Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas (Deluxe Anniversary Edition) (1994/2019)

I've had several people born in the late '80s tell me this is their favorite Christmas album, there's a new 25th anniversary two disc edition, it's readily available on the cheap, the single has finally hit #1 on the pop charts, so why not? Let's give this thing a spin.

Billboard, November 12, 1994, p. 88

Sure, everything about this album is derivative, but aren't most Christmas albums, and if you like the tunes, who really cares? Besides, the attention to detail in the arrangements are fantastic - the Spector stuff sounds remarkably like Spector and the gospel-tinged tunes sound awfully authentic (plus I'm a sucker for a Hammond organ). The only misstep is Joy To The World - that backbeat must have seemed like a good idea at the time, but it hasn't aged well. One thing that bothers me (and this applies to most Mariah albums), is unnecessary melisma in a few places. But that's a minor complaint because there's no denying she was blessed with a remarkable instrument.

Bonus points for not shying away from sacred texts/lyrics - a nice balance of Christ and Kringle and I can't believe I just wrote that.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: peaked at #3 in 1994; sitting at #12 as of this writing.

Tracks, original album (Disc 1), ranked in order of preference:

1. All I Want For Christmas Is You
2. Jesus Oh What A Wonderful Child
3. Silent Night
4. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
5. O Holy Night
6. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
9. Miss You Most (At Christmastime)
10. Jesus Born On This Day
11. Joy To The World

I usually find bonus discs to be hit-or-miss affairs and this one fits that description. Of the 18 tracks offered, including 6 live tracks, 5 remixes, and 3 tracks from Carey's 2010 album Merry Christmas II You, my only must-have picks is the Celebration Mix of Joy To The World (which somewhat redeems the studio version ranked last above), Christmas Time Is In The Air Again, and Lil Snowman. The rest is good enough to listen to once every few years, but not necessary for whatever Xmas playlists you've got workin'.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but I'm reminded of at least two other tunes that share the title All I Want For Christmas Is You, one a bluesy ballad by Vince Vance And The Valients (vocals by Lisa Layne), the other a soulful tune by Carla Thomas.

Just for fun, here's some photos I found online of the original 1994 album released on MiniDisc, a format I used at work around the turn of the century, but I don't own any albums on MiniDisc (nor would I have a way of playing them if I did).

Previously revisited for the blog:
Daydream (1995)
Mariah Carey (1990)

Mariah Carey (1990)

Purchased because the lead single, Vision of Love, was so strong and it was love at first listen. That song sounds as good today as it did back in 1990. It's still the best song of Mariah's career IMO. As far as the rest of the album, I don't remember much about it, so I probably just listened to the first track over and over. Maybe today's listen will job my memory.

Billboard knew what was going on:

Billboard, June 9, 1990, p. 78A
For those keeping score at home,
June 9, 1990 was my 24th birthday.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #1 (11 consecutive weeks, March 2 - May 11, 1991)
• Billboard R&B: #3

Tracks: OK so now I remember the other singles. In addition to Vision Of Love, there's I Don't Wanna Cry, Someday, and Loves Take Time. All were #1. The rest is decent filler in the vein of Whitney Houston, Taylor Dayne, and/or Michael Bolton. And like those, the real star here is vocal talent, not material. I have to admit remembering and enjoying this more than I thought I would. Nonetheless, I'm going to go back and listen to Vision Of Love a few more times before putting this back on the shelf.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Reminds of the year I spent working and living in the Carrollton - Farmers Branch area just NNW of Dallas as my wife attended graduate school at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Other albums that remind me of that year:

• Billy Joel - Storm Front
• They Might Be Giants - Flood
• Squeeze - Frank
• Janet Jackson - Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814
• Quincy Jones - Back On the Block
• The B-52's - Cosmic Thing
• Harry Connick, Jr. - 20
• Handel - Messiah
• Wynton Marsalis - Crescent City Christmas Card

Previously revisited for the blog:
Daydream (1995)

Mariah Carey - Daydream (1995)

"MY WIFE BOUGHT WHAT?!?" FORTNIGHT* (JULY 1-14, 2016)

Easy to see why my wife picked up this pop/R&B-lite album: the lead single/lead track Fantasy samples that great groove from Tom Tom Club's Genius Of Love. My wife isn't the only one who liked it (I do, too), but it hit #1 on the pop, dance, adult top 40, R&B, mainstream top 40, and rhythmic charts. Let's see if the rest of the album measures up. 5 singles were released from the album in the US, so I'm guessing I'll know a lot of this album. Carey has been gifted with an amazing vocal instrument - my only complaint would be her overuse of melisma, a malady that has afflicted many a singer over the past quarter century, most likely in an attempt to be Mariah or Whitney. Someone with as much control over her voice as Mariah should use it more sparingly and more effectively like Aretha. But I'm picking at nits; this is a solid album for what it is. Allmusic, which seemingly uses a 3-to-5 star rating system, gives it 4.5 stars while rateyourmusic has it at 3.17 out of 5. I'm closer to the latter than the former.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #1 (6 non-consecutive weeks)
• Billboard R&B: #1

Tracks: Overall, I likes. Fantasy is the best track; the cover of Journey's Open Arms is the worst track. Also good are Underneath The Stars, I Am Free, Melt Away, and the Daydream Interlude. Other skippable tracks are Always Be My Baby and Long Ago.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Nope.

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*I recently unearthed a CD carry case that my wife used to carry in one or more of our three former minivans. This month, in the spirit of this blog's mission, I'll be listening to that case's contents.

Blog post #1300