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Number Ones by Michael Jackson (CD - 11/18/2003)
 

Number Ones by Michael Jackson (CD - 11/18/2003)

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Number Ones by Michael Jackson (CD - 11/18/2003)
"Number Ones" (11/18/2003) R&B Jackson, Michael, Epic (USA)Personnel: Michael Jackson (vocals, background vocals); Siedah Garrett (vocals); Donnie Lyle (guitar). Audio Mixer: Serban Ghenea. Photographers: Stephen Harvey; Dick Zimmerman; Sam Emerson. Since Michael Jackson botched his first hits collection by pairing it with a new album of material in a double-disc set, making it considerably less attractive for those legions of listeners who want just a single disc of hits, it's both inevitable and welcome that he attempted another compilation a few years later. This second collection, Number Ones, was released in the wake of the 2000 blockbuster Beatles 1, which rewrote the rules of modern-day hits collections from major artists, since it not only contained a generous, representative cross section of hits, it had a specific focus and did gangbuster business. An avalanche of similar-minded compilations by other titans followed, notably Elvis' 30 #1 Hits and the Rolling Stones' Forty Licks, and MJ's Number Ones is part of that wave. For some artists, sticking to number one hits isn't a bad way to make a collection -- the Beatles are a perfect example, actually, since even if 1 didn't contain such seminal items as "Strawberry Fields Forever," it still offered a full, representative portrait of their career. Jackson doesn't fare so well by the number one rule. First of all, he doesn't strictly follow the number one rule, leaving behind the number one hit duet "Say Say Say" with Paul McCartney, substituting a 1981 live version of "Ben" for the original hit, adding "Break of Dawn," an Invincible album cut never released as a single, and including "Thriller," "Smooth Criminal," and "Earth Song," none of which hit number one, and the latter wasn't even released as a single in the U.S. (there is, of course, the requisite previously unreleased song, the OK slow jam "One More Chance"). Then, there's the fact that Thriller changed the business, inaugurating the era of the blockbuster album that rode the charts for years, spinning off hit singles every quarter. Thriller generated tons of hits -- six of its nine tracks hit the charts, but only two of them hit number one. Its successor, Bad, had seven of its 11 songs hit the charts (one other, the CD bonus cut "Leave Me Alone," was a staple on MTV), and of those, five peaked at number one. So, by sticking to number ones, and adding "Smooth Criminal," this collection skews very heavily toward Bad, at times playing like an expanded reissue with bonus tracks. This may be a fairly accurate reading of chart positions, but it doesn't result in a particularly representative collection, since the brilliant Off the Wall is granted only two songs, leaving behind such charting hits as "Off the Wall" and "She's Out of My Life" (both gold singles, mind you), and Thriller is represented by only three tracks, with such defining songs as "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," "Human Nature," "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)," and "The Girl Is Mine" being left behind. These two albums are the core of Jackson's legacy, and it simply feels wrong that Number Ones gives them short shrift. Dangerous also is neglected, providing just one selection, when on the whole it had far more memorable songs than HIStory or Invincible. But these problems are inherent with any collection that concentrates just on the charts, not the music that got the songs on the charts in the first place. And while Number Ones contains enough of the big songs to recommend it for those listeners who are looking just for a cross section of the biggest hits from Jackson's career, it is also true that the perfect Michael Jackson hits collection has yet to be assembled. Maybe next time, particularly if he's granted an entry into Sony's generally excellent The Essentials series. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine The 1990s may not have been kind to Michael Jackson on a commercial level, due to fickle music tastes and assorted personal controversies, but NUMBER ONES reinforces Jackson's place in pop culture history. Unlike its preceding compilation, HIStory, this anthology trims the fat, although occasionally going overboa

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Old School Hip Hop Vol. 2 by Various Artists (CD - 09/11/2001)
 

Old School Hip Hop Vol. 2 by Various Artists (CD ...

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Old School Hip Hop Vol. 2 by Various Artists (CD - 09/11/2001)
"Old School Hip Hop, Vol. 2" (09/11/2001) R&B Various Artists, Thump Records

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Old School Soul Party [Digipak] [3/1]
 

Old School Soul Party [Digipak] [3/1]

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Old School Soul Party [Digipak] [3/1]
"Old School Soul Party [Box]" (03/01/2005) R&B Various Artists, Shout! FactoryLiner Note Author: Steven Chean. Another entry in Shout! Factory's ongoing series of triple-CD box compilations promoted on PBS, this one is more cohesively presented. Sequenced to flow like a typical party, the discs of this predominantly '70s-era 58-track R&B collection are divided into three connected parts. Starting with the high-energy sounds of Wild Cherry's one-hit wonder "Play That Funky Music," disc one (subtitled "Kickin' It Off") continues with tough funk hits from Cameo, Rick James, Parliament, and James Brown. Mercifully dodging the disco bullet save for Donna Summer's "Last Dance," this nonstop funkathon platter is alone worth the price of admission. Adding different sounds such as the Undisputed Truth's slightly trippy "Smiling Faces Sometimes" and the Beginning of the End's tropical "Funky Nassau" successfully serves to shift the style but not the mood. Disc two ("Getting' into the Groove") lightens the groove moderately as melody and pop become more emphasized on Cheryl Lynn's "Got to Be Real," the Friends of Distinction's "Love or Let Me Be Lonely," Gene Chandler's "Groovy Situation," and Ashford & Simpson's "Solid." These are all well-chosen selections that were substantial hits, but not as ubiquitous as the Isley Brothers' "That Lady, Pts. 1-2," a tune that always seems to find its way onto '70s soul collections such as this. Disc three ("Dimmin' the Lights") moves into slow and sensual post-party fare with 19 quiet storm smooth jams from artists such as the Five Stairsteps ("O-o-h Child"), Minnie Riperton ("Lovin' You"),the Chi-Lites ("Have You Seen Her"), and Marvin Gaye ("Sexual Healing"). The schlock factor is obviously higher here, but all the songs are Top Ten R&B and/or pop hits and will spark instant recognition from those this box is intended for. The remastered sound is crisp and sparkling throughout, bringing out these oldies' subtleties -- especially with percussion -- that you might not have heard before. While not definitive, the set accomplishes its mission of replaying the soundtrack to a colorful late-'70s urban shindig. More than a haphazard collection of oldies, this conceptual box boasts a well-defined focus, a unique programming flow, and of course lots of soul. ~ Hal Horowitz

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Trap House [PA] [5/24]
 

Trap House [PA] [5/24]

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Trap House [PA] [5/24]
"Trap House [PA]" (05/24/2005) R&B Mane, Gucci, Big Cat Records (USA)Personnel: Gucci Mane; Khujo Goodie, Killer Mike, Lil Scrappy, Young Jeezy, Jody Breeze, Young Snead, Torica, Mac Bre-Z, Bun B. Recording information: Big Cat Studio; PatchWerk Studios. For Atlanta MC Gucci Mane, the road to the release of his debut, TRAP HOUSE, was, to say the least, a bit bizarre. First there was a dispute over the underground hit "Icy," a collaboration with Young Jeezy of Boyz N Da Hood, with Gucci denying Def Jam the rights to put the track on the latter's debut record, which led to an exchange of accusatory mixtape tracks. Then, the week before TRAP HOUSE dropped, Gucci Mane found himself surrendering to murder charges. Controversy has rarely hurt record sales, but the album ultimately stands or falls on the strength of Mane's rap skills. To that effect, he is a charismatic rapper who rhymes with an agreeable rawness about rising from life on the streets. There is no smoke-and-mirrors obfuscation to his style; "Lawnmower Man" simply speaks of his prowess, "Black Tees" plainly, playfully swipes at the Dem Franchize Boyz hit "White Tees." The controversial "Icy" employs an electronic beat as spare as Mane's style for an effective paean to the streets. Across all the tracks, Gucci Mane's breezy demeanor contrasts his hard lyrics for a capable debut.

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Love Songs by The Manhattans (CD - 01/04/2000)
 

Love Songs by The Manhattans (CD - 01/04/2000)

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Love Songs by The Manhattans (CD - 01/04/2000)
"Love Songs" (01/04/2000) R&B Manhattans (The), Legacy RecordingsThe Manhattans: Gerald (Smut) Alston, Winifred (Blue) Lovett, Kenneth (Wally) Kelly, Edward (sonny) (Dip) Bivins (vocals). Producers include: Leo Graham, James Mack, Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter, Teddy Randazzo. Compilation producers: Leo Sacks, Winfred (Blue) Lovett. Tracks recorded between 1976 and 1981. Includes liner notes by Elvis Mitchell. Digitially remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York). Like Sony's other Love Songs compilations, this one runs the risk of overlapping too much with greatest-hits discs for some consumers' tastes. Seven of the 13 tracks here are on The Best of the Manhattans: Kiss and Say Goodbye, which, like Love Songs, surveys their recordings from the 1970s and early 1980s for Columbia. Still, this collection does retrieve three R&B chart singles that eluded The Best of the Manhattans...: "We Never Danced to a Love Song," "Girl of My Dream," and "The Way We Were/Memories." The disc is filled out by a couple of album tracks and their 1972 single "A Million to One," which was actually on the Deluxe label. ~ Richie Unterberger

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Low Profile Instrumentals Vol. 2
 

Low Profile Instrumentals Vol. 2

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Low Profile Instrumentals Vol. 2
"Low Profile Instrumentals, Vol. 2" (02/24/2004) R&B Various Artists, Aries Music Entertainment Inc.This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.

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Tha Carter [PA] by Lil Wayne (CD - 06/29/2004)
 

Tha Carter [PA] by Lil Wayne (CD - 06/29/2004)

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Tha Carter [PA] by Lil Wayne (CD - 06/29/2004)
"Tha Carter [PA]" (06/29/2004) R&B Lil Wayne, Universal DistributionPersonnel: Lil Wayne (rap vocals); Mannie Fresh, Baby (rap vocals). It would be easy to read too much into the title of Lil Wayne's fourth album, especially in light of a mixtape (cunningly titled The Prefix) that preceded this, which featured the MC over a handful of tracks off Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter's Black Album. The title actually refers to Lil Wayne's actual last name (hint: it isn't Wayne), in addition to referencing the apartments run by Wesley Snipes' character in New Jack City. Although much has been made about Wayne's growth and new world view, there's about as much change as you'd expect from a Southern rap star who has been in the public eye from his late teens to his twenties. Mannie Fresh's stout production is in effect as ever, and to the MC's credit, the rhymes are less measured and are all the better for it. To beat that dead horse one more time, the album is far too long and not concerned enough with the quality control, despite including more than enough bright spots to keep the followers following. At just over 79 minutes in length, it's made evident that the length would actually be just over 89 minutes if a CD could hold 90 minutes' worth of music. ~ Andy Kellman Lil' Wayne has been in the national spotlight since his days as the youngest member of the Dirty South's Hot Boys. On his fourth solo record, THA CARTER, Wayne is almost wholly on his own. There are no big-name guest stars (as with Petey Pablo's memorable turn on Wayne's previous album), only recurring shots from producer Mannie Fresh and Cash Money head Bryan "Baby" Williams. Lil' Wayne's easy flow speaks for itself; in a relaxed Southern manner, he waits for the rhyme to unfold before unleashing a torrent of lyrical lines, with consistent, understated beats pulling the tracks along. Not as "lil'" as his name implies, Wayne hits a peak with "This Is the Carter," a brash track that captures the essence of this potent hip-hop album.

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Tom Joyner's Old School Mix by Various Artists (CD - 03/16/1999)
 

Tom Joyner's Old School Mix by Various Artists ...

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Tom Joyner's Old School Mix by Various Artists (CD - 03/16/1999)
"Tom Joyner Presents: Old School Mix" (03/16/1999) R&B Various Artists, Rhino Records (USA)Liner Note Author: Tom Joyner. Photographer: Michael Ochs. Around 1994, urban contemporary DJ Tom Joyner hired Steve "Silk" Hurley to provide "old school mixes" for his popular Tom Joyner Morning Show; and by old school, he meant the classic soul, funk, and disco of the late '70s and early '80s. To be sure, Hurley was perfect for the job; he had played an indispensable role in house music, and his credentials as a mixmaster were undeniable. The type of mixing that Hurley has done on his show is what he does for Old School Mix, which spans 1976-1982 and boasts a non-stop mix of 18 major hits from that period. One gem segues right into another; just as Gwen McCrae's "Funky Sensation" is starting to fade out, Hurley comes right in with One Way's "Cutie Pie." And just as Peter Brown's "Dance With Me" is starting to end, Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell" makes its presence felt. The CD is full of gems that defined the disco era, such as Chic's "Le Freak," Sister Sledge's "He's the Greatest Dancer," and Foxy's "Get Off." But Joyner's mix has as much to do with hardcore funk and soul as it does with disco; Funkadelic's "One Nation Under a Groove," Slave's "Slide," and Zapp's "More Bounce to the Ounce" soared to number one or two on the R&B charts, but didn't fare nearly as well on the pop charts. In fact, Old School Mix is pretty much the type of soul/funk/disco blend you could have expected to hear on the mix shows that graced black radio in the late '70s and early '80s. Even if you're not familiar with Joyner's show and Hurley's contributions to it, this is a CD to savor. ~ Alex Henderson

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Hard by Jagged Edge (CD - 10/14/2003)
 

Hard by Jagged Edge (CD - 10/14/2003)

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Hard by Jagged Edge (CD - 10/14/2003)
"Hard [PA]" (10/14/2003) R&B Jagged Edge, Columbia (USA)This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Jagged Egde: Wingo, Brian, Brandon, Kyle (vocals). Additional personnel includes: Jermaine Dupri (vocals, drums); Major Damage, Big Boi, Street Katz, Woonie, Jazze Pha (rap vocals); Kevin Hicks, Ray Holton (guitar); Melvin Coleman (keyboards); LaMarquis Jefferson (bass); Tiffany Beaudoin (background vocals); Bryan M. Cox. Producers include: Jermaine Dupri, TK, Jagged Edge, Jazze Pha, Bryan M. Cox. This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Personnel: Jagged Edge (vocals); Lee Dixon, Tatu "Joe Black" Hill, Major Damage, Rahj "Woonie" Rowe, Big Boi (rap vocals); Melvin Coleman (guitar, keyboards, vocoder, hand claps, drum programming); Joey P. (guitar, hand claps); Ray Holton, Kevin Hicks, Steve Wright, Rod Harris, Jr. (guitar); Dwayne Nesmith, Pierre Medor (keyboards); Jermaine Dupri (drums); Corey Presley (drum programming); Tiffany Beaudoin (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Jermaine Dupri; Alvin Speights; Phil Tan. Recording information: Brandon's Way, Hollywood, CA; Joi Studios, Decatur, GA; South Side Studios, Atlanta, GA. Photographer: Sacha Waldman. Arrangers: Bryan-Michael Cox; Lee Dixon; Dwayne Nesmith; Tatu "Joe Black" Hill; Kevin Hicks; Michael J. Henderson; Melvin Coleman; Phalon Alexander; Antwon Patton; Sick Cents Productions, Inc.; Hockefa Lamar; Vincent Brown; Jermaine Dupri; Keir Gist; Anthony Criss; Rahj "Woonie" Rowe; Pierre Medor; Brandon Casey; Brian Casey. Jagged Edge seemed destined to assume Boyz II Men's place as the pre-eminent black male vocal group when its second album, 2000's J.E. Heartbreak, went double platinum. But 2001's Jagged Little Thrill did only half as much business, despite the presence on it of the group's most successful single, "Where the Party At," which topped the R&B chart and reached number three on the Hot 100. Maybe the problem was that that track, which featured a rap by Nelly, was more aggressive than most Jagged Edge songs and more identified with the guest star than the headliners. If so, Jagged Edge didn't repeat the mistake with their fourth album, Hard. This time, the leadoff single, released months ahead of the full-length disc and rising in the R&B Top Ten and the pop Top 40 as the album appeared, is the more characteristic ballad "Walked Outta Heaven." It's a good calling card for the collection, which as usual is full of slow-tempo love songs anchored by synthetic bass beats that will test the capacity of woofers and filled with involved group vocal choruses set against pleading solo lead lines that weave in and out. Jermaine Dupri, the group's musical guru, has pulled back from deep involvement in the writing and producing, leaving those duties largely to Bryan-Michael Cox, Sick Cents Productions, Inc., and Melvin Coleman, who allow group members Brandon and Brian Casey to write the romantic lyrics and provide all the other musical elements. For variation, reggae rapper Major Damage toasts over "Girls Gone Wild," and Big Boi from OutKast raps on the bonus track "Car Show." But for the most part, it's the four singers themselves who dominate. ~ William Ruhlmann Jagged Edge seemed destined to assume Boyz II Men's place as the pre-eminent black male vocal group when its second album, 2000's J.E. Heartbreak, went double platinum. But 2001's Jagged Little Thrill did only half as much business, despite the presence on it of the group's most successful single, "Where the Party At," which topped the R&B chart and reached number three on the Hot 100. Maybe the problem was that that track, which featured a rap by Nelly, was more aggressive than most Jagged Edge songs and more identified with the guest star than the headliners. If so, Jagged Edge didn't repeat the mistake with their fourth album, Hard. This time, the leadoff single, released months ahead of the full-length disc and rising in the R&B Top Ten and the pop Top 40 as the album appeared, is the more characteristic ballad "Walked Outta Heaven." It's a good calling c

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Decade [PA]
 

Decade [PA]

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Decade [PA]
"Decade 1994-2004 [PA]" (09/28/2004) R&B Az, B.E.C. Records

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Tom Joyner's Old School Mix Returns by Various Artists (CD - 03/05/2002)
 

Tom Joyner's Old School Mix Returns by Various ...

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Tom Joyner's Old School Mix Returns by Various Artists (CD - 03/05/2002)
"Tom Joyner Presents: The Old School Mix Returns" (03/05/2002) R&B Various Artists, Rhino Records (USA)Compilation producer: Steve "Silk" Hurley/Barry Benson. Includes liner notes by Tom Joyner. Digitally remastered by Bob Fisher (Pacific Multimedia Corp). Audio Mixer: Steve "Silk" Hurley. Audio Remasterer: Bob Fisher . Liner Note Author: Tom Joyner. There's a few songs that aren't entirely familiar here, which is to the credit of the compilers, since without those, Tom Joyner Presents: The Old School Mix Returns would be nothing more than a stroll down an oldies radio station, albeit one with good taste. Of course, everybody should be aware that the word "mix" is not a synonym for "compilation" in this case. No, it means that all the songs are mixed into the next, with seamless segues that truly are a real bitch if you're just looking for a clean copy of the original hit. This approach does lend the album the feeling of a DJ spinning each song, which could be welcome according to the circumstance -- if you're throwing a party, it's acceptable, but as straight listening, it's a bit irritating. But, if you can ignore that, this is a collection with good taste and sharp sequencing, resulting in a party album that pretty much delivers. But it very well might not be good for anything but a party. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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R&B, Hip Hop & Rap Music calling your name? Find all of the top Music gear that you want at BizRate. Compare prices from top brands like as well as . Browse ratings from merchants that sell R&B, Hip Hop & Rap Music and other Music. Narrow your choices down by price range, brand, merchant, and more. Find the product that's right for you: Relapse * by Eminem (CD - 05/19/2009) - Number Ones by Michael Jackson (CD - 11/18/2003).