The album peaked at #17 on the US Billboard 200 and reached number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In the UK, it peaked at number twenty-four upon its release in April 1992 before quickly falling out of the top fifty.
The first single off the album was "Running Back to You", a '70s funk-influenced uptempo track, which sampled a song from The Breakfast Club. The song peaked at number one on the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number eighteen on the BillboardHot 100 chart. "The Comfort Zone", the second single, peaked at sixty two on the Hot 100, but number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. "Save the Best for Last" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks straight. "Just for Tonight", was the fourth single from the album reaching number twenty-six on the Hot 100, followed by "Work to Do" which achieved moderate success. The album sold 2.8 million copies worldwide at its time of release, with 2.2 million of those sold in the US. It has since been certified three times platinum in the US and gold in Canada by the CRIA.
The Comfort Zone was nominated for five Grammy Awards including: Best Pop Female Vocalist, "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year" for "Save the Best for Last", Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Female for "Runnin' Back to You" (In 1992), and Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Female for "The Comfort Zone".
Bob Rosa, Kenni Hairston, DJ L.A. Jay, Rob Von Arx, Trevor Gale
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The tracks "Work to Do" and "What Will I Tell My Heart?" both appeared in the film Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man; the latter also appeared on the film's soundtrack album.
Production
Produced by Vanessa Williams (exec.), Ed Eckstine (also executive), Keith Thomas, Brian McKnight, Kenni Hairston, Derek Bramble, Gerry Brown, Bruce Carbone, Dave Darlington, DJ L.A. Jay, Kipper Jones, Phase 5, Mark Stevens & Reggie Stewart
Engineers: Derek Bramble, Claude Demers, Joe Schiff, Will Schillinger, Allen Sides, Kieran Walsh, Matt Wells
Assistant Engineers: Steve Charles, Foley, Roy Gamble, Marty Lester, Todd Moore, Gary Paczosa, Mike Piersante, Brian Soucey
Mixing: Gerry Brown, Bruce Carbone, Dave Darlington, Humberto Gatica, Bill Whittington, Vanessa L. Williams
Mix Assistants: Jeff Gledt, John Kunz, John David Parker, Brian Soucey
Mastering: Herb Powers
Personnel
Drums: DJ L.A. Jay, Dr. Jam, Mark Hammond, Harvey Mason Sr.
Drum programming: Dave Darlington, DJ L.A. Jay, Trevor Gale, Kenni Hairston, Mark Hammond, Reggie Stewart, Keith Thomas
"Beats": D.J. LA Jay, Bob Rosa, Rob Von Arx
Samples: Phase 5, Bob Rosa, Rob Von Arx
Keyboards: Greg Arnold, Derek Bramble, Merv DePyere, DJ L.A. Jay, Dr. Jam, David Frank, Trevor Gale, Kenni Hairston, Fred McFarlane, Monty Seward, Keith Thomas
Piano: Jorgen Kaufma, Brian McKnight, Randy Waldman
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