Mariah Carey (CD - 1990)

Personnel: Mariah Carey (vocals); Jimmy Rip, Vernon "Ice" Black, Chris Camozzi, Bob Cadway, Chris Toland, David Williams, Michael Landau, Nile Rodgers (guitar); Richard Tee (piano); Walter "Babylove" Afanasieff (keyboards, synthesizer, drums, percussion, programming); Louis Biancaniello (keyboards, bass, percussion, programming); Ben Margulies (keyboards, drums, programming); Rhett Lawrence, Rich Tancredi (keyboards); Marcus Miller (bass); Joe Franco (drums, percussion, percussion programming); Narada Michael Walden, Omar Hakim (drums); Ren Klyce, Ric Wake (percussion, programming); Fonzie Thornton, Billy T. Scott, Jamiliah Muhammed, Haven Clayborn, The Billy T. Scott Ensemble (background vocals).

Producers include: Ric Wake, Narada Michael Walden, Mariah Carey, Ben Margulies, Walter Afanasieff.

Engineers include: Bob Cadway, Rhett Lawrence, Dana Jon Chappelle.

Recorded at Cove City Sound Studios, and Shakedown Studios, New York, New York.

Personnel: Mariah Carey (vocals, background vocals); Chris Camozzi (guitar, electric guitar); David Williams , Chris Toland, Jimmy Rip, Jimmy Ripp, Michael Landau, Nile Rodgers, Vernon "Ice" Black, Bob Cadway (guitar); Walter Afanasieff (horns, keyboards, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, drums, programming); Richard Tee (piano); Rhett Lawrence (keyboards, synthesizer); Ben Marculies (keyboards, drums); Louis Biancaniello (keyboards, programming); Rich Tancredi (keyboards, drum programming); Ren Klyce (synthesizer, drums, programming); Joe Franco (drums, percussion, drum programming); Rick Wake, Ben Margulies (drums, programming); Narada Michael Walden, Omar Hakim (drums); Joe Franko (programming); Fonzi Thornton, Jamiliah Muhammed, Billy T. Scott, Haven Clayborn (background vocals).

Arrangers: Mariah Carey; Rick Wake; Rich Tancredi.

This extremely impressive debut is replete with smooth-sounding ballads and uplifting dance/R&B cuts. Carey convincingly seizes many opportunities to display her incredible vocal range on such memorable tracks as the popular "Vision of Love" (featured during her television debut on The Arsenio Hall Show, an appearance noted by many as her formal introduction to stardom), the energetic "Someday," and the moody sounds of the hidden treasure "Vanishing." With this collection of songs acting as a springboard for future successes, Carey establishes a strong standard of comparison for other breakthrough artists of this genre. ~ Ashley S. Battel

It was clear early on in her recording career that Long Island's own Mariah Carey possessed a rare combination of qualities that would make her special. She had a commanding voice, an uncanny ear for a hit, commanding stage presence and an effervescent personality. She was, in short, an American pop diva just waiting to be discovered.

When her eponymous 1990 debut sold more than 12 million copies, it was clear Carey would become the pop queen she'd always dreamed she'd be. From the doo-wop-influenced opening track "Vision of Love" to the sweet, last-dance ballad "Love Takes Time," Carey's debut was one of biggest-selling records of the '90s. It was so popular, in fact, that four of the 11 tracks on the album hit #1 on the Billboard singles chart. MARIAH CAREY is Top 40 perfection with a remarkable young talent at the center of it all. minimize