Mary J. Blige - Reflections - A Retrospective
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CD Details
Artist: Mary J. BligeEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-12-12
Music Label: Geffen Records
Soundtracks:
- Reflections (I Remember)
- We Ride (I See The Future)
- You Know
- King & Queen
- No More Drama
- Family Affair
- Real Love
- No One Will Do
- Be Without You
- I'm Going Down
- 911
- Not Gon' Cry
- My Life '06
- Be Happy
- I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By
Music reviews of Reflections - A Retrospective
Music Review: Can't Please Anybody (and not even well-packaged!)
Rating: 1 Stars
Looking for hard-to-find remixes? Interested in songs included on soundtracks previously unavailable on a Mary album? Trying to hear those slightly altered video versions of Mary's singles? Expecting to find previously unreleased songs, b-sides, live recordings, or other obscure tracks? Those things will not be found here.
REFLECTIONS (A retrospective) consists of 15 tracks, comprised of 4 new songs, 1 new remix, 2 collaborations, 1 soundtrack recording, and 7 previously released songs from 4 of her 7 albums (released 1992-2005) of original studio recordings. Booklet includes several photos and track information, but does not provide release information/date or chart info; there is no discography, song lyrics, or essay.
"My Life `06" (track 13) is a remixed version of 1994's "My Life"; horns and drums are added, as is a new verse and vamp at the end (about how Mary's "gotta breakthrough"). The version of "You're All I Need..." (track 15) is Wu-Tang mastermind RZA's remix, the version heard in the video (not the original Puff Daddy remix with the Biggie sample heard on the radio); the track included here is the censored radio edit.
01. Reflections (I Remember) [2006, new song]
02. We Ride (I See the Future) [2006, new song]
03. You Know [2006, new song]
04. King & Queen [2006, new song] with John Legend
05. No More Drama [2001] edit
06. Family Affair [2001] album version
07. Real Love [1992] album version
08. No One Will Do [2005] album version
09. Be Without You [2005] album version
10. I'm Goin' Down [1994] album version
11. 911 [2000] with Wyclef Jean
12. Not Gon' Cry (from "Waiting to Exhale") [1995] album version
13. My Life '06 [1994] remix by Kendu Isaacs
14. Be Happy [1994] album version
15. I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By [1995] (Razor Sharp Mix - censored radio edit) with Method Man
At whom is this compilation targeted? It can't be for long-time Mary fans, because we already have her previous albums and thus already have seven of these tracks in our collections. It can't be for new Mary fans, because four of the songs are from two of her last three albums. This can't be for marginal Mary fans looking for a sampler, because these are not her best-known or most-loved recordings (and nothing near a comprehensive compilation). But the over-played "Family Affair" is included.
I am most baffled by the inclusion of "No One Will Do"; it was not a single and it was on her previous album, 2005's "The Breakthrough", so I don't understand what could be the rationale for including it here.
There are so many songs deserving to be on this disc (which at only 15 songs, has less songs than either "No More Drama" or "The Breakthrough"; total running time: 65:16). Where is "Reminisce" or "Love No Limit"? How about "No One Else" or "Mary's Joint"? Or "I Can Love You" (feat. Lil' Kim) or "Everything"? Or "Deep Inside" or "The Love I Never Had"? Or "Not Today" (feat. Eve) or "It's a Wrap"? Not even the recent singles "Enough Cryin'" or "Take Me As I Am" are included. And not one of her famous remixes is included - not even "The What" remix of "I'm Goin' Down" or the So So Def remix of "Everything".
If one has the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack and 1997's "Share My World", this will be at least the third disc with "Not Gon' Cry" on it. It would have been better to include "You Don't Have to Worry" (from "Who's the Man"), "Every Day It Rains" (from "The Show" soundtrack), "A Dream" (from "Money Talks" soundtrack), or "Beautiful" (from "How Stella Got Her Groove Back").
While collaborations with Wyclef and Method Man are included, the absence of Ghostface Killah's "All That I Got Is You", Jay-Z's "Can't Knock the Hustle", George Michael's "As", and Twalib Kweli's "I Try" are glaring omissions.
Oh, and did I mention that the UK version includes 3 additional tracks?
There are many, many more songs that should be on a Mary J. Blige compilation; sadly, this is not that compilation. Many MJB fans will buy this disc for the four new songs, but many more will just download or rip the songs - and I can't blame them. Asking someone to pay their hard-earned money for recordings they already have in their collection is not fair. No wonder record companies report declining CD sales.
Description of Reflections - A Retrospective
To state that 2006 was one of the biggest years of Mary J Blige's career isn't hype. It is truth. In 2006 there was no bigger story or artist, in any genre, than Mary J Blige. Thanks to a chart-topping album, history making #1 single, galvanizing television appearances and a sold out tour, 2006 became the 12-month span in which the multiple platinum selling, Grammy winning Queen of Hip Hop Soul scaled new creative, personal and commercial heights. So after all of those dazzling achievements what does Mary J do to top it? Simple. She rewards her fans by recording yet another classic in the making - REFLECTIONS - A RETROSPECTIVE.A much anticipated and long awaited collection Reflections -A Retrospective not only gathers together all Mary J's timeless greatest hits but features FOUR NEW GREATEST HITS TO BE - the first of which is the hot single "We Ride (I See The Future"). Spanning the entirety of Mary J's spectacular 15-year career Reflections- A Retrospective is more than a greatest hits collection. It's a soulful shout out to Mary J's loyal fans, and a celebration of the year when one of R&B's most influential singers "broke through" bigger than ever.
Released on December 20th, 2005, Mary's 7th cd The Breakthrough debuted at #1, and sold an astonishing 727,163 copies its first week: making it not just the best opening week for a solo R&B female artist in SoundScan history but the biggest opening week of 2006 to date. Period. Yet even more explosive than The Breakthrough's success was the album's lead off single "Be Without You". Written and produced by BRYAN MICHAEL COX and JONATA AUSTIN (the same creative team responsible for "We Ride (I See The Future"), "Be Without You" had the #1 spot on the Billboard R&B charts on lock; and stayed there for a record breaking 15 straight weeks. "Be Without You" was not only the biggest hit of Mary's already brilliant career, it entered the history books by becoming the longest-running No. 1 song on the R&B chart since it was reintroduced, after a brief hiatus, in 1965. You'd have to go back to 1949 to find a #1 song with as lengthy a chart run as "Be Without You."
The Breakthrough was equally dominant. The emotive CD was the recipient of universal critical acclaim, with Vanity Fair declaring, "...she's still the Queen..." USA Today stating "Another Blige `Breakthrough' ...Blige still touches souls..." and the Boston Globe hailing the cd as "...a start-to-finish triumph."
Fans also felt The Breakthrough's power. Following Mary's stellar performance on the 2006 Grammy Awards, (dueting with U2 on their ballad "One"), The Breakthrough recaptured the top spot on the Billboard 200. Along with that electrifying appearance -which the St. Petersburg Times declared was "chills-inducing" - Mary also performed on the finales of "Dancing With the Stars" and "American Idol", "Oprah", and the ABC soap "One Life To Live".
RON FAIR, Chairman of Geffen Records says of Mary's success "Mary J. Blige has reached the defining moment of her life - as a vocalist, as a songwriter, and as a human being. Her new album "Reflections- A Retrospective" is an essential collection of songs that solidifies Mary as one of the greatest recording artists of all time. Anyone who has ever suffered loss, experienced pain, been in trouble, gave love or been loved, can find themselves in the music of Mary J. Blige."
With her landmark 1992 cd What's The 411 Mary J Blige became R&B's standard bearer, setting both its sound and style. Since that debut Mary has earned 3 Grammys, had 7 multi platinum albums, lent her support to a slew of high profile charities and earned the unqualified respect of fans, critics and her fellow performers. With a soulful power that knows no equal, Mary J Blige owned 2006 and the Queen continues her reign with Reflections - A retrospective.
Mary J. fans are about as likely to put up with chain-pulling as the queen of hip-hop soul herself--which is why a good many of them have been quick to point out that this disc, exceptional as it is, doesn't quite equal a greatest hits package. Where among these favorites are biggies such as "Love @ 1st Sight," "You Remind Me," "Your Child," and "Dance for Me"? The answer is it doesn't much matter. Because Reflections, as its name suggests, is a mere dip in the Mary J. memory pool--a meatier hits package is likely on the way. There's no time like the present, then, for rolling with the latest on offer from R&B's reigning bruised-hearted lady. Threaded through evergreens like "Family Affair," "Not Gon' Cry," and "No More Drama" are four new tracks, not a one of which is a throwaway: "We Ride (I See the Future)" coasts on attitude and a hand-clappy beat; "King & Queen," a duet with John Legend, seems spun from some ecstatic fantasy; "You Know" breaks itself down to a dizzy-headed disco vibe; and opener "Reflections (I Remember)" is a proud look back on a lifetime of heartbreak and healing. It may not be as definitive a disc as some would like, but in determining whether to buy it, take a cue from Mary J.: don't hold back. --Tammy La Gorce
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