Your Little Secret is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge, released by Island Records on November 14, 1995. It is her highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, where it peaked at No. 6. The album also contained three singles, "Your Little Secret", "I Want to Come Over", and "Nowhere to Go". "I Want to Come Over" went on to reach No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Nowhere to Go" peaked at No. 40.
As of 2010, the album has sold 1,348,000 copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Reception Billboard praised the record, calling it a "superbly well-crafted album. Armed with her sharpest material to date, the tightest band with which she's ever recorded, and an in-your-face sound, Etheridge rocks even more passionately than on her previous smash, Yes I Am...Under pressure to follow up a multiplatinum, milestone album, Etheridge has delivered the goods and then some. A new plateau for an artist who has set the pace for female rockers of her generation."
In their review, Cashbox noted that "on this, her fifth album, Etheridge continues to demonstrate the consistency that has made her a superstar. The disc kicks in with the grinding rocker/title track, then settles into a groove of anthem-like rockers, such as “I Really Like You,” “This War Is Over” and the record’s best track, the engaging “An Unusual Kiss.” Her ballad skills are underrated, but as “Nowhere To Go” and the opening half of “Shriner’s Park” prove, she is just as talented in that medium. The bottom line is Etheridge is a great singer with good songs, making every album a project worth embracing."
Allmusic were more mixed in their review, stating that "Etheridge's challenge would be to grow as a writer, now that incessant touring and a string of good-but-not-great albums finally had brought her to the platinum threshold. Your Little Secret left the question about such growth open."
Track listing All songs by Melissa Etheridge, except where noted "Your Little Secret" – 4:19 "I Really Like You" – 4:09 "Nowhere to Go" – 5:53 "An Unusual Kiss" – 5:21 "I Want to Come Over" – 5:25 "All the Way to Heaven" – 4:54 "I Could Have Been You" (Etheridge, John Shanks) – 5:56 "Shriner's Park" – 5:23 "Change" – 4:37 "This War Is Over" – 6:57
Limited edition 2CD set includes 4 track live CD
"Come to My Window" – 4:01 "No Souvenirs" – 5:00 "Ain't It Heavy" – 4:20 "Yes I Am" – 4:23
Personnel Melissa Etheridge – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, vocals John Shanks – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards Mark Browne – bass guitar Kenny Aronoff, Dave Beyer – drums, percussion
Production Producers: Melissa Etheridge, Hugh Padgham Engineers: Greg Goldman, Hugh Padgham Assistant engineer: John Aguto Mastering: Bob Ludwig Post production: Cheryl Engels Art direction: Judy Troilo
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1995) PeakpositionCanadian Album Chart10European Albums (Eurotipsheet)46
Year-end charts Chart (1996) PositionUS Billboard 20051
Singles – Billboard (North America) YearSingleChartPosition1995"I Want to Come Over"Adult Top 4091995"Your Little Secret"Adult Top 40401995"Your Little Secret"Mainstream Rock Tracks41995"Your Little Secret"Modern Rock Tracks321995"Your Little Secret"Top 40 Mainstream291996"I Want to Come Over"Adult Contemporary171996"I Want to Come Over"Mainstream Rock Tracks221996"I Want to Come Over"The Billboard Hot 100221996"I Want to Come Over"Top 40 Adult Recurrents11996"I Want to Come Over"Top 40 Mainstream151996"Nowhere to Go"Adult Contemporary241996"Nowhere to Go"Adult Top 4091996"Nowhere to Go"The Billboard Hot 100401996"Nowhere to Go"Top 40 Mainstream251997"Nowhere to Go"Top 40 Adult Recurrents9
Certifications
References