Music Box (CD - 1993)

Personnel: Mariah Carey (vocals); Michael Landau (guitar); Walter Afanasieff (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, synthesizers, programming); Dave Hall (keyboards, synthesizers, programming); Babyface (keyboards, drums); David Cole (keyboards); Kayo (bass), Robert Clivilles (drums); Ren Klyce, Gary Cirimelli, Ricky Crespo, Shawn Lucas, James T. Alfano (programming); Mark C. Rooney, Cindy Mizelle, Melonie Daniels, Kelly Price, Shanrae Price (background vocals).

Producers include: Walter Afanasieff, C&C Music Factory, Dave Hall, Babyface, Daryl Simmons.

Engineers: Dana Jon Chappelle, David Gleeson, Manny LaCarrubba.

"Dreamlover" was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female in the 36th Annual Grammy Awards.

"Hero" was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female in the 37th Annual Grammy Awards.

Personnel: Mariah Carey (vocals, background vocals); Michael Landau (guitar); Walter Afanasieff (acoustic guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, Synclavier, programming); Dave Hall, David Beano Hall (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); David Cole (keyboards); Ren Klyce (synthesizer, Synclavier, programming, keyboard programming); Gary Cirimelli (synthesizer, Synclavier, programming); Robert Clivillés (drums, percussion); James T. Alfano, Shawn V. Lucas, Ricky Crespo (programming); Cindy Mizelle, Shanrae Price, Kelly Price, L.A. Reid, Melonie Daniels (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: David Cole; Mick Guzouski; Mariah Carey; Mick Guzauski; Robert Clivillés; Bob Rosa.

Recording information: Axis Studios, NY; Criteria Record; Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, FL; Electric Lady Studios, NY; House of Sound Studios, NY; Right Track Studios, NY; The Plant Studios, Sousalito, CA; The Record Plant Studios, Sausalito, CA; The Record Plant, LA, CA.

Arrangers: Daryl Simmons; Dave Hall; David Cole; David Hall ; Mariah Carey; Robert Clivillés; Babyface; Walter Afanasieff.

While Carey tones down the predominance of her tremendous vocal range throughout much of this release, there is no question that she remains the driving force behind yet anothr collection of heavy-rotation Top-40 successes including "Dreamlover," "Hero" and the remake of Harry Nilsson's "Without You." ~ Ashley S. Battel

Mariah Carey has been stung by critical charges that she's all vocal bombast and no subtlety, soul or shading. Her solution was to make an album in which her celebrated octave-leaping voice would be downplayed and she could demonstrate her ability to sing softly and coolly. Well, she was partly successful; she trimmed the volume on Music Box. Unfortunately, she also cut the energy level; Carey sounds detached on several selections. She scored a couple of huge hits, "Hero" and "Dreamlover," where she did inject some personality and intensity into the leads. Most other times, Carey blended into the background and let the tracks guide her, instead of pushing and exploding through them. It was wise for Carey to display other elements of her approach, but sometimes excessive spirit is preferable to an absence of passion. ~ Ron Wynn

Mariah Carey's ascension to the top of the charts is an affirmation of her deep affection for the roots of popular music, to wit, gospel and R&B. She's not the first pop vocalist to find commercial and artistic bliss in black music, but her efforts are among the most heartfelt and convincing. And with the surehanded support of contemporary music's most creative producers and songwriters, Carey has developed a smooth, brassy sound signature all her own.

What makes it all happen is that luminous, vaulting voice, one of the surest most impassioned instruments in all of pop, capable of leaps in register most vocalists can't even imagine, yet alone execute. Her dark ornaments and trilling upper register cries on "Dream Lover" make this plain. On power pop ballads like "Hero" and "Anytime You Need A Friend"--with their gospelish "To dream the impossible dream/The greatest love of all" cadences--Carey's over-the-top expressive range sparks these arrangements to one emotional catharsis after another.

It is Carey's new found restraint--reining in her voice to suit the emotional fabric of each tune--that marks her growing maturity. The lush understatement of her singing and Walter Afanasieff's charts on the title tune, allow the tender grace of the song's lyrics to shine through--without superfluos vocal acrobatics. Ultimately it's Carey's reserves of vocal power, barely constrained on "Never Forget You" (with Babyface), that brings her fans back time and again. minimize