Notes & Personnel Info |  | Personnel includes: Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, K-Ci Hailey (vocals); Soulshock, Karlin, Kiyamma Griffin, Kevin Deane, Chucky Thompson, Rich Harrison, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (various instruments); Babyface (acoustic guitar, keyboards, programming); Eric Clapton, Jeff Mironov, Eli Lishinski, Soong Lee, Mike Scott, Paul Pesco, Mark Bowers (guitar); Dave Boruff (saxophone); Manuel Seal (piano, electric piano); Elton John (piano); Gen Rubin (Wurlitzer piano); Bryant Crockett (keyboards, programming); Rex Rideout, Don Kipping, Loris Holland (keyboards); Tom Barney, Nathan East, Eric Lorde, Paul Johnson, Chuck Domonico (bass); Chris "Daddy" Dave (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Cindy Mizell, Paulette McWilliams (background vocals). | | Producers include: Lauryn Hill, Kevin Deane, Rich Harrison, Mary J. Blige, Babyface. | | Engineers include: Carl Robinson, Manny Marroquin, Paul Boutin. | | MARY was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. "All That I Can Say" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and for Best R&B Song. "Don't Waste Your Time" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. | | This edition of MARY includes a bonus enhanced audio CD which contains one unreleased song and multimedia computer files. | | Personnel includes: Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, K-Ci Hailey (vocals); Nas, DMX (rap vocals); Soulshock, Karlin, Kiyamma Griffin, Kevin Deane, Chucky Thompson, Rich Harrison, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (various instruments); Babyface (acoustic guitar, keyboards, programming); Eric Clapton, Jeff Mironov, Eli Lishinski, Soong Lee, Mike Scott, Paul Pesco, Mark Bowers (guitar); Dave Boruff (saxophone); Manuel Seal (piano, electric piano); Elton John (piano); Gen Rubin (Wurlitzer piano); Bryant Crockett (keyboards, programming); Rex Rideout, Don Kipping, Loris Holland (keyboards); Tom Barney, Nathan East, Eric Lorde, Paul Johnson, Chuck Domonico (bass); Chris "Daddy" Dave (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Cindy Mizell, Paulette McWilliams (background vocals). | | Producers include: Lauryn Hill, Kevin Deane, Rich Harrison, Mary J. Blige, Babyface. | | Engineers include: Carl Robinson, Manny Marroquin, Paul Boutin. | | This limited Edition of "Mary" includes a bonus DVD as well as two bonus tracks on Disc #2. | | This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. | | Personnel: Mary J. Blige (vocals); Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey, Aretha Franklin (vocals); Jadakiss (rap vocals); Chucky Thompson, Kevin Deane, Kiyamma Griffin, Soulshock (various instruments); Eric Clapton, Jeff Mironov (guitar); Loris Holland (keyboards); Tom Barney (bass instrument); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Che Pope, Gerald Isaac (programming); Lauryn Hill (background vocals). | | Perhaps it was inevitable that Mary J. Blige would mature, toning down the raunchier elements of her persona that have been evident since her debut, while repositioning herself as a classicist soul singer. Even so, the sheer classiness of Mary, her fourth album, may come as a bit of a surprise. Blige made a conscious effort to create an album that recalled the classic dawning days of quiet storm yet worked as a unified, cohesive album. That meant that the more overt hip-hop elements have been subdued in favor of '70s soul. There's still grit in the music, but it's been glossed over with a polished production, and she now favors sophisticated songs, including material from such writers as Stevie Wonder, Bacharach/David, Lauryn Hill, and Elton John/Bernie Taupin. Some of these writers were collaborators and others contributed songs outright, but the amazing thing about the end result belongs to nobody else but Blige. It's different, to be sure, but still her -- and it's a rewarding, engaging way to mature. Blige's voice is richer and her skills have deepened, and her new songs, while not as streetwise, are worthy of her talents. Consequently, Mary is a thoroughly winning album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine | | The queen of hip-hop soul, Mary J. Blige, returned with her third album, MARY, at a time when R&B was experiencing a surge in popularity. Blige collaborates with numerous producers and songwriters like Lauryn Hill ("All That I Can Say"), Babyface ("Don't Waste Your Time," which also features vocals from Aretha Franklin and Soulshack), and Karlin ("Time") to bring a more expansive sonic recipe to her music. | | MARY is a dynamic, intricately arranged album that gives the singer a softer, more melodic sound than her tougher hip-hop sound of the early '90s. "Beautiful Ones" (produced by Chucky Thompson), "Not Lookin'" (a duet with K-Ci Hailey), and "The Love I Never Had" (produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis) are standout tracks. | | The queen of hip-hop soul, Mary J. Blige, returned with her third album, MARY, at a time when R&B was experiencing a surge in popularity. Blige collaborates with numerous producers and songwriters like Lauryn Hill ("All That I Can Say"), Babyface ("Don't Waste Your Time," which also features vocals from Aretha Franklin and Soulshack), and Karlin ("Time") to bring a more expansive sonic recipe to her music. | | MARY is a dynamic, intricately arranged album that gives the singer a softer, more melodic sound than her tougher hip-hop sound of the early '90s. "Beautiful Ones" (produced by Chucky Thompson), "Not Lookin'" (a duet with K-Ci Hailey), and "The Love I Never Had" (produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis) are standout tracks. |
Musical Guests | | Lauryn Hill | | Eric Clapton | | Aretha Franklin | | Jadakiss | | K-CI | | Elton John | | Paulinho Da Costa | | K-Ci Hailey | | DMX | | Nas |
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| Rolling Stone (9/2/99, p.110)
- 4 stars (out of 5)
- "...superstar-packed.... Mary is moving away from the...sound of her earlier albums into a sound that's...more soulful, singing over a large live band or alongside Eric Clapton's guitar or Elton's piano. But she remains the queen of hip-hop soul..."Rolling Stone (9/2/99, p.110)
- 4 stars (out of 5)
- "...superstar-packed.... Mary is moving away from the...sound of her earlier albums into a sound that's...more soulful, singing over a large live band or alongside Eric Clapton's guitar or Elton's piano. But she remains the queen of hip-hop soul..." Spin (10/99, p.164)
- 9 out of 10 - "...Emotionally gripping and stylistically diverse, this album should allow Blige to transcend the limited and somewhat apologetic 'Queen of Hip-Hop Soul' label..." Spin (10/99, p.164)
- 9 out of 10 - "...Emotionally gripping and stylistically diverse, this album should allow Blige to transcend the limited and somewhat apologetic 'Queen of Hip-Hop Soul' label..." Entertainment Weekly (8/20-27/99, pp.123-4)
- "...Does what Mary J. Blige does best - making a heart-to-heart connection with her female fans by channelling the everyday insults and injuries of the love wars into passionate vocal art." - Rating: B Entertainment Weekly (8/20-27/99, pp.123-4)
- "...Does what Mary J. Blige does best - making a heart-to-heart connection with her female fans by channelling the everyday insults and injuries of the love wars into passionate vocal art." - Rating: B Q (1/00, p.83)
- Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1999." Q (9/99, p.101)
- 4 stars (out of 5)
- "...Whether freestyling over skipping, Timbaland-influenced beats on 'Beautiful One' or the straightforward swing of 'Your Child', Blige can turn from sassy to agonized to vulnerable in the space of a single phrase....The Queen Of Hip Hop Soul remains classy and invincible." Q (9/99, p.101)
- 4 stars (out of 5)
- "...Whether freestyling over skipping, Timbaland-influenced beats on 'Beautiful One' or the straightforward swing of 'Your Child', Blige can turn from sassy to agonized to vulnerable in the space of a single phrase....The Queen Of Hip Hop Soul remains classy and invincible." The Source (10/99, p.240)
- "...when you take Mary's pure emotion...and place it over its rightful medium, something incredible is bound to happen....she dares to break the hip-hop soul template she helped create, and do something different. Something our loop-weary souls need." The Source (10/99, p.240)
- "...when you take Mary's pure emotion...and place it over its rightful medium, something incredible is bound to happen....she dares to break the hip-hop soul template she helped create, and do something different. Something our loop-weary souls need." Rap Pages (10/99, pp.144-5)
- "...It's sweet. It's consistent. It's personable. It's mature....A field trip of energy relative to all. And of course, each track is blessed with the influence of Hip-Hop soul, jazz and blues. Hail Mary!" - Rating: B Rap Pages (10/99, pp.144-5)
- "...It's sweet. It's consistent. It's personable. It's mature....A field trip of energy relative to all. And of course, each track is blessed with the influence of Hip-Hop soul, jazz and blues. Hail Mary!" - Rating: B |
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