Surprise is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Crystal Waters released on June 25, 1991, by Mercury Records. It includes the hit singles "Makin' Happy", "Surprise" and the top ten hit "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)", which peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[ Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Crystal Waters] and number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
Although the album stalled at number 197 on the US Billboard 200, it performed better in both the club/dance and urban music markets, peaking at number 65 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also peaked at number 23 on the Top Heatseekers chart.
Critical reception
Jennifer Bowles from Chicago Sun-Times wrote that Waters' debut album "sports a wide variety of characters, including a fashion-conscious homeless woman who sings "'La da dee, la da da" and battered wives who love their abusive husbands." She added, "The jazz influence on the album, most notably the song 'Twisted', can be traced to Waters' childhood."Bowles, Jennifer (September 16, 1991). "Crystal Waters puts performing above preaching". Chicago Sun-Times. Peter Watrous from The New York Times noted that "the tension between Ms. Waters's eccentric, melodic songwriting and the streamlined, dance-floor production makes for quirky, modern music."
Track listing
Chart positions Album +Chart performance for SurpriseChart (1991)Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. 177
Singles +US Chart performance for singles from SurpriseYearSingleChartPeakposition1991"Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)"US Hot Dance Music/Club Play11991"Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)"US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales11991"Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks251991"Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)"US Billboard Hot 10081991"Makin' Happy"US Hot Dance Music/Club Play11991"Makin' Happy"US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales11991"Makin' Happy"US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks631991"Surprise"US Hot Dance Music/Club Play351992"Surprise"US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales9
References