Mary (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Mary
Type = Album
Artist = Mary J. Blige


Released = August 17, 1999 (US)
May 29, 1999 (Africa)
February 23, 1999 (UK)
Recorded = 1998-1999
Genre = R&B, soul, hip hop soul
Length = 73.01
Label = MCA
Producer = Mary J. Blige
Lauryn Hill
Babyface
Chucky Thompson
Rich Harrison
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Soulshock & Karlin
Gerald Isaac
Malik Pendleton
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:zqc8b5f49sqf link]
*Rolling Stone Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/maryjblige/albums/album/257650/review/6210379/mary link]
*Review-Christgau|A-|album=2293
-|
Last album = "The Tour"
(1998)
This album = "Mary"
(1999)
Next album = "No More Drama"
(2001)
Misc = Singles
Name = Mary
Type = studio
Single 1 = As
Single 1 date = February 1999
Single 2 = All That I Can Say
Single 2 date = August 1999
Single 3 = Deep Inside
Single 3 date = October 1999
Single 4 = Your Child
Single 4 date = March 2000
Single 5 = Give Me You
Single 5 date = June 2000

"Mary" is the fourth studio album by soul/hip-hop soul singer Mary J. Blige, released August 17, 1999 (see 1999 in music). The album charted #2 on the Pop albums chart and #1 Billboard R&B Albums chart for 3 weeks.

Overview

This album showcases a much more mature sound as compared to previous releases from Blige. Highlighted by sleek and polished production reminiscent of 70's soul, Mary came as a surprise to many of her fans and critics. Similar to Blige's previous release "Share My World", the singer served as executive producer. Blige worked with various artists on the album including Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Jadakiss, Eric Clapton, Elton John, K-Ci, and George Michael.

"All That I Can Say", "Deep Inside", "Your Child", and "Give Me You" were the albums commercial singles in the U.S. "As"-- Blige's collaboration with George Michael-- was released as the lead single everywhere else worldwide.

Awards

Blige won and was nominated for many awards for this album.
*She was nominated for 2 MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Video and Best Song ("As" with George Michael).
*In 2000 Blige was nominated for a Brit Award for Best International Female Solo Artist.
*3 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Vocal Performance - Female ("All That I Can Say"), Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Don't Waste Your Time" with Aretha Franklin), and Best R&B Album (Mary).
*Blige won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Female (Mary) and was also nominated for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Album.
*Blige also won 2 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Solo R&B/Soul Album of the Year for "Mary" and R&B/Soul or Rap Song of the Year for "All That I Can Say". She was also nominated for Best Solo R&B/Soul Single for "All That I Can Say".
*In 2001 Blige was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for Best Female R&B/Soul Single for "Your Child".

Track Listing

#"All That I Can Say" (featuring Lauryn Hill)
#"Sexy" (featuring Jadakiss)
#"Deep Inside" (featuring Elton John)
#"Beautiful Ones"
#"I'm In Love"
#"As" (Duet with George Michael) ¹
#"Time"
#"Memories"
#"Don't Waste Your Time" (Duet with Aretha Franklin)
#"Not Lookin'" (Duet with K-Ci Hailey)
#"Your Child"
#"No Happy Holidays"
#"The Love I Never Had"
#"Give Me You" (featuring Eric Clapton)
#"Let No Man Put Asunder"
#"Give Me You" (Nino radio edit) ¹
#"Sincerity" ¹

¹Not featured on U.S. edition.

Personnel

*Mary J. Blige - Executive Producer, Main Performer, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals
*Kirk Burrowes - Executive Producer
*LaTonya Blige-DaCosta - Associate Executive Producer
*Hank Shocklee - Associate Executive Producer
*Ivy Skoff - Project Coordinator

Producers
*Mary J. Blige
*Babyface
*Kevin Deane
*Soulshock
*Chucky Thompson
*Malik Pendleton
*Floyd Howard
*Manuel Seal, Jr.
*Lauryn Hill
*Jimmy Jam
*Terry Lewis
*Kiyamma Griffin
*Rich Harrison
*Big Mike Clemons
*Karlin
*Ike Lee III
*Moise Laporte
*Gerald Isaac

Mixing
*Angela Piva
*Jon Gass
*Commissioner Gordon
*Edwin "Eddie Ed" Ramos
*Yuri Zwadluk
*Manny Marroquin
*Warren Riker
*Ben Garrison
*Larry Alexander
*Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander
*Malik Pendleton
*Jamie Siegel
*Steve Hodge
*Soulshock
*E'lyk - Mixing Assistant

Programming
*Kobie Brown - Programming
*Moise Laporte - Programming
*Gerald Isaac - Programming

Vocals
*Aretha Franklin - Vocals
*Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey - Vocals
*George Michael
*Jadakiss - Rap
*DMX - Rap
*Nas - Rap
*Funkmaster Fex - Rap
*Dustin Adams - Vocals (Background)
*Terri Robinson - Vocals (Background)
*Audrey Wheeler - Vocals (Background)
*Cindy Mizelle - Vocals (Background)
*Sharon Bryant - Vocals (Background)
*Paulette McWilliams - Vocals (Background)
*Lauryn Hill - Vocals (Background)
*Elizabeth Withers - Vocals (Background)
*Tara Geter Tillman - Vocals (Background)
*Karlin - Vocals (Background)

Instruments
*Chuck Berghofer - Bass
*Nathan East - Bass
*Eric Lorde - Bass
*Paul Johnson - Bass
*Tom Barney - Bass
*Chuck Domonico - Bass
*Larry Corbett - Cello
*Dane Little - Cello
*David Low - Cello, Viola
*Big Mike Clemons - Drums
*Michael Clemons - Drums
*Chris 'Daddy' Dave - Drums
*Che Pope - Drum Programming
*Babyface - Drum Programming, Keyboards, Guitar (Acoustic)
*Moise Laporte - Keyboards
*Gary Grant - Flugelhorn, Trumpet
*Dave Trigg - Flugelhorn, Trumpet
*Jeff Mironov - Guitar
*Paul Pesco - Guitar
*Ell Lishinski - Guitar
*Eric Clapton - Guitar
*Mike Scott - Guitar
*Soong Lee - Guitar
*Randy Waldman - Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements
*Paul Riser - Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements
*Loris Holland - Keyboards
*Rex Rideout - Keyboards
*Jimmy Jam - Multi Instruments
*Terry Lewis - Multi Instruments
*Rich Harrison - Multi Instruments
*Kiyamma Griffin - Multi Instruments
*Karlin - Multi Instruments
*Chucky Thompson - Multi Instruments
*Kevin Deane - Multi Instruments
*Soulshock - Multi Instruments
*Elton John - Piano
*Manuel Seal, Jr. - Piano (Electric), Piano, Keyboards
*Gen Rubin - Organ, Wurlitzer
*Reverend Dave Boruff - Saxophone
*Slyde Hyde - Trombone
*Bruce Otto - Trombone
*Evan Wilson - Viola
*Simon Oswell - Viola
*Brian Dembow - Viola
*Alan Grunfeld - Violin
*Bob Sanov - Violin
*Bruce Dukov - Violin
*Berj Garabedian - Violin
*Endre Granat - Violin
*Kathleen Lenski - Violin
*Joel Derouin - Violin
*Anatoly Rosinsky - Violin
*Darius Campo - Violin
*Ron Folsom - Violin
*Roger Wilkie - Violin
*Armen Garabedian - Violin

Arrangers
*Gerald Isaac
*Lauryn Hill
*Jimmy Jam
*Karlin
*Soulshock
*Paul Riser
*Ike Lee III
*Jim Wright
*Terry Lewis

Engineers
*Michael "Wolf" Reaves
*David Kennedy
*Al Schmidt
*Steve Eigner
*Jim Carusoee
*Tony Prendatt
*Yuri Zwadluk
*Angela Piva
*Jason Goldstein
*Manny Marroquin
*Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander
*Ell Lishinski
*Ken Lewis
*Steve Hodge
*George Karras
*Carl Robinson
*Paul Boutin
*Jamie Siegel - Assistant Engineer
*Mike Tocci - Assistant Engineer
*Andy Salas - Assistant Engineer
*Steve Mazur - Assistant Engineer
*Dave Dar - Assistant Engineer
*Geoff Allen - Assistant Engineer
*Michael McCoy - Assistant Engineer
*Alex DeJonge - Assistant Engineer
*Alex Sok - Assistant Engineer
*Xavier Smith - Assistant Engineer