Age Ain't Nothing But a Number

Aaliyah | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 24, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jive
• ASIN: B000000518
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Aaliyah's debut still sounds great!, April 17, 2002

By 

Westley (Stuck in my head) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Age Ain't Nothing But a Number (Audio CD)

Aaliyah's debut CD yielded two Top 10 singles - "Back and Forth" and "At Your Best (You Are Love)" (the later or which was written and originally recorded by the Isley Brothers). However, the CD is filled with great songs, including a great balance of hip-hip songs (Throw Your Hands Up, Down with the Clique) and ballads (Age Ain't Nothing But a Number). Almost any of the songs on the CD could have been a hit single. That said, Aaliyah's voice was not as mature as it would be later, and some of the lyrics are a bit juvenile (if you're not down with my clique/ then you're poop on a stick).

The entire CD was produced by R. Kelly (he appears in the shadows on the CD back cover and is name-checked in several songs). With one producer, the CD sounds very cohesive, but it also is not as varied as her later CDs. It was rumored that she and R. Kelly were married at the time, even though she was only 15 years old. Her marriage seems to be addressed in the song, "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number," which argues that she is wiser than her years would seem.

At times, the album sounds a bit dated (the CD "One In a Million" is much better). One of the lyrics states, "Aalyiah's got a 90's swing," which is pretty accurate - the CD sounds very much like an early 90's hip-hp CD. Despite this complaint, I still greatly enjoy this CD. It sounds great and is a lasting tribute to Aaliyah's talent. We will miss out on hearing future recordings from this superstar, but will continue to enjoy the music she left behind.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an R&B album with a soft Hip Hop feel..., August 26, 2001

By 

Pauline (Connecticut USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Age Ain't Nothing But a Number (Audio CD)

I took out her 2 cds, that I own, when I heard of her passing. So young. And due to the 2 cds that I have, along with her other non album singles, she was definitely going somewhere and had wonderful talent ahead to show. I think you'll definitely have to like R&B/very soft Hip Hop in order to appreciate the album. Also, keep in mind that she was 15 when she did this album. Some of the 'young me' favorites on the cd are (quite a few off the album); "Age Ain't Nothing But a Number",

"Down with the Clique" (fun beat & rhythm), "At Your Best (You Are Love)" (R&B love song, pleasant), "No One Knows How To Love Me Quite Like You Do" (more of a hip hop love song...unique), "Young Nation", and I like the R. Kelly remix of "Back & Forth" (party song). All in all a pleasant album. And I would rate this a 4 even before her death. Wonderful debut album from a 15 year old, and the songs are what a 15 year old would sing and create (along with her co-creators).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars R. Kelly featuring Aaliyah, February 25, 2003

By 

E.J. Rupert (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Age Ain't Nothing But a Number (Audio CD)

On Aaliyah's debut, it ain't hard to tell that R. Kelly found her. Most of the songs sound like Aaliyah is featured on them instead of them being her own songs like "Back and Forth" and "Old School" (R. Kelly's name is even being mentioned in the latter's chorus). One of the only moments that you can feel Aaliyah's ability is on the remake of The Isley Brothers' "At Your Best". This album is still good to play in your stereo, but if you want a really good Aaliyah album, check out One in a Million (yeah, I know she has another album after that; I meant what I said).