Greatest Hits/The Remixes - Mariah Carey Album Review

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Album Review

Whopping four CD set from the best selling female artist of the 90s. Since bursting onto the music scene in 1990 with Vision Of Love, the record-shattering chanteuse has sold in excess of 120 million albums globally. Daughter of a black Venezuelan engineer and Irish – American opera singer, who also worked as a voice coach – Carey had an excellent start. She’s consistently moved forward, though not always using her stunning 7 octave capability to best effect. Her vocal gymnastics have topped the US charts 15 times -only Elvis has spent longer there. Born Long Island New York on March 27, 1970, the 35 year-old has been at the forefront of high octane singing for the past decade and a half, though no more than two number one singles (Without You and Against All Odds ) have eluded her in the UK. It’s the same story on the album front – Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995) have been her only chart toppers.

This outstanding collection of hits and remixes should provide her third. When you scale through her repertoire, Carey hasn’t been afraid of mixing it with the best, as she’s regularly dueted, with the likes of Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston her closest rival, and boy-bands Westlife and Boyz 11 Men who all appear here. Disc 1 is almost a complete running order of her UK singles from 1990 to 1995, omitting There’s Got To Be A Way - her lowest chart entry at 54. Incredibly, her awesome 1994 Christmas hit, All I Want For Christmas, has been ignored, despite being one of the in demand songs of the festive season. Hits CD 2 is almost a complete order of UK singles from ‘95s One Sweet Day to ‘00s Against All Odds, leaving the door open for possibly another, years down the line. Shelved is Open Arms- added are Forever and Underneath The Stars.

Overall, the 28 tracks show a chronology of a diva on top of her game, moving easily from glossy ballads to hip-hop inspired dance pop with consummate professionalism.

The 22 remixes, featuring a host of known and lesser known performers is an insight into the adaptability of her songs, though some are protracted, ranging from four to eleven minutes. In essence, this no more than a Euro-beats dance album strictly for clubbers.

Highlights – I’ll Be There, Without You, Fantasy, Forever, Butterfly, My All, Against All Odds.

Low point – Sweetheart.

Elly Roberts