Love, Marriage and Divorce

Background

Love, Marriage & Divorce includes eleven tracks including their Adult R&B #1 single, "Hurt You" as well as the second single "Where Did We Go Wrong". The album was originally due for release on November 25, 2013, although its release was delayed until the week before Valentine's Day. The album is Babyface's first new studio album in nearly seven years and Toni's first new album since 2010's Pulse. Shortly before the release of Love, Marriage & Divorce, Braxton announced that it would be her final studio album, as she wanted to retire and focus on a film career. Since its release, she has reversed her decision and announced a sequel to the recording due to the album's success.

Reception and critical response

The album was met with positive reviews from critics. ABC News gave the album a 4 out 5 start rating, describing the album as "This record seems gloriously stuck in a time warp. Honestly, Babyface and Braxton give us a glimpsing reminder of what high-quality R&B radio used to offer its listeners. Even when the two are hitting the "divorce" part of the record, it never sounds like a downer. It's two pros rekindling the pop magic. Considering this is Babyface's first album in 7 years and Braxton's first album in 4 years, this album delivers a much needed shot in the arm. This record was an extremely smart move."

Andy Kellman from AllMusic gave the album a 3 out 5 star rating, stating "On Love, Marriage & Divorce, Toni Braxton and Babyface, creative partners going back to the early '90s, rekindle their musical relationship. Both endured broken marriages, and presumably it's those experiences that inform the material here -- a succinct collection of 11 songs, eight of which are duets."

Robert Christgau from Cuepoint gave the album a A- rating, stating "Through one number-one album, two number-two albums, one Vegas run, two Disney-on-Broadway runs, one season of Dancing With the Stars, two bankruptcies, and, absolutely, one divorce, Braxton has been as content-free as a soul diva can be. No wonder Kenny Edmunds grabbed her early on‑-she was platinum putty in his hands."

Singles

"Hurt You" released as the lead single on August 17, 2013. The audio video was released to Braxton's VEVO account on August 19, 2013. On September 7, 2013, the song debuted at number 17 on Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, The music video was released on Braxton and Babyface's joint VEVO account October 11, 2013. On December 14, 2013 "Hurt You" rose to the number 1 spot on Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart for four weeks.

The song spent 41 weeks on the Adult R&B Songs chart before exiting the Top 20 Chart. This marked Braxton's seventh No. 1 hit on the Adult R&B Songs chart and first since her 2000 release "Just Be a Man About It". The song also hit number 16 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart.

"Where Did We Go Wrong?" released as the second single on December 17, 2013. The song was instantly given to fans once they had pre-ordered the album. The audio video was released to VEVO on December 19, 2013.

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart with first-week sales of 67,000 copies, making it Braxton's sixth US top-ten album. It also entered at number one on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album debuted at number number 75 on the UK Albums Chart and at number 7 on the UK R&B Chart.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes and Allmusic.

Accolades

The album was also nominated for World's Best Album at the 2014 World Music Awards. The album won Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.