On How Life Is


On How Life Is is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray. It was released on July 1, 1999, by Epic Records and Clean Slate. Produced by Andrew Slater, it became Gray's best-selling album to date, selling 3.4 million copies in the United States and seven million copies worldwide.
The album's second single, "I Try", became an international success, topping the charts in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand, while reaching number five on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2001.

Critical reception

On How Life Is was met with highly positive reviews from music critics upon its release, with many praising Gray's songwriting and vocal performance. Q rated the album four out of five stars, calling it a "confident, bluesy soul debut with a lived-in sound – as if Rod Stewart were a girl."

Track listing

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of On How Life Is.

Musicians

Technical

Artwork

  • Stéphane Sednaoui – photography
  • Hooshik – art direction, design
  • Frank Harkins – art direction

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Australian Albums 7
Austrian Albums 22
Belgian Albums 47
Canadian Albums 12
Danish Albums 10
Dutch Albums 96
European Albums 14
German Albums 59
New Zealand Albums 5
Swiss Albums 25
UK Albums 28
US Billboard 20021
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 32

Chart Position
Canadian R&B Albums 63
UK Albums 192