Welcome to Fantasy Island explained

Welcome to Fantasy Island
Type:Album
Artist:Adina Howard
Cover:WelcomeToFantasyIsland-Album.jpg
Recorded:1996–1997
Length:58:32
Label:Elektra Records/Rhino Records
Prev Title:Do You Wanna Ride?
Prev Year:1995
Year:1997
Next Title:The Second Coming
Next Year:2004

Welcome to Fantasy Island, is the second album from American R&B singer/songwriter Adina Howard. The album was due for release on July 29, 1997, but the album was then shelved. It later received an unofficial release (excluding "T-Shirt & Panties" and "Crank Me Up" which were included on her The Second Coming release under Rufftown Records) on May 19, 2013 through the mixtape site DatPiff.com.

Despite the album never being originally released in 1997, it did however spawn two singles, "(Freak) And U Know It" and "T-Shirt & Panties."

In January 2021, it was announced that Rhino Records had acquired the rights to the album and it was finally released onto digital audio platforms on February 19, 2021.[1]

Background

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),[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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,[5] 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.[6]

As the album received critical acclaim from such publications as SPIN ("...a sleek, danceable artifact of hip hop-inflected craftmanship."),[7] All Music ("...Howard's second album is a more consistent record than its predecessor, boasting a better selection of songs and grooves.")[8] 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."),[4] Howard soon faced label issues.

As album delays and creative differences with her label happened (including conflict with then-Elektra Records CEO Sylvia Rhone),[9] [10] [11] Howard soon found her album being shelved, and her departing from the label to get away from the music industry.[12]

To date, Howard remains proud of the album and its cover.[13] "Personal Freak" featuring Bizzy Bone eventually received an official digital release on his 2014 album Revival (original version),[14] and then his 2016 compilation Confessions.[15]

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.[16] It was also included on a promotional compilation titled Elektra's Fallbreakers Sampler 1997.[17]

Track listing

  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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Latest | Rhino Media.
  2. adinahoward. Adina Howard. 353368568949256192. 6 July 2013. @HeyNorge That was what I wanted name my second album, but ended up going with "Welcome to Fantasy Island".
  3. Web site: Adina Howard. 12 February 2008.
  4. Book: Group, Vibe Media. Vibe. 154. adina howard welcome to fantasy island.. 1 August 1997. Vibe Media Group. Internet Archive.
  5. Web site: Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Inc. 5 July 1997. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Google Books.
  6. Web site: ADINA HOWARD 'WELCOME TO FANTASY ISLAND' 1997 PRESS RELEASE - eBay. eBay.
  7. Web site: SPIN. SPIN Media. LLC. 1 August 1997. SPIN Media LLC. Google Books.
  8. Web site: Welcome to Fantasy Island [Unreleased] - Adina Howard - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic]. AllMusic.
  9. Web site: Interview – Adina Howard. 31 May 2018.
  10. Web site: Freak Like Her: An Interview With Adina Howard. www.nerve.com.
  11. Web site: Adina Howard Reveals What Happened To Her Singing Career [VIDEO]]. 8 October 2013.
  12. Web site: Adina Howard Interview. djbooth.net.
  13. Web site: UB Interview: Adina Howard Speaks "The Switch Up," Family & More. 4 February 2014.
  14. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/revival/id871750949 Revival
  15. Web site: Confessions. Amazon.
  16. Web site: Adina Howard Featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott – Crank Me up (1997, CD). Discogs.
  17. Web site: Archived copy . 2018-06-28 . 2018-06-28 . 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 . dead .