The Right Stuff (album)

Last updated
The Right Stuff
Vanessa Williams - The Right Stuff.png
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 6, 1988 (1988-06-06)
Studio
Genre
Length49:54
Label Wing
Producer
Vanessa Williams chronology
The Right Stuff
(1988)
The Comfort Zone
(1991)
Singles from The Right Stuff
  1. "The Right Stuff"
    Released: February 1, 1988
  2. "(He's Got) The Look"
    Released: April 12, 1988
  3. "Dreamin'"
    Released: August 16, 1988
  4. "Darlin' I"
    Released: January 20, 1989
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]

The Right Stuff is the debut studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams, released on June 6, 1988, by Wing Records. It includes the singles "The Right Stuff", "(He's Got) The Look", "Dreamin'" and "Darlin' I". The album and its singles were well received by both the urban and pop markets. It was eventually certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of 500,000 and earned Williams three Grammy Award nominations.

Contents

Singles

The album's first and second singles, "The Right Stuff" and "He's Got the Look", hit top 10 on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs; "The Right Stuff" peaked within the top five at number four and number one on the US Dance Songs chart. The third single, "Dreamin'", was a pop hit, becoming Williams's first top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 8, and her first number one single on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. [3] "Darlin' I" was the forth and final single, earning William's a third top 10 R&B hit and first number one on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Right Stuff"Salas4:18
2."Be a Man"
L. Robinson4:57
3."Dreamin'"
  • Lisa Montgomery
  • Geneva Paschal
Donald Robinson5:25
4."If You Really Love Him"Salas5:24
5."(He's Got) The Look"
  • Adil Bayyan
  • Amir Bayyan
  • Wesley Thomas Jr.
Amir Bayyan4:11
6."I'll Be the One"
  • Johnny Elkins
  • Mike Greene
Lewis A. Martineé 4:05
7."Security"
  • Salas
  • Jones
Salas4:38
8."Darlin' I"
  • Salas
  • Kenny Harris
Salas4:07
9."Am I Too Much?"
  • David Paul Bryant
  • Darryl Ross
  • Bryant
  • Ross
4:08
10."Can This Be Real?"Dan SerafiniSalas5:15
11."Whatever Happens"Salas3:26

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for The Right Stuff
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [9] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. Basic tracks and overdubs on tracks 1 and 7
  2. Overdubs on tracks 1, 7 and 10; tracks 4 and 11
  3. 1 2 3 Track 2
  4. Track 2; Vanessa Williams' vocals and trombone solo on track 5
  5. Track 3
  6. Track 5
  7. Track 6
  8. Overdubs on track 7
  9. Basic tracks on tracks 8 and 10
  10. 1 2 3 4 Track 9
  11. Overdubs on track 10

Related Research Articles

New jack swing, new jack, or swingbeat is a fusion genre of the rhythms and production techniques of hip hop and dance-pop, and the urban contemporary sound of R&B. Spearheaded by producers Teddy Riley, Bernard Belle, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, new jack swing was most popular from the late 1980s to early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Save the Best for Last</span> 1992 single by Vanessa Williams

"Save the Best for Last" is a song by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams, released in January 1992 as the third single from her second studio album, The Comfort Zone (1991). The song was written by Phil Galdston, Wendy Waldman, and Jon Lind. It is a ballad about a young female admirer of a single man who stands by and watches as the object of her desires goes through years of dating, before he finally unexpectedly decides to initiate a relationship with her. The lyrics' redemptive themes resonated with Williams' story, as she had put together a successful music career following her earlier Miss America resignation scandal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontin'</span> 2003 single by Pharrell Williams featuring Jay-Z

"Frontin'" is the debut single by American musician Pharrell Williams featuring fellow American rapper Jay-Z. It was written by the artists alongside Chad Hugo, who produced it with Williams as the Neptunes. At the time of its release, Williams insisted the single was a one-off, and that he was purely a producer and not an artist in his own right. However, he released his own solo studio album, In My Mind, in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seasons Change (song)</span> 1987 single by Exposé

"Seasons Change" is a pop–R&B song written and produced by Lewis Martineé for the American girl group Exposé's debut album, Exposure (1987). It was the group's fifth single released. The song's lyrics describe relationships fading away due to the changes brought about by time. It is the group's biggest hit to date. Angie Vollaro of fellow Lewis A. Martineé group Sequal lent background vocals to this song. Expose was an 80's rarity as one of the only female vocal groups to hit #1. The music video features the group reminiscing in a beach house they are closing down for the summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cruisin' (Smokey Robinson song)</span> 1979 single by Smokey Robinson

"Cruisin'" is a 1979 single written, produced, and performed by American singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson for Motown Records' Tamla label. One of Robinson's most successful singles outside of his work with the Miracles, "Cruisin'" hit number one on the U.S. Cash Box Top 100 and was also a Billboard Hot 100 hit, peaking at number four the week of February 2, 1980. It was a top-five hit on the Soul chart as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girlfriend (Pebbles song)</span> 1987 single by Perri "Pebbles" Reid

"Girlfriend" is a song by American singer Pebbles from her 1987 self-titled debut studio album. Written and produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, "Girlfriend" was released as the album's lead single on October 26, 1987, by record label MCA. The song charted in several countries, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 10 in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

<i>Next</i> (Vanessa Williams album) 1997 studio album by Vanessa Williams

Next is the fifth studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams, released on August 26, 1997, by Mercury Records. It includes the singles "Happiness", "Who Were You Thinkin' 'Bout", "First Thing on Your Mind" and "Oh How the Years Go By". Bonus track “And this is life” featured on the Japanese release of the album.

<i>Everlasting Love</i> (Vanessa Williams album) 2005 studio album by Vanessa Williams

Everlasting Love is the seventh studio album by Vanessa Williams, released in the United States on January 25, 2005 by Lava Records. Produced entirely by Rob Mathes, the album contains cover versions of 1970s soul love songs except for the final track, which is an original song. Covers include notably "You Are Everything" released as a single and also "Show and Tell" and the title track "Everlasting Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Be Good to You</span>

"I'll Be Good to You" is a 1976 hit song by R&B duo the Brothers Johnson. George Johnson, one of the two Johnson brothers in the band, wrote the song after deciding to commit to a relationship with one woman, instead of dating several at a time. While George was recording a demo for the song, family friend Senora Sam came by and added some lyrics. Brothers Johnson producer and mentor Quincy Jones heard the song, liked it, and convinced George to sing lead on the finished track. Released from their debut album, Look Out for #1, it was a top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot Singles Charts, peaking at number three, and a number one song on the Billboard R&B Charts during the summer of 1976. The single was later certified gold by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Williams discography</span>

Vanessa Williams is an American actress and singer. In 1988, Williams released her debut album, The Right Stuff. The first single, "The Right Stuff", found success on the R&B chart, while the second single, "He's Got the Look", found similar success on the same chart. The third single, "Dreamin'", was a pop hit, becoming Williams's first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 8, and her first number one single on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album reached gold status in the US and earned her an NAACP Image Award and three Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best New Artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One More Drink</span> 2008 single by Ludacris featuring T-Pain

"One More Drink" is the second official single off Ludacris' album, Theater of the Mind. The song "co-stars" T-Pain. The song was released on iTunes on October 28, 2008. Ludacris performed the song live while he and T-Pain appeared as musical guests on Saturday Night Live. The song samples Shalamar's "Take That to the Bank".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Right Stuff (Vanessa Williams song)</span> 1988 single by Vanessa Williams

"The Right Stuff" is a song by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams, released as the first single from her 1988 debut studio album of the same name. The crossover single was very successful and became a top-five hit on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as well as making the Billboard Hot 100. "The Right Stuff" also went to number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart for one week. It peaked at number 71 on the UK Singles Chart and re-entered the charts in 1989, this time peaking at number 62 with a remixed version. At the 31st Grammy Awards in 1989, the song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, but lost to Anita Baker's "Giving You The Best That I Got".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dreamin' (Vanessa Williams song)</span> 1988 single by Vanessa Williams

"Dreamin'" is a song written by Lisa Montgomery and Geneva Paschal and originally performed by the family group Guinn in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(He's Got) The Look</span> 1988 single by Vanessa Williams

"(He's Got) The Look" is a song by American singer Vanessa Williams, released as the second single from her debut studio album, The Right Stuff (1988). The single peaked at number 10 on Billboard's Hot Black Singles chart. The song was co-written and produced by Amir Bayyan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darlin' I</span> 1989 single by Vanessa Williams

"Darlin' I" is a song by American singer Vanessa Williams, released as the fourth and final single from her debut studio album, The Right Stuff (1988).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Way That You Love</span> 1995 single by Vanessa Williams

"The Way That You Love" is a song by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams, released in January 1995 as the second single from her third album, The Sweetest Days (1995). Several remixes are available for the song, which became a top-10 hit on the US Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart. At the Grammy Awards in 1996, the song received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happiness (Vanessa Williams song)</span> 1997 single by Vanessa Williams

"Happiness" is the first single from Vanessa Williams' fifth studio album, Next. Written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and released through Mercury Records in July 1997, it reached number 25 on the US Billboard Adult R&B Airplay Chart, number 23 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and number 38 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. It also reached number 49 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The song samples from Nu Shooz's "I Can't Wait" and Funkadelic's "(Not Just) Knee Deep".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Just for Tonight (Vanessa Williams song)</span> 1992 single by Vanessa Williams

"Just For Tonight" is the fourth single from Vanessa Williams' second studio album, The Comfort Zone (1991). The song was slightly remixed for the single and reached No. 2 on the US Adult Contemporary Charts. The single's B-side is "Whatever Happens", a song from her 1988 debut album The Right Stuff, while the CD single contains the previously unreleased song "Love Like This", which was later also to be included on the compilation album Love Songs (2004). The song is an R&B ballad and tells about a woman who wants to share one more night with her lover before their relationship ends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sweetest Days (song)</span> 1994 single by Vanessa Williams

"The Sweetest Days" is the first single from American singer Vanessa Williams' third studio album of the same name. The song was written by the same team who previously penned "Save the Best for Last" for Williams. The song was produced by Keith Thomas. It was released on October 18, 1994 by Wing Records. The single reached No. 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

<i>I Commit to Love</i> Album by Howard Hewett

I Commit to Love is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Howard Hewett. It was released on June 25, 1986 via Elektra Records. The album serves his first release after he departed from the group Shalamar. Recording sessions for this ten-track album took place at nine various recording studios viz. Americayn Studios, Ground Control Studios, Larrabee Sound Studios, Le Gonks West, Mama Jo's, Nick's Place, Soundcastle, Studio 99 and Village Studios. Together with Hewett, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Glen J. Barbee, Ross Vannelli and Monty Seward worked on the production of the album.

References

  1. Cass, Robert (June 2, 2009). "CD Review: Vanessa Williams, "The Real Thing"". Pop Dose. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  2. AllMusic review
  3. "Vanessa Williams Chart History". Billboard . Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  4. "Dutchcharts.nl – Vanessa Williams – The Right Stuff" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  5. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  6. "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  7. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1988". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  8. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  9. "American album certifications – Vanessa Williams – The Right Stuff". Recording Industry Association of America. March 28, 1989. Retrieved April 14, 2018.