Protest as she may -- and she does, claiming in the liner notes that #1's is "not a greatest hits album! It's too soon, I haven't been recording long enough for that!" -- it's hard to view #1's, Mariah Carey's first compilation, as anything other than a greatest-hits album. Carey was fortunate enough to have nearly every single she released top the pop charts. Between 1990's "Vision of Love," and 1998's "My All," all but four commercially released singles ("Anytime You Need a Friend," "Can't Let Go," "Make It Happen," and "Without You") hit number one, with only a handful of radio-only singles ("Butterfly," "Breakdown") making the airwaves, not the charts. That leaves 12 big hits on #1's: all number ones. Since Carey's singles always dominate her albums, it comes as no surprise that #1's is her best, most consistent album, filled with songs that represent state-of-the-art '90s adult contemporary and pop-oriented urban soul. That said, it isn't a perfect overview -- a couple of good singles are missing because of the self-imposed "#1 rule", plus, the Ol' Dirty Bastard mix of "Fantasy" is strong, but fans familiar with the radio single will be disappointed that the chorus is completely missing on this version. The album is also padded with a personal favorite (her Brian McKnight duet "Whenever You Call," taken from Butterfly) and three new songs -- the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Sweetheart," the Whitney Houston duet "When You Believe" (taken from The Prince of Egypt soundtrack), and "I Still Believe" (a remake of a Brenda K. Starr) tune -- which are all fine, but not particularly memorable. Still, that's hardly enough to bring down a thoroughly entertaining compilation that will stand as her best record until the "official" hits collection is released. [The import edition includes bonus tracks.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
#1's (Import Bonus Tracks)
04/25/2000 | Sbme Import
Videos from #1's (Import Bonus Tracks)
All Music Guide Review
Track Listing
Credits
- Tony Maserati
- Mixing
- Patrique McMillian
- Vocals
- Narada Michael Walden
- Producer
- Bruce Miller
- Engineer
- Geno Morris
- Vocals
- Don Murray
- Engineer
- Greg Phillinganes
- Piano
- Bob Rosa
- Engineer, Mixing Engineer
- Phil Tan
- Engineer, Mixing
- Chris Toland
- Arranger
- Richard Travali
- Engineer
- Rick Wake
- Arranger, Producer
- Hans Zimmer
- Orchestral Arrangements
- Eric Rigler
- Pipe, Low Whistle
- Damon Thomas
- Choir Conductor
- Michael Hart Thompson
- Guitar
- Glen Marchese
- Engineer
- David Frazer
- Mixing
- Bill Ross
- Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements
- Walter Afanasieff
- Arranger, Producer
- Christopher Austopchuk
- Art Direction
- Ivy Skoff
- Production Coordination
- Sharlotte Gibson
- Choir, Chorus
- Melonie Daniels
- Vocals (Background)
- The Ummah
- Producer
- Paul Boutin
- Engineer
- Kelly Price
- Vocals (Background)
- Gavin Greenaway
- Conductor
- Scott Widney
- Monitors
- Mase
- Vocals
- Barbara Stout
- Assistant
- Shanrae Price
- Vocals (Background)
- Chuck Bailey
- Assistant Engineer
- Dion Allen
- Choir, Chorus
- Brian Garten
- Assistant Engineer
- Alice Butts
- Design
- Mary Ann Tatum
- Vocals (Background)
- Jason Stasium
- Engineer
- Mike Mason
- Producer
- Vearline Board
- Choir, Chorus
- Krystal Wilson
- Choir, Chorus
- Syretha Smith
- Choir, Chorus
- Nathan Walton
- Choir, Chorus
- Kevon Edmonds
- Choir, Chorus
- Daryl Hawes
- Choir, Chorus
- Kenya Ivey
- Choir, Chorus
- Lisa Ivey
- Choir, Chorus
- Nathan Ivey
- Choir, Chorus
- Tavia Ivey
- Choir, Chorus
- Pete Karem
- Engineer, Assistant Engineer
- J. Valentine
- Choir, Chorus
- Steven "Steven J." Jordan
- Producer
- Mark Smith
- Live Sound
- Shanice Wilson
- Choir, Chorus
- Trey Lorenz
- Vocals (Background)
- Tom Sweeney
- Assistant Engineer
- Tim Boyle
- Engineer
- Bob Cadway
- Engineer, Mixing
- Mariah Carey
- Arranger, Vocals, Mixing, Vocal Arrangement, Liner Notes, Main Performer, Engineer, Producer, Vocals (Background)
- Dana Jon Chappelle
- Engineer, Mixing, Mixing Engineer
- Robert Clivillés
- Arranger, Producer, Mixing
- David Cole
- Arranger, Mixing, Producer, Vocals (Background)
- Sean "Puffy" Combs
- Producer, Remixing
- Lynn Davis
- Choir, Chorus
- Patrick Dillett
- Engineer
- Jermaine Dupri
- Mixing
- Sheila E.
- Percussion
- Nathan East
- Bass
- Melvin Edmonds
- Choir, Chorus
- Brian Frye
- Engineer
- Jon Gass
- Mixing
- David Gleeson
- Engineer
- Mick Guzauski
- Mixing
- Jay Healy
- Engineer
- Acar S. Key
- Engineer
- Mark Kibble
- Choir, Chorus
- Rhett Lawrence
- Producer
- Ricky Lawson
- Drums
- Bob Ludwig
- Mastering


























