Mariah Carey's self-titled first album turned 30 in 2020. Rather than shine new light on her multi-platinum breakthrough,
Carey chose to take a broader look at her history. From that July through September, she published The Meaning of Mariah Carey, unearthed
The Live Debut: 1990, issued digital editions of numerous maxi-singles (including remixes and alternate versions that hit streaming platforms for the first time), announced an extensive vinyl reissue campaign, and also kept her base engaged with archival video uploads. The excavation continued in October with
The Rarities,
Carey's first major compilation since 2015's
#1 to Infinity. Its first half consists of B-sides and previously unreleased material spanning three decades. Chronologically sequenced, it presents an alternate, semi-secret MC timeline. It starts with an upbeat
Mariah Carey outtake, ends with a 2020 acoustic version of
Butterfly track "Close My Eyes," and more importantly contains some prime B-sides. There's the fine ballad "Do You Think of Me," a "Dreamlover" B-side that sounds more like an
Emotions-era recording -- maybe too close to "Can't Let Go" to have made the cut -- and the aching
Daydream-era ballad "Slipping Away," one of
Carey's best, unequivocally R&B collaborations with
Dave "Jam" Hall. There are some fascinating new discoveries. Above all is the intended original version of "Loverboy," featuring an interpolation of
Yellow Magic Orchestra's take on
Martin Denny's "Firecracker" that is more creative than the one heard on
Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" (the release of which prompted
Carey to rework it with
Cameo's "Candy"). Just beneath that is a straight version of the tear-jerking "Out Here on My Own," written by
Lesley and
Michael Gore for
Fame.
Carey's connections to the lyrics and the original vocalist,
Irene Cara, are palpable. Much of the remaining material is indeed second rate by the singer's standard, but there's value even in the least developed inclusions, like the fun blow-off "Cool on You." The live second half was recorded at the Tokyo Dome five months after the arrival of
Daydream.
Carey and her band are in top form throughout a balanced set list sequenced like an impeccable mixtape. Placing a cover of
the S.O.S. Band's "Just Be Good to Me" between "Make It Happen" and "Dreamlover," originals based on other R&B classics, is a stroke of brilliance. And yes,
Carey's whistle register is in full effect. ~ Andy Kellman
![Aretha [2021]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0603497846221_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Aretha [2021]")
![Survivor [Enhanced Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0886919810127_p0_v5_s90x140.jpg "Survivor [Enhanced Edition]")
