Welcome to Fantasy Island

After the success of her debut album Do You Wanna Ride? in addition to her hit soundtrack single "What's Love Got to Do With It?" with Warren G, Howard began work on her sophomore album. During this time, her record label Mecca Don/EastWest Records merged into Elektra Records, headed by label exec Sylvia Rhone. She gained more creative control with the project (originally titling it Portrait of a Lady),{{cite tweet|user=adinahoward|author=Adina Howard|number=353368568949256192|date=6 July 2013|title=@HeyNorge That was what I wanted name my second album, but ended up going with "Welcome to Fantasy Island"}} being able to hand-pick the songs and working with an array of popular artists such as her then-labelmate Missy Elliott, Bizzy Bone of Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony, DJ Quik, Timbaland, Ginuwine, K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci, and Jamie Foxx.{{cite web|url=http://hiponline.com/1609/adina-howard.html|title = Adina Howard|date = 12 February 2008}} Similar to her debut album, where she recorded a cover of the R&B classic "You Don't Have to Cry," she recorded a cover of the hit Vanity 6 song "Nasty Girl" for the album.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_UywEAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_UywEAAAAMBAJ/page/n167 154]|quote=adina howard welcome to fantasy island.|title=Vibe|first=Vibe Media|last=Group|date=1 August 1997|publisher=Vibe Media Group|via=Internet Archive}} However, it eventually did not make the final album tracklist.

Originally set for release on July 29, 1997, the album was preceded by the release of the lead single "[Freak] And U Know It" which was produced by DJ Quik. The song was serviced to radio on May 20,{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ4EAAAAMBAJ&q=adina+howard+%22welcome+to+fantasy+island%22&pg=PA15|title=Billboard|first=Nielsen Business Media|last=Inc|date=5 July 1997|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|via=Google Books}} with the music video directed by Francis Lawrence. The single ended up peaking at #70 on the Hot 100, and #32 on R&B (marking her 4th Top40 R&B hit). It also included a B-side track called "Swerve On" featuring Menajahtwa. The album was later pushed back to September 16.{{cite web|url=http://www.ebay.com/itm/ADINA-HOWARD-WELCOME-TO-FANTASY-ISLAND-1997-PRESS-RELEASE-/251133933204|title=ADINA HOWARD 'WELCOME TO FANTASY ISLAND' 1997 PRESS RELEASE - eBay|website=eBay}}

As the album received critical acclaim from such publications as SPIN ("...a sleek, danceable artifact of hip hop-inflected craftmanship."),{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_uWz-QtMkI4C&q=adina+howard+%22welcome+to+fantasy+island%22&pg=PA32|title=SPIN|first=SPIN Media|last=LLC|date=1 August 1997|publisher=SPIN Media LLC|via=Google Books}} All Music ("...Howard's second album is a more consistent record than its predecessor, boasting a better selection of songs and grooves."){{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/welcome-to-fantasy-island-unreleased-mw0000089644|title=Welcome to Fantasy Island [Unreleased] - Adina Howard - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic}} and VIBE ("...Like an album-length version of the Isley Brothers' booty-call classic "Between the Sheets," Welcome to Fantasy Island offers tracks that are smooth enough to soothe the take-charge woman."), Howard soon faced label issues.

As album delays and creative differences with her label happened (including conflict with then-Elektra Records CEO Sylvia Rhone),{{cite web|url=https://crypticrock.com/interview-adina-howard/|title = Interview – Adina Howard|date = 31 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nerve.com/music4071/freak-like-me-adina-howard|title=Freak Like Her: An Interview With Adina Howard|website=www.nerve.com}}{{cite web|url=https://ipowerrichmond.com/2660691/adina-howard-reveals-what-happened-to-her-singing-career-and-who-blackballed-her-in-the-music-industry/|title=Adina Howard Reveals What Happened To Her Singing Career [VIDEO]|date=8 October 2013|publisher=}} Howard soon found her album being shelved, and her departing from the label to get away from the music industry.{{cite web|url=http://djbooth.net/interviews/entry/adina-howard-interview-0723072|title=Adina Howard Interview|website=djbooth.net}}

To date, Howard remains proud of the album and its cover.{{cite web|url=http://urbanbridgez.com/2014/02/04/ub-interview-adina-howard-speaks-the-switch-up-family-more/|title=UB Interview: Adina Howard Speaks "The Switch Up," Family & More|date=4 February 2014|publisher=}} "Personal Freak" featuring Bizzy Bone eventually received an official digital release on his 2014 album Revival (original version),[https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/revival/id871750949 Revival] iTunes {{dead link|date=January 2023}} and then his 2016 compilation Confessions.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BWP6QTK/|title=Confessions|publisher=|via=Amazon}}

In June 2018, a promo single surfaced for "Crank Me Up" which was revealed to have been in consideration as a single by Elektra Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Adina-Howard-Crank-Me-Up/release/6208682|title = Adina Howard Featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott – Crank Me up (1997, CD)|website = Discogs}} It was also included on a promotional compilation titled Elektra's Fallbreakers Sampler 1997.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/Elektras-Fallbreakers-Sampler-CD-1997-Promo-feat-Missy-Elliott-Moby-EnVogue/183241626230?hash=item2aaa0d5276:g:svIAAOSwE95aTnnc |title=Elektra's Fallbreakers Sampler CD 1997 Promo feat Missy Elliott, Moby, EnVogue | eBay |access-date=2018-06-28 |archive-date=2018-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628204940/https://www.ebay.com/itm/Elektras-Fallbreakers-Sampler-CD-1997-Promo-feat-Missy-Elliott-Moby-EnVogue/183241626230?hash=item2aaa0d5276:g:svIAAOSwE95aTnnc |url-status=dead }}

1. "Welcome to My Queendom" - 1:01
2. "(Freak) And U Know It" - 5:15
3. "Personal Freak" (feat. Bizzy Bone) - 4:40
4. "All About U" - 4:27
5. "Crank Me Up" (feat. Missy Elliott) - 4:20
6. "Sexual Needs" - 4:49
7. "Could've Got Away" - 3:43
8. "Another Level (Interlude)" - 1:41
9. "T-Shirt & Panties" (feat. Jamie Foxx) - 4:51
10. "I'll Be Damned If I Apologize" - 4:08
11. "Don't Come Too Fast" - 5:38
12. "Take Me Home" - 4:19
13. "Lay Him Down" - 3:44
14. "Ain't No Need" - 4:13
15. "Satisfied (Outro)" - 1:45

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Category:1997 albums

Category:Adina Howard albums