Reflections (A Retrospective)

Reflections (A Retrospective)
Greatest hits album by Mary J. Blige
Released December 1, 2006 (2006-12-01)
(see release history)
Recorded July 1992–May 2006
Genre
Length 65:57
Label Geffen
Producer Bryan-Michael Cox, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Kendrick "WyldCard" Dean, Jerry Duplessis, Babyface, Kendu Isaacs, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Wyclef Jean, Mark Ledford, John Legend, Mark Morales, Chucky Thompson, Poke, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League
Mary J. Blige chronology
The Breakthrough
(2005)		 Reflections (A Retrospective)
(2006)		 Growing Pains
(2007)
Singles from Reflections (A Retrospective)
  1. "We Ride (I See the Future)"
    Released: November, 2006
  2. "MJB da MVP"
    Released: 18 December 2006 (UK only)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
musicOMH[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Reflections (A Retrospective) is The First greatest hits album by American R&B singer Mary J. Blige, released in the United States on December 12, 2006 by Geffen Records. The album hasn't been certified by the RIAA but has sold 900,000 (according to the December 2009 Billboard magazine issue) copies in the United States. The album has also sold an estimated 140,000 in the United Kingdom despite only reaching a peak of number forty—this was due to consistent sales of 40k+ over the Christmas weeks. As of May 25, 2008 worldwide sales are 1,381,376. This is supposed to be a Greatest hits CD of Mary J. Blige but many fans have criticized this CD by saying that this CD left out a lot of hit songs from Mary's career.

History

Reflections (A Retrospective) was originally scheduled for release in November 2005 with the title Reminisce... Until the Breakthrough before the decision was made by Blige and Geffen Records to delay the release in favor of the new studio album, The Breakthrough.[4] New songs that were due to appear on Reminisce—"Be Without You", "One", "MJB da MVP", and "Can't Hide from Luv"—were all transferred to the new album and the release date for the greatest hits was rescheduled to the spring of 2006. However, due to the commercial success of The Breakthrough, the release of Reminisce never materialized. In October 2006, Geffen Records announced that the project would finally be released on December 4, 2006 in the UK and December 12, 2006 in the U.S., under the title of Reflections (A Retrospective).[5]

New material

Although Reflections (A Retrospective) is a retrospective collection of songs, writer Bryan-Michael Cox, who co-wrote and produced Blige's record-breaking single "Be Without You", confirmed that the release would feature four new songs, which includes the single "We Ride (I See the Future)" as well as "Reflections (I Remember)", "You Know", and "King & Queen", a duet with John Legend. The new material was originally intended to be part of a repackaged version of The Breakthrough to be released towards late 2006, but was transferred to the greatest hits release instead.[6]

Also, on the back cover of the album (UK/International editions), track #17: the hit single "One" with U2, although it says (Mary J. Blige and U2), it is actually a solo version with U2 singing the chorus. Blige also sings the first part of the song, originally sung by Bono. This solo version is exclusive to the album, the original version with U2 (Bono's vocals) is on The Breakthrough.

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Album Length
1. "Reflections (I Remember)"  
Previously unreleased 4:06
2. "We Ride (I See the Future)"  
  • Blige
  • Cox
  • Dean
  • Austin
Previously unreleased 3:57
3. "You Know"  
Previously unreleased 3:37
4. "King & Queen" (duet with John Legend)
Once Again 3:46
5. "No More Drama"  
No More Drama 4:27
6. "Family Affair"  
No More Drama 4:26
7. "Real Love"  
What's the 411? 4:27
8. "No One Will Do"  
The Breakthrough 4:47
9. "Be Without You"  
The Breakthrough 4:06
10. "I'm Going Down"  
My Life 3:42
11. "911" (duet with Wyclef Jean)
The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book 4:19
12. "Not Gon' Cry"  
Share My World 4:50
13. "My Life 06"  
  • Blige
  • Combs
  • Roy Ayers
  • Thompson
  • Arlene DelValle
My Life 5:07
14. "Be Happy"  
  • Blige
  • Arlene DeValle
  • Combs
  • Jean C. Olivier
My Life 5:38
15. "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" (Razor Sharp Mix featuring Method Man)
Tical 3:41
International edition
No. TitleWriter(s)Album Length
16. "As" (with George Michael)
  • Wonder
Mary 4:41
17. "One" (with U2)
The Breakthrough 4:20
18. "MJB da MVP" (with 50 Cent)
The Breakthrough 4:10
Notes

Charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart 75
Dutch Albums Chart 12
European Top 100 Albums 80
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart 30
Swedish Albums Chart 23
Swiss Albums Chart 19
UK Albums Chart 40
U.S. Billboard 200 9
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 2

Release history

Region Date Label
Europe December 1, 2006 Geffen
Australia December 2, 2006
United Kingdom December 4, 2006
United States December 12, 2006
Canada
Japan December 13, 2006
Brazil January 31, 2007

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ musicOMH review
  3. ↑ Rolling Stone Album Guide
  4. ↑ "Mary J. Blige's Breakthrough Is Coming Out This Year After All". VH1. November 8, 2005. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  5. ↑ "Billboard Bits: Mary J. Blige, Saliva, iTunes Latino". Billboard. November 1, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  6. ↑ "Austin Eyeing Blige Duet For 'Ocean Drive'". Billboard. July 28, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
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