Reality (Smooth album)

Reality is the fourth album by Smooth. It was released on March 10, 1998 through Perspective Records and featured production from Chris Stokes and the production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This is her first album under Perspective Records after two albums recorded under Jive Records. It is also her first album where she sings on the entire project. Unlike her previous material, Reality contains a more diverse sound with elements of pop and alternative rock mixed into an R&B sound.

Reality
Studio album by Smooth
Released	March 10, 1998
Recorded	1997–1998
Genre	R&B
Length	61:37
Label	Perspective Records
Producer	Chris Stokes, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Lance Alexander & prof. t., Claudio Cueni, Brion James, James Strong, Atron Gregory, Ephraim Galloway, Smooth, Sean "The Mystro" Mather
Smooth chronology
Smooth (1995) Reality (1998) What? (2003)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link

Reality peaked at #48 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #32 on the Top Heatseekers.

The album featured Smooth's biggest hit, "Strawberries", which peaked at #49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.

Track listing

1. "Strawberries" (Lance Alexander, Tony Tolbert, Juanita Stokes)– 5:39
2. "Don't Sleep" (Chris Stokes, Douglas Coleman, Juanita Stokes, Herbert Crawford) – 4:29
3. "We Funk too Quick" (Juanita Stokes, Brion James, Chris Stokes) – 4:00
4. "Anything I Like" (Chris Stokes, Brion James, Juanita Stokes) – 4:36
5. "Do Ya" (James Strong, Juanita Stokes) – 4:20
6. "Wishing Well" (Chris Stokes, Brion James, Juanita Stokes) – 4:08
7. "He Thinks She Don't Know" (Chris Stokes, Claudio Cueni, Juanita Stokes, Tom Baker)– 3:57
8. "It's On" (James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Juanita Stokes, Al Green) – 4:00
9. "I'm in Love" (Chris Stokes, Claudio Cueni, Juanita Stokes) – 4:26
10. "Willing to Fight" (James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Juanita Stokes, James Wright)– 5:22
11. "You Said You Love Me" (Ephraim Galloway, Juanita Stokes) – 4:37
12. "Loving You" (Chris Stokes, Sean Mather, Kelli Ball, Juanita Stokes) – 3:52
13. "Reality" (Chris Stokes, Brion James, Juanita Stokes) – 2:58
14. "Strawberries" (Computer Love Remix Featuring Shaquille O'Neal, Roger Troutman) (Lance Alexander, Tony Tolbert, Juanita Stokes, Shirley Murdock, Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman) – 5:28

Samples

• "Strawberries" contains a sample of "Where There is Love", as performed by Patrice Rushen
• "It's On" contains a sample of "Rhymes", as performed by Al Green
• "Loving You" contains samples of "Saturday Love", as performed by Cherrelle and "Riding High", as performed by Faze-O
• "Strawberries (Computer Love Remix)" contains a sample of "Computer Love", as performed by Zapp

Personnel

• Keyboards: Lance Alexander, Claudio Cueni, Jimmy Jam, James "Big Jim" Wright, Brion James, Steve Jones, James Strong, Herbert Crawford
• Drum Programming: Brion James, Lance Alexander, Alex Richbourg, Afshin Jazayeri, James Strong, Douglas Coleman
• Guitar: Mike Scott, Brion James
• Organ: James "Big Jim" Wright
• Piano: James "Big Jim" Wright
• Background Vocals: Smooth, Tony Tolbert, Jamecia Bennett
• Executive Producers: Henley "Jr." Regisford, Chris Stokes, Wanda Stokes-Withers, Ketrina "Taz" Askew
• Recording engineers: Steve Hodge, Douglas Coleman, Susan Hernon, Claudio Cueni, Xavier Smith, Tom Baker
• Mixing: Steve Hodge, Xavier Smith, Douglas Coleman, Claudio Cueni, Tom Baker, Dave Rideau
• Mastering: Brian Gardner
• Photography: Kate Garner
• Art direction & design: Greg Ross