Wild Orchid (album)

1997 studio album by Wild Orchid

Wild Orchid is the self-titled debut album by American band Wild Orchid, released in March 1997. It is their most successful album. The album was nominated for two Lady of Soul Awards.

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 and was released in March 1997, in the midst of the popularity of their second single "Talk to Me".

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 even 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" all garnered substantial radio airplay, all appearing on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

Dance remixes of "Follow Me" and "I Won't Play the Fool" were released in May 1998 and became popular in underground clubs. The "I Won't Play the Fool" remix landed on the Top 10 Dance Remixes Chart of 1998 in Billboard magazine.

Track listing

1. "At Night I Pray" (Duran, Bobby Sandstrom, Wild Orchid) – 4:16
2. "Supernatural" (Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken, Wild Orchid) – 4:38
3. "I Won't Play the Fool" (Sylvia Bennett-Smith) – 4:26
4. "Talk to Me" (Antonina Armato, Junior Vasquez) – 4:48
5. "The River" (Bennett-Smith) – 4:28
6. "You Don't Own Me" (Ron Fair, Wild Orchid, Matthew Wilder)– 4:23
7. "My Tambourine" (Sandstrom, Wild Orchid) – 4:30
8. "Follow Me" (Bennett-Smith, Wild Orchid) – 4:15
9. "He's Alright" (Fabian Cook, Fair, Sandstrom, Wild Orchid) – 5:15
10. "Love Will Wait" (Clif Magness, Wild Orchid) – 4:05
11. "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

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Singles - Billboard (United States)

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

1. Wild Orchid at AllMusic
2. Entertainment Weekly review