 " There 's Got to Be a Way " was written by Mariah Carey and Ric Wake for Carey 's self @-@ titled debut studio album ( 1990 ) . It was written during Carey and Wake 's first recording session together . They composed four songs , but only " There 's Got to Be a Way " was chosen for the final track listing . Co @-@ produced by Wake and <unk> Michael <unk> , it appears as the second of ten songs on the track listing . The track was recorded and engineered by Bob <unk> at Cove City Sound Studios and The Power Station , both located in New York City . He was assisted by Dana Jon <unk> . It was mixed by David <unk> at Tarpan Studios in San Rafael . The keyboards , bass and rhythm engineering was carried out by Louis <unk> , while Joe Franco performed the percussion , Vernon " Ice " Black played the guitar , and Rich <unk> also performing on the keyboards . Walter Afanasieff played the synth horns . Carey provided her own background vocals along with Billy T. Scott , <unk> Muhammed and The Billy T. Scott Ensemble . The song was released as the fifth and final single from the album in the United Kingdom . It is available to purchase as a CD single while the remixes are available on vinyl . 
