3 Deep (album)

3 Deep is the third studio album by Surface, released in 1990 on Columbia Records. The first single from the album, "The First Time" claimed the top spot on the U.S. pop charts for two straight weeks. The second single, "All I Want Is You", teams Bernard Jackson with singer Regina Belle on vocals and peaked at number eight on the Hot R&B Singles chart. The third single, "Never Gonna Let You Down", peaked at number 17 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts.

Personnel
Adapted from Discogs.

Surface
 * Bernard Jackson – lead and backing vocals, raps, synthesizers, fretless bass, drum programming
 * David Townsend – keyboards, synthesizers, guitars, synth bass, drum programming, backing vocals
 * David "Pic" Conley – synthesizers, synth bass, flute, shakuhachi, drum programming, backing vocals

Additional musicians
 * Brian Simpson – keyboards (1, 6), synth bass (1, 6), drum programming (1, 6)
 * Bobby Wooten – acoustic piano (1, 9), synth strings (1, 9)
 * Vassal Benford – keyboards (2, 5, 7, 8, 10), acoustic piano (2, 5, 7, 8, 10), synth strings (2, 5, 7, 8, 10)
 * Joshua Thompson – keyboards (8), strings (8), synth bass (8)
 * Gene Lennon – programming (8)
 * "Bassy" Bob Brockmann – drum programming (1, 4), drum overdubs (4)
 * Gene Lake – drums (4), keyboards (11), synth bass (11), drum programming (11)
 * Guy Vaughn – drum programming (7), percussion (7)
 * Regina Belle – backing vocals (2, 3), special love voice (2), lead vocals (3)
 * Everett Collins – backing vocals (2, 10)
 * Derrick Culler – backing vocals (2)
 * Monet Jackson – lead vocals (8)
 * Bianca Conley – vocals (9)

Strings (Tracks 4, 6 & 9)
 * Bobby Wooten – arrangements and conductor
 * Eileen Folson – contractor
 * Belinda Whitney-Barratt – concertmaster
 * Melanie Baker, Carlos Baptiste, Sandra Billingslea, Alfred Brown, Felix Farrar, Crystal Garner, Juliet Haffner, Marianne Henry, Cecelia Hobbs, Clarissa Howell, Jon Kass, Patmore Lewis, Alfred McCall, Diane Monroe, Garfield Moore, Maxine Roach, Richard E. Spencer, Lesa Terry, Brenda Vincent and Bruce Wang – string performers

Production

 * Surface – producers, mixing (3, 5, 7, 8, 12), mix assistance (9)
 * John Falzarano – recording (1, 6)
 * David Conley – recording (2-5, 7-12)
 * Bobby Wooten – additional engineer (1)
 * David Leibowitz – additional engineer (4)
 * Bob Giammarco – digital editing
 * Scott Canto – assistant engineer, digital editing assistant
 * Paul Higgins – assistant engineer, mixing (3, 12)
 * Kendal Stubbs – assistant engineer
 * Bob Brockmann – mixing (1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11)
 * Carl Beatty – mixing (5, 7, 8, 9)
 * Jose Fernandez – mix assistant (1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11)
 * Chris Savino – mix assistant (1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 11)
 * Judy Kirschner – mix assistant (3, 5, 7, 8, 12), mixing (9)
 * Jeff Toone – mix assistant (3, 12)
 * Jose Rodriguez – mastering
 * Stephanie McCravey – production assistant
 * Carol Chen – art direction, design
 * Todd Gray – cover photography
 * Cesar Vera – inner photography
 * Earl Cole – management

Studios
 * Mixed at Marathon Studios, SoundTracks and Sorceror Sound (New York City, New York); House of Music (West Orange, New Jersey).
 * Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).