Mariah Carey

Anytime You Need a Friend was the fourth and final single released from Mariah Carey's blockbuster 1993 album Music Box. It also marked a couple of firsts for the gal -- it was her first single to not crack the U.S. Top Ten (it peaked at 12) and also started a trend of turning ballads into dance songs. The song was issued in two separate maxi-single configurations: The first included an urban mix, and Pt. 2 contained four dance mixes courtesy of master remixers Robert Clivilles and David Cole. The versions on Pt. 2 boast re-recorded vocals and scats by Carey, which find her getting quite gritty and earthy, as well as new background vocals and lyrics. Three extended mixes are included, all of which are excellent dance takes on this song, as well as a convenient single edit. The dance version of this song was so prevalent that it became almost -- if not just -- as famous as the original ballad version, and for good reason: It made for a topnotch dancefloor number, and stands as an excellent example of early- to mid-'90s dance music, not to mention being one of the singer's most compelling, underrated, and forgotten efforts. One only wishes they would have consolidated both singles onto one. ~ Jose Promis, All Music Guide