Wild Orchid (album)


Wild Orchid is the debut album by the American girl group Wild Orchid, released on March 25, 1997. It is their most successful album, selling nearly a million units worldwide. The album was nominated for two Lady of Soul Awards. It spawned the singles "Talk to Me", "At Night I Pray" and "Supernatural".

Production

After signing a recording contract with RCA Records, the trio wrote and recorded songs throughout 1995 with the help of Renee's songwriter brother Bobby Sandstrom. The album took approximately nine months to complete.

Release and promotion

They released their debut single "At Night I Pray" on September 3, 1996, with the album due for an October 29, 1996, release. However, it was postponed twice, first to February 11, 1997. It was eventually released on March 25, 1997.
The album debuted with its highest chart position in Billboard's Top 200 Albums Chart at #153.
The album also received two Billboard Music Award nominations for "Talk to Me" and two Soul Train Lady of Soul Award nominations - one for Album of the Year By a Group, Band or Duo and one for Best Music Video for "Talk to Me". The group also received an American Music Award for Favorite R&B/Soul Artist.

Promotion

Wild Orchid spent 1996 and 1997 promoting their debut album. They made appearances on Soul Train, Ricki Lake, Access Hollywood, MTV, Wild On!, The RuPaul Show,
Hard Copy, The HitList with Tarzan Dan, Vibe, Mad TV, The Pat Bullard Show, Caryl & Marilyn: Real Friends, Terry Bradshaw, Crook and Chase, The Jenny Jones Show, Electric Circus and Goode Behavior. The group also toured with 98 Degrees and 'N Sync across the U.S., Canada and Asia.
The singles "At Night I Pray", "Talk to Me" and "Supernatural", were modest hits, each appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.
Promotional remixes of "Follow Me" and "I Won't Play the Fool" were released in May 1998; "I Won't Play the Fool" charted within the top ten on the Billboard magazine Dance/Club songs chart.

Track listing

  1. "At Night I Pray" – 4:16
  2. "Supernatural" – 4:38
  3. "I Won't Play the Fool" – 4:26
  4. "Talk to Me" – 4:48
  5. "The River" – 4:28
  6. "You Don't Own Me" – 4:23
  7. "My Tambourine" – 4:30
  8. "Follow Me" – 4:15
  9. "He's Alright" – 5:15
  10. "Love Will Wait" – 4:05
  11. "Life" – 4:35

Personnel

  • Sylvia Bennett-Smith – arranger, keyboard programming, producer, vocal arrangement
  • Bob Brockman – mixing
  • Luis Conte – percussion
  • Fabian Cook – human beatbox
  • Peter Doell – mixing
  • Ron Fair – arranger, bass vocals, celeste, engineer, executive producer, guitar, harmonica, keyboards, producer, sound effects, vocal arrangement
  • Fergie – producer, vocals, backing vocals
  • Eric Fischer – engineer, guitar
  • Steve Forman – percussion
  • David Frank – arranger, assistant producer, Clavinet, Fender Rhodes, keyboard programming, organ, piano, producer
  • John Goux – guitar
  • Gary Grant – trumpet
  • Jerry Hey – horn arrangements, trumpet
  • Dan Higgins – horn
  • Marc Hugenberger – programming
  • Bashiri Johnson – percussion
  • Teddy Kampel – rhythm guitar
  • Abraham Laboriel – bass
  • Lynette Lewis – toaster
  • Pete Lorimer – arranger, drums, keyboards, loops, programming
  • Al McKay – guitar
  • Dennis Mitchell – engineer
  • Joey Moskowitz – arranger, keyboard programming, rhythm arrangements
  • Robbie Nevil – guitar
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
  • Stefanie Ridel – producer, vocals, backing vocals
  • John "J.R." Robinson – drums
  • Evan Rogers – arranger, producer, vocal arrangement
  • Michael C. Ross – engineer
  • Randee Saint Nicholas – photography
  • Bobby Sandstrom – arranger, drum programming, keyboard programming, organ, producer, vocal arrangement
  • Renee Sandstrom – producer, vocals, background vocals
  • Robbes Stieglitz – mixing
  • Carl Sturken – arranger, drum programming, guitar, keyboard programming, producer, vocal arrangement
  • Junior Vasquez – producer
  • Carlos Vega – drums
  • Freddie "Ready Freddie" Washington – bass
  • Wild Orchid – primary artist
  • Matthew Wilder – arranger, drums, keyboards, loops, producer, programming, vocal arrangement
  • Larry Williams – saxophone

Charts

Album - [Billboard magazine|Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]
YearChartPosition
1997Heatseekers4
1997The Billboard 200153
1997Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums84

Singles - Billboard
YearSingleChartPosition
1996"At Night I Pray"The Billboard Hot 10063
1996"At Night I Pray"Mainstream Top 4029
1996"At Night I Pray"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales49
1996"At Night I Pray"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs67
1996"At Night I Pray"R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs86
1997"Talk to Me"The Billboard Hot 10048
1997"Talk to Me"Billboard Maxi Single Sales10
1997"Talk to Me"Dance Singles Sales10
1997"Talk to Me"Mainstream Top 4031
1997"Talk to Me"Rhythmic Songs33
1997"Talk to Me"Radio Songs63
1997"Talk to Me"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales66
1997"Talk to Me"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs85
1997"Supernatural"The Billboard Hot 10070
1997"Supernatural"Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs5
1998"I Won't Play the Fool "Billboard Dance Charts5

Accolades

  • 1997 Billboard Video Music Award Nomination : Best Dance/Club Clip Of The Year: Talk To Me
  • 1997 Billboard Video Music Award Nomination : Best Dance/Club Clip : Talk To Me
  • 1997 Lady Of Soul Award Nomination : Best R&B/Soul or Rap Album by Group Band Or Duo : Wild Orchid
  • 1997 Lady Of Soul Award Nomination : Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video : Talk To Me