Words is the debut album by American R&B musician Tony Rich (under the moniker "The Tony Rich Project"), released January 16, 1996, on LaFace Records. The album was produced, written, arranged and performed by Rich. In 1997, the album won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. At the start of 1996 with the acoustic R&B ballad, "Nobody Knows", the song was a hit, peaking at number two for two weeks, going platinum, and spending almost a year on the Billboard Hot 100 (47 weeks). Three singles were released from Words: "Nobody Knows", "Like a Woman", and "Leavin'".

Critical reception

The New York Times opined: "Without deviating from the slick, smooth standards of today's pop, [Rich] manages to find his own sound, a mostly acoustic groove topped with laid-back, free-flowing vocals about love, street life and spirituality." The Village Voice concluded that "without a doubt Words is one of the most meticulously arranged collections by an African American pop musician since the '80s heyday of Quincy Jones and [Lionel] Richie & producer James Carmichael."

Track listing

All songs written by Tony Rich except "Nobody Knows" (written by Joe Rich & Don DuBose).

Personnel

Charts

Certifications