| abstract
| - While recording the "Music Box" album, Mariah began to alter her songwriting and music genre choices. While searching for new record producers for the album, Mariah came across New York native, Dave Hall (who was known for working on Mary J. Blige's debut album, "What's the 411?" in 1992.) Mariah wanted to incorporate a sampled loop from an older song into "Dreamlover" and after reviewing several older tunes & melodies, she chose the Emotions' 1972 song, "Blind Alley." Even though Mariah heard the hook used in other various songs over the years, she felt the use of the "Blind Alley" sample was done in an innovative way. After the song was completed, Dave Hall complimented Mariah's work ethic and form of writing, calling her a "perfectionist" and "very professional." He also explained that they incorporated the hook, a melody, and the sample into the song in only one night. The song's title wasn't added until the end of production. When Mariah's fiancé at the time, Tommy Mottola, came to hear the song in the studio, he had mixed feelings about it. He approached Walter Afanasieff and asked him to add some additional instrumentation and flavor. Afanasieff changed the song at the production level, altering the way in which the hook sample was incorporated into the song, along with adding several new instruments.
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