Music Box cover art

  Studio Album · No. 3

Music Box

1993 Columbia Records 10 tracks 42 min

Produced by Walter Afanasieff, Mariah Carey, David Foster

Columbia Records PopR&B
90%
Authorship
Artist

Mariah Carey wrote 9 of 10 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 9 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Mariah Carey carries a lyricist or composer credit.

90%
9 trackswritten by Mariah Carey 1 trackoutside writers
Mariah Carey's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist90%
Composer90%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
8
Lyricists
7
Producers
2
No.1 Singles
28 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1993
Released
Data Insight

Music Box, the best-selling album of Mariah Carey's career, has her co-writing all of its original songs, with the credits noting that the music is composed by Carey and Walter Afanasieff except where noted. She also worked with Dave Hall and Babyface, and the only song she did not write is the cover of 'Without You.' Her songwriting remained central even as the album was built for maximum pop crossover.

Music Box, released in August 1993, is Mariah Carey's best-selling album and one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 32 million copies sold worldwide. Primarily produced by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey, the album contains nine of its ten tracks co-written by Carey, with the sole exception being 'Without You', a cover of the Harry Nilsson version of the Badfinger song written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans. The album spawned four Billboard Hot 100 number ones: 'Dreamlover,' 'Hero,' 'Without You,' and 'Anytime You Need a Friend,' the last three of which were Carey co-writes. 'Hero,' co-written with Walter Afanasieff, is one of the most beloved ballads of the 1990s and became an enduring anthem. The album's extraordinary commercial success came despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that its most emotionally resonant moments were all conceived and written by Carey herself.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Dreamlover #1
Mariah CareyDave Hall Mariah CareyDave Hall Mariah CareyDave HallWalter Afanasieff Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
2
Hero #1
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
3
Anytime You Need a Friend #12
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
4
Music Box
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
5
Now That I Know
Mariah CareyRobert ClivillésDavid Cole Mariah CareyRobert ClivillésDavid Cole Robert ClivillésDavid ColeMariah Carey Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
6
Never Forget You
Mariah CareyBabyface Mariah CareyBabyface BabyfaceMariah CareyDaryl Simmons Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
7
Without You #3
Pete HamTom Evans Pete HamTom Evans Walter AfanasieffMariah Carey Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
8
Just to Hold You Once Again
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
9
I've Been Thinking About You
Mariah CareyDavid Cole Mariah CareyDavid Cole Robert ClivillésDavid ColeMariah Carey Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)
10
All I've Ever Wanted
Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah CareyWalter Afanasieff Mariah Carey (Lead Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 9 contributors

More from Mariah Carey

Frequently Asked Questions Music Box

When did Mariah Carey release Music Box?
Mariah Carey released Music Box on August 31, 1993 through Columbia Records. It became the best-selling album of her career.
Did Mariah Carey write Music Box herself?
Yes, Mariah Carey co-wrote all of the original songs on Music Box, mainly with Walter Afanasieff and Dave Hall. The only track she did not write is her cover of 'Without You.'
Who wrote Hero by Mariah Carey?
'Hero' was written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff. The ballad reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of her signature songs.
Who wrote Dreamlover by Mariah Carey?
'Dreamlover' was written by Mariah Carey and Dave Hall. The lead single spent eight weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Is Without You by Mariah Carey a cover?
Yes, 'Without You' is a cover of the song written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger and first made famous by Harry Nilsson. It is the only song on Music Box that Mariah Carey did not write, and it reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
How many copies did Music Box by Mariah Carey sell?
Music Box has sold over 28 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling album of Mariah Carey's career. It is certified Diamond by the RIAA in the United States.

Sources