The Right Stuff (album)

Last updated
The Right Stuff
Vanessa Williams - The Right Stuff.png
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 6, 1988 (1988-06-06)
Recorded1986–1987
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. It was 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 her a third top 10 R&B hit and top ten 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

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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.