Released: October 2, 2020
Genre: R&B ∙ Soul
Label: Columbia ∙ Legacy
Producer: Mariah Carey ∙ Ben Margulies ∙ Walter Afanasieff ∙ Cory Rooney ∙ Mark Morales ∙ Jermaine Dupri ∙ Dave Hall ∙ Clark Kent ∙ Kenneth Crouch ∙ Manuel Seal ∙ Loris Holland ∙ Randy Jackson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mariah Carey IS MUSIC ROYALTY, THE QUEEN OF MUSIC IF YOU ASK ME. Carey has blessed audiences with her talented songwriting and voice for three decades, giving us timeless records that stands the test of time. Not only has she broken down racial barriers in pop culture, but Carey is the only solo artist with the most number-one singles (19) on the Billboard Hot 100.
Also, she is the first artist to reach number one on the same chart during the physical, digital and streaming eras. Talk about an iconic career!
During a career that has longevity like Mariah’s, there’s songs that didn’t make the final cut on albums, and so on and so forth. This compilation album was titled The Rarities, which was released on October 2, 2020 by Columbia Records & Legacy Recordings.
The Rarities is an album that coincides with the 30th anniversary of Mariah Carey’s self-titled debut album, and the release of her memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Consisting of unreleased songs, B-sides, demos and live performances that have some type of importance and meaning to the Queen of Music, The Rarities peaked in the top 20 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and 31 on the Billboard 200 charts respectively.
This album revisit will cover disc one of The Rarities, speaking that disc two is a live disc from Mariah’s historic first show in Japan from her international tour for her fifth studio album, Daydream (1995).
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Mariah Carey’s The Rarities.
Disc 1:
Here We Go Around Again (1990; from the Mariah Carey sessions)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Ben Margulies
This was track #1 on my very first demo tape that has never before been shared with the world! I always liked it and did want it to be included on my first album. I don’t remember why it wasn’t, except we felt that we never quite captured the magic of that first demo. This recording is as close as we got.
Mariah Carey, 2020
The album opens up with the R&B influenced Here We Go Around Again, which was origianlly recorded as the second track for her first demo that was made with Ben Margulies. Mariah doesn’t remember why the song wasn’t added to the album, but it truly should’ve speaking how magical that first album was vocally and production wise.
IT SHOULD’VE BEEN INCLUDED! LIKE it would’ve been a catchy bop for the charts in 1990/1991 for sure, based on her usage of melisma alone. Here We Go Around Again was released as the third and final single from the album.
Can You Hear Me (1991; from the Emotions sessions)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Barry Mann
Working with the legendary Barry Mann was truly an honor. We recorded this demo in the hopes that La Streisand (a.k.a. Babs) would perform it. That didn’t happen, but I just recently unearthed this rarity – our writing demo – and wanted to share it with you!
Mariah Carey, 2020
Recorded during the Emotions sessions, Can You Hear Me was a song where the singer was expressing to her significant other that she doesn’t want their love to fade away and wants him to listen to her plea to save their love.
Do You Think of Me (1993; B-side to “Dreamlover” CD single)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Walter Afanasieff ∙ Mark C. Rooney ∙ Mark Morales
This is one of my favorite songs from the Music Box sessions that ended up as a B-side on the “Dreamlover” single. I’m told it’s a fan favorite so I wanted to include it on The Rarities.
Mariah Carey, 2020
Do You Think of Me has been one of my favorite Mariah songs since discovering it on youtube when I was younger. Originally released as a B-Side on the Dreamlover single cd in 1993, Do You Think of Me is lyrically about the singer finding herself thinking about someone whom she knows she cannot be with.
Do You Think of Me has become a fan favorite over the years, and rightfully so because the quiet storm influenced production makes it the perfect song to sip on some wine to.
Everything Fades Away (1993; B-side to “Hero”)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Walter Afanasieff
One of the more personal songs I wrote during this era. This was a B-side on the “Hero” single and never got the attention I find it deserves. I guess the label didn’t quite know how to categorize it musically at the time, but it’s an early indicator of a place I would end up exploring further down the road.
Mariah Carey, 2020
Everything Fades Away is one of Mariah’s best ballads period. Like wow, it is truly a masterpiece. Originally released as a B-side to Hero’s CD single and on international versions of the album (I got one of those copies on vinyl,) Everything Fades Away is considered to be a very personal song from Mariah. If you’ve never seen this moment between Mariah and JOJO & Mariah’s lovely background singers, you are missing OUT HONEY! This was a top tier moment!
All I Live For (1993; from the Music Box Sessions)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Walter Afanasieff
I totally forgot about this track until we just found it in the depths of the vault. Hope you like it! Sooooo 90’s!!!
Mariah Carey, 2020
All I Live For is one of the upbeat records from the Music Box sessions that was completely unfinished..until now! Mariah wasn’t lying when she said it is a 90s record, because with the first listen I was so enamored with the production from Mariah & Walter Afanasieff.
One Night (1995; from the Daydream sessions)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Jermaine Dupri
An early collaboration with JD that both of us forgot about! Listed in the vault as “I Don’t Know” because I didn’t know what to call it. It collected dust until we brought it back to life. I think it’s fun!
Mariah Carey, 2020
Originally recorded during the Daydream sessions, One Night is one of Mariah’s first collaborations with frequent colleague Jermaine Dupri. I am sad it wasn’t included on the album because it’s truly a masterpiece!
Slipping Away (1996; B-side to “Always Be My Baby” CD single)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Dave “Jam” Hall
Fans have been asking for Justice for Slipping Away for so long and now, here it is… sort of! I worked on this trakc with Dave “Jam” Hall when we were working on “Fantasy.” We included it as a B-side on the “Always Be My Baby” single, and I hope it gets some love from new listeners.
Mariah Carey, 2020
Slipping Away was originally released as the B-side to the hit single Always Be My Baby, and was supposed to make the cut on the Daydream album. However, hating ass Tommy Mottola axed the song because it was apparently too “urban” for the album and his vision of what he wanted Mariah to be (lowkey I feel like he was pissed because the song could’ve been tied to their rocky marriage at the time).
But what Tommy failed to realize that R&B music LIVES in our girl forever, so whether if he wanted to change her sound..the pop songs still have the influences of R&B overall. Nevertheless, it was produced by Mariah Carey & Dave Hall (whom she worked with for Dreamlover & Fantasy).
Out Here on My Own (2000; from the Glitter sessions)
Written by Lesley Gore ∙ Michael Gore
The fact that I believe I could become a successful artist is one of my greatest strengths. Around the same time, my mother entered me in a talent competition in the city and I sang one of my favorite songs: “Out Here On My Own” by Irene Cara.
I felt “Out Here On My Own” described my entire life, and I loved singing that way – singing to reveal a piece of my soul. And I won doing it. At that age, I lived for the movie Fame, and Irene Cara was everything to me.
I related to her multicultural look (Puerto Rican and Cuban), her multi textured hair, and, most importantly, her ambition and accomplishments. She won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “Flashdance… What a Feeling” (which she co-wrote), from Flashdance, making her the first Black woman to win in a category other than acting. (She won a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and an American Music Award for the song too.)
But “Out Here On My Own” was such a pure song that touched my heart, and I couldn’t believe I won a trophy for singing a song I loved. It was the first time I’d received validation as an artist. What a feeling.
Mariah Carey, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey, 2020
Out Here on My Own is a cover of the Irene Cara classic that was originally recorded during the Glitter session when the film was originally titled All That Glitters. I love the homage paid to the late and great Irene Cara (whom was a big star in the 80s,) and the vocal arrangements from Mariah.
***Out Here on My Own is a cover of the song of the same title by Irene Cara that was recorded for the soundtrack album for the 1980 film Fame.
Loverboy (Firecracker- Original Version) (2001; from the Glitter sessions)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Martin Denny
The long-lost original version of “Loverboy” before we had to change the sample and re-record the entire song. The full story is detailed in my memoir, in the chapter “Firecracker”.
Mariah Carey, 2020
We finally have the original version of Loverboy, and it is a cute bop! Although hating ass Tommy & Jennifer Lopez stole the idea of Mariah originally wanting to sample this song, it still is a masterpiece. While I personally prefer the original version, the Firecracker version is awesome as well.
***Loverboy (Firecracker – Original Version) was retooled to be Loverboy by Mariah Carey, and contains a sample of Firecracker by Yellow Magic Orchestra.
I Pray (2005)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Kenneth Crouch
I wrote this song for a beautiful young singer. Writing for a talented 12-year-old child was a unique and freeing experience because it was a way to channel a pure feeling of hope and optimism. Love you Lina!
Mariah Carey, 2020
I Pray was a record Mariah wrote for a Hawaiian singer Lina Robins-Tamure, and here is the lovely demo Mariah recorded for the song.
Cool on You (2007; from the E=MC2 sessions)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Jermaine Dupri ∙ Manuel Seal Jr. ∙ Johntá Austin
I used to listen to this all the time but then it got lost somehow and finally resurfaced in my vault! I don’t even think Jermaine remembers this writing session LOL! Also known as “Do the Coat”, “Kick Rocks” and “Eat Dirt”.
Mariah Carey, 2020
Recorded during the E=MC² sessions, Cool on You is a cute bop when you’re over that f***boy!
Mesmerized (2012; originally recorded for The Paperboy soundtrack)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Loris Holland
I always enjoy a live studio session with the wonderful multi-talented Loris Holland. This cool, retro 70’s throwback is from one of those occasions. It never saw the light of day until now!
Mariah Carey, 2020.
Mesmerized is a nice bop! I wish it would’ve came out around the time it was recorded.
Lullaby of Birdland (Live) (2014; from the Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse sessions)
Written by George Shearing ∙ George David Weiss
A rare live performance of one of my favorite songs. This recording divinely fell into place aftter I had already written about the experience of singing this song with jazz musicians as a little girl in my memoir (chapter “Light of My Life). Some of my favorite moments were improvising with the late Big Jim Wright on the piano and this is one example of that. Listen to him go!
Mariah Carey, 2020
Lullaby of Birdland (Live) is a beautiful cover of the George Shearing classic jazz number that came about from the “Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chantuese sessions. Mariah sounded amazing and of course the late and great Bim Jim Wright was on the piano making magic with the Queen.
***Lullaby of Birdland (Live) is a cover of the Lullaby of Birdland by George Shearing.
Save the Day (with Ms. Lauryn Hill) (2020)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ James Wright ∙ Jermaine Dupri ∙ Charles Fox ∙ Norman Gimbel
I started writing this years ago, and the message rings true now more than ever: “We’re all in this together.” The Fugees’ rendition of “Killing Me Softly” with Ms. Lauryn Hill’s poweful lead vocals has always been one of my favorite recordings. I really enjoyed merging our voices together on this record.
Mariah Carey, 2020
Save The Day is a beautiful song with a great meaningful message behind it, and does a great job at incorporating a classic record from the Fugees that features Ms. Lauryn Hill.
***Save The Day contains elements of Killing Me Softly by the Fugees.
Close My Eyes (Acoustic) (2020)
Written by Mariah Carey ∙ Walter Afanasieff
After working through some emotional introspective moments for my memoir, Idecided to revisit one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written.
Mariah Carey, 2020
Disc one closes out with an acoustic version of an album cut from her career defining album Butterly by the name of Close My Eyes. Just beautiful!
Disc 2: Live at the Tokyo Dome
Recorded March 7, 1996 ∙ Live at the Tokyo Dome, Japan
- Daydream Interlude (Fantasy Sweet Dub Mix)
- Emotions
- Open Arms
- Forever
- I Don’t Wanna Cry
- Fantasy
- Always Be My Baby
- One Sweet Day
- Underneath The Stars
- Without You
- Make It Happen
- Just Be Good To Me
- Dreamlover
- Vision Of Love
- Hero
- Anytime You Need A Friend
- All I Want For Christmas Is You
The Rarities is just proof that Mariah really loves her fans, and we totally love her back. 2020 was a perfect year if you’re a diehard Mariah fan because she was giving us so much quality content to celebrate 30 years of a impressive careeer.
I hope she continues the momentum of The Rarities compilation because I would love to see what other gems that are in the vault, especially if she’s the one releasing it during her lifetime. Mariah Carey is a rarity and truly is in a league of her own. ❤️ -MW.
markizdj.com 