CrazySexyCool

CrazySexyCool
Studio album by TLC
Released	November 15, 1994 (1994-11-15) (see Release history)
Recorded	June - October 1994
Genre	R&B, hip hop soul, pop
Length	56:10
Label	LaFace
Producer	Dallas Austin, Babyface, Organized Noise, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Chucky Thompson
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (B+) link Entertainment Weekly (A-) link Rolling Stone link Uncut link Yahoo! Music (favorable) link
TLC chronology
Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992) CrazySexyCool (1994) FanMail (1999)
Singles from CrazySexyCool
"Creep" Released: October 31, 1994 "Red Light Special" Released: February 21, 1995 "Waterfalls" Released: May 29, 1995 "Diggin' on You" Released: October 30, 1995

CrazySexyCool is the second studio album by American group TLC, released by LaFace Records on November 15, 1994 (see 1994 in music) in North America. CrazySexyCool earned a Grammy and became the group's biggest-selling album to date. It has sold more than 15 million units^[1]. In 2003, the album was ranked number 377 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

History

Production and title

The group entered the recording studios in July 1994 to start work on their then-untitled second album with producer Babyface, Dallas Austin and his protoges' Tim and Bob. They both contributed most to the album and moreover served as it's executive producer, The group also received production help from producers including Jermaine Dupri, Organized Noize, and The Hitmen. Other contributors to the album include Prince and André 3000 of OutKast. For the album TLC received production help from a number of A list R&B and Hip hop producers including Babyface, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Organized Noize, and The Hitmen.

TLC decided to tone down the boisterousness of their debut album in favor of a smoother, more mature presentation.^{[citation needed]} They were more involved in crafting their own material. The album's sound was more of a blend of R&B/soul and hip hop music that became the commercial and critical high point of the group's career.^{[citation needed]} The title refers to the different attributes that make up the personalities of each group member, Lisa Lopes having more of the crazy side in her, Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas representing the sexier element of the group, and Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins being the cool member.^[2] The three words together create one word, "CrazySexyCool", which describes all women's personalities.

Release and reception

While most professional reviewers liked the album's powered new jack and hip-hop beats, the album was praised for TLC's rap connections, smooth, seductive collection of contemporary soul reminiscent. The group's second album became a global success: It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and eventually received diamond certifications by the RIAA selling over 7,000,000 copies in the US and shipping 11,000,000 copies.^[3]. While the album managed to enter the Top Ten in the U.S., in the United Kingdom it was a top ten success also and in the majority of the charts it appeared on. The album became one of the first R&B albums to achieve multiple chart hit singles, such as "Creep," "Waterfalls", "Red Light Special", and Diggin' On You" all topped the "MTV Hitlist" during the nineties. The album was supported strongly and heavily in 1995.

Awards and nominations

CrazySexyCool won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album and Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for and "Creep", also including nomination for Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Record of the Year for "Waterfalls". Besides the Grammys CrazySexyCool received multiple win's and nominations for several Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, MTV Awards and Soul Train Awards.

In 2003 CrazySexyCool was listed as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time at number 337. Rolling Stone said that "Things were not well with TLC during the making of CrazySexyCool: Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes was lighting fires, and the group was in a financial slide that would end in bankruptcy proceedings. But they emerged with the most effervescent and soulful R&B pop anyone had seen since the Supremes."

Singles

"Creep" topped the U.S. Hot 100 for four weeks, which made it one of the biggest singles of the 1990s and third most successful Hot 100 Single of 1995, according to Billboard's Year End Charts. It sold over a million copies in the U.S., reaching number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

The second single, "Red Light Special" became another top ten hit on the U.S. Bilboard Hot 100, that peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Outside the States, "Red Light Special" reached the top 10 in Canada and the United Kingdom and among others. "Waterfalls" was the third single that peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It became the second most successful Hot 100 Single of 1995, according to Billboard's Year End Charts. Follow-up single "Diggin' on You" was released as the album's fourth and final single the same year with reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100.

Track listing

Release history

Charts and certification

• These are the peak positions and certifications from chart providers.

Personnel

• L.A. Reid - Producer
• Rico Lumpkins - Engineer
• Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins - Vocals
• Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas - Vocals
• Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes - Vocals
• Debra Killings - Background Vocals
• Dave Way - Mixing

References

1. ^ http://www.lefteyelegacy.com/
2. ^ Tlc - Biography
3. ^ Top 100 Album Sles in the US

See also

• List of best-selling albums in the United States