The Ballads | ||||
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Released | October 17, 2008 | |||
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The Ballads is the third compilation album by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey. [1] [2] The album features some of Carey's top selling ballads over the course of her career. It was released internationally in late 2008, and in North America in January 2010. It was also re-released in the UK as LoveSongs, in February 2010. [3] [4] [5]
The album contains some of Carey's hits and singles from her time at Columbia Records, except for selected tracks from Glitter (2001). It does not feature any new material or include songs recorded with her then-current label, Island Records.
The 1993 single "Hero" was re-recorded and re-released to promote The Ballads compilation. The video shows Mariah Carey walking into the recording room accompanied by her dog, lingering in the studio and singing to the song. It is intercut with a scene of New York City during the night. [6]
Carey performed "Hero" at the Inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009, in Washington, D.C., [7] and was featured on a CBS TV special. [8]
A limited edition of The Ballads was being sold exclusively at all Target Stores; this edition included a small bottle of Carey's fragrance Luscious Pink.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [9] |
Blogcritics said: "This release is a different type of Mariah Carey album. Without her faster and hip hop songs, it is smoother as it puts the focus squarely on her vocals which has always been her greatest attribute and saving grace." [10] AllMusic said: "And that's what The Ballads is: nothing but big love songs sung in a big voice." [9] Billboard stated that the album "will keep singing on the chart as we get closer to Valentine's Day, as it seems like a natural gift purchase." [11]
The album debuted at number 17 on UK Albums Chart. Following a successful appearance on X Factor , the album peaked at number 13 in its 4th week and remained on chart for ten consecutive weeks. In Ireland, the album peaked at number 8 and remained on chart for twelve weeks, and has been certified gold. In New Zealand, the album peaked at number 19, remaining on chart for three weeks. The album also debuted at number 79 in Australia. In Japan, the album has reached number 19. The album debuted at number 45 on the Dutch Albums Chart and fell nine spots behind in the second week. In the third week the album climbed from number 54 to 5. [12]
The album debuted at number 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200 with first week sales of 29,000 units. [13] It was the chart's highest debut in that week and the fourth compilation that Carey has charted, following #1's (number 4 in 1998), Greatest Hits (number 52 in 2001) and The Remixes (number 26 in 2003). [13] It also debut at number 7 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [14] As of November 2018, the album has sold 395,000 copies in the US. [15]
No. | Title | Album | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hero" | Music Box | 4:19 |
2. | "One Sweet Day" (featuring Boyz II Men) | Daydream | 4:41 |
3. | "Vision of Love" | Mariah Carey | 3:31 |
4. | "Without You" | Music Box | 3:34 |
5. | "Can't Let Go" | Emotions | 4:27 |
6. | "Love Takes Time" | Mariah Carey | 3:49 |
7. | "I'll Be There" (featuring Trey Lorenz) | MTV Unplugged | 4:43 |
8. | "Thank God I Found You" (Make It Last Remix featuring Joe and Nas) | The Remixes | 5:09 |
9. | "Endless Love" (featuring Luther Vandross) | Songs and Greatest Hits | 4:18 |
10. | "I Still Believe" | #1's | 3:54 |
11. | "My All" | Butterfly | 3:50 |
12. | "The Roof (Back in Time)" | Butterfly | 5:14 |
13. | "When You Believe" (with Whitney Houston) | #1's | 4:31 |
14. | "Anytime You Need a Friend" | Music Box | 4:26 |
15. | "Always Be My Baby" | Daydream | 4:18 |
16. | "Dreamlover" | Music Box | 3:53 |
17. | "How Much" (featuring Usher) | Rainbow | 3:31 |
18. | "Reflections (Care Enough)" | Glitter | 3:23 |
Total length: | 72:11 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
19. | "The Roof" (Mobb Deep Extended Version) | 5:30 |
20. | "Always Be My Baby" (Mr. Dupri Mix featuring Da Brat and Xscape) | 4:39 |
Total length: | 82:20 |
No. | Title | Album | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hero" | 4:19 | |
2. | "Vision of Love" | 3:31 | |
3. | "Without You" | 3:34 | |
4. | "Always Be My Baby" | 4:18 | |
5. | "My All" | 3:50 | |
6. | "How Much" (featuring Usher) | 3:31 | |
7. | "Dreamlover" | 3:53 | |
8. | "Thank God I Found You" (Make It Last Remix featuring Joe and Nas) | 5:09 | |
9. | "The Roof (Back in Time)" | 5:14 | |
10. | "One Sweet Day" (featuring Boyz II Men) | 4:41 | |
11. | "Anytime You Need a Friend" | 4:26 | |
12. | "I'll Be There" (featuring Trey Lorenz) | 4:43 | |
13. | "I Still Believe" | 3:54 | |
14. | "Reflections (Care Enough)" | 3:23 | |
15. | "Open Arms" | Daydream | 3:30 |
16. | "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (featuring Westlife) | Coast to Coast and Greatest Hits (International Edition) | 3:25 |
17. | "Endless Love" (featuring Luther Vandross) | 4:18 | |
18. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (not in certain European territories) | Merry Christmas | 4:01 |
Total length: | 70:20 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
19. | "Anytime You Need a Friend" (Ministry of Sound Mix) | 9:44 |
20. | "Always Be My Baby" (Always Club) | 10:25 |
Total length: | 90:29 |
No. | Title | Album | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Hero" | 4:19 | |
2. | "One Sweet Day" (featuring Boyz II Men) | 4:41 | |
3. | "Endless Love" (featuring Luther Vandross) | 4:18 | |
4. | "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" | Rainbow | 4:32 |
5. | "Open Arms" | 3:30 | |
6. | "Reflections (Care Enough)" | 3:23 | |
7. | "Butterfly" | Butterfly | 4:35 |
8. | "Love Takes Time" | 3:49 | |
9. | "My All" | 3:50 | |
10. | "Without You" | 3:34 | |
11. | "Always Be My Baby" | 4:18 | |
12. | "Vision of Love" | 3:31 | |
13. | "Can't Let Go" | 4:27 | |
14. | "Anytime You Need a Friend" | 4:26 | |
15. | "Thank God I Found You" (Make It Last Remix featuring Joe and Nas) | 5:09 | |
16. | "I'll Be There" (featuring Trey Lorenz) | 4:43 | |
17. | "I Still Believe" | 3:54 | |
18. | "Never Too Far" | Glitter | 3:55 |
19. | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | 4:01 | |
Total length: | 75:35 |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Ireland (IRMA) [36] | Gold | 7,500^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [37] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States | — | 395,000 [15] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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