Secrets received generally positive reviews from music critics. Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic wrote that Braxton's "vocal talent is what unites Secrets and makes it into a first-rate contemporary R&B collection. Braxton is a singer who can cross over into the smooth confines of adult contemporary radio without losing or betraying the soul that lies at the foundation of her music, and her talent burns at its brightest on Secrets."

Commercial performance

Secrets debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 (behind Metallica's Load) and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 170,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 3, 2000, It sold an additional 927,000 copies through BMG Music Club. In Canada, the album peaked at number four on RPMs albums chart, before peaking at number 10 in its 30th week on the chart, on January 25, 1997.

Track listing

Notes

  • signifies an additional producer
  • signifies a remixer
  • signifies a remix producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Secrets.

Musicians

  • Toni Braxton – lead vocals, background vocals ; all vocals ; vocal arrangement
  • Tony Rich – arrangement, all instruments, background vocals
  • Marc Nelson – background vocals
  • Shanice Wilson – background vocals
  • Randy Walker – MIDI programming
  • Bryce Wilson – drum programming, keyboard programming
  • Babyface – keyboards ; guitar ; background vocals ; drum programming ; acoustic guitar, electric guitar ; synthesizers
  • Chanté Moore – background vocals
  • Jakkai Butler – background vocals
  • Reggie Hamilton – bass
  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Jeremy Lubbock – string arrangement, string conducting
  • David Foster – arrangement, keyboard programming
  • Simon Franglen – Synclavier programming
  • Dean Parks – acoustic guitar
  • Michael Thompson – electric guitar ; guitar
  • L.A. Reid – background vocal arrangement
  • Tim Thomas – background vocal arrangement
  • Keith Crouch – arrangement, B3 organ, all other instruments, vocal arrangement
  • Sherree Ford-Payne – background vocals
  • Greg Phillinganes – piano ; Rhodes
  • Nathan East – bass
  • Kenny G – saxophone
  • Reggie Griffin – guitar
  • R. Kelly – arrangement, background vocals, all instruments
  • Soulshock & Karlin – arrangement
  • Andrea Martin – background vocals

Technical

  • Tony Rich – production
  • L.A. Reid – production ; executive production
  • NealHPogue – recording
  • Leslie Brathwaite – recording
  • John Frye – recording assistance
  • Jon Gass – mixing
  • Babyface – production ; executive production
  • Bryce Wilson – production
  • Brad Gilderman – recording
  • Russell Elevado – recording
  • Paul Boutin – recording assistance
  • Robbes Stieglitz – recording assistance
  • Bryan Reminic – recording assistance
  • "Bassy" Bob Brockmann – mixing
  • Kyle Bess – recording assistance
  • Brandon Harris – recording assistance
  • Richard Huredia – recording assistance
  • Ivy Skoff – production coordination
  • David Foster – production
  • Felipe Elgueta – recording
  • Mick Guzauski – mixing
  • Marnie Riley – mixing assistance
  • Keith Crouch – production, recording
  • Eugene Lo – recording
  • Booker T. Jones III – mixing
  • Jin Choi – recording assistance
  • Jon Shrive – recording assistance
  • Bill Kinsley – recording assistance
  • Brad Haehnel – recording assistance
  • Al Schmitt – string engineering
  • Glen Marchese – recording assistance
  • Larry Schalit – recording assistance
  • R. Kelly – production, mixing
  • Peter Mokran – recording, mixing
  • John Merchant – recording assistance
  • Frank Gonzales – recording assistance
  • Ron Lowe – mixing assistance
  • Soulshock & Karlin – production
  • Manny Marroquin – recording
  • Dave Reitzas – string engineering
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
  • Toni Braxton – executive production

Artwork

  • Toni Braxton – creative direction
  • Davett Singletary – art direction
  • D.L. Warfield – design
  • Nigel Sawyer – design assistance
  • Randee St. Nicholas – photography

Charts

Weekly charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for Secrets

! scope="col"| Chart (1996–1997)

! scope="col"| Peak<br>position

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)

| 1

|-

|-

! scope="row"| European Albums (Music & Media)

| 3

|-

|-

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Greek Albums (IFPI)

| 2

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Tónlist)

| 5

|-

! scope="row"| Irish Albums (IFPI)

| 7

|-

! scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI)

| 15

|-

! scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)

| 65

|-

! scope="row"| Malaysian Albums (RIM)

| 3

|-

|-

! scope="row"| Spanish Albums (AFYVE)

| 25

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Taiwanese International Albums (IFPI)

| 2

|-

|-

|-

|-

|}

Year-end charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 1996 year-end chart performance for Secrets

! scope="col"| Chart (1996)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)

| 11

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)

| 12

|-

! scope="row"| European Albums (Music & Media)

| 46

|-

! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)

| 65

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums & Compilations (Sverigetopplistan)

| 25

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)

| 26

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200

| 23

|-

! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)

| 9

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 1997 year-end chart performance for Secrets

! scope="col"| Chart (1997)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)

| 36

|-

! scope="row"| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)

| 11

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)

| 19

|-

! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)

| 30

|-

! scope="row"|Canadian Albums (SoundScan)

|23

|-

! scope="row"|Canadian R&B Albums (SoundScan)

|2

|-

! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)

| 10

|-

! scope="row"| European Albums (Music & Media)

| 5

|-

! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)

| 9

|-

! scope="row"| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)

|9

|-

! scope="row"| Swedish Albums & Compilations (Sverigetopplistan)

| 51

|-

! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)

| 6

|-

! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)

| 28

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200

| 9

|-

! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)

| 14

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 1998 year-end chart performance for Secrets

! scope="col"| Chart (1998)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"|Canadian R&B Albums (SoundScan)

|58

|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2000 year-end chart performance for Secrets

! scope="col"| Chart (2000)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)

| 110

|}

Decade-end charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Decade-end chart performance for Secrets

! scope="col"| Chart (1990–1999)

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200

| 51

|}

All-time charts

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ All-time chart performance for Secrets

! scope="col"| Chart

! scope="col"| Position

|-

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200 (Women)

| 72

|}

Certifications and sales