The Right Stuff is the debut studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams. It was released on June 6, 1988 by Wing Records. It includes the singles "The Right Stuff", "(He's Got) The Look", "Dreamin'" and "Darlin' I". The album and its singles were well received by both the urban and pop markets. It was eventually certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of 500,000 and earned Williams three Grammy Award nominations, including Best New Artist and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "The Right Stuff" at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Dreamin'" at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards.
Contents
Singles
The album's first and second singles, "The Right Stuff" and "(He's Got) The Look", hit the top 10 on Billboard's Hot R&B Songs chart; "The Right Stuff" peaked within the top five at number four, as well as number one on the US Dance Songs chart. The third single, "Dreamin'", was a pop hit, becoming Williams's first top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 8, and her first number one single on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Darlin' I" was the fourth and final single, earning her a third top 10 R&B hit and top ten on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.
Personnel
Produced by Amir-Salaam Bayyan, David Paul Bryant, Lewis A. Martineé, Donald Robinson, Larry Robinson, Darryl Ross, Rex Salas
Additional [background] vocals: Chuckii Booker, Johnny Gill (track 1), Niki Haris (tracks 2, 7, 10), Rachelle Ferrell (track 3), Kipper Jones (tracks 1, 2, 8)
Engineers: Mike Bona, David Bianco, Gerry Brown, Craig Burbridge, Peter Dlugokencky, Michael Frenke, Lewis A. Martineé, Allen Scott Plotkin, Paul Scott, Steve Shepherd, Mike Tarsia, Steve Van Arden, Erik Zobler, Jared Held
Assistant engineers: Sabrina Burchanek, Cliff Jones, Bob Loftus, Gill Morales, Adam Silverman, Dennis Stefani, John VanNest
Mixing: Rick Alonso, David Bianco, Lewis A. Martineé, Donald Robinson, Mike Tarsia, Erik Zobler, Jared Held
Remixing: Rod Hui
Mix assistant: Steve Holroyd
Editing and post-production: Ed Eckstine, Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, Christopher Shaw, Hank Shocklee, Bill Stephney