Reality (Smooth album)
Reality is the fourth album by the American R&B singer Smooth. It was released on March 10, 1998, through Perspective Records, and contained production from Chris Stokes and the production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It was her first album for Perspective.
Reality peaked at No. 48 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It peaked at No. 32 on the Top Heatseekers.
The album contained Smooth's biggest hit, "Strawberries", which peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.
Critical reception
AllMusic wrote that "while the songwriting isn't always compelling, the producers give Smooth a rich instrumental backdrop that allows her to emphasize her charisma, and the result is her best record to date."Track listing
- "Strawberries" – 5:39
- "Don't Sleep" – 4:29
- "We Funk too Quick" – 4:00
- "Anything I Like" – 4:36
- "Do Ya" – 4:20
- "Wishing Well" – 4:08
- "He Thinks She Don't Know" – 3:57
- "It's On" – 4:00
- "I'm in Love" – 4:26
- "Willing to Fight" – 5:22
- "You Said You Love Me" – 4:37
- "Loving You" – 3:52
- "Reality" – 2:58
- "Strawberries" – 5:28
Samples
- "Strawberries" contains a sample of "Where There is Love", as performed by Patrice Rushen
- "It's On" contains a sample of "Rhymes", as performed by Al Green
- "Loving You" contains samples of "Saturday Love", as performed by Cherrelle and "Riding High", as performed by Faze-O
- "Strawberries " contains a sample of "Computer Love", as performed by Zapp
Personnel
- Keyboards: Lance Alexander, Claudio Cueni, Jimmy Jam, James "Big Jim" Wright, Brion James, Steve Jones, James Strong, Herbert Crawford
- Drum Programming: Brion James, Lance Alexander, Alex Richbourg, Afshin Jazayeri, James Strong, Douglas Coleman
- Guitar: Mike Scott, Brion James
- Organ: James "Big Jim" Wright
- Piano: James "Big Jim" Wright
- Background Vocals: Smooth, Tony Tolbert, Jamecia Bennett
- Executive Producers: Henley "Jr." Regisford, Chris Stokes, Wanda Stokes-Withers, Ketrina "Taz" Askew
- Recording engineers: Steve Hodge, Douglas Coleman, Susan Hernon, Claudio Cueni, Xavier Smith, Tom Baker
- Mixing: Steve Hodge, Xavier Smith, Douglas Coleman, Claudio Cueni, Tom Baker, Dave Rideau
- Mastering: Brian Gardner
- Photography: Kate Garner
- Art direction & design: Greg Ross