| Storyteller | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 17, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1993–1994 | |||
| Studio | Basement Boys Studios (Baltimore, Maryland)  | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 48:44 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Producer | 
  | |||
| Crystal Waters chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Storyteller | ||||
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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
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating | 
| The Advocate | (favorable)[2] | 
| AllMusic | |
| Billboard | (favorable)[4] | 
| Cash Box | (favorable)[5] | 
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[6] | 
| Knoxville News Sentinel | |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| Robert Christgau | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| 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
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "100% Pure Love" | 
  | The Basement Boys | 4:38 | 
| 2. | "Ghetto Day" | 
  | The Basement Boys | 3:32 | 
| 3. | "Regardless" | 
  | Smith | 3:37 | 
| 4. | "I Believe I Love You" | 
  | Smith | 3:42 | 
| 5. | "Relax" | 
  | Anthony | 3:29 | 
| 6. | "What I Need" | 
  | The Basement Boys | 4:44 | 
| 7. | "Storyteller" | 
  | The Basement Boys | 4:41 | 
| 8. | "Is It for Me" | 
  | The Basement Boys | 4:22 | 
| 9. | "Listen for My Beep" | 
  | 
  | 3:59 | 
| 10. | "Daddy Do" | 
  | The Basement Boys | 6:12 | 
| 11. | "Lover Lay Low" | 
  | The Basement Boys | 5:48 | 
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Piece of Lonely" | 
  | 
  | 2:49 | 
Personnel
- 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
| 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
- ↑ Paoletta, Michael (May 1, 2004) "Where Have All The Divas Gone?" Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) Retrieved March 16, 2011.
 - ↑ "The Advocate". The Advocate: The National Gay & Lesbian Newsmagazine. Here Publishing: 81. May 3, 1994. ISSN 0001-8996. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
 - ↑ Wynn, Ron. "Storyteller – Crystal Waters : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
 - ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 5, 1994. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
 - ↑ Martinez, M.R. (June 11, 1994). "Urban — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
 - ↑ "Storyteller Review | News Reviews and News". EW.com. May 2, 1994. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
 - ↑ Campbell, Chuck (June 10, 1994). "David Byrne': Talking Head Repeats Himself". Knoxville News Sentinel.
 - ↑ Ernest Hardy (May 2, 1994). "CRYSTAL WATERS, "Storyteller"; Mercury". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
 - ↑ "Crystal Waters". Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
 - ↑ Wilson, Michael (August 25, 1994). "Recordings". Rolling Stone Issue 689.
 - ↑ SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. April 2005. p. 99. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
 - ↑ "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. Vibe Media Group: 44. March 1995. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
 - ↑  "20 Best Albums of 1994". SPIN Media LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2020. 
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 297.
 - ↑ "Crystal Waters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
 - ↑ "Crystal Waters Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
 
