Back to Basics cover art

  Studio Album · No. 3

Back to Basics

2006 RCA Records 22 tracks 79 min

Produced by Linda Perry, DJ Premier, Mark Ronson, Glen Ballard, Raphael Saadiq  ·  Engineered by DJ Premier, Mark Ronson, Charles Martin Roane, Oscar Ramirez, Brian Gardner

RCA Records PopContemporary R&B
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Christina Aguilera wrote 22 of 22 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 22 / 22 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 22 tracks with documented writers, by whether Christina Aguilera carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
22 trackswritten by Christina Aguilera 0 tracksoutside writers
Christina Aguilera's roles on this album

Share of the 22 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer55%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

22
Tracks
43
Lyricists
13
Producers
5 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
2006
Released

Awards & Recognition 2

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (Ain't No Other Man) (2007)
Best Pop Vocal Album (2007, Nominated)
Data Insight

Christina Aguilera served as executive producer of Back to Basics and co-wrote nearly every track across its two discs. Disc one is a modern, sample-driven mix of soul and hip-hop with producers DJ Premier, Mark Ronson, Rich Harrison and Kwame; she co-wrote 'Ain't No Other Man' with Kara DioGuardi, DJ Premier, Harold Beatty and Charles Martin Roane. Disc two is a retro jazz, blues and swing set produced solely by Linda Perry, with Aguilera co-writing songs such as 'Hurt' and 'Candyman' with Perry. Tracks built on samples carried additional credits for the original songwriters.

Back to Basics, released in August 2006, was Aguilera's most ambitious project: a sprawling double album drawing on 1920s-40s jazz and blues on the first disc and contemporary production on the second, with Aguilera co-writing virtually the entire record. She worked again with Linda Perry on standout tracks including 'Candyman' (co-written with Perry and Matt Morris) and 'Hurt,' while enlisting DJ Premier, Mark Ronson, and Raphael Saadiq for the more hip-hop and soul-influenced second disc. The album debuted at number one in sixteen countries and won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for 'Ain't No Other Man.' Aguilera co-wrote or solely wrote the overwhelming majority of the album's 24 tracks, making it her most complete authorship statement. The record sold over 10 million copies worldwide and demonstrated that the artistic agency she claimed on Stripped had become a permanent aspect of her identity as an artist.

Track Listing & Credits 22 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Intro (Back to Basics)
Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardiRoy HawkinsRick Darnell Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardiRoy HawkinsRick Darnell DJ PremierChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
2
Makes Me Wanna Pray
Christina AguileraKara DioGuardiRich HarrisonSteve Winwood Christina AguileraKara DioGuardiRich HarrisonSteve Winwood Rich HarrisonChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)Steve Winwood (Vocals)
3
Back in the Day
Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardiDon CostaJimmy CastorLangdon Fridle Jr.Douglas GibsonHarry JensenRobert ManigaultGerald Thomas Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardiDon CostaJimmy CastorLangdon Fridle Jr.Douglas GibsonHarry JensenRobert ManigaultGerald Thomas DJ PremierChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
4
Ain't No Other Man #6
Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardiCharles Martin RoaneHarold Beatty Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardiCharles Martin RoaneHarold Beatty DJ PremierCharles Martin RoaneChristina AguileraRob Lewis Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
5
Understand
Christina AguileraKara DioGuardiKwame HollandAllen Toussaint Christina AguileraKara DioGuardiKwame HollandAllen Toussaint Kwame Holland Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
6
Slow Down Baby
Christina AguileraMark RonsonKara DioGuardiRaymond AngryWilliam GuestMerald KnightEdward PattenGladys KnightMarvin BernardMichael HarperCurtis Jackson Christina AguileraMark RonsonKara DioGuardiRaymond AngryWilliam GuestMerald KnightEdward PattenGladys KnightMarvin BernardMichael HarperCurtis Jackson Mark RonsonChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
7
Oh Mother
Christina AguileraDerryck ThorntonMark RankinLiz ThorntonKara DioGuardiBruno CoulaisChristophe Barratier Christina AguileraDerryck ThorntonMark RankinLiz ThorntonKara DioGuardiBruno CoulaisChristophe Barratier Big TankQL BoggieChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
8
F.U.S.S.
Christina AguileraCharles Martin RoaneKara DioGuardi Christina AguileraCharles Martin RoaneKara DioGuardi Charles Martin RoaneChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
9
On Our Way
Christina AguileraDerryck ThorntonMark RankinLiz ThorntonKara DioGuardi Christina AguileraDerryck ThorntonMark RankinLiz ThorntonKara DioGuardi Big TankQL BoggieChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
10
Without You
Christina AguileraKara DioGuardiMark RonsonRob Lewis Christina AguileraKara DioGuardiMark RonsonRob Lewis Mark RonsonChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
11
Still Dirrty
Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardi Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardi DJ PremierChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
12
Here to Stay
Christina AguileraHeather HolleyTony ReyesBen H. AllenGeorge Henry Jackson Christina AguileraHeather HolleyTony ReyesBen H. AllenGeorge Henry Jackson Tony ReyesBen H. AllenChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
13
Thank You (Dedication to Fans...)
Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardiPamela SheyneDavid FrankSteve Kipner Christina AguileraChris E. MartinKara DioGuardiPamela SheyneDavid FrankSteve Kipner DJ PremierChristina Aguilera Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
14
Enter the Circus
Christina AguileraLinda Perry Christina AguileraLinda Perry Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
15
Welcome
Christina AguileraLinda PerryMark RonsonPaul Ill Christina AguileraLinda PerryMark RonsonPaul Ill Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
16
Candyman #25
Christina AguileraLinda Perry Christina AguileraLinda Perry Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
17
Nasty Naughty Boy
Christina AguileraLinda Perry Christina AguileraLinda Perry Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
18
I Got Trouble
Christina AguileraLinda Perry Christina AguileraLinda Perry Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
19
Hurt #19
Christina AguileraLinda PerryMark Ronson Christina AguileraLinda PerryMark Ronson Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
20
Mercy on Me
Christina AguileraLinda Perry Christina AguileraLinda Perry Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
21
Save Me from Myself
Christina AguileraLinda PerryBill Bottrell Christina AguileraLinda PerryBill Bottrell Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)
22
The Right Man
Christina AguileraLinda Perry Christina AguileraLinda Perry Linda Perry Christina Aguilera (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 47 contributors

CA
Christina Aguilera
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album22 written
KD
Kara DioGuardi
Writer
On this album12 written
LP
Linda Perry
Writer · Producer
On this album9 written
CE
Chris E. Martin
Writer
On this album5 written
MR
Mark Ronson
Writer · Producer
On this album4 written
CM
Charles Martin Roane
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
DT
Derryck Thornton
Writer
On this album2 written
LT
Liz Thornton
Writer
On this album2 written
MR
Mark Rankin
Writer
On this album2 written
BH
Ben H. Allen
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
KH
Kwame Holland
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
RH
Rich Harrison
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Back to Basics

Who wrote 'Ain't No Other Man' by Christina Aguilera?
'Ain't No Other Man' was co-written by Christina Aguilera with Kara DioGuardi, DJ Premier (Chris E. Martin), Harold Beatty and Charles Martin Roane. DJ Premier produced the sample-based track. It won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
Did Christina Aguilera write the Back to Basics album herself?
Christina Aguilera co-wrote nearly every track on Back to Basics and served as the album's executive producer. She worked with collaborators including DJ Premier, Mark Ronson, Kara DioGuardi and Linda Perry. Songs built on samples carried additional writing credits for the original artists.
Who produced 'Candyman' by Christina Aguilera?
'Candyman' was produced by Linda Perry, who co-wrote it with Christina Aguilera. The song is a retro homage to the boogie-woogie style of the Andrews Sisters. It reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Why is Back to Basics a double album?
Back to Basics is a two-disc album split by style. Disc one features modern, sample-driven soul and hip-hop produced by DJ Premier, Mark Ronson and others, while disc two is a retro 1920s and 1930s jazz, blues and swing set produced entirely by Linda Perry.
What awards did Back to Basics win?
'Ain't No Other Man' won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in 2007, and the album was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album. The wins reinforced Aguilera's vocal reputation.
How many copies has Back to Basics sold?
Back to Basics has sold around 5 million copies worldwide. In the United States it was certified two times Platinum by the RIAA. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
What singles were released from Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics?
The album's charting U.S. singles were 'Ain't No Other Man,' 'Hurt' and 'Candyman.' 'Ain't No Other Man' was the most successful, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.

Sources

Wikipedia: Back to Basics (Christina Aguilera album) Wikipedia: Ain't No Other Man Wikipedia: Candyman (Christina Aguilera song) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Back to Basics by Christina Aguilera