Rating:
Genre: R&B
Release Date: 11/17/1998

Protest as she may -- and she does, claiming in the liner notes that #1's is "not a greatest hits album! It's too soon, I haven't been recording long enough for that!" -- it's hard to view #1's, Mariah Carey's first compilation, as anything other than a greatest-hits album. Carey was fortunate enough to have nearly every single she released top the pop charts. Between 1990's "Vision of Love" and 1998's "My All," all but four commercially released singles ("Anytime You Need a Friend," "Can't Let Go," "Make It Happen," "Without You") hit number one, with only a handful of radio-only singles ("Butterfly," "Breakdown") making the airwaves, not the charts. That leaves 12 big hits on #1's, all number ones. Since Carey's singles always dominated her albums, it comes as no surprise that #1's is her best, most consistent album, filled with songs that represent state-of-the-art '90s adult contemporary and pop-oriented urban soul. That said, it isn't a perfect overview -- a couple of good singles are missing because of the self-imposed "#1 rule"; plus, the Ol' Dirty Bastard mix of "Fantasy" is strong, but fans familiar with the radio single will be disappointed that the chorus is completely missing on this version. The album is also padded with a personal favorite (her Brian McKnight duet "Whenever You Call," taken from Butterfly) and three new songs -- the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Sweetheart," the Whitney Houston duet "When You Believe" (taken from The Prince of Egypt soundtrack), and "I Still Believe," a remake of a Brenda K. Starr tune -- which are all fine, but not particularly memorable. Still, that's hardly enough to bring down a thoroughly entertaining compilation that will stand as her best record until the "official" hits collection is released.

~Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

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Babyface - Keyboards
Babyface - Producer
Babyface - Drum Programming
Boyz II Men - Vocals (Background)
Whitney Houston - Performer
Michael Thompson - Guitar
Michael Thompson - Photography
Shanice Wilson - Choir, Chorus
Shanice - Vocals (Background)
Shanice - Choir, Chorus
Brian McKnight - Vocals
Brian McKnight - Vocals (Background)
Trey Lorenz - Vocals
Trey Lorenz - Vocals (Background)
Trey Lorenz - Soloist
Tom Sweeney - Assistant Engineer
Don Allen - Vocals (Background)
Tim Boyle - Engineer
Bob Cadway - Engineer
Bob Cadway - Mixing
Mariah Carey - Arranger
Mariah Carey - Vocals
Mariah Carey - Vocals (Background)
Mariah Carey - Producer
Mariah Carey - Engineer
Mariah Carey - Main Performer
Mariah Carey - Liner Notes
Mariah Carey - Vocal Arrangement
Mariah Carey - Mixing
Dana Jon Chappelle - Engineer
Dana Jon Chappelle - Mixing
Dana Jon Chappelle - Vocal Engineer
Robert Clivillés - Arranger
Robert Clivillés - Producer
Robert Clivillés - Mixing
David Cole - Arranger
David Cole - Vocals (Background)
David Cole - Producer
David Cole - Mixing
Sean "Puffy" Combs - Producer
Sean "Puffy" Combs - Remixing
Lynn Davis - Vocals (Background)
Lynn Davis - Choir, Chorus
Patrick Dillett - Engineer
Jermaine Dupri - Arranger
Jermaine Dupri - Producer
Jermaine Dupri - Mixing
Sheila E. - Percussion
Nathan East - Bass
Melvin Edmonds - Vocals (Background)
Melvin Edmonds - Choir, Chorus
David Frazier - Mixing
Brian Frye - Engineer
Jon Gass - Mixing
David Gleeson - Engineer
Mick Guzauski - Engineer
Mick Guzauski - Mixing
Jay Healy - Composer
Jay Healy - Engineer
Jay Healy - Vocal Engineer
David Hewitt - Recorder
David Hewitt - Engineer
Acar S. Key - Engineer
Mark Kibble - Vocals (Background)
Mark Kibble - Choir, Chorus
Rhett Lawrence - Producer
Ricky Lawson - Drums
Bob Ludwig - Mastering
Tony Maserati - Mixing
Patrique McMillian - Vocals
Patrique McMillian - Vocals (Background)
Narada Michael Walden - Arranger
Narada Michael Walden - Producer
Narada Michael Walden - Rhythm Arrangements
Bruce Miller - Engineer
Geno Morris - Vocals
Geno Morris - Vocals (Background)
Don Murray - Engineer
Greg Phillinganes - Piano
Bob Rosa - Engineer
Bob Rosa - Mixing
Manuel Seal, Jr. - Producer
Mark Smith - Live Sound
Liz Stewart - Vocals
Liz Stewart - Vocals (Background)
Phil Tan - Composer
Phil Tan - Recorder
Phil Tan - Engineer
Phil Tan - Mixing
Rich Tancredi - Arranger
Chris Toland - Arranger
Richard Travali - Engineer
Rick Wake - Arranger
Rick Wake - Producer
Spencer Washington - Vocals
Spencer Washington - Vocals (Background)
Mark Wilder - Engineer
Hans Zimmer - Arranger
Hans Zimmer - Orchestral Arrangements
Ol' Dirty Bastard - Vocals
Eric Rigler - Pipe
Eric Rigler - Low Whistle
Damon Thomas - Choir Master
Damon Thomas - Choir Conductor
Michael Hart Thompson - Guitar
Michael Hart Thompson - Photography
Glen Marchese - Engineer
David Frazer - Mixing
Bill Ross - Arranger
Bill Ross - Conductor
Bill Ross - Orchestral Arrangements
Walter Afanasieff - Arranger
Walter Afanasieff - Producer
Sandy DeCrescent - Contractor
Christopher Austopchuk - Art Direction
Ivy Skoff - Production Coordination
Sharlotte Gibson - Vocals (Background)
Sharlotte Gibson - Choir, Chorus
Stevie J. - Producer
Melonie Daniels - Vocals
Melonie Daniels - Vocals (Background)
The Ummah - Producer
Paul Boutin - Engineer
Kelly Price - Vocals
Kelly Price - Vocals (Background)
Gavin Greenaway - Conductor
Ben Margulies - Arranger
Scott Widney - Monitor Engineer
Mase - Vocals
Mase - Vocals (Background)
Wayne Maser - Photography
Wayne Maser - Cover Photo
Barbara Stout - Assistant
Peggy Harley - Vocals
Peggy Harley - Vocals (Background)
Cheree Price - Vocals
Cheree Price - Vocals (Background)
Shanrae Price - Vocals (Background)
Chuck Bailey - Assistant Engineer
Dion Allen - Choir, Chorus
Ralf - Assistant Engineer
John Sorenson - Assistant Engineer
Brian Garten - Assistant Engineer
Alice Butts - Artwork
Alice Butts - Design
Mary Ann Tatum - Vocals (Background)
Jason Stasium - Engineer
Clarence ? - Vocals (Background)
James Tate - Mixing Assistant
Mike Mason - Producer
Mike Mason - ?
Vearline Board - Vocals (Background)
Vearline Board - Choir, Chorus
Luis Castillo - Assistant Engineer
Henry Casper - Vocals
Henry Casper - Vocals (Background)
Mike Scott - Engineer
Krystal Wilson - Vocals (Background)
Krystal Wilson - Choir, Chorus
Syretha Smith - Vocals (Background)
Syretha Smith - Choir, Chorus
Tod Toland - Arranger
Nathan Walton - Vocals (Background)
Nathan Walton - Choir, Chorus
Kevon Edmonds - Choir, Chorus
Joy Enriquez - Vocals (Background)
Joy Enriquez - Choir, Chorus
Daryl Hawes - Vocals (Background)
Daryl Hawes - Choir, Chorus
Kenya Ivey - Choir, Chorus
Lisa Ivey - Vocals (Background)
Lisa Ivey - Choir, Chorus
Nathan Ivey - Vocals (Background)
Nathan Ivey - Choir, Chorus
Tavia Ivey - Vocals (Background)
Tavia Ivey - Choir, Chorus
Pete Karem - Engineer
J. Valentine - Vocals (Background)
J. Valentine - Choir, Chorus
Dave Hall - Arranger
Dave Hall - Producer
Steven "Steven J." Jordan - Producer
John Nelson - Assistant Engineer
Peach - Vocals (Background)
Peach - Choir, Chorus
Datz Pyle, Debbi - Contractor
Mark Smith - Live Sound
Laurence Galud - Photography

Exposure
    Exposé / CD / 1987
The Comfort Zone
    Vanessa Williams / CD / 1991
Daydream
    Mariah Carey / CD / 1995
Design of a Decade: 1986-1996
    Janet Jackson / CD / 1995
Secrets
    Toni Braxton / CD / 1996
Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael
    George Michael / CD / 1998
Greatest Hits [Camden]
    The Pointer Sisters / CD / 1997
The Essential Toni Braxton
    Toni Braxton / CD / 2007

Release Date: 11/17/1998
Genre: r&b