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 Billboards 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 "At Night I Pray" (Duran, Bobby Sandstrom, Wild Orchid) – 4:16 "Supernatural" (Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Wild Orchid) – 4:38 "I Won't Play the Fool" (Sylvia Bennett-Smith) – 4:26 "Talk to Me" (Antonina Armato, Junior Vasquez) – 4:48 "The River" (Bennett-Smith) – 4:28 "You Don't Own Me" (Ron Fair, Wild Orchid, Matthew Wilder)– 4:23 "My Tambourine" (Sandstrom, Wild Orchid) – 4:30 "Follow Me" (Bennett-Smith, Wild Orchid) – 4:15 "He's Alright" (Fabian Cook, Fair, Sandstrom, Wild Orchid) – 5:15 "Love Will Wait" (Clif Magness, Wild Orchid) – 4:05 "Life" (Fair, Stefanie Ridel) – 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

ChartsAlbum - Billboard (United States) YearChartPosition1997Heatseekers41997The Billboard 2001531997Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums84Singles''' - Billboard'' (United States) YearSingleChartPosition1996"At Night I Pray"The Billboard Hot 100631996"At Night I Pray"Mainstream Top 40291996"At Night I Pray"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales491996"At Night I Pray"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs671996"At Night I Pray"R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs861997"Talk to Me"The Billboard Hot 100481997"Talk to Me"Billboard Maxi Single Sales101997"Talk to Me"Dance Singles Sales101997"Talk to Me"Mainstream Top 40311997"Talk to Me"Rhythmic Songs331997"Talk to Me"Radio Songs631997"Talk to Me"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales661997"Talk to Me"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs851997"Supernatural"The Billboard Hot 100701997"Supernatural"Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs51998"I Won't Play the Fool (Diva Control Mix)"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 (New Artist) : 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

References