Peniston recorded and released her own single "Finally" and debut-album, also named Finally, through A&M Records. The single was released in August 1991 and was followed by the album on January 28, 1992. Both the album Finally, and the single of the same name, were certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and the album by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA). They also earned two Silver certifications from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). By the time its total worldwide sales reached 3 million copies, "We Got a Love Thang" and "Keep On Walkin'", would give her three consecutively running number-1 hits on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play, and on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart. Furthermore, each track reached the top-ten of Music Week's singles chart in the United Kingdom, and the top-twenty of Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States. The set itself broke into the top-forty album charts in Austria, Canada, the Netherlands and the UK, peaking in the US at number 70. Additional cuts from her debut album, such as "Inside That I Cried" and "Crazy Love", scored successes in the R&B charts. Peniston received a Best Female R&B/Soul Album-nomination at the 7th Soul Train Music Awards in 1993.
Her second studio album, Thought 'Ya Knew, was released on January 25, 1994. Having entered the top-forty in UK and Switzerland, the album somewhat failed to match the sales of its predecessor, reaching its peak in the Billboard 200 at position 96. It did, however, make an impact on the dance charts, yielding two chart-toppers in the U.S. "I'm in the Mood", with its incorporated jazz elements, served as the album's pilot single and led the Tokio Hot 100 airplay chart in Japan even before its release. The second single "Hit by Love", another house anthem, was the singer's fifth club number one. "I'm Not Over You" and "Keep Givin' Me Your Love", also achieved top-five status.
Her second studio album, Thought 'Ya Knew, was released on January 25, 1994. Having entered the top-forty in UK and Switzerland, the album somewhat failed to match the sales of its predecessor, reaching its peak in the Billboard 200 at position 96. It did, however, make an impact on the dance charts, yielding two chart-toppers in the U.S. "I'm in the Mood", with its incorporated jazz elements, served as the album's pilot single and led the Tokio Hot 100 airplay chart in Japan even before its release. The second single "Hit by Love", another house anthem, was the singer's fifth club number one. "I'm Not Over You" and "Keep Givin' Me Your Love", also achieved top-five status.
