Storyteller (Crystal Waters album)

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Storyteller
Studio album by
Crystal Waters
ReleasedMay 17, 1994
Recorded1993–1994
StudioBasement Boys Studios
(Baltimore, Maryland)
Genre
Length48:44
LabelMercury
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".

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

Reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Advocate(favorable)[2]
AllMusic[3]
Billboard(favorable)[4]
Cash Box(favorable)[5]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[6]
Knoxville News Sentinel[7]
Los Angeles Times[8]
Robert Christgau(neither)[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
Spin(favorable)[11]

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.[12] It was the no. 12 Best Album of 1994 in Spin.[13]

Track listing[edit]

Storyteller track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."100% Pure Love"
  • Crystal Waters
  • Tommy Davis
  • Theodore Douglas
  • Jay Steinhour
The Basement Boys4:38
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[edit]

  • Drums, percussion – Teddy Douglass, Maurice Fulton, Richard Payton, Doug Smith, Sean Spencer, Jay Steinhour
  • Drum programming – Maurice Fulton, Sean Spencer
  • Guitars – Wayne Cooper
  • Keyboards and programming – David Anthony, Hoza Clowney, Neal Conway, Charles Dockins, Maurice Fulton, Mark Harris, Richard Payton, Fruity Roberts, Doug Smith
  • Vibraphone – David Bach
  • Saxophone – Greg Thomas (also scatting)
  • Horns – Greg Boyer, Benny Cowan
  • Multi-instruments – Eric Kupper
  • Backing vocals – Katreese Barnes, Kenny Hicks, Adrianne McDonald, Antionette Robertson, Novelair Thomas, Audrey Wheeler

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for Storyteller
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[14] 55
US Billboard 200[15] 199
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] 73

References[edit]

  1. ^ Paoletta, Michael (May 1, 2004) "Where Have All The Divas Gone?" Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  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. ^ Campbell, Chuck (June 10, 1994). "David Byrne': Talking Head Repeats Himself". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  8. ^ Ernest Hardy (May 2, 1994). "CRYSTAL WATERS, "Storyteller"; Mercury". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  9. ^ "Crystal Waters". Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  10. ^ Wilson, Michael (August 25, 1994). "Recordings". Rolling Stone Issue 689.
  11. ^ SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. April 2005. p. 99. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  12. ^ "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. Vibe Media Group: 44. March 1995. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  13. ^ "20 Best Albums of 1994". SPIN Media LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  14. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 297.
  15. ^ "Crystal Waters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "Crystal Waters Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
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