Next (Vanessa Williams album)

Next
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 26, 1997 (1997-08-26)
RecordedFebruary–June 1997
Studio
Genre
Length53:09
LabelMercury
Producer
Vanessa Williams chronology
Star Bright
(1996)
Next
(1997)
Silver & Gold
(2004)
Singles from Next
  1. "Happiness"
    Released: July 24, 1997
  2. "First Thing on Your Mind"
    Released: September 21, 1997
  3. "Oh How the Years Go By"
    Released: November 27, 1997
  4. "Who Were You Thinkin' 'Bout"
    Released: April 21, 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic3/5 stars[1]
Robert Christgau(dud)[2]
Los Angeles Times2.5/4 stars[3]

Next is the fifth studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams. It was released on August 26, 1997, by Mercury Records.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Who Were You Thinkin' 'Bout?"
Thomas4:06
2."Happiness"Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis4:27
3."And My Heart Goes"
  • J. Dibbs
  • Joyce Dean
J. Dibbs4:23
4."First Thing on Your Mind"
  • Antonina Armato
  • Kenny Lamar McGowan
  • Ken Miller
Armato3:57
5."Crazy 'Bout You"Daryl SimmonsSimmons4:34
6."Lost Without You"Adrianne Johnson RossDennis Ross III4:40
7."Someone Like You"Van Morrison
  • Jeff Kievit
  • Rob Mathes
4:53
8."The Easiest Thing"
  • Stephanie Lewis
  • Mathes
Kievit4:34
9."Surrender"
Eastmond4:55
10."Start Again"R. KellyR. Kelly3:56
11."And If I Ever" (featuring Simbi Khali)
  • Harris
  • Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis4:06
12."Oh How the Years Go By"
Thomas5:11

Sample credits

  • "Happiness" contains an interpolation of "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz.

Charts

Chart performance for Next
Chart (1997) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[4] 31
US Billboard 200[5]53
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[6]28

Certifications

Certifications for Next
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[7] Gold 100,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Notes

  1. ↑ Tracks 1, 5 and 12
  2. ↑ Tracks 2 and 11
  3. 1 2 Track 3
  4. ↑ Track 4
  5. ↑ Track 6; strings on track 5
  6. 1 2 Track 6
  7. ↑ Tracks 7 and 8
  8. ↑ Track 8
  9. 1 2 Track 9
  10. 1 2 Track 10
  11. ↑ Strings on track 10

References

  1. ↑ Stanley, Leo. "Next – Vanessa Williams". AllMusic. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Vanessa Williams". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Connie (August 24, 1997). "POP MUSIC; ** 1/2 VANESSA WILLIAMS "Next," Mercury". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ↑ "ネクスト" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Vanessa Williams Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – ヴァネッサ・ウィリアムス (Vanessa Williams) – ネクスト (Next)" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved March 23, 2020. Select 1997年9月 on the drop-down menu