Passion is the third studio album by American singer Regina Belle. It was released by Columbia Records on February 16, 1993, in the United States. Belle consulted producers James Anthony Carmichael, Nick Martinelli, and Narada Michael Walden to work with her on the album. Upon release, it peaked at number 63 on the US Billboard 200 and number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling over 389,000 copies according to Nielsen Soundscan.
The album produced the singles, "Dream in Color", "If I Could" and "The Deeper I Love," the latter of which failed to reach the main chart but did peak at number 7 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart. Passion also includes "A Whole New World," Belle's duet with Peabo Bryson from Disney's 1992 animated film Aladdin (1992).
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Craig Lytle found that with Passion "Belle presents an album that steadfastly utilizes her vocal attributes [...] Every song here is worthy of chart attention. The majority of the songs are ballads and mid-tempo numbers [...] As the title indicates, Belle extends much passion in each one of these songs. She's lacking nothing on any one of these performances and the material is appropriately suited to the songstress [...] From the jazzy blues to the soulful R&B and pop-oriented tunes, Belle's vocals are mesmerizing to the last note."
Track listing
Notes denotes an associate producer
Personnel Regina Belle – vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 7) Mike Mani – keyboards (1, 11), programming (1, 11) Monty Seward – keyboards (1), programming (1) Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (2, 3, 6, 10), acoustic piano (5), synthesizers (6, 10) Lester Mendez – synthesizers (2–5), keyboards (7), drum programming (7) Odeen Mays – keyboards (5, 9) John Barnes – keyboards (6, 10), synthesizers (6, 10), Synclavier (6, 10), additional percussion (6, 10), arrangements (6, 10) James Anthony Carmichael – keyboards (6, 10), synthesizers (6, 10) Lloyd Tolbert – keyboards (6, 10), synthesizers (6, 10), additional percussion (6) Walter Afanasieff – keyboards (8), Synclavier acoustic guitar (8), synth bass (8), rhythm programming (8), arrangements (8) Ren Klyce – Akai programming (8), Synclavier programming (8) Gary Cirimelli – Macintosh programming (8), Synclavier programming (8) Dan Shea – additional programming (8) Eddie Montilla – synthesizers (9) Frank Martin – keyboards (12), programming (12), string arrangements and conductor (12) Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (2, 5, 6, 10) Manny López – guitars (3), rock guitar solo (7) Randy Bowland – guitars (4, 9) Tim May – guitars (6, 10) Steve Gordon – rhythm guitar (7) Michael Landau – guitars (8) Vernon "Ice" Black – guitar synthesizer (11), synth bass (11), guitars (12) Narada Michael Walden – bass (1), arrangements (1, 11, 12), drums (12) Neil Stubenhaus – bass (2, 5, 6, 10) Leland Sklar – bass (3) Chris Walker – bass (4, 9), backing vocals (4, 9) Joel Smith – electric bass (12) John Robinson – drums (2, 5, 6, 10) Ricky Lawson – drums (3) Daryl Burgee – drums (4, 9) Rafael Solano – percussion (2–5, 9) Allen Varin – percussion (6, 10) Marquinho Brasil – percussion (12) Kirk Whalum – saxophone solo (4, 9) Ed Calle – horns (4, 9) Dana Teboe – horns (4, 9) Tony Concepcion – horns (4, 9) Arturo Sandoval – horns (4, 9) Jack Faith – string arrangements (3, 5) Ricardo Eddy – horn arrangements (4, 9) Robbie Buchanan – additional arrangements (8) Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals (1, 11, 12), vocal arrangements (11) Nikita Germaine – backing vocals (1, 11, 12) Tony Lindsay – backing vocals (1, 11), spoken word (1) Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals (1, 11) Cynthia Biggs – backing vocals (2, 7) Charlene Holloway – backing vocals (2, 5, 7) Barry White – special guest vocals (2) Marvel Allen – backing vocals (4, 9) Charles Christopher – backing vocals (5) Aisha McCray – backing vocals (5) Wendy Pedersen – backing vocals (5) Rita Quintero – backing vocals (5) Carl Ramsey – backing vocals (5) Betty Wright – backing vocals (5) Jeanette Wright – backing vocals (5) Peabo Bryson – vocals (8) Kool Moe Dee – rap (11) Skyler Jett – backing vocals (12) Steve Zegree – backing vocals (12), choir director (12) The Gagie School Children's choir – choir (12)
Production Brenda Dash – executive producer, management Jay Landers – executive producer Janice Lee – production coordinator (1, 11, 12) Kelly McRae – production coordinator (1, 11, 12) Cynthia Shiloh – production coordinator (1, 11, 12) Kevin Walden – production coordinator (1, 11, 12) Josephine DiDonato – art direction Resig & Taylor – photography Vaughn Harper – liner notes Mervyn Dash – management Coast To Coast Mgmt, Inc. – management company
Technical credits Vlado Meller – mastering at Sony Music Studio Operations (New York City, New York) Marc Reyburn – engineer (1) David Frazer – vocal recording (1), vocal mixing (1) Jack Perry – engineer (2) Bruce Weeden – engineer (2–5, 9), mix engineer (7) Michael H. Brauer – mix engineer (2, 3, 5) Barney Perkins – engineer (6, 10) Hal Batt – engineer (7) Eric Schilling – engineer (7) Dana Jon Chappelle – engineer (8) Jeff Gray – second engineer (1, 11, 12) Mark Krieg – second engineer (4, 7, 9), engineer (7) Milton Chen – second engineer (6, 10) Kyle Bass – second engineer (8) Manny Lacarrubba – second engineer (8) Jen Monnar – second engineer (8)
Personnel Regina Belle – vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 7) Mike Mani – keyboards (1), programming (1) Monty Seaward – keyboards (1), programming (1) Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (2) Lester Mendez – synthesizers (2) Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (2) Narada Michael Walden – bass (1), arrangements (1, 11) Neil Stubenhaus – bass (2) John Robinson – drums (2) Rafael Solano – percussion (2) Kitty Beethoven – backing vocals (1) Nikita Germaine – backing vocals (1) Tony Lindsay – backing vocals (1), spoken word (1) Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals (1) Cynthia Biggs – backing vocals (2) Charlene Holloway – backing vocals (2) Barry White – special guest vocals (2)
Charts Chart (1993) Peakposition
Certifications
References