Storyteller (Crystal Waters album)

Storyteller
Studio album by Crystal Waters
Released	May 17, 1994
Recorded	1993–1994
Studio	Basement Boys Studios (Baltimore, Maryland)
Genre	House dance electronica
Length	48:44
Label	Mercury
Producer	David Anthony Easy Mo Bee Greg Smith The Basement Boys The LG Experience
Crystal Waters chronology
Surprise (1991) Storyteller (1994) Crystal Waters (1997)
Singles from Storyteller
"100% Pure Love" Released: April 11, 1994 "Ghetto Day/What I Need" Released: June 1994 "Relax" Released: March 1, 1995

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

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The Advocate	(favorable)[2]
AllMusic	[3]
Billboard	(favorable)[4]
Cash Box	(favorable)[5]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[6]
Knoxville News Sentinel	[7]
Los Angeles Times	[8]
Robert Christgau	[9]
Rolling Stone	[10]
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

Storyteller track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"100% Pure Love"	Crystal Waters Tommy Davis Theodore Douglas Jay Steinhour	The Basement Boys	4:38
2.	"Ghetto Day"	Waters Sean Spencer	The Basement Boys	3:32
3.	"Regardless"	Waters Greg Smith	Smith	3:37
4.	"I Believe I Love You"	Waters Smith	Smith	3:42
5.	"Relax"	Waters David Anthony	Anthony	3:29
6.	"What I Need"	Waters Doug Smith Richard Payton	The Basement Boys	4:44
7.	"Storyteller"	Waters Neal Conway Sean Spencer	The Basement Boys	4:41
8.	"Is It for Me"	Waters David Bach George Mitchell John Selway	The Basement Boys	4:22
9.	"Listen for My Beep"	Waters Patrick Harvey	Easy Mo Bee The LG Experience	3:59
10.	"Daddy Do"	Al Mack Waters	The Basement Boys	6:12
11.	"Lover Lay Low"	Waters Eric Kupper	The Basement Boys	5:48

International bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
12.	"Piece of Lonely"	Waters Osten Harvey Jr.	Easy Mo Bee The LG Experience	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 performance for Storyteller

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

1. Paoletta, Michael (May 1, 2004) "Where Have All The Divas Gone?" Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.) Retrieved March 16, 2011.
2. "The Advocate". The Advocate: The National Gay & Lesbian Newsmagazine. Here Publishing: 81. May 3, 1994. ISSN 0001-8996. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
3. Wynn, Ron. "Storyteller – Crystal Waters : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
4. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 5, 1994. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
5. Martinez, M.R. (June 11, 1994). "Urban — Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
6. "Storyteller Review | News Reviews and News". EW.com. May 2, 1994. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
7. Campbell, Chuck (June 10, 1994). "David Byrne': Talking Head Repeats Himself". Knoxville News Sentinel.
8. Ernest Hardy (May 2, 1994). "CRYSTAL WATERS, "Storyteller"; Mercury". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
9. "Crystal Waters". Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
10. Wilson, Michael (August 25, 1994). "Recordings". Rolling Stone Issue 689.
11. SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. April 2005. p. 99. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
12. "Vibe". Vibe Vixen. Vibe Media Group: 44. March 1995. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
13. "20 Best Albums of 1994". SPIN Media LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
14. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 297.
15. "Crystal Waters Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
16. "Crystal Waters Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2022.