"Last Night"
Standard artwork (US CD edition pictured)
Single by Az Yet
from the album Az Yet and The Nutty Professor
Released1996 (1996)
GenreR&B
Length4:27
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Az Yet singles chronology
"Last Night"
(1996)		 "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"
(1997)

"Last Night" is a song by American R&B group Az Yet, produced by Babyface and Mervyn Warren, and released as the first single from the group's debut album, Az Yet (1996). The song became the group's first hit, reaching number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, and number four on the Billboard Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover chart. Additionally, it reached number two in Australia, number six in New Zealand, and number eight in the Netherlands. The song was also included on The Nutty Professor soundtrack.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard viewed the song as "yet another gem" from the soundtrack to The Nutty Professor. He added, "Az Yet is a charismatic male quintet that aims to come across as a mature alternative to the army of smooth groups currently vying to harmonize their way to the platinum land owned by Boyz II Men. Honey-soaked notes are poured over old-school soul music carrying the unmistakable stamp of producer/writer Babyface (does this man ever take a nap?). Engaging as can be."[1] Peter Miro from Cash Box felt that "Last Night" "is the most potent offering on their 12-track collection of ballads, with lyrics ladies will cling to endlessly."[2] A reviewer from Music Week rated the song four out of five, adding that "the Philadelphia soul quintet show they are the masters of close harmony vocalising on this seductive debut".[3] Ralph Tee from the magazine's RM Dance Update said, "Already a Billboard hit, and also on the Nutty Professor soundtrack it's a touch MOR vocally, though the harmonies are the standout feature beneath the shuffle beat rhythms."[4]

Music video

There are two versions of the song's accompanying music video; one with clips from The Nutty Professor and the other without.

Personnel and credits

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[5]

  • Az Yet: vocals
  • Babyface: writer, producer, keyboards and drum programming
  • Keith Andes: writer, producer, keyboards and drum programming
  • Mervyn Warren: co-producer (vocals)
  • Brad Gilderman: engineer
  • Kyle Bess, Paul Boutin: assistant engineers (recording)
  • Jon Gass: mixer
  • Paul Boutin, Dave Hancock: assistant engineers (mixing)
  • Randy Walker: midi programmer
  • Ivy Skoff: production coordinator

Charts

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[27] Platinum 70,000^
United States (RIAA)[28] Platinum 1,100,000[29]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 1996 Rhythmic contemporary radio
October 15, 1996 Contemporary hit radio [30]
Japan October 23, 1996 CD [31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Flick, Larry (July 20, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 57. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  2. ↑ Miro, Peter (November 16, 1996). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 11. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. November 30, 1996. p. 20. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  4. ↑ Tee, Ralph (November 9, 1996). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 9. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  5. ↑ Az Yet (CD liner notes) – LaFace Records 73008-26034-2
  6. ↑ "Az Yet – Last Night". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 11. March 15, 1997. p. 13. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 50, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Az Yet – Last Night" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Az Yet – Last Night". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Az Yet – Last Night". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. October 19, 1996. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. October 12, 1996. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. November 30, 1996. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Pop Airplay". Billboard. December 28, 1996. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Rhythmic Airplay". Billboard. October 26, 1996. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  21. ↑ "The Year in Music: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-40.
  22. ↑ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Rhythm-Crossover Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 32.
  23. ↑ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1997". ARIA. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  25. ↑ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. December 27, 1997. p. YE-40.
  26. ↑ "Best of '97: Top 40/Mainstream Singles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 5, no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 38.
  27. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  28. ↑ "American single certifications – Az Yet – Last Night". Recording Industry Association of America.
  29. ↑ "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 3. January 18, 1997. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Selected New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1167. October 11, 1996. p. 63. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  31. ↑ "ラスト・ナイト | アズ・イェット" [Last Night | Az Yet] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
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