Passion (Regina Belle album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Passion
| type = studio
| artist = Regina Belle
| cover = ReginaBelle-Passion.jpg
| alt =
| released = February 16, 1993
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 50:29
| label = Columbia
| producer =
- Walter Afanasieff
- James Anthony Carmichael
- Brenda Dash (exec.)
- Jay Landers (exec.)
- Nick Martinelli
- Narada Michael Walden
| prev_title = Stay with Me
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = Reachin' Back
| next_year = 1995
}}
Passion is the third studio album by American singer Regina Belle. It was released by Columbia Records on February 16, 1993, in the United States. Belle consulted producers James Anthony Carmichael, Nick Martinelli, and Narada Michael Walden to work with her on the album. Upon release, it peaked at number 63 on the US Billboard 200 and number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,{{cite magazine | url = {{BillboardURLbyName|artist=regina belle|chart=all}}
| title = Regina Belle album chart history | accessdate = January 3, 2009 | magazine = Billboard}} selling over 389,000 copies according to Nielsen Soundscan.{{cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zwsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Regina+Belle+Soundscan&pg=PA23
| title = Regina Belle Covers '70s Hits | date = June 24, 1995 | access-date = August 17, 2009 | publisher = Billboard}}
The album produced the singles, "Dream in Color", "If I Could" and "The Deeper I Love," the latter of which failed to reach the main chart but did peak at number 7 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.{{cite magazine
| url = {{BillboardURLbyName|artist=regina belle|chart=Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Songs}}
| title = "The Deeper I Love" at Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles
| accessdate = January 3, 2009 | date = December 11, 1993 | magazine = Billboard
}} Passion also includes "A Whole New World," Belle's duet with Peabo Bryson from Disney's 1992 animated film Aladdin (1992).
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r167947|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]
| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
| rev2score = B−Linden, Amy (February 19, 1993). "Passion". Entertainment Weekly.
| rev3 = Music Week
| rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|first=Alan|last=Jones|title=Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums|magazine=Music Week|date=March 6, 1993|page=20|accessdate=January 29, 2023|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-03-06.pdf}}
}}
AllMusic editor Craig Lytle found that with Passion "Belle presents an album that steadfastly utilizes her vocal attributes [...] Every song here is worthy of chart attention. The majority of the songs are ballads and mid-tempo numbers [...] As the title indicates, Belle extends much passion in each one of these songs. She's lacking nothing on any one of these performances and the material is appropriately suited to the songstress [...] From the jazzy blues to the soulful R&B and pop-oriented tunes, Belle's vocals are mesmerizing to the last note."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length =
| title1 = Interlude"/"Passion
| writer1 = {{hlist|Narada Michael Walden|Regina Belle}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Walden|Mike Mani{{ref|a|[a]}}|Monty Seward{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length1 = 5:56
| title2 = Quiet Time
| note2 = featuring Barry White
| writer2 = {{hlist|Silvia Grissette|Steve Grissette|Tim Gant|Tyrone Dickerson}}
| extra2 = Nick Martinelli
| length2 = 5:09
| title3 = If I Could
| writer3 = {{hlist|Ken Hirsch|Marti Sharron|Ronald Miller}}
| extra3 = Martinelli
| length3 = 4:03
| title4 = Do You Wanna Get Serious
| writer4 = Dawn Thomas
| extra4 = Martinelli
| length4 = 5:34
| title5 = Dream in Color
| writer5 = {{hlist|April Lang|Shelly Peiken}}
| extra5 = Martinelli
| length5 = 4:13
| title6 = My Man
| writer6 = {{hlist|Maurice Yvain|Channing Pollock}}
| extra6 = James Anthony Carmichael
| length6 = 4:50
| title7 = The Deeper I Love
| writer7 = {{hlist|Laney Stewart|Tony Haynes}}
| extra7 = Martinelli
| length7 = 4:55
| title8 = A Whole New World
| note8 = duet with Peabo Bryson
| writer8 = {{hlist|Tim Rice|Alan Menken}}
| extra8 = Walter Afanasieff
| length8 = 4:08
| title9 = Love
| writer9 = {{hlist|Clyde Lieberman|DeNetria Champ|Laythan Armor}}
| extra9 = Martinelli
| length9 = 5:55
| title10 = Heaven's Just a Whisper Away
| writer10 = {{hlist|Anthony Smith|Keith Diamond|Larry Henley}}
| extra10 = Carmichael
| length10 = 3:56
| title11 = Tango in Paris
| writer11 = {{hlist|Kitty Beethoven|Mani|Moe Dewese|Walden|Vernon Black}}
| extra11 = Walden
| length11 = 4:12
| title12 = One Love
| writer12 = {{hlist|Brenda Russell|Walden}}
| extra12 = Walden
| length12 = 5:49
}}
Notes
- {{note|a|[a]}} denotes an associate producer
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Chart (1993)
! scope="col" | Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Billboard200|63|artist=Regina Belle|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 24, 2020|refname="Billboard200"}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|13|artist=Regina Belle|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 24, 2020|refname="BillboardRandBHipHop"}} |
Certifications
{{certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album |region=United States |artist=Regina Belle|title=Passion|award=Gold |certyear=1993|relyear=1993|accessdate=November 24, 2020|refname="riaa"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Regina Belle}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by Walter Afanasieff