I'm not sure how many know about this album.

It was quietly released at the beginning of this year along with a slew of other "Playlist: The Very Best Of..." albums by other Sony/BMG artists.

Unlike other Sony greatest hits compilations released after she left the label (eg. Greatest Hits, The Ballads), the big difference here was that Mariah had a direct hand in selecting her Sony era hits and album tracks which she felt best represented her artistry.

In other words, it's the greatest hits album she always wanted to release.

For that reason alone, I highly recommend this compilation.

All of her essential early-mid 90's dance hits are accounted for ("Dreamlover", "Make It Happen", "Emotions", "Fantasy") and get nicely cushioned between plenty of worthy ballads ("I Am Free", "Vanishing", "Melt Away", "Underneath The Stars") that didn't receive a proper single release. A few indulgent tracks ("Bliss" and "Babydoll") give her the chance to breathe while the more somber introspective album tracks she purposely relegated toward the end of her studio albums ("Looking In", "Outside") get another chance to shine.

Don't let this one pass you by.

Even if you own these songs on her various studio albums like I do, it's still nice to have all of them gathered in one place - remastered. Plus, you can easily find this for $7 at Walmart since it's technically a budget priced CD.

[Edited 9/8/10 22:18pm]

I ain't feeling it. Not because I don't enjoy a few MC songs at times, but the girl releases shit over and over and over.

I think the best thing anyone can do to save a few bucks is to simply create a playlist in their media player, and recreate the traclist. I did this with Madonna's Celebration compilation (I found the two new songs online and snagged them). I don't have the $$$ to buy all these Best Of, Very Best Of, Greatest Hits, HITS, Number Ones, Absolute Best, Millennium Series, Gold, and any other compilation set, selling the same thing over and over.

I'm such a Janet fan, but until I find that Number Ones set on sale, I am simply using a playlist to listen to the album, as noted above. I did the same with Prince's Ultimate. My disdain lies more w/ the record companies, who often put these things out without the artist's permission, or the artist just signs off on something and never really says, "Hey, wait a minute - this is enough. We're not putting this out." It's lazy business on the artist's part, and money hungry tactics on the record companies part. Who's really buying compilations anyway, unless they're a hardcore fan and/or a completest?

She put her stamp on the two-disk set that had remixes on it. One disk was club mixes, and the other were the R&B mixes. If her fans really have her music, why does anyone NEED a compilation? Dollars to donuts, fans are making their own playlists (which are probably 100x better than anything a record company throws together anyway). How many times has someone posted on the Org, "What are the best songs for ______? I need to make a playlist." BAM - there's your compilation and $7 in your pocket.

$7 at Walmart. Meh, not a lot of money obviously. Purple Rain is there in a digipak for $9.

Off on a tangent there, but my point stands about MC. She over does it with releases, and this is just another.

Nice package though.