Tentatively scheduled to release their third album, Fan Mail, this month, TLC's Left Eye and Chilli dedicated this album to the millions of fans who made them the biggest selling female group of all time. Grammy Award-winning artists, TLC sold an unprecedented 10 million albums after releasing their second LP, CrazySexyCool, in 1994.
TLC HIT HISTORY
TLC released their first solo album, Oooooooohh...On The TLC Tip in 1992. The album sold over three million units as a result of two Top 3 platium singles: "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" and "Baby, Baby, Baby" and their gold smash "What About Your Friends."
Two years later, TLC made history with the release of CrazySexyCool, which sold over 10 million units. Their first single, "Creep," was ceritified platinum and stayed at #1 on the Billboard 100 for five weeks and the R&B chart for seven. The second release was the Babyface smash gold single "Red Light Special" which was folllowed by their platinum plus hit "Waterfalls" whcih jumped from #7 to #1 on the Billboard 100 chart in one week.
TLC won several awards in 1994, including two Grammy Awards for Best Performance By A Group Or Duo ("Creep") and Best Album. They were nominated for six Grammy's, including Record Of The Year. Other awards include two Billboard Awards For Artist of The Year and R&B Single Of The Year ("Creep"); three Soul Train Music Awards; Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band, or Duo ("Waterfalls"), Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video ("Waterfalls"), Best R&B/Soul Album Of The Year, Group, Band, or Duo; four MTV Music Video Awards: Best Viewer's Choice, and Best Video Of TheYear ("Waterfalls"); one Lady Of Soul Award and one Blockbuster Entertainment Award.
This year's album, Fan Mail, employed a unique marketing startegy with the group urging fans to call them at a toll free number to have their names incorporated into the album packaging and merchandising throughout the project. Fans also have the opportunity to pre-purchase the album prior to the release date (tentatively set at press time for November 10th) as well as meet the group in person.
Acknowledging the time gap between their last album and this current project, Chilli expressed her concern about releasing another hit this way, "...it inspires me to work hard and prove to my fans that we can do it again."�
T-Boz also expressed her concern about the amount of time that passed between albums. "I hope we can stand up to our fans' expectations," she said. "I'm looking forward to sharing the project with all of them."
With LaFace Records' co-presidents Antonio "L.A." Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds acting as executive producers of the album, and hit producer Dallas Austin on board, the album is expected to be another top charting LP for the group. Also producing songs on the album are Babyface and Darryl Simmons. "The one thing that always excited me about TLC is their commitment to remain unique," says Reid. "They never jump on the bandwagon whether it be in song or fashion."
From Word Up! Magazine January 1999