More behind the Variety link.

Mariah Carey has always been about control: over her career, sure, but also over her extraordinary voice, which is her greatest asset as a performer. And that voice is in full bloom on “The Rarities,” her new compilation of previously unreleased and low-profile B-sides.

Although releasing an album of rarities and outtakes can be like sharing baby pictures with the world, based on the evidence presented here, Mariah never really had much of an awkward stage. Even though this is a collection of tracks that, for whatever reason, didn’t make the final cut of her studio albums, she never lets us see her sweat and she’s not about to start now, so don’t expect to find any stains here.

She can be heard saying “the end of that was iffy” during the outro of the opener, “Here We Go Again,” a previously unreleased track recorded for “Mariah Carey” that would have sounded comfortable sitting next to “Someday.” For the most part, though, these rarities would have passed muster on any Mariah long-player as, at worst, harmless filler and, at best, above-average album tracks. Likewise, her vocal delivery has always been impeccable, and while her lyricism has improved dramatically over time, none of the sentiments on songs like “Can You Hear Me” and “Do You Ever Think of Me” — an outtake from her 1991 sophomore album “Emotions” and the B-side of her “Dreamlover” single, respectively — would have been out of place on a Celine Dion album from the same era.

From Wikipedia: In August 2020, Carey announced she will release an album called The Rarities on October 2, 2020, with its lead single "Save the Day" featuring Lauryn Hill released on August 20. The album will include rare and unreleased songs that she recorded at various stages of her career.

On September 13, 2020, Carey released the music video for "Save the Day" as part of the airing of the U.S. Open.

On September 17, 2020, Carey released the second single from the album, "Out Here on My Own", a cover of the Irene Cara song, which she originally recorded in 2000.

Let's change the thread to Letoya Jackson- rarities. Pleeease.

IfItAintToy said:

Let's change the thread to Letoya Jackson- rarities. Pleeease.

Who is Letoya Jackson?

Listening to the CD now. The vault tracks and B-sides are simply astonishing!!! And glad to have "Slipping Away" finally remastered!

kitbradley said:

Listening to the CD now. The vault tracks and B-sides are simply astonishing!!! And glad to have "Slipping Away" finally remastered!

That first track is great. How it never ended up as a Bside or bonus track is beyond me.

HUGE fan but first time hearing the original Firecracker version of "Loverboy". Gotta say I much prefer the re-worked Cameo-sampled single that was eventually released. Fits in better with the sound/vibe of Glitter too. So yeah, f-you AND thank you Tommy.

eduJ said:

HUGE fan but first time hearing the original Firecracker version of "Loverboy". Gotta say I much prefer the re-worked Cameo-sampled single that was eventually released. Fits in better with the sound/vibe of Glitter too. So yeah, f-you AND thank you Tommy.

I never cared for "Loverboy" in any form. But, yes, the original version on this latest CD is inferior to what appeared on the soundtrack. It was one of two clunkers (the other one being "Save the Day") on the otherwise excellent "Rarities" CD.

[Edited 10/10/20 20:17pm]

Anyone hear listening to the memoir audiobook version of The Meaning? Was there a thread I missed?

I actually don't like the mastering on that.

kitbradley said:

And glad to have "Slipping Away" finally remastered!

Cinny said:

I actually don't like the mastering on that.

kitbradley said:

And glad to have "Slipping Away" finally remastered!

On the "Rarities" CD? It's a huge improvement over the original mastering from the B-Side of the "Always Be My Baby" CD single.

Cinny said:

I actually don't like the mastering on that.

kitbradley said:

And glad to have "Slipping Away" finally remastered!

ove that song, can''t get why this and One Night didn't make it into Daydream album, as well as Everything Fades and Do You Think into Music Box, but agree with you Slipping doesn't sound that great, I don't know exactly what it is.

TrivialPursuit said:

More behind the Variety link.

Mariah Carey has always been about control: over her career, sure, but also over her extraordinary voice, which is her greatest asset as a performer. And that voice is in full bloom on “The Rarities,” her new compilation of previously unreleased and low-profile B-sides.

Although releasing an album of rarities and outtakes can be like sharing baby pictures with the world, based on the evidence presented here, Mariah never really had much of an awkward stage. Even though this is a collection of tracks that, for whatever reason, didn’t make the final cut of her studio albums, she never lets us see her sweat and she’s not about to start now, so don’t expect to find any stains here.

She can be heard saying “the end of that was iffy” during the outro of the opener, “Here We Go Again,” a previously unreleased track recorded for “Mariah Carey” that would have sounded comfortable sitting next to “Someday.” For the most part, though, these rarities would have passed muster on any Mariah long-player as, at worst, harmless filler and, at best, above-average album tracks. Likewise, her vocal delivery has always been impeccable, and while her lyricism has improved dramatically over time, none of the sentiments on songs like “Can You Hear Me” and “Do You Ever Think of Me” — an outtake from her 1991 sophomore album “Emotions” and the B-side of her “Dreamlover” single, respectively — would have been out of place on a Celine Dion album from the same era.

FIllers? what the fuck did they smoke¡?

slyjackson said:

paisleypark4 said:

slyjackson said:

FIllers? what the fuck did they smoke¡?

Cool On You in my opinion is a filler. Terrible track. The rest of them are nice / have their place. Lullaby of Birdland was a surprise. Really love her jazz styling.

Agree. Wouldn't mind an entire jazz album or tour. Its in her wheelhouse now more than ever.

eduJ said: