Mariah Carey's self-titled first album turned 30 in 2020. Rather than shine new light on her multi-platinum breakthrough, Carey chose to take a broader look at her history. From that July through September, she published The Meaning of Mariah Carey , unearthed The Live Debut: 1990, issued digital editions of numerous maxi-singles (including remixes and alternate versions that hit streaming platforms for the first time), announced an extensive vinyl reissue campaign, and also kept her base engaged with archival video ...
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Mariah Carey's self-titled first album turned 30 in 2020. Rather than shine new light on her multi-platinum breakthrough, Carey chose to take a broader look at her history. From that July through September, she published The Meaning of Mariah Carey , unearthed The Live Debut: 1990, issued digital editions of numerous maxi-singles (including remixes and alternate versions that hit streaming platforms for the first time), announced an extensive vinyl reissue campaign, and also kept her base engaged with archival video uploads. The excavation continued in October with The Rarities, Carey's first major compilation since 2015's #1 to Infinity. Its first half consists of B-sides and previously unreleased material spanning three decades. Chronologically sequenced, it presents an alternate, semi-secret MC timeline. It starts with an upbeat Mariah Carey outtake, ends with a 2020 acoustic version of Butterfly track "Close My Eyes," and more importantly contains some prime B-sides. There's the fine ballad "Do You Think of Me," a "Dreamlover" B-side that sounds more like an Emotions-era recording -- maybe too close to "Can't Let Go" to have made the cut -- and the aching Daydream-era ballad "Slipping Away," one of Carey's best, unequivocally R&B collaborations with Dave "Jam" Hall. There are some fascinating new discoveries. Above all is the intended original version of "Loverboy," featuring an interpolation of Yellow Magic Orchestra's take on Martin Denny's "Firecracker" that is more creative than the one heard on Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" (the release of which prompted Carey to rework it with Cameo's "Candy"). Just beneath that is a straight version of the tear-jerking "Out Here on My Own," written by Lesley and Michael Gore for Fame. Carey's connections to the lyrics and the original vocalist, Irene Cara, are palpable. Much of the remaining material is indeed second rate by the singer's standard, but there's value even in the least developed inclusions, like the fun blow-off "Cool on You." The live second half was recorded at the Tokyo Dome five months after the arrival of Daydream. Carey and her band are in top form throughout a balanced set list sequenced like an impeccable mixtape. Placing a cover of the S.O.S. Band's "Just Be Good to Me" between "Make It Happen" and "Dreamlover," originals based on other R&B classics, is a stroke of brilliance. And yes, Carey's whistle register is in full effect. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi
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Add this copy of The Rarities to cart. $15.36, Sold by Entertainment By Post US-KH rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Indian Trail, NC, UNITED STATES, published 2020 by Columbia.
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