# The Day (Babyface album)

The Day is the fourth studio album by American R&B singer Babyface. It was released by Epic Records on October 22, 1996, in the United States. The album peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 and number 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, also reaching the top ten on the Dutch Albums Chart. The Day was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and received Grammy Award nominations for Album of the Year and Best R&B Album respectively.
From the album, the track "Every Time I Close My Eyes" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. A duet with Stevie Wonder, titled "How Come, How Long", was also Grammy nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Additionally, the singles "This Is for the Lover in You" and "Every Time I Close My Eyes" both reached number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Entertainment Weekly | A− |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| Muzik | |
| The New York Times | (Mixed) |
| The Village Voice | A− |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
AllMusic editor Leo Stanley found that The Day "confirms his skill for subtle, inventive songwriting and accessible, polished yet soulful production [...] He is still compelling – his voice is as smooth as silk, and nearly as seductive – but it doesn't quite have the force of personality as his greatest productions. Nevertheless, The Day qualifies as state-of-the-art mid-'90s soul, featuring a handful of terrific songs, and a lot of extremely pleasurable filler." David Browne from Entertainment Weekly wrote that on the album, Babyface "immerses himself in the same hot-tub soul he's applied to everyone from Toni Braxton to Eric Clapton. All the Babyface trademarks — the crisp, unobtrusive percussion, the silky guitars, the harmonies that blanket the melodies like a quilt — are laid out like a three-piece suit. But more so than any previous album he’s made, The Day is chockful of luscious, gently persuasive songs, from doe-eyed testimonials to his devotion to misty childhood reminiscences.

## Track listing

Notes
* denotes a co-producer
* denotes an additional producer

## Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
* Engineered by Brad Gilderman and Thom Russo
* Mixed by Jon Gass, Mick Guzauski and Bob Brockmann
* Strings on "The Day" engineered by Humberto Gatica
* Background vocals on "Every Time I Close My Eyes" engineered by Mike Scott
* Mastered by Eddy Schreyer at Oasis Mastering
* MIDI Programmer: Randy Walker
* Production coordinator: Ivy Skoff
* Art direction: Bennet/Novak and company
* Design: Vincent Oto
* Booklet and Spike Photography: Anton Corbijn
* Cover photography: Beisig and Taylor
* Styling: Bernard C. Jacobs
* Grooming: Melvonne
* Hair: Tim Carter

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 35,000$^^$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 100,000$^^$ |
| Japan (RIAJ) | Gold | 100,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Silver | 60,000$^^$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000$^^$ |
| $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |||