Ultimate Aaliyah
Ultimate Aaliyah | ||||
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Box set by Aaliyah | ||||
Released | April 4, 2005 | |||
Recorded | 1993–March 9, 2001 | |||
Studio |
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Genre |
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Length | 185:39 | |||
Label | Blackground | |||
Producer |
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Aaliyah chronology | ||||
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Singles from Ultimate Aaliyah | ||||
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Ultimate Aaliyah is a posthumous box set and second posthumous album overall by American singer Aaliyah. It was released in selected countries on April 4, 2005, by Blackground Records.[1] The box set consists of three discs–the first disc is a greatest hits collection, the second, entitled Are You Feelin' Me?, contains material from soundtracks and Timbaland's studio albums, while the third is a DVD with the documentary The Aaliyah Story.
Ultimate Aaliyah received generally favorable reviews from critics. Due to its limited release, it peaked at number 32 on the UK Albums Chart and sold only 75,000 copies worldwide. The song "Are You Feelin' Me?", previously included on the Romeo Must Die soundtrack (2000), was released as a single in the United Kingdom to promote the album but failed to chart. Following its global release on October 8, 2021, Ultimate Aaliyah debuted at number 41 on the US Billboard 200.
Release
Ultimate Aaliyah was released in France and the United Kingdom on April 4, 2005[2][3] and in Australia on May 2.[4] Unlike Aaliyah's previous releases, Ultimate Aaliyah was released independently by Blackground Records, without the involvement of a major label. The album consists of three discs–two CDs and a DVD featuring the 60-minute documentary The Aaliyah Story compiled of promo clips, interviews, and special features, including MTV special, MTV News Now: The Life of Aaliyah, a Tribute to Aaliyah, Aaliyah's VH1 Behind the Music installment, and her E! True Hollywood Story episode. In Japan, a CD+DVD compilation album titled Special Edition: Rare Tracks & Visuals was released on March 14 instead of Ultimate Aaliyah.[5]
In 2017, a company named Craze Productions leaked the album on streaming services for 18 hours, and within minutes, Ultimate Aaliyah skyrocketed to number four on the iTunes charts. Hours later, the album was taken down off sites by Aaliyah's uncle and manager Barry Hankerson, and a lawsuit to Craze Productions was filed.[6][7] The same company earlier issued her previous compilation album I Care 4 U (2002) digitally, for which it was sued by Reservoir Media Management, the last company managing Blackground Records' catalog.
In August 2021, it was reported that the album (minus the DVD) and Aaliyah's other recorded work for Blackground (since rebranded as Blackground Records 2.0) would be re-released on physical, digital and, for the first time ever, streaming services, in a deal between the label and Empire Distribution;[8] Ultimate Aaliyah was released on October 8. [9] It also marked the first time the album was available globally, as the album had previously been released only in Australia, France and the United Kingdom. The re-release was met with disdain from Aaliyah's estate, who issued a statement denouncing the "unscrupulous endeavor to release Aaliyah's music without any transparency or full accounting to the estate".[10]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ultimate Aaliyah received generally favorable reviews from critics. Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave the album four and a half stars out of five, stating: "From the delightful "Back and Forth" through the all-too-sobering "Miss You," Ultimate Aaliyah adequately represents the shortened career of a tremendous talent who benefited from some of the best songwriting and production work by Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and R. Kelly. Casual fans will get most of the hits; collectors will be pleased to plug some gaps and get the documentary as a bonus."[11] In the Encyclopedia of Popular Music's 5th Concise edition (2007), writer Colin Larkin gave the album three out of five stars.[12]
Commercial performance
Ultimate Aaliyah debuted at number 32 on the UK Albums Chart and number 13 on the UK R&B Albums Chart, with 20,000 copies sold.[1] In October 2011, it was awarded a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association (IMPALA), indicating sales in excess of 75,000 copies.[13]
Following its 2021 reissue, Ultimate Aaliyah reached a new peak at number eight on the UK R&B Albums Chart[14] and debuted at number 41 on the US Billboard 200.[15] Following the release of the vinyl version of the album in the UK, on 23 September 2022, the compilation charted at number three on the UK R&B Albums Chart[16] (a new peak), and number 27 on the UK Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40.[17]
Track listing
- Elliott
- Mosley
- Elliott
- Mosley
- Herbert
- Craig King
- Elliott
- Mosley
- Stephen Garrett
- Mosley
- Garrett
- Elliott
- Mosley
- Carl Hampton
- Homer Banks
- Garrett
- Mosley
- Garrett
- Mosley
- Garrett
- Mosley
- Johnta Austin
- Teddy Bishop
- Ginuwine
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Are You Feelin' Me?" |
| Timbaland | 3:11 |
2. | "Messed Up" | Benjamin Bush |
| 3:36 |
3. | "Come Back in One Piece" (featuring DMX) |
|
| 4:20 |
4. | "I Don't Wanna" |
|
| 4:17 |
5. | "Man Undercover" (featuring Timbaland) |
| Timbaland | 4:44 |
6. | "John Blaze" (with Missy Elliott) |
| Timbaland | 4:02 |
7. | "I Am Music" (with Timbaland & Static Major) |
| Timbaland | 4:02 |
8. | "More Than a Woman" (Bump & Flex club mix) | Garrett |
| 5:30 |
9. | "Hold On" (Timbaland & Magoo featuring Wyclef Jean) |
| Timbaland | 5:05 |
Total length: | 38:47 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Aaliyah Story" | 60:00 |
2. | "Photo Gallery" | 15:04 |
Total length: | 75:04 |
Notes
- ^a signifies a remixer
Samples
- "More Than a Woman" contains an uncredited sample from the Arabic song "Alouli Ansa" by Syrian singer Mayada El Hennawy (1993).[18]
- "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" contains an uncredited sample from the Arabic song "Batwannis Beek" performed by Algerian singer Warda Al-Jazairia (1992).[19][20]
- "Come Back in One Piece" contains a sample of "Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk" by Parliament, from their 1977 LP Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome.[21]
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Ultimate Aaliyah.[22]
- Aaliyah – lead vocals
- Carlton Batts – mastering
- Teddy Bishop – producer
- Hamish Brown – photography
- Bud'da – producer
- Jimmy Douglass – mixing, engineer
- Missy Elliott – rap, backing vocals
- Irv Gotti – producer
- Bernie Grundman – mastering
- Barry Hankerson – executive producer
- Jomo Hankerson – executive producer
- Michael Haughton – executive producer
- Vincent Herbert – producer
- Kevin Hicks – producer
- Craig Kallman – executive producer
- Craig King – producer
- Lil Rob – producer
- Grant Nelson – remixer
- Rapture – producer
- Eric Seats – producer
- Donnie Scantz – producer
- Senator Jimmy D – engineer
- Daryl Simmons – producer
- Timbaland – rap, backing vocals, producer, executive producer, mixing
- Albert Watson – photography
Charts
Chart (2005) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[23] | 82 |
Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)[24] | 15 |
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] | 90 |
UK Albums (OCC)[26] | 32 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[27] | 9 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[28] | 13 |
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[29] | 55 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[30] | 8 |
US Billboard 200[31] | 41 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[32] | 4 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[33] | 21 |
Chart (2022) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[34] | 104 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[35] | 27 |
UK Physical Albums (OCC)[36] | 68 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[37] | 3 |
UK Vinyl Albums (OCC)[38] | 27 |
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[39] | 15 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
France | April 4, 2005 | Double CD+DVD | Blackground | [2] |
United Kingdom | [3] | |||
Australia | May 2, 2005 | [4] | ||
Various | October 8, 2021 |
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| [40] |
September 16, 2022 | Vinyl | [41][42] |
Notes
- ^ The DVD is excluded from the 2021 reissue of Ultimate Aaliyah.
References
- ^ a b "Aaliyah". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Ultimate" (in French). France: Fnac. April 4, 2005. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "Ultimate Aaliyah". United Kingdom: Amazon Music. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "ARIA New Releases Albums – Week Commencing 2nd May 2005" (PDF). ARIA. May 2, 2005. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 23, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ "Aaliyah Special Edition: Rare Tracks and Visuals". AllMusic. March 14, 2005. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (12 January 2017). "Aaliyah's Hits Removed From Apple Music After Brief Appearance". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- ^ "HITS Daily Double : Rumor Mill - AALIYAH GOES UP, COMES DOWN AT ITUNES". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
- ^ McIntyre, Hugh (August 5, 2021). "20 Years After Her Passing, Aaliyah's Music Is Finally Coming To Streaming Services". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 23, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ Legaspi, Althea (October 8, 2021). "Stream Aaliyah's 'I Care 4 U' and 'Ultimate Aaliyah' Compilation Albums". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (August 5, 2021). "Aaliyah's Estate Slams 'Unscrupulous' Effort to Release Her Music 'Without Transparency'". People. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ a b "Ultimate Aaliyah". AllMusic. May 10, 2005. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). United Kingdom: Omnibus Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-84609-856-7.
- ^ "As Adele hits thirteen times platinum across Europe, over 60 artists pick up IMPALA Sales Awards, including Manel, Bon Iver, Miossec, dEUS, Agnes Obel and The Horrors". Independent Music Companies Association. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40 15 October 2021 - 21 October 2021". Official Charts Company. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ @billboardcharts (October 17, 2021). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (1/2)..." (Tweet). Retrieved October 18, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40 - 23 September 2022 - 29 September 2022". Official Charts. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 - 23 September 2022 - 29 September 2022". Official Charts. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ Myers, Owen (July 12, 2020). "Belgian singer Tamino merges Arabic sounds with western sensibilities". GQ. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ Ayman, Menna (August 20, 2017). "These American songs sampled Arabic hits". Step Feed. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- ^ Moughni, Noor (September 16, 2020). "When music reflects identity". The Michigan Daily. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ "Aaliyah Featuring DMX - Come Back In One Piece". Billboard. July 15, 2000. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
- ^ Ultimate Aaliyah (liner notes). Aaliyah. 2005.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "The ARIA Report: Issue 797" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 2006-08-23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-06-19. Retrieved 2011-10-08 – via Pandora.nla.gov.au.
- ^ "ARIA Urban Albums Chart – Week Commencing 27th June 2005" (PDF). The ARIA Report (800). June 27, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-02-22. Retrieved April 3, 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Aaliyah – Ultimate Aaliyah" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. September 23, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
- ^ "Aaliyah Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ "Aaliyah's music finally lands on streaming services". Capital Xtra. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- ^ "Ultimate Compilation". Blackground Records. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ "Vinyl pre-orders". bigwax.io. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
External links
- Ultimate Aaliyah at Discogs (list of releases)
- v
- t
- e
- Age Ain't Nothing but a Number
- One in a Million
- Aaliyah
- I Care 4 U
- Ultimate Aaliyah
- "Back & Forth"
- "At Your Best (You Are Love)"
- "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number"
- "Down with the Clique"
- "The Thing I Like"
- "Are You Ready?"
- "If Your Girl Only Knew"
- "Got to Give It Up"
- "One in a Million"
- "4 Page Letter"
- "The One I Gave My Heart To"
- "Hot Like Fire"
- "Journey to the Past"
- "Are You That Somebody?"
- "I Don't Wanna"
- "Try Again"
- "Come Back in One Piece"
- "We Need a Resolution"
- "Rock the Boat"
- "More Than a Woman"
- "Miss You"
- "I Care 4 U"
- "Don't Know What to Tell Ya"
- "Come Over"
- "Enough Said"
- "Poison"
- "I Need You Tonight"
- "Live and Die for Hip Hop"
- "Up Jumps da Boogie"
- "Don't Think They Know"
- R. Kelly
- Barry Hankerson
- Rashad Haughton
- Gladys Knight
- Death of Aaliyah
- Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B
Category