Maps of Music

The Sweetest Days (1994)

Where the lyrics of The Sweetest Days take you, and where it was really made.

"Higher Ground" was first recorded for this album, and Barbra Streisand later made it the title track of her 1997 album.

Key places

Recorded at Electric Lady Studios (1994)

Recording site Electric Lady Studios — Electric Lady Studios in New York City is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Power Station (1994)

Recording site Power Station Studio — Power Station in New York City is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Right Track Recording (1994)

Recording site MSR Studios — Right Track Recording in New York City is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Sony Music Studios (1994)

Recording site Sony Music Studios — Sony Music Studios in New York City is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Capitol Studios (1994)

Recording site Capitol Studios — Capitol Studios in Hollywood is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Westlake Recording Studios (1994)

Recording site Westlake Recording Studios — Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded in Los Angeles at Mad Hatter Studios (1994)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — Mad Hatter Studios is listed as a recording location in Los Angeles; only the city-level position is known. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Larrabee Sound Studios (1994)

Recording site Larrabee Sound Studios — Larrabee Sound Studios in North Hollywood is listed as a recording location for this album. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded in Franklin at The Bennett House (1994)

Recording site Sound Kitchen — The Bennett House in Franklin, Tennessee is listed as a recording location; only the city-level position is known. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded in Nashville at Javelina Recording (1994)

Recording site Nashville — Javelina Recording in Nashville, Tennessee is listed as a recording location; only the city-level position is known. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded in Dallas at Goodnight Studios (1994)

Recording site Luminous Sound — Goodnight Studios in Dallas, Texas is listed as a recording location; only the city-level position is known. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Sweetest Days: third studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams
• Released December 6, 1994, by Wing Records and Mercury Records
• Copyright line credits © 1994 PolyGram Records, Inc.
• Track listing has twelve songs, from "Intro-Lude" to "Long Way Home"
• Songwriting credits include Babyface for "Betcha Never" and "You Can't Run"
• Other credits: Patti Austin on "You Don't Have to Say You're Sorry", Sting on "Sister Moon"

Background

• Singles: "You Can't Run", "Betcha Never", "The Way That You Love", and the title track
• Includes the first recording of "Higher Ground"
• "Higher Ground" was later covered by Barbra Streisand as the title track of her 1997 album
• Includes cover versions of songs previously recorded by Patti Austin and Sting

Recording

• Recording locations are listed in New York City, Los Angeles, Hollywood, North Hollywood, West Hollywood, Franklin, Nashville, and Dallas
• New York City sites listed: Electric Lady Studios, Power Station, Right Track Recording, Sony Music Studios
• California sites listed: Capitol Studios, Westlake Recording Studios, Larrabee Sound Studios, Mad Hatter Studios
• Tennessee and Texas sites listed: The Bennett House, Javelina Recording, Goodnight Studios

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Artist

Formation

• Vanessa Lynn Williams, born March 18, 1963, in Tarrytown, New York, a suburb of New York City.
• Raised in Millwood and Westchester County, New York, in a household of music teachers.
• Studied at Syracuse University's Department of Drama as a musical theater major from 1981.
• Became the first African-American Miss America when crowned Miss America 1984 on September 17, 1983.
• Resigned the title in July 1984 after nude photographs published by Penthouse magazine caused a media controversy.
• Released debut album The Right Stuff in 1988 under her own name.

Career

• Debut single "Dreamin'" peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989.
• Second album The Comfort Zone (1991) became her biggest commercial success.
• "Save the Best for Last" reached number 1 in the United States and was performed at the 1993 Grammy Awards.
• Sweetest Days (1994) was certified platinum in the U.S.
• Made Broadway debut in 1994 replacing Chita Rivera in Kiss of the Spider Woman.
• Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for The Witch in the 2002 revival of Into the Woods.
• Played Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty (2006–2010), earning Primetime Emmy nominations.
• Released Survivor in August 2024, her ninth studio album.
• In 2024 to 2026 starred as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion Theatre, London.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released December 6, 1994, by Wing Records and Mercury Records
• Third studio album by American singer and actress Vanessa Williams
• Singles: "You Can't Run", "Betcha Never", "The Way That You Love", and the title track
• Includes the first recording of "Higher Ground", later covered by Barbra Streisand as the title track of her 1997 album
• Also includes cover versions of songs previously recorded by Patti Austin and Sting

Records

• Peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard 200
• Peaked at number 25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
• Certified platinum by the RIAA
• "The Way That You Love" nominated at the 1996 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female
• "You Can't Run" nominated at the 1996 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The Italian track listing credits Abenaa and J. Dibbs for "The Way That You Love", which runs 4:48
• "Intro-Lude" opens the album at 0:55
• Steve Dorff and George Gree are credited for "Higher Ground"
• Discogs lists the copyright as © 1994 PolyGram Records, Inc.
• Italian Wikipedia gives 1994 as the release year

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

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