Reflections Retrospective [Extra tracks, Import, Limited Edition]

Mary J. Blige | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Limited Edition
• Label: Universal Japan
• ASIN: B000XD9KW8
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #674,913 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Reflections (I Remember)

2. We Ride (I See the Future)

3. You Know

4. King & Queen

5. No More Drama

6. Family Affair

7. Real Love

8. No One Will Do

9. Be Without You

10. I'm Going Down

11. 911

12. Not Gon' Cry

13. My Life '06

14. Be Happy

15. I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By [Razor Sharp Mix]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Mary J. fans are about as likely to put up with chain-pulling as the queen of hip-hop soul herself--which is why a good many of them have been quick to point out that this disc, exceptional as it is, doesn't quite equal a greatest hits package. Where among these favorites are biggies such as "Love @ 1st Sight," "You Remind Me," "Your Child," and "Dance for Me"? The answer is it doesn't much matter. Because Reflections, as its name suggests, is a mere dip in the Mary J. memory pool--a meatier hits package is likely on the way. There's no time like the present, then, for rolling with the latest on offer from R&B's reigning bruised-hearted lady. Threaded through evergreens like "Family Affair," "Not Gon' Cry," and "No More Drama" are four new tracks, not a one of which is a throwaway: "We Ride (I See the Future)" coasts on attitude and a hand-clappy beat; "King & Queen," a duet with John Legend, seems spun from some ecstatic fantasy; "You Know" breaks itself down to a dizzy-headed disco vibe; and opener "Reflections (I Remember)" is a proud look back on a lifetime of heartbreak and healing. It may not be as definitive a disc as some would like, but in determining whether to buy it, take a cue from Mary J.: don't hold back. --Tammy La Gorce

Product Description

International pressing of this 2006 collection from the R&B diva features three additional songs not available on the U.S. pressing: 'One ' (with U2), 'As' (with George Michael) and 'MJB Da MVP' (featuring 50 Cent). Mary J Blige has done it again. Reflections: The Journey is the ultimate collection of her greatest hits and previously unreleased tracks. Showing the journey from her reign as the Queen Of Hip Hop and Soul and taking us into her evolution as a legend. Island. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Milestones!, December 14, 2006

By 

Josh "JAC" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reflections - A Retrospective (Audio CD)

People seem to be a bit confused with this CD. It is NOT a Greatest Hits disc. Mary has been on several talk shows promoting Reflections (A Retrosepctive)and she has said that it was not intended to be a greatest hits. MJB has gone on to say that she wanted to put together a collection of songs that she gets a lot of emails and letters about, from her fans, telling her how much these peticular songs have impacted their lives.

With that being said, she has chosen some pretty big milestone songs in her career. Mary obviously included the song that put her on the map -"Real Love". Everyone knows this as her first bonafide hit and takes you back to that early 90's sound. She also took such great tracks as "I'm Going Down", "Be Happy", "Not Gon' Cry", the gut wrenching: "No More Drama", the song we ALL tore the dance floors up to: "Family Affair", and she also took us into the now and re-invented the classic "My Life" and also included the recent smash: "Be Without You".

Mary has 4 brand new songs on here with: "King & Queen" (Featuring John Legend), "You Know", "Reflections (I Remember)" and "We Ride (I See The Future)". All 4 are good but "Reflections" and "We Ride" are standout tracks that are 100% raw Mary!!! 2 very good midtempo songs that you will just warm up to immedietly.

The bad: I have ALWAYS loved the song: "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" but, why did they have to remix it??? I do not like this remix at all! I wish they would have just remastered the original and put that one on here instead of this bland remix. PLUS Method Man is all edited - UGH! In my opinion, I feel there are just a few songs on here that could have been excluded to make room for a couple different songs that I am sure have made more of an impact of Mary fans.

I have and always will love Mary. She does not have a bad song. I just think people need to understand that this was never intended to be a greatest hits. We know when one does drop, it will be a box set!!! :)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Where Are The Hits?, December 12, 2006

By 

K. Bryant "kenbinc2" (Dayton) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reflections - A Retrospective (Audio CD)

First let me state that whomever formulated this track-list must have little knowledge of MJB's long explosive 15 year career. They failed to add all of the obvious choices. The record company should've also known better than to package a MJB "Reflection" in just fifteen tracks. There's just too much material to fit on one CD.

Where is 'Love No Limit' from 'What's the 411?'

Where is 'I Can Love You', 'Seven Days', 'Missing You', & 'You Are Everything' from 'Share My World'?

Where is 'All That I Can Say', 'Deep Inside', & 'Your Child' from 'Mary'?

Where is 'PMS' & 'Rainy Dayz' from 'No More Drama'?

Where is 'Ooh' & 'Love @ First Sight' From 'Love & Life'?

That is a lot of essential Mary cuts that were excluded, many of which were bonafide hits and will be missed by those who knew them. I could have done without 'Be Without You' & 'No One Will Do', both of which never sat in the vault long enough for us to miss them. They were both unnecessary inclusions seeing as how they were both released on 'The Breakthrough' less than a year ago.

I also hate when they remix tracks on greatest hits packages. I could have done without the 'You're All I Need' remix. Whitney did the same thing for her greatest hits CD and it suffered because of it.

Bottom line: This is not a definitive collection. Nowhere near it. They really dropped the ball on this one. The new cuts are alright, but I could have done without all the padding and they could have added more essentials.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great CD but missing tracks, December 12, 2006

By 

Music lover "tom" (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reflections - A Retrospective (Audio CD)

The long awaited and highly anticipated greatest hits collections has finally arrived. The one but very important criticism I have is why is the North American version 3 tracks short!! It's missing the key singles like the duet with George Michael "As" as well as the one with U2 and the coveted MJB Da MVP. I urge all fans to petition Geffen to release Mary's cds with their full tracklistings. After all, did she not gain international status from support here at home!