McKnight produced I Remember You himself. While he had collected much of the album by January 1994 and expected to finish the album in June for an August 1994 release, other events such as a guest spot on hip hop duo Ill Al Skratch's hit single "I'll Take Her" delayed its release. In contrast to his approach for his self-titled debut album, McKnight tried no to overdo on I Remember, telling Billboard magazine in June 1995: "A lot of the vocals are first takes, and I didn't try to make it 'perfect' – the music has a lot looser feel to it this time." McKnight chose from 50 songs that he had recorded, and once he narrowed it down, he sequenced the album in three basic parts, with the four of five songs selected for their commercial appeal for urban audiences, the next three or four for what he called his "pop suite" and the last few songs which he considered his most personal and "most spiritual."
Critical reception
In her review for Vibe, Charisse Jones called I Remember You a "cross of chocolate pop and jazz-influenced soul." She found that the album "leaps from the speakers like a breath of fresh air With I Remember You, McKnight proves, that less is more." Allmusic editor Ron Wynn felt that with the album "McKnight keeps it simple, mostly mellow, and love-oriented There's not a lot to like or dislike about I Remember You, which may be the problem; it's so generic and reflective of everything and nothing that it doesn't do much for anyone who wants to be confronted, inspired, or even mildly stimulated. It's the ideal late-night quiet storm session, aimed at those who enjoy getting the ambience of R&B without the intensity." Connie Johnsin, writing for Los Angeles Times, wrote: "McKnight has written for Boyz II Men, Vanessa Williams and Aaron Hall, and some of these tunes would have fared better in their hands. One or two songs like the syrupy title cut would have sufficed, but there are several here in the same vein. McKnight’s voice is pleasing, but his overall style is unforgivably bland." In a contemporary review, The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that "with similarly interchangeable ballads and the same sensitive-yet-rugged romanticism, his followup was a lot like his debut, only less so". Billboard called I Remember You an "exceptional album."
Chart performance
In the United States, I Remember You peaked at number 22 on the Billboard 200. On Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, it became McKnight's first album to enter the top five, reaching number four. According to Soundscan, I Remember You had sold 586,000 copies by August 1997. It was eventually certified gold by Recording Industry Association of America. Billboard ranked the album 51st and 93rd in its Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums year-end rankings in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
Track listing
All tracks are produced by Brian McKnight.
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of I Remember You.
