| Desde un principio: From the Beginning | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greatest hits album by Marc Anthony | ||||
| Released | November 9, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1993–1999 | |||
| Genre | Salsa | |||
| Length | 73:52 | |||
| Label | RMM | |||
| Marc Anthony chronology | ||||
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Desde un principio: From the Beginning is a greatest hits album by American singer Marc Anthony released on November 9, 1999, by RMM. The album was a result from Anthony leaving RMM Records and signing on with Columbia Records. It contains twelve tracks during his years with RMM, two duets with Jennifer Lopez and La India respectively, and "Preciosa".
The album was praised by Allmusic's Jose Promis, who complimented it as an "ideal introduction" to the artist but complained about the songs being truncated, especially towards the end. The album received a Billboard Latin Music Award for "Latin Greatest Hits Album of the Year". It reached #1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums and Billboard Tropical Albums charts and was also named the best-selling album of 2000 on both. It was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies.
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After the release of Contra la corriente in 1997, disputes between Marc Anthony and RMM executive Ralph Mercado had begun over business practices.[1] Columbia Records had approached Anthony to sign a contract with the record label. However Mercado would not allow Anthony to leave RMM Records owing to an earlier contract stating that Anthony was committed to record two more albums for the record label. Anthony filed a lawsuit against RMM Records, and with the backing of Columbia Records, they bought out the rest of the contract. As part of the settlement, Anthony allowed RMM Records to release a greatest hits from his earlier records.[2]
The album includes fifteen songs, most of which come from Anthony's recordings with RMM. Four songs were selected from each of his earlier albums: Otra nota, Todo a su tiempo, and Contra la corriente. "No me ames" is a duet with Jennifer Lopez which was included on her debut album On The 6.[3] For the album, the tropical version was used. Another duet, "Vivir lo nuestro", features La India and was originally recorded on the RMM Records compilation album, Combinacion Perfecta.[4][5] "Preciosa" is a cover of Rafael Hernández's song which Anthony had recorded for a tribute album to Hernandez, Romance Del Cumbanchero – La Musica del Rafael Hernández.[6]
The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums on the week of November 27, 1999.[7] It reached #1 on the following week.[8] On the Billboard Tropical Albums chart, the album debuted at #1 on the week of November 27, 1999, and it remained at the position for five months.[9] On the Billboard 200, the album peaked at #151.[10] According to Billboard, it was best-selling album of 2000 for the Latin Albums and Tropical Albums charts.[11] The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.[12]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [13] |
Jose Promis of Allmusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars. He described it as a "superb collection" and that wrote that Desde Un Principio "proves a wonderful introduction to the music of Marc Anthony, a singer that, undoubtedly, will one day rank among the best."[13] However he also complained about the songs being "severely truncated", especially near the end of the songs.
In 2001, Anthony received a Billboard Latin Music Award for "Latin Greatest Hits Albums of the Year".[14]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No me ames (Tropical Remix) (featuring Jennifer Lopez)" | Giancarlo Bigazzi, Marco Falagiani, Ignacio Ballesteros, Alejandro Baldi | 5:04 |
| 2. | "Si tú no te fueras" | Nelson Frank, Jaime Gutierrez | 4:31 |
| 3. | "Necesito amarte" | Luis Castillo | 4:38 |
| 4. | "Hasta que te conocí" | Juan Gabriel | 4:52 |
| 5. | "El último beso" | Felipe Muniz | 4:23 |
| 6. | "Te conozco bien" | Omar Alfanno | 5:01 |
| 7. | "Nadie como ella" | Omar Alfanno | 4:44 |
| 8. | "Te amaré" | Angel Ramirez Jr. | 4:35 |
| 9. | "Hasta ayer" | Manny Delgado | 3:57 |
| 10. | "Y hubo alguien" | Omar Alfanno | 6:10 |
| 11. | "Contra la corriente" | Omar Alfanno | 4:56 |
| 12. | "No me conoces" | Fernando Arias | 4:52 |
| 13. | "No sabes como duele" | Omar Alfanno | 4:51 |
| 14. | "Preciosa" | Rafael Hernández | 5:12 |
| 15. | "Vivir lo nuestro (featuring La India)" | Normandia González, Rudy Pérez | 6:06 |
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200[10] | 151 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums[10] | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Tropical Albums[10] | 1 |
| Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[12] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^shipments figures based on certification alone |
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