Total: Keisha Spivey, Pam Long, Kima. Additional personnel: Da Brat, The Notorious B.I.G., Foxy Brown, Lil' Kim (rap vocals); Sean "Puffy" Combs (spoken vocals); Chucky Thompson (guitar, keyboards); Eddie "Spanky" Alford (guitar); Charles Alexander (flute); Julian Jackson (keyboards, drums, percussion, programming); Herb Middleton (keyboards); Raphael Saadiq (bass, background vocals); Stevie J (programming); Terri Robinson, 112 (background vocals). Producers: Chad "Dr. Seuss" Elliot, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Rashad Smith, Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, Steve Jordan. Recorded at The Hit Factory, Sound On Sound and Daddy's House Recording Studios, New York, New York; Jam Shack II Recording, Los Angeles and Pookie Labs, Sacramento, California; 3 Boyz From Newark Studios, Newark, New Jersey. Personnel: Total (background vocals); Da Brat (rap vocals); Chucky Thompson (guitar, keyboards); Eddie Alford (guitar); Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander (flute); Julian Jackson (keyboards, drums, percussion, programming); Herb Middleton (keyboards); Raphael Saadiq (bass guitar, background vocals); D. Jones, Keith M., Terri Robinson (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Gerry Brown ; Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander ; Paul Logus; Axel Niehaus; Tony Maserati ; Bob Brockman. Audio Remixers: Rodney Jerkins; Sean Combs . Recording information: 3 Boyz, Newark Studios, NJ; Daddy's House Recording Studios, New York, NY; Hit Factory, Broadway, New York, NY; Pookie Labs, Sacramento, CA; Sound On Sound Recording Studios, New York, NY. Photographer: Guzman/Rotterdam Conservatory Orquesta Tipica. Unknown Contributor Roles: Stevie J.; Tammy Lucas. One of the early feathers in the cap of the Bad Boy Entertainment empire, the female trio Total got their start backing the Notorious B.I.G. before releasing their self-titled debut in 1996. Unlike the sleek urban contemporary sound of acts like Destiny's Child, Total was driven by classic funk grooves and sassy attitude. The singers, Kima, Keisha, and Pam, each have their own distinctive style, and that variety adds a pleasing twist to TOTAL. While the album isn't consistent throughout, it does have highlights, with "No One Else" and "Can't You See" (which features Biggie), among them. Funky, slinky, and sensual, TOTAL is a solid R&B album that deserves more attention than it's received since its release. Genre: Pop Format: CD Released: 2/13/1996
