Ginuwine... the Bachelor is the debut studio album by American R&B artist Ginuwine. The second major Swing Mob album, it was chiefly produced by Timbaland and released October 8, 1996, on 550 Music. The distribution was handled through Epic Records. The album peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard 200 and reached number 14 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.[1] A steady seller, it was certified gold by January 1997.[2] In March 1999, the album was certified double platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), after sales exceeding two million copies in the United States. Ginuwine... the Bachelor featured the singles "Pony", "When Doves Cry" and "Holler".
Robert Christgau sumed the album as "mack beats bumped and grounded."[4]
In his retrospective review for AllMusic, editor Rob Theakston noted that with Ginuwine... the Bachelor Ginuwine "upped the sexual reference ante for many up-and-coming male singers such as Dru Hill, Blackstreet, and such established producers as R. Kelly. Combining the influences of funk, quiet storm, soul, and even a bit of electro, Ginuwine effortlessly displays not only a powerful voice, but sharp songwriting and production skills. Ginuwine... the Bachelor was a promising debut and only a slight notion of great things to come."[3]
"Intro" contains portions of dialogue from the motion picture The Usual Suspects and a sample of "The Greatest Trick", written by John Ottman for the soundtrack.