Breathless (Kenny G album)

Breathless is the sixth studio album by American saxophonist Kenny G, released on November 17, 1992, on Arista Records. It reached number 1 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and number 2 on the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.^[6] The track "Forever in Love" won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition at the 1994 ceremony^[7] and reached number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Breathless
Studio album by Kenny G
Released	November 17, 1992
Recorded	1992
Studio	Studio G (Seattle, Washington) The Hit Factory (New York City, New York) The Plant Recording Studios (Sausalito, California) Ocean Way Recording and Devonshire (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Smooth jazz middle-of-the-road[1][2]
Length	69:57 (US version) 75:29 (International version)
Label	Arista
Producer	Kenny G Walter Afanasieff David Foster Dan Shea
Kenny G chronology
Montage (1990) Breathless (1992) Miracles: The Holiday Album (1994)
Singles from Breathless
"Forever in Love" Released: December 1992 "By the Time This Night Is Over" Released: May 1993 "Sentimental" Released: November 1993

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	D[4]
Music Week	[5]

Despite mixed reviews from critics, the album was still certified Diamond with shipments of 12 million copies in the US,^[8] making it one of the best-selling albums in the United States.^[9]

Track listing

Note: On the Japanese version, "Jasmine Flower" is track 14, omitting "Natural Ride".

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Joy of Life"		4:23
2.	"Forever in Love"		5:01
3.	"In the Rain"		5:03
4.	"Sentimental"	Kenny G Walter Afanasieff	6:38
5.	"By the Time This Night Is Over" (with Peabo Bryson)	Michael Bolton Diane Warren Andy Goldmark	4:50
6.	"End of the Night"		5:25
7.	"Alone"		5:28
8.	"Morning"	Kenny G Afanasieff	5:17
9.	"Even If My Heart Would Break" (with Aaron Neville)	Franne Golde Adrian Gurvitz	5:01
10.	"G-Bop"	Dan Shea Kenny G Afanasieff	4:09
11.	"Sister Rose"	Kenny G Afanasieff	6:16
12.	"A Year Ago"		5:18
13.	"Homeland"		4:36
14.	"Natural Ride" (International version bonus track)		5:17
15.	"The Wedding Song"	Kenny G Afanasieff	3:25

All music is composed by Kenny G, unless otherwise indicated below.

Personnel

Musicians

• Kenny G – arrangements, all other instruments (1–3, 6, 7, 12, 13), soprano saxophone (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14), alto saxophone (3), drum programming (4, 8), tenor saxophone (6, 9, 12)
• Walter Afanasieff – keyboards (4, 5, 8–11), synth bass (4, 5, 8, 9), arrangements (5), drums (5, 11), rhythm programming (5), all other instruments (5), guitar intro and solo (7), Hammond B3 organ (9), acoustic piano (9, 14), percussion (9, 11), Synclavier (11), acoustic guitar (11), bass (11), cello (11)
• Gary Cirimelli – Macintosh programming (5, 9, 11), Synclavier programming (5, 9, 11)
• Ren Klyce – Akai AX60 programming (5, 9, 11), Synclavier programming (5, 9, 11)
• Dan Shea – keyboards (5, 10), programming (5), rhythm programming (10), synth bass (10)
• Randy Kerber – additional keyboards (9)
• Dean Parks – guitars (1–4, 6–8, 10, 12, 13)
• Michael Thompson – guitars (5, 9)
• Vail Johnson – bass guitar (6)
• John Robinson – drums (9)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (1–4, 6–8, 10, 12, 13)
• William Ross – string arrangements and conductor (8, 14)
• David Foster – arrangements (9)
• Peabo Bryson – lead vocals (5)
• Lynn Davis – backing vocals (5, 9, 11)
• Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (5, 11)
• Portia Griffin – backing vocals (5)
• Pat Hawk – backing vocals (5)
• Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (5, 9, 11)
• Vann Johnson – backing vocals (5)
• Rose Stone – backing vocals (5, 11)
• Fred White – backing vocals (5, 11)
• Jean McLean – backing vocals (9)
• Aaron Neville – lead vocals (9)
• Alex Brown – backing vocals (11)

Production

• Producers – Kenny G (tracks 1–4, 6–8, 10, 12–14); Walter Afanasieff (tracks 5 and 9–11); David Foster (tracks 5 and 9)
• Engineers – Kevin Becka (tracks 1–4, 6–8, 12–14); Dana Jon Chappelle (tracks 5 and 11); Humberto Gatica (track 9); Manny LaCarrubba (track 10)
• Assistant engineers – Steve Shepherd (tracks 1–9, 12 and 14); Kevin Becka (tracks 5 and 9); Manny LaCarrubba (track 11)
• Additional engineering – David Gleeson (track 5); Jeffrey Woodruff (track 5); Kevin Becka (tracks 5 and 9); Steve Shepherd (tracks 5 and 9); Dana Jon Chappelle (track 9); Manny LaCarrubba (track 9)
• Orchestra on tracks 8 and 14 engineered by John Richards, assisted by Eric Rudd
• Mixing – Mick Guzauski (tracks 1–9, 11–14); Steve Shepherd (track 10)
• Art direction and design – Susan Mendola
• Photography – Matthew Rolston
• Liner notes – Kenny G

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1992–1996) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] 1 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[11] 2 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] 1 European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)[13] 2 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14] 1 Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[15] 3 UK Albums (OCC)[16] 4 US Billboard 200[17] 2 US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard)[18] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[19] 2

Year-end charts 1993 year-end chart performance Chart (1993) Position Australian Albums (ARIA)[20] 2 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[21] 4 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[22] 3 European Albums (European Top 100 Albums)[13] 2 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] 2 Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[24] 2 UK Albums (OCC)[25] 70 US Billboard 200[26] 2 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[27] 4 1994 year-end chart performance Chart (1994) Position US Billboard 200[28] 11 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[29] 4 1995 year-end chart performance Chart (1995) Position US Billboard 200[30] 6 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[31] 11 1996 year-end chart performance Chart (1996) Position US Billboard 200[32] 14 End of decade charts Chart (1990–1999) Position US Billboard 200[33] 3 All-time charts Chart Position US Billboard 200[34] 12

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[35]	3× Platinum	210,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[36]	Platinum	250,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[37]	3× Platinum	300,000^
Germany	—	25,000[38]
Ghana	—	80,000[39]
Ireland	—	80,000[40]
Japan (RIAJ)[41]	Gold	100,000^
Korea	—	≈1,000,000[42]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[43]	Platinum	15,000^
Singapore	—	160,000[44]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[45]	2× Platinum	200,000^
Taiwan	—	200,000[46]
United Kingdom (BPI)[47]	Platinum	300,000^
United States (RIAA)[48]	12× Platinum	12,000,000^
Summaries
Asia Pacific	—	3,000,000[42]
Worldwide	—	15,000,000[49]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the United States