Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel includes: Vanessa Williams, Brian McKnight. | | Personnel: Vanessa Williams (vocals, background vocals); Kipper Jones (vocals, background vocals); Gary Taylor, Me'Shell Ndeg?ocello (vocals); Jerry McPherson (guitar, acoustic guitar); Nick Moroch (guitar, keyboards, bass synthesizer, drum programming); Chuckii Booker (guitar, keyboards, background vocals); Randy Bowland (guitar); Dann Huff (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Nashville String Machine (strings); Hubert Laws (flute); Joey Miskulin (accordion); Scott Mayo (saxophone); Fernando Pullum (trumpet); Duane Benjamin (trombone); Keith Thomas (keyboards, synthesizer, drum programming); Trevor Gale, Kenni Hairston (keyboards, keyboard programming, drum programming); Donald Robinson , Rex Salas, Fred McFarlane, Babyface (keyboards); Dan Needham (drums); Daryl Burgee, Paulinho Da Costa, Carol Steele (percussion); Alan Friedman , Merv DePyere, Gregg Arnold (keyboard programming); Jim Salamone, Mark Hammond (drum programming); Michael Brown (loops); Hank Schocklee, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, DJ L.A. Jay, Hank Shocklee, Rob Von Arx, Bob Rosa, Bill Stephney (sampler); Cindy Mizelle, Carol Coleman, Dave Stewart , Debbie Cole, Gil & Johnny, Lori Fulton, Valerie Mayo, Ada Dyer, Rachelle Ferrell, Audrey Wheeler, Tabitha Fair, Keith John, Janice Pendarvis, Angel Rogers, Brian McKnight, Bridgette Bryant (background vocals). | | Audio Mixers: Gary Tole ; Gerry Brown ; Rob Von Arx; Mick Guzauski; Mike Tarsia; Ross Donaldson; Bill Malina; Bill Whittington. | | Audio Remixer: Rod Hui. | | Recording information: D&D Recording; Jam Power, Los Angeles, CA; Marathon Recordi; Oh Henry, Los Angeles, CA; Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, PA. | | Editors: Christopher Shaw ; Hank Schocklee; Ed Eckstine; Eric "Vietnam" Sadler; Hank Shocklee; Bill Stephney. | | Photographer: Kevyn Aucoin. | | Arrangers: Donald Robinson ; Rex Salas; Gary Taylor; Keith Thomas ; Nick Moroch; Robbie Buchanan; David Foster. | | After a scandal surrounding nude photos left her without her Miss America crown, Vanessa Williams made a remarkable comeback as a recording artist in 1988. This well-selected 13-track collection presents the finest R&B/pop songs by Williams, featuring both her upbeat, dance-oriented tunes (see "The Right Stuff" and "The Comfort Zone") and adult-contemporary ballads (the sweeping single "Save the Best for Last" and the Sade-like "Betcha Never"). Other highlights of the compilation are the thoughtful, piano-driven number "Love Is" (with Brian McKnight) and "My Flame," a track that finds Williams quite comfortable in a smooth-jazz setting and reinforces her reputation as a deceptively dynamic performer, one who would go on to win respect on both the stage and the screen. | | 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 |
Producer: Gary Brown; Donald Robinson; DJ L.A. Jay; Rex Salas; Gary Taylor; Gerry Brown; Rob Von Arx; Trevor Gale; Keith Thomas; Kenni Hairston; Kipper Jones; Nick Moroch; Babyface; Vanessa Williams; Bob Rosa; David Foster; Brian McKnight |
Engineer: Erik Zobler; Matt Wells; Gary Tole; Gerry Brown; Claude Demers; Michael Frenke; Kieran Walsh; Mike Tarsia; Ross Donaldson; Will Schillinger; Bill Malina; Billy Whittington; Brad Gilderman |
Musical Guests | | Brian McKnight |
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