Yes I Am (Melissa Etheridge album)

This article is about the 1993 album by Melissa Etheridge. For the album by Jack Vidgen, see Yes I Am (Jack Vidgen album).

Yes I Am
Studio album by
Melissa Etheridge
ReleasedSeptember 21, 1993 (1993-09-21)[1]
RecordedA&M Studios in Los Angeles, California[2]
GenreBlues rock, hard rock[3]
Length43:54
LabelIsland
ProducerMelissa Etheridge, Hugh Padgham[2]
Melissa Etheridge chronology
Never Enough
(1992) 		Yes I Am
(1993) 		Your Little Secret
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Calgary HeraldB[4]
Robert ChristgauC+[5]
Entertainment WeeklyB[6]
Philadelphia Inquirer[7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Yes I Am is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on September 21, 1993.[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.[8] However, in 2018, Etheridge clarified that in fact the title for the track and album were not statements regarding her sexual identity.[9] Yes I Am is the pivotal album that gave Etheridge national and international recognition.[10] 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 the actress Juliette Lewis having a nervous breakdown. This single was quickly followed by "I'm the Only One", which became a major hit in the US and reached No. 8 on the Hot 100, and "If I Wanted To", which reached No. 16.

By 2010, the album had sold over 4,348,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[11] In 2018, Etheridge went on tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Yes I Am's release and also re-released the album with eight bonus tracks.[12]

  1. ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Yes I Am – Melissa Etheridge". United States: AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Yes I Am (CD liner). Melissa Etheridge. New York City, New York, United States: Island Records. 1993. p. 13. 422–848 660-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ a b 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. rolling stone melissa etheridge album guide.
  4. ^ Phillips, Shari (September 26, 1993). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (November 23, 1993). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  6. ^ Sandow, Greg (September 24, 1993). "Yes I Am Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  7. ^ Wood, Sam (October 5, 1993). "Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop; Session with Stanley Turrentine". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  8. ^ Grady, Marie P. (July 11, 2008). "She calls it as she sees it". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2010.
  9. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Demystifies Rumors That She Used 1993 Album Title 'Yes I Am' To Come Out". Billboard. September 21, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  10. ^ Ferraro, Robert (October 3, 2018). "Melissa Etheridge's pivotal 'Yes I Am' album turns 25". NJArts. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
    - "Melissa Etheridge Demystifies Rumors That She Used 1993 Album Title 'Yes I Am' To Come Out". Billboard. September 21, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  11. ^ Trust, Gary (August 5, 2010). "Ask Billboard: Records About Records". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  12. ^ "Melissa Etheridge Demystifies Rumors That She Used 1993 Album Title 'Yes I Am' To Come Out". Billboard. September 21, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2020.