The Comfort Zone (album)

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The Comfort Zone
Studio album by
Vanessa Williams
ReleasedAugust 20, 1991 (1991-08-20)
Genre
Length66:27
Label
Producer
Vanessa Williams chronology
The Right Stuff
(1988) 		The Comfort Zone
(1991) 		The Sweetest Days
(1994)
Singles from The Comfort Zone
  1. "Running Back to You"
    Released: July 16, 1991
  2. "The Comfort Zone"
    Released: October 29, 1991
  3. "Save the Best for Last"
    Released: January 14, 1992
  4. "Just for Tonight"
    Released: April 21, 1992
  5. "Work to Do"
    Released: July 21, 1992

The Comfort Zone is the second studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams, released on August 20, 1991, by Mercury's Wing Records label. Much like her debut album, The Right Stuff (1989), The Comfort Zone features a new jack swing and R&B sound to it, along with a dance-pop edge to its music.

Critical reception[change | change source]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic4/5 stars[1]
Chicago Tribune3/4 stars[2]

The Comfort Zone received mainly positive reviews from music critics and was also nominated for five Grammy Awards: Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female for "Runnin' Back to You" in 1992; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, Record of the Year and "Song of the Year" for "Save the Best for Last" and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female for "The Comfort Zone" in 1993.

Track listing[change | change source]

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "The Comfort Zone"  
 3:59
2. "Running Back to You"  
  • Bob Rosa
  • Hairston
  • DJ L.A. Jay
  • Rob Von Arx
  • Gale
 4:39
3. "Work to Do" (featuring Dres)
 4:36
4. "You Gotta Go" (featuring Brian McKnight)
  • McKnight
  • Dr. Jam
  • Brown
 6:21
5. "Still in Love"  Bramble 5:22
6. "Save the Best for Last"  Keith Thomas 3:38
7. "What Will I Tell My Heart?"  
  • Brown
  • Williams
 4:17
8. "Strangers Eyes"  
  • Dr. Jam
  • Brown
  • Stevens
 6:16
9. "2 of a Kind"  
  • Dr. Jam
  • Brown
  • Williams
 5:16
10. "Freedom Dance (Get Free!)"  
  • Bruce Carbone
  • Dave Darlington
  • Brown
  • Jones
 4:14
11. "Just for Tonight"  Thomas 4:28
12. "One Reason"  Thomas 4:52
13. "Better off Now"  Thomas 4:14
14. "Goodbye"  Thomas 4:21
European edition bonus track[3]
No. TitleProducer(s) Length
15. "The Right Stuff" (Norman Cook 12″ remix)
  • Salas
  • Norman Cook
 6:18
Japanese edition bonus track[4]
No. TitleProducer(s) Length
16. "Running Back to You" (DNA 7″ mix)
  • Rosa
  • Hairston
  • Jay
  • Von Arx
  • Gale
  • DNA
 3:25

The tracks "Work to Do" and "What Will I Tell My Heart?" both appeared in the film Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man; the latter also appeared on the film's soundtrack album.

Personnel[change | change source]

Musicians[change | change source]

  • DJ L.A. Jay, Dr. Jam, Mark Hammond, Harvey Mason Sr. - drums
  • Dave Darlington, DJ L.A. Jay, Trevor Gale, Kenni Hairston, Mark Hammond, Reggie Stewart, Keith Thomas - drum programming
  • D.J. LA Jay, Bob Rosa, Rob Von Arx - "beats"
  • Phase 5, Bob Rosa, Rob Von Arx - samples
  • Greg Arnold, Derek Bramble, Merv DePyere, DJ L.A. Jay, Dr. Jam, David Frank, Trevor Gale, Kenni Hairston, Fred McFarlane, Monty Seward, Keith Thomas - keyboards
  • Jorgen Kaufma, Brian McKnight, Randy Waldman - piano
  • Stanley Clarke, Fred McFarlane, Cornelius Mims, Jimmie Lee Sloas, Keith Thomas - bass
  • David Frank - synthesized bass
  • Dann Huff, Paul Jackson, Jr., Jerry McPherson, Wah Wah Watson - guitar
  • Jerry McPherson - mandolin
  • Gerald Albright, Pete Christlieb, Mark Douthit, Thomas Haas, Scott Mayo - saxophone
  • Fernando Pullum - trumpet
  • Duane Benjamin - trombone
  • Hubert Laws - flute
  • The Nashville String Machine - strings
  • Horns arranged by Scott Mayo
  • Strings arranged by Keith Thomas
  • Debbie Cole, Dres, Lori Fulton, Vicki Hampton, Kipper Jones, Valerie Mayo, Donna McElroy, Rick Nelson, Tata Vega - backing vocals
  • Vocals arranged by Gerry Brown, Kipper Jones, Brian McKnight, Mark Stevens, Keith Thomas and Vanessa Williams

Technical[change | change source]

  • Produced by Vanessa Williams (also executive), Ed Eckstine (executive), Keith Thomas, Brian McKnight, Kenni Hairston, Derek Bramble, Gerry Brown, Bruce Carbone, Dave Darlington, DJ L.A. Jay, Kipper Jones, Phase 5, Mark Stevens and Reggie Stewart
  • Engineers – Derek Bramble, Claude Demers, Joe Schiff, Will Schillinger, Allen Sides, Kieran Walsh, Matt Wells, Gerry Brown
  • Assistant engineers – Steve Charles, Foley, Roy Gamble, Marty Lester, Todd Moore, Gary Paczosa, Mike Piersante, Brian Soucey
  • Mixing – Gerry Brown, Bruce Carbone, Dave Darlington, Humberto Gatica, Bill Whittington, Vanessa L. Williams
  • Mix assistants – Jeff Gledt, John Kunz, John David Parker, Brian Soucey
  • Mastering – Herb Powers

Charts[change | change source]

Certifications[change | change source]

Certifications for The Comfort Zone
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[16] Gold 50,000^
Japan (RIAJ)[17] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[18] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Related pages[change | change source]

References[change | change source]

  1. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r21917
  2. ↑ May, Mitchell (November 7, 1991). "Vanessa Williams The Comfort Zone". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  3. ↑ "The Comfort Zone: Vanessa Williams: Music". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  4. ↑ "The Comfort Zone: Vanessa Williams: Music". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  5. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Vanessa Williams – The Comfort Zone". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2129". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Vanessa Williams – The Comfort Zone" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Vanessa Williams – The Comfort Zone" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Vanessa Williams – The Comfort Zone". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1992". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Vanessa Williams – The Comfort Zone". Music Canada. May 29, 1992.
  17. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Vanessa Williams – The Comfort Zone" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved March 23, 2020. Select 1994年2月 on the drop-down menu
  18. ↑ "American album certifications – Vanessa Williams – The Comfort Zone". Recording Industry Association of America. October 30, 1996. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
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