Storyteller (Crystal Waters album)

Last updated

Storyteller
Crystal Waters - Storyteller cover.png
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 17, 1994
Recorded1993–1994
StudioBasement Boys Studios
(Baltimore, Maryland)
Genre
Length48:44
Label Mercury
Producer
Crystal Waters chronology
Surprise
(1991)
Storyteller
(1994)
Crystal Waters
(1997)
Singles from Storyteller
  1. "100% Pure Love"
    Released: April 11, 1994
  2. "Ghetto Day/What I Need"
    Released: June 1994
  3. "Relax"
    Released: March 1, 1995

Storyteller is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Crystal Waters, released on May 17, 1994, by Mercury Records. The album peaked at number 199 on the US Billboard 200, number 73 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 8 on the Top Heatseekers chart. Four singles were released from the album: "What I Need", "Relax", "Ghetto Day", and the hit, "100% Pure Love". "Ghetto Day" samples The 5th Dimension's 1968 hit "Stoned Soul Picnic".

Contents

Storyteller sold 1 million copies and was certified gold in the United States. [1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Advocate (positive) [2]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Billboard (positive) [4]
Cash Box (positive) [5]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [6]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau-neither.png [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Spin (positive) [10]

The album debuted at 199 on the US Billboard 200. Since its release, it has gone gold, and sold over 1 million copies worldwide. Upon release, the album received generally positive reviews from contemporary music critics. It won Vibe's 1994 Music Poll for Best Club/Dance Album. [11] It was the no. 12 Best Album of 1994 in Spin . [12]

Track listing

Storyteller track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."100% Pure Love"
  • Crystal Waters
  • Tommy Davis
  • Theodore Douglas
  • Jay Steinhour
The Basement Boys 4:38
2."Ghetto Day"
  • Waters
  • Sean Spencer
The Basement Boys3:32
3."Regardless"
  • Waters
  • Greg Smith
Smith3:37
4."I Believe I Love You"
  • Waters
  • Smith
Smith3:42
5."Relax"
  • Waters
  • David Anthony
Anthony3:29
6."What I Need"
  • Waters
  • Doug Smith
  • Richard Payton
The Basement Boys4:44
7."Storyteller"
  • Waters
  • Neal Conway
  • Sean Spencer
The Basement Boys4:41
8."Is It for Me"
  • Waters
  • David Bach
  • George Mitchell
  • John Selway
The Basement Boys4:22
9."Listen for My Beep"
  • Waters
  • Patrick Harvey
3:59
10."Daddy Do"
  • Al Mack
  • Waters
The Basement Boys6:12
11."Lover Lay Low"
The Basement Boys5:48
International bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Piece of Lonely"
  • Easy Mo Bee
  • The LG Experience
2:49

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Storyteller
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [13] 55
US Billboard 200 [14] 199
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [15] 73

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"Relax" is a song by American singer-songwriter Crystal Waters from her second studio album, Storyteller (1994). It was released in 1995 as the fourth and last single from the album, and peaked at number-one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in the US. It was also classified the Billboard Hot Dance Breakouts number-one for the category of Club Play Singles on July 1, 1995. In the UK, it reached number 37. A black-and-white music video was produced to promote the single, directed by German director Marcus Nispel.

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References

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  2. "The Advocate". The Advocate: The National Gay & Lesbian Newsmagazine. Here Publishing: 81. May 3, 1994. ISSN   0001-8996 . Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  3. Wynn, Ron. "Storyteller – Crystal Waters : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  4. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 5, 1994. p.  29. ISSN   0006-2510 . Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  5. Martinez, M.R. (June 11, 1994). "Urban — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box . Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  6. "Storyteller Review | News Reviews and News". EW.com. May 2, 1994. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  7. Ernest Hardy (May 2, 1994). "CRYSTAL WATERS, "Storyteller"; Mercury". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  8. "Crystal Waters". Robert Christgau . Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  9. Wilson, Michael (August 25, 1994). "Recordings". Rolling Stone Issue 689.
  10. SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. April 2005. p.  99. ISSN   0886-3032 . Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  11. "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. Vibe Media Group: 44. March 1995. ISSN   1070-4701 . Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  12. "20 Best Albums of 1994". SPIN Media LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2020.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 297.
  14. "Crystal Waters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  15. "Crystal Waters Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.