Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years

by Vanessa Williams

Overview

When former Miss America/Penthouse poser Vanessa Williams picked up a microphone in 1988 with The Right Stuff, her managers did the business-smart, and expected, thing: They buried her beneath a coat of glossy production and dancefloor beeps and bips to disguise whatever vocal shortcomings this walking mannequin might have. But a funny thing happened within a few years. It turned out that Williams, when given the right material, could actually sing. And when handed torch songs that emphasized her natural slow burn -- like on the glorious ballad "Save the Best for Last" -- Williams was a genuinely sexy and capable performer. Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years gathers the biggest 13 songs from her first decade. The club tunes are generic and could be served just as well by anyone, but the finest tunes here ("Save the Best for Last," "Love Is," and "Colors of the Wind") are smoldering slices of R&B that certify Williams is more than just a pretty face. ~ Michael Gallucci

Product Details

Release Date:	11/24/1998
Label:	Mercury / Wing/Mercury
UPC:	0731453827127
Rank:	78206

Tracks

1. The Right Stuff
2. Dreamin'
3. Running Back to You
4. The Comfort Zone
5. Save the Best for Last
6. The Sweetest Days
7. Betcha Never
8. Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly
9. Oh How the Years Go By
10. Love Is
11. Colors of the Wind
12. Where Do We Go from Here?
13. My Flame

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Vanessa Williams   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Brian McKnight   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Keith John   Vocals (Background)
Carol Coleman   Vocals (Background)
Dann Huff   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Dave Stewart   Vocals (Background)
Janice Pendarvis   Vocals (Background)
Valerie Mayo   Vocals (Background)
Rob Von Arx   Sampling
Ada Dyer   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Bridgette Bryant   Vocals (Background)
Hank Shocklee   Sampling
Will Lee   Bass
Michael Brown   Loops
Duane Benjamin   Trombone
Trevor Gale   Keyboards
Chuckii Booker   Vocals (Background),Guitar,Keyboards
Cindy Richardson   Choir/Chorus
Fred McFarlane   Bass,Keyboards
Lori Fulton   Vocals (Background)
Gil & Johnny   Vocals (Background)
Fernando Pullum   Trumpet
Rex Salas   Keyboards
Da'Dra Great House   Choir/Chorus
Michael Black   Choir/Chorus
DJ L.A. Jay   Sampling
Juno Hoo   Voices
Tim Davis   Choir/Chorus
Hank Schocklee   Sampling
Angel Rogers   Vocals (Background)
The Nashville String Machine   Strings
Rachelle Ferrell   Vocals (Background)
Carol Steele   Percussion
Randy Bowland   Guitar
Nick Moroch   Guitar,Keyboards,Synthesizer Bass
Meshell Ndegeocello   Bass,Vocals
George Pendergrass   Choir/Chorus
Daryl Burgee   Percussion
Donald Robinson   Keyboards
Kipper Jones   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Chris Harris   Choir/Chorus
Joey Miskulin   Accordion
Denise Walls   Choir/Chorus
Ronn Huff   Conductor
Robert Johnson   Choir/Chorus
Jerry McPherson   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Phil Madeira   Organ (Hammond)
Tabitha Fair   Vocals (Background)
Steve Crawford   Choir/Chorus
Paulinho Da Costa   Percussion
Audrey Wheeler   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Bob Rosa   Sampling
Babyface   Keyboards
Kenni Hairston   Keyboards
Keith Thomas   Bass,Keyboards,Synthesizer
Billy Gaines   Choir/Chorus
Dan Needham   Drums
Cindy Mizelle   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Michael Mellett   Choir/Chorus
Eric "Vietnam" Sadler   Sampling
Gary Taylor   Vocals,Multi Instruments
Debbie Cole   Vocals (Background)
Hubert Laws   Flute
Scott Mayo   Saxophone
Gary Pigg   Choir/Chorus
Lisa Cochran   Choir/Chorus
Bill Stephney   Sampling
Jimmie Lee Sloas   Bass

Technical Credits

Michael Caruso   Composer
Shaun Shankel   Production Coordination
Bill Whittington   Mixing,Engineer
Gerry Brown   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Adam Silverman   Assistant Engineer
Brad Gilderman   Engineer
Trevor Gale   Drum Programming,Keyboard Programming,Composer,Producer
John Keller   Composer
Rob Von Arx   Beats,Mixing,Producer,Associate Producer
Douglas Pashley   Composer
David Foster   Composer,Producer,Arranger
Michael Forte   Composer
Hank Shocklee   Editing,Post Production
Gregg Arnold   Keyboard Programming
Michael Brown   Beats
Margery Greenspan   Art Direction
Will Jennings   Composer
Carl Glanville   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Erik Zobler   Engineer
Ed Eckstine   Editing,Executive Producer
Karen Binns   Stylist
Steve Charles   Assistant Engineer
Roy Gamble   Assistant Engineer
Michael Frenke   Engineer
Claude Demers   Engineer
Neville Potter   Composer
Ivy Scoff   Production Coordination
Merv DePyere   Keyboard Programming
Phil Gladston   Composer
Reggie Stewart   Composer,Rhythm Arrangements
Rex Salas   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Linda Thompson-Jenner   Composer
Matt Wells   Engineer
DJ L.A. Jay   Beats,Producer
Jeff Gledt   Mixing Assistant
Randy Walker   MIDI Programming
Alan Friedman   Keyboard Programming
Kevyn Aucoin   Make-Up,Photography
Stefan Beckman   Prop Stylist
Hank Schocklee   Editing,Post Production
Ross Donaldson   Engineer,Mastering,Mixing
Nick Moroch   Arranger,Producer,Drum Programming
Mike Piersante   Assistant Engineer
Oscar James   Hair Stylist
Mick Guzauski   Mixing
Mike Tarsia   Mixing,Engineer
Tim Leitner   Assistant Engineer
Gary Brown   Producer
Todd Moore   Assistant Engineer,Production Coordination
Alan Menken   Composer
Brian McKnight   Producer
Will Schillinger   Engineer
Donald Robinson   Arranger,Producer
Stephen Schwartz   Composer
Steve Holroyd   Assistant Engineer
Bill Malina   Mixing,Engineer
Kipper Jones   Composer,Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Gary Paczosa   Assistant Engineer
Gary Tole   Mixing,Engineer
John Kunz   Mixing Assistant
Wendy Waldman   Composer
Dexter Simmons   Drum Samples
Mark Hammond   Drum Programming
Robbie Buchanan   Arranger
Ronn Huff   Orchestration,String Arrangements
Jim Salamone   Drum Programming
Marty Lester   Assistant Engineer
Tonio K.   Composer
Shawn McLean   Assistant Engineer
Simon Climie   Composer
Bob Rosa   Beats,Producer
Bobby Caldwell   Composer
Babyface   Composer,Producer
Kenni Hairston   Composer,Producer,Drum Programming,Keyboard Programming
Keith Thomas   Arranger,Producer,Drum Programming,Piano Programming,String Arrangements
Kieran Walsh   Engineer
Chick Corea   Composer
Christopher Shaw   Editing
Eric "Vietnam" Sadler   Editing,Post Production
Gary Taylor   Arranger,Producer
Jon Lind   Composer
Rod Hui   Remixing
Scott Mayo   Horn Arrangements
Vanessa Williams   Producer,Vocal Arrangement
Bill Stephney   Editing,Post Production
Phil Galdston   Composer