • Austin[a]
 4:12
4. "Things That Made Me Change"  
  • Gray
  • Austin[a]
 4:29
5. "Come Together"  
  • Ruzumna
  • Indrizzo
  • Christopher Thomas
 4:35
6. "She Don't Write Songs About You"  
  • Gray
  • Swann
  • Ruzumna
  • Indrizzo
  • Meldal-Johnsen
 4:39
7. "Jesus for a Day"  
  • Gray
  • Ruzumna
  • Meldal-Johnsen
  • Bobby Ross Avila
  • Izzy Avila
 3:30
8. "My Fondest Childhood Memories"  
  • Gray
  • Ruzumna
  • Indrizzo
  • Meldal-Johnsen
  • Gray
  • Austin[a]
 3:36
9. "Happiness"  
  • Gray
  • Swann
  • Ruzumna
  • Indrizzo
  • Meldal-Johnsen
 4:13
10. "Speechless"  
  • Ruzumna
  • Indrizzo
  • Meldal-Johnsen
Gray 4:06
11. "Screamin'"  Gray
  • Gray
  • DJ Kiilu Grand[a]
 3:16
12. "Every Now and Then"  
  • Gray
  • Ruzumna
  • Indrizzo
  • Meldal-Johnsen
  • Gray
  • Austin[a]
 4:34
Notes

Artwork

The album is known for its memorable album cover, which shows a completely nude Gray sitting down in a dark corner with her hands in her lap.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Trouble with Being Myself.[15]

  • Macy Gray – vocals, production (all tracks); backing vocals (tracks 2, 6, 12)
  • Marsha Ambrosius – backing vocals (track 5); opera vocals (track 8)
  • Dallas Austin – ARP, guitar (track 1); co-production (tracks 1, 3–5, 7, 8, 12); programming (tracks 3, 4); backing vocals (track 5); executive production
  • Bobby Ross Avila – backing vocals (track 7); piano (tracks 7, 12)
  • Israel Avila – programming (track 12)
  • Marina Bambino – percussion (tracks 10, 12); backing vocals (tracks 11, 12)
  • Steve Baxter – trombone (tracks 5, 12)
  • Beck – backing vocals, guitar (track 2)
  • Dawn Beckman – backing vocals (tracks 2, 5, 6, 11); choir leader (track 9)
  • Printz Board – flugelhorn (track 4); trumpet (tracks 4, 12)
  • Scott Breadman – percussion (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 12)
  • David Campbell – string arrangements (tracks 3, 7)
  • DJ Kiilu Grand – programming (tracks 1, 2, 11); turntables (tracks 2, 9); co-production (tracks 2, 11)
  • Rama Duke – backing vocals (track 11)
  • Logan Duntzelman – children's choir (track 9)
  • Mike Elizondo – bass (track 11)
  • Esthero – backing vocals (track 11)
  • Fanny Franklin – backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4)
  • Herb Graham, Jr. – drums (track 10)
  • Charles Green – saxophone (tracks 5, 12)
  • Lukas Haas – acoustic guitar, backing vocals (track 10)
  • Mike Harris – trumpet (tracks 5, 12)
  • Aanisah Hinds – children's choir (track 9)
  • Happy Hinds – children's choir (track 9)
  • Tahmel Hinds – children's choir (track 9)
  • Hooshik – art direction, design
  • Victor Indrizzo – drums (tracks 1–9, 11, 12); guitar (tracks 1, 2, 9); guitar loops (track 5)
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Courtney Johnson – children's choir (track 9)
  • Joia Johnson – children's choir (track 9)
  • David LaChapelle – photography
  • Tim Lauber – assistant engineering
  • Jinsoo Lim – guitar (track 3)
  • Adam MacDougall – Moog (tracks 1, 3); Hammond (track 10); piano (track 11)
  • Arik Marshall – guitar (tracks 4, 5, 7, 8, 10)
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass (tracks 1–4, 6–9, 12); backing vocals (track 2)
  • Mike Melnick – additional engineering
  • Traci Nelson – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Audra Cunningham Nishita – backing vocals (track 1)
  • Rose Noone – A&R
  • Pharoahe Monch – backing vocals (track 2)
  • Zac Rae – Rhodes (tracks 3, 4); Chamberlin (tracks 3, 4, 8–10); Farfisa (tracks 5, 8); piano (tracks 5, 10); clavinet, organ (track 7); Wurlitzer (tracks 7, 9); tack piano (track 8); synthesizer (track 10)
  • Tom "Tombone" Rawls – trombone (tracks 4, 12)
  • Chris Richardson – children's choir (track 9)
  • Dave Rolicke – saxophone, trombone (track 8)
  • Mark Ronson – guitar (tracks 1, 11); programming, turntables (track 2)
  • Thom Russo – Pro Tools (all tracks); additional mixing (track 1)
  • Jeremy Ruzumna – Wurlitzer (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6, 8–10, 12); synthesizer (tracks 1, 2, 6, 9, 11); piano (tracks 1, 8, 10); turntables (track 2); programming (tracks 2, 5, 10); Moog (tracks 2, 6, 11); Hammond (tracks 3, 5, 8); clavinet (track 5); Chamberlin (track 9); organ (track 12)
  • Rick Shepherd – programming (tracks 3, 4, 6)
  • Christine Sirois – assistant engineering
  • Chino Smith – backing vocals (tracks 2, 3, 5, 8)
  • Sy Smith – backing vocals (tracks 1, 4, 5, 11); choir leader (track 9)
  • Natalie Stewart – backing vocals (track 5)
  • Darryl Swann – vocal production (tracks 1, 7); co-production, programming (tracks 6, 9); guitar (track 9)
  • Sonny Swann – children's choir (track 9)
  • Kam Talbert – backing vocals (track 11)
  • Chris Thomas – bass (track 5)
  • Danielle Thomas – backing vocals (tracks 4, 5, 8)
  • Tracy Wannomae – bass clarinet (track 4); saxophone (track 12)
  • Neil Ward – additional engineering
  • Dave Way – mixing, Pro Tools, recording (all tracks); co-production (tracks 1, 5)
  • Dave Wilder – bass (track 10)
  • Chris Wonzer – assistant engineering (all tracks); additional engineering (tracks 2, 11)
  • Ericka Yancey – backing vocals (track 8)

Charts

Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australian Albums Chart[16] 23
Australian Urban Albums Chart[17] 5
Austrian Albums Chart[18] 27
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[19] 12
Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)[20] 22
Danish Albums Chart[21] 34
Dutch Albums Chart[22] 18
Finnish Albums Chart[23] 19
French Albums Chart[24] 61
German Albums Chart[25] 46
Irish Albums Chart[26] 40
Italian Albums Chart[27] 20
Japanese Albums Chart[28] 53
New Zealand Albums Chart[29] 41
Polish Albums Chart[30] 22
Scottish Albums Chart[31] 21
Swiss Albums Chart[32] 10
UK Albums Chart[33] 17
UK R&B Albums Chart[34] 5
US Billboard 200[35] 44
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[36] 29

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[37] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Silver 60,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region Date Label Ref.
United Kingdom April 28, 2003 Epic [6]
Japan May 2, 2003 Sony [13]
United States July 15, 2003 Epic [39]
Japan (reissue) September 10, 2003 Sony [14]

References

  1. ↑ "Reviews for The Trouble With Being Myself by Macy Gray". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ Bush, John. "The Trouble with Being Myself – Macy Gray". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  3. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (August 5, 2003). "Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself". The A.V. Club. Onion. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ Tucker, Ken (July 18, 2003). "The Trouble With Being Myself". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (April 25, 2003). "Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself". The Guardian. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Fuchs, Cynthia (August 1, 2003). "Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself". PopMatters. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  7. ↑ Thigpen, David (July 2, 2003). "Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved February 2, 2007.
  8. ↑ Harris, Keith (June 15, 2003). "Macy Gray, 'The Trouble With Being Myself' (Epic)". Spin. Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself". Uncut. IPC Media. June 1, 2003. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  10. ↑ Jones, Steve (July 21, 2003). "Brooks & Dunn hit 'Road' to career recovery". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  11. ↑ Christgau, Robert (July 29, 2003). "Shadows in the Cave". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  12. ↑ Cohen, Jonathan (February 2, 2007). "Macy Rolls With will.i.am, Justin On New CD". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  13. 1 2 ザ・トラブル・ウィズ・ビーイング・マイセルフ [The Trouble With Being Myself] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  14. 1 2 ザ・トラブル・ウィズ・ビーイング・マイセルフ＋１ [The Trouble With Being Myself +1] (in Japanese). Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  15. ↑ The Trouble with Being Myself (CD liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records. 2003. EK 86535.
  16. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  17. ↑ "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 12th May 2003" (PDF). ARIA Charts. Pandora Archive. p. 18. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  21. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself". danishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself" (in Dutch). dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself". finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself" (in French). lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 1 May 2003". Chart-Track. Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  27. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself". italiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  28. ↑ ザ・トラブル・ウィズ・ビーイング・マイセルフ/メイシー・グレイ [The Trouble With Being Myself / Macy Gray] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  29. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży". OLiS. May 19, 2003. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. May 4–10, 2003. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Macy Gray – The Trouble With Being Myself". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved March 16, 2008.
  33. ↑ "Macy Gray" (select "Albums" tab). Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. May 4–10, 2003. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Macy Gray – Chart history: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Macy Gray – Chart history: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  37. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2003 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  38. ↑ "British album certifications – Macy Gray – The Trouble with Being Myself". British Phonographic Industry. July 22, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2015. Enter The Trouble with Being Myself in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  39. ↑ "Macy Gray: The Trouble With Being Myself". Amazon.com. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
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