Studio Album · No. 4
Masterpiece Theatre Songwriting Credits by En Vogue
Produced by Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Mo Benjamin, Mark Elliott, Wayne Jackson, Mark Lomax, Michael J. Mani, Marlon McClain, Dave Meeze · Engineered by Steve Counter, Brian Gardner, Mark Lomax, Steve Genewick
Elektra
R&BSoulPop
57%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 8 of 14 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 8 / 14 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether En Vogue carries a lyricist or composer credit.
8 trackswritten by En Vogue
6 tracksoutside writers
En Vogue's roles on this album
Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist57%
Composer57%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
14
Tracks
16
Lyricists
9
Producers
2000
Released
Data Insight
Eight of the fourteen tracks carry member credits, the first time the singers write more of an album than anyone else. Foster and McElroy are still producing, but after eleven years the group is writing its own record.
Masterpiece Theatre came out on Elektra in May 2000, the group's fourth album and their last for a major label. "Riddle" reached number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Riddle
#92
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine Jones | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine Jones | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 2 |
No, No, No (Can't Come Back)
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine JonesRaymond Ransom Jr. | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine JonesRaymond Ransom Jr. | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 3 |
Falling in Love
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine Jones | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine Jones | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 4 |
Suite (Intro)
|
Gatewood | Gatewood | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | En Vogue (Performer)Russell Gatewood (Featured Vocals) |
| 5 |
Love U Crazay
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | En Vogue (Performer)Kamil Marzette (Featured Vocals) |
| 6 |
Sad But True
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 7 |
Love Won't Take Me Out
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMichael J. Mani | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 8 |
Whatever Will Be, Will Be
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine Jones | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine Jones | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 9 |
Suite (Outro)
|
Gatewood | Gatewood | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | En Vogue (Performer)Russell Gatewood (Featured Vocals) |
| 10 |
Beat of Love
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyWayne JacksonMark Elliott | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 11 |
Latin Soul
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine Jones | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine Jones | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 12 |
Work It Out
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine JonesDave MeyersB. Thompson | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine JonesDave MeyersB. Thompson | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyDave MeezeMo Benjamin | En Vogue (Performer) |
| 13 |
Those Dogs
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine JonesMichelle WoodsRobert PageTony Woods | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine JonesMichelle WoodsRobert PageTony Woods | Denzil FosterThomas McElroy | En Vogue (Performer)Bobby McFerrin (Featured Vocals) |
| 14 |
Number One Man
|
Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine JonesMarlon McClainMark LomaxCurtis Mayfield | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyTerry EllisCindy HerronMaxine JonesMarlon McClainMark LomaxCurtis Mayfield | Denzil FosterThomas McElroyMarlon McClainMark Lomax | En Vogue (Performer) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 24 contributors
DF
Denzil Foster
Writer · Producer
TM
Thomas McElroy
Writer · Producer
CH
Cindy Herron
Writer
MJ
Maxine Jones
Writer
TE
Terry Ellis
Writer
MJ
Michael J. Mani
Writer · Producer
G
Gatewood
Writer
ML
Mark Lomax
Writer · Producer
MM
Marlon McClain
Writer · Producer
BT
B. Thompson
Writer
CM
Curtis Mayfield
Writer
DM
Dave Meyers
Writer
More from En Vogue
1990
42%
Born to Sing
Atlantic
12 tracksProd. Denzil Foster
1992
0%
Funky Divas
Eastwest
13 tracksProd. Thomas McElroy
1997
8%
EV3
East West / Elektra
12 tracksProd. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
2002
31%
The Gift of Christmas
Discretion
13 tracksProd. Foster & McElroy
2004
33%
Soul Flower
33rd Street / Bayside
15 tracksProd. Foster & McElroy
2018
55%
Electric Café
En Vogue / eOne
11 tracksProd. Foster & McElroy
Frequently Asked Questions Masterpiece Theatre
Who wrote Masterpiece Theatre?
Members are credited on eight of the fourteen tracks, the first album where they write most of it. Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy wrote the rest.
Who wrote "Riddle"?
The group with Foster and McElroy. It reached number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 28 on the Adult R&B chart.
How did the album sell?
The discography's sales column is blank for this album and no figure is published.
Is this the group's most self-written album?
By count, yes: eight tracks against six on Electric Café and five on Soul Flower.
Who engineered it?
Steve Counter recorded it, Mark Lomax and Steve Genewick engineered and Brian Gardner mastered.
Who was in the group by then?
Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones, working as a trio after Dawn Robinson's departure.
How long is the album?
53:06 across fourteen tracks.