So Many Ways

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title: "So Many Ways" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1996-debut-albums", "the-braxtons-albums", "albums-produced-by-jermaine-dupri"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_Many_Ways" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

Field	Value
name	So Many Ways
type	studio
artist	The Braxtons
cover	The_braxtons_so_many_ways.jpg
released	August 6, 1996 (original version)
November 19, 1996 (later pressings)
recorded	November 1995 – April 1996
genre
length	59:20
label	Atlantic
producer
next_title	Braxton Family Christmas
next_year	2015
misc	{{Singles
name	So Many Ways
type	studio
single1	So Many Ways
single1date	July 23, 1996
single2	Only Love
single2date	January 25, 1997
single3	The Boss
single3date	March 17, 1997
single4	Slow Flow
single4date	July 2, 1997
::

| name = So Many Ways | type = studio | artist = The Braxtons | cover = The_braxtons_so_many_ways.jpg | alt = | released = August 6, 1996 (original version) November 19, 1996 (later pressings) | recorded = November 1995 – April 1996 | venue = | studio = | genre = | length = 59:20 | label = Atlantic | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Braxton Family Christmas | next_year = 2015 | misc = {{Singles | name = So Many Ways | type = studio | single1 = So Many Ways | single1date = July 23, 1996 | single2 = Only Love | single2date = January 25, 1997 | single3 = The Boss | single3date = March 17, 1997 | single4 = Slow Flow | single4date = July 2, 1997 | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = | rev2 = Cash Box | rev2score = (favorable)

So Many Ways is the debut album by American R&B vocal group The Braxtons. Released on August 6, 1996, the album produced four singles; "So Many Ways", "Only Love", "The Boss" – which peaked at number-one in the Billboard Dance Charts – and "Slow Flow". "So Many Ways" peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts and No. 3 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.

Background

The Braxtons originally started out in 1989. They first signed as a fivesome to Arista Records which consisted of Toni Braxton and her four sisters, Tamar, Trina, Towanda and Traci. In 1990, they released their first single "Good Life". It would be their only single as a fivesome. "Good Life" failed to become a hit and The Braxtons were dropped from Arista Records. Despite the single's underwhelming performance, Toni Braxton's vocals caught the attention of Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds who were in the process of forming LaFace Records. Eventually, Toni signed as a solo artist and started her career in 1992. In 1996, three out of the four Braxtons, Trina, Tamar and Towanda reunited and released their album So Many Ways. Their older sister Traci, did not join them as she was pregnant at the time they signed a new contract. The album produced four singles: "So Many Ways", "Only Love", "Slow Flow" and "The Boss"; the latter peaked at number-one in the Billboard Dance Charts.

Singles

"So Many Ways" was released as the lead single from the album July 23, 1996. On August 17, 1996, The Braxtons released the video for the song, it was directed by Cameron Casey and featured actor Mekhi Phifer. The single was also used as the opening track for the soundtrack to the comedy film High School High.

The song charted at 83 on Billboard Hot 100 and 22 on US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in the US. The song reached the top 40 in the UK charting at 32 and in New Zealand the song charted at 17. The trio also performed a remixed version of "So Many Ways" with rapper Jay-Z on September 9, 1996, at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.

"Only Love" was released as the album's second single on January 25, 1997. The song charted at #52 on ''Billboard'''s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs spending fourteen weeks in total on the chart. The song charted at #3 on New Zealand's Top 40 chart. A music video for this song was also released.

"The Boss" was released as the album's third single in early 1997. A music video was released to promote the song. On February 1, 1997, the Masters At Work version topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week a #1 in the United States. The song stayed in the chart for 14 weeks. On March 29, 1997, the song debuted at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart. The song spent a total of three weeks on the chart at numbers 50 and 69 respectively before leaving the Top 75 on April 12, 1997, becoming their second top 40 in the UK.

"Slow Flow" was released as the fourth and final single from the album. Despite failing to chart in the U.S. the song charted at #26 on UK Singles Chart becoming their highest chart to date. The song also charted in New Zealand at #38 on New Zealand Singles Chart. The Braxtons also served as the opening act for Toni Braxton on the European Leg of her Secrets Tour in 1997.

Commercial performance

So Many Ways peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It reached #2 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.

Traci Braxton

In 1993, LaFace Records A&R Vice President, Bryant Reid, signed the Braxtons to LaFace. However, the group never released an album or single for the record label. When Reid moved on to work for Atlantic Records, he convinced executives at LaFace to allow him take the group to Atlantic also. They signed with Atlantic the following year, with a three-album deal.

It was reported in Vibe magazine that in 1995, Traci Braxton had left the group to pursue a career as a youth counselor. However, it was not confirmed until 2004 when Towanda Braxton appeared in season 2 of the reality show Starting Over, that Traci was not allowed to sign with Atlantic because of her pregnancy at the time.

Traci has 2 co-writing credits on the songs "L.A.D.I" and "Girl on the Side" as well as uncredited backing vocals on the song Only Love. These songs were recorded while the group was signed to LaFace.

Track listing

| headline = | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = So Many Ways | writer1 = {{Flat list|

• Carl-So-Lowe
• Jermaine Dupri}} | extra1 = Jermaine Dupri | length1 = 3:54 | title2 = Slow Flow | writer2 = {{Flat list|
• Sean "Sep" Hall
• London Jones
• Christopher "Tricky" Stewart}} | extra2 = {{Flat list|
• Christopher "Tricky" Stewart
• Sean "Sep" Hall}} | length2 = 4:24 | title3 = Only Love | writer3 = {{Flat list|
• Anthony Burroughs
• Andrea Martin
• Ivan Matias}} | extra3 = Allen "Allstar" Gordon | length3 = 4:25 | title4 = I'd Still Say Yes | writer4 = {{Flat list|
• Babyface
• Joyce "Fenderella" Irby}} | extra4 = Daryl Simmons | length4 = 4:42 | title5 = L.A.D.I. | writer5 = {{Flat list|
• Traci Braxton
• The Braxtons
• Simbi Khali
• Stewart}} | extra5 = {{Flat list|
• Stewart
• Hall}} | length5 = 4:10 | title6 = Take Home to Momma | writer6 = {{Flat list|
• Dupri
• Manuel Seal, Jr.}} | extra6 = Dupri | length6 = 4:29 | title7 = Where's the Good in Goodbye | writer7 = Stewart | extra7 = {{Flat list|
• Stewart
• Hall}} | length7 = 5:23 | title8 = What Does It Take | writer8 = {{Flat list|
• Joel Campbell
• Andrea Martin}} | extra8 = Gordon | length8 = 5:26 | title9 = Girl on the Side | writer9 = {{Flat list|
• Traci Braxton
• Braxtons
• London Jones
• Stewart}} | extra9 = {{Flat list|
• Stewart
• Hall}} | length9 = 4:42 | title10 = In a Special Way | writer10 = {{Flat list|
• Tabitha Duncan
• John Howcott
• Emanuel Officer
• Donald Parks}} | extra10 = {{Flat list|
• Donald Parks
• Emanuel Officer
• John Howcott}} | length10 = 4:55 | title11 = Never Say Goodbye | writer11 = {{Flat list|
• Howcott
• Silena Murrell
• Officer
• Parks}} | extra11 = {{Flat list|
• Parks
• Officer
• Howcott}} | length11 = 3:09 | title12 = The Boss | writer12 = {{Flat list|
• Nick Ashford
• Valerie Simpson}} | extra12 = {{Flat list|
• Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez,
• "Little" Louie Vega}} | length12 = 9:41 | headline = Japan bonus Track | extra_column = Producer(s) | title13 = 24/7 | writer13 = {{Flat list|
• Officer
• Rory Bennett
• Robbie Nevil}} | extra13 = {{Flat list|
• Parks
• Officer
• Howcott}} | length13 = 4:29

Charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1996) | Peak position | Canada|55|chartid=9927|rowheader=true|access-date=July 31, 2023}} | Netherlands|48|artist=The Braxtons|album=So Many Ways|rowheader=true|access-date=July 31, 2023}} | UKR&B|33|date=19960929|rowheader=true|access-date=July 31, 2023}} | US Billboard 200 | US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | US Heatseekers Albums | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 113 | | | | | | | | | 26 | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | ::

Release history

::data[format=table]

Region	Date	Format	Edition	Label	Ref	United Kingdom	Germany	United Kingdom	United States	United Kingdom	Japan
August 6, 1996	CD	Standard	Atlantic Records
August 9, 1996
August 12, 1996	Cassette
August 13, 1996	CD, Cassette
September 9, 1996	CD	Re-release
September 25, 1996	Japan Edition	Atlantic Records
East West Japan Inc.
::

References

References

1. "So Many Ways – the Braxtons | Songs, Reviews, Credits".
2. Miro, Peter. (August 24, 1996). "Urban".
3. (1996-10-05). "The Braxtons – Chart history". Billboard.com.
4. (September 28, 1996). "Billboard's Heatseekers Album Chart". Nielsen Business Media, Inc..
5. "So Many Ways [Vinyl]".
6. Reynolds, J.R. "So Many Ways." ''Billboard Magazine''. September 14, 1996: 30. Print.
7. "The Braxtons – So Many Ways (Official Music Video) (1996)".
8. "Ira Newborn, Various Artists: High School High: The Soundtrack: Music".
9. "The Braxtons – Chart History Hot 100 Billboard".
10. "HOT R&B HIP-HOP SONGS August 17, 1996".
11. "UK Singles Archive Chart 01.02.1997".
12. "New Zealand Charts November 24, 1996".
13. "Soul Train Licensing Info".
14. "HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS 25.01.1997".
15. "New Zealand Music Chart April 6, 1997".
16. "The Braxtons – Only Love (Official Music Video) (1997)".
17. "The Braxtons – The Boss (Official Music Video) (1997) HD".
18. "The Braxtons – Chart History Billboard".
19. "Hot Dance Club Songs, Billboard.com, issue date February 1, 1997".
20. "UK Singles Chart Archive 29.03.1997".
21. "UK Singles Chart Archive 05.04.1997".
22. "UK Singles Chart Archive 12.04.1997".
23. "UK Singles Chart Archive 19.07.1997".
24. "BRAXTONS | Artist". Official Charts.
25. "New Zealand Charts October 12, 1997".
26. Davis, Joyce E. "The Braxtons: And then there were three." ''Vibe Magazine''. September 1, 1996: 92. Print.
27. "The Braxtons – So Many Ways (CD,Album) at Discogs". discogs.com.
28. "The Braxtons Chart History (''Billboard'' 200)".
29. "So Many Ways by The Braxtons on Apple Music".
30. "So Many Ways The Braxtons: Amazon.de Musik".
31. "So Many Ways [CASSETTE]: Amazon.co.uk Music".
32. "So Many Ways Amazon.com Music".
33. "So Many Ways: Amazon.co.uk Music".
34. "The Braxtons So Many Ways (CD, Album) at Discogs".

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