The Very Best of TLC: Crazy Sexy Hits | ||||
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Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | August 20, 2007 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 62:14 | |||
Label | Sony BMG | |||
Producer | ||||
TLC chronology | ||||
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The Very Best of TLC: Crazy Sexy Hits (released digitally as The Best of TLC) is the second greatest hits album by American girl group TLC. It was released exclusively in the United Kingdom on August 20, 2007, by Sony BMG. Having a similar track listing to that of the group's first compilation, Now & Forever: The Hits (2003), the album contains TLC's most successful singles from four of their studio albums, which have been credited to many of the group's producers such as Dallas Austin and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
The album received mostly positive reaction from music critics, with many expressing admiration for the compilation. However, the album was a commercial disappointment, peaking at number 57 on the UK Albums Chart. This position, however, was higher than Now & Forever: The Hits's performance in the past. In 2013, the album, along with most of their other compilations, were removed from the iTunes Store after the release of their latest greatest hits collection 20 .
TLC's exclusive greatest hits album for the United Kingdom market was first announced in June 2007 with the planned title Crazy Sexy Hits, a play on the title of their second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). [2] [3] This compilation is the group's third to be released in the country after Now & Forever: The Hits (2003) and Artist Collection (2004), the first of which was certified Silver in the country while the latter failed to chart anywhere. [4] [5] [6] [7] On August 20, 2007, Sony BMG, head of the group's former LaFace and Arista Records, released the compilation fully titled The Very Best of TLC: Crazy Sexy Hits. [8] This name was later listed by Radio.com's contributor Jeremy D. Larson as the thirty-second "cutest" title for any greatest hits album. [9]
On August 13, a week prior to the compilation's release, TLC's 2003 video album Now & Forever: The Video Hits was re-packaged and reissued to match the album's appearance. [10] The DVD includes 10 music videos, behind-the-scenes footage and a photo gallery. [11] [12] Its cover had also been re-designed to coincide with the compilation's, in which both feature close-up shots of the members with their faces painted in blue metallic tones, cropped from a full picture originally taken by French-American photographer Seb Janiak for their single cover of "No Scrubs" and for their third studio album FanMail (1999). [11] [10] [13] [14]
Amongst the promotion of the compilation, a 30-second televised advert was also conducted by the label with a contest organized by Black British women's magazine Precious, giving free copies of the CD to their readers. [15] [16] For some alternative digital releases, the album's title was changed to The Best of TLC before itself and all of the group's previous compilations—except Now & Forever: The Hits—were deleted from iTunes Store to focus on their latest major greatest hits project 20 in 2013. [17] [18] [19] [2]
The Very Best of TLC: Crazy Sexy Hits's material is taken from four of their studio albums: Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip (1992), CrazySexyCool (1994), FanMail (1999), and 3D (2002), and Now & Forever: The Hits (2003), which were all recorded from 1991 to 2003. [20] [21] Their 1993 cover of The Time's "Get It Up" for the soundtrack to Poetic Justice does not appear on any of their studio albums, but still appears on the compilation along with the trio's most successful singles in the United Kingdom. These include "No Scrubs", which placed at number three on the UK Singles Chart and was awarded a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI); "Waterfalls", which peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart and also achieved platinum status; "Unpretty", a silver-certificated single which peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart, and "Creep", which also peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart after being reissued across the UK and Europe. [22] [7] [4] [23] It did not, however, include "Dear Lie", a moderately received UK single which was certified silver. [7] [4] [24] Instead, the non-charting songs "Come Get Some", "Damaged" and "Get It Up" were included in the final track listing, with "Whoop De Woo" (a non-album track) and "In Your Arms Tonight" (from 3D) the only two non-single tracks that appeared the compilation. [7] [24] [25]
During the time of the release's announcement, PopJustice reported that Sony BMG were producing remixes to accompany the album. [3] So for their consideration, the website wrote an "open letter" to the label's A&R suggesting the album should have a remix done by British DJ duo Freemasons, attached with a link to the two's mix of Beyoncé and Shakira's "Beautiful Liar". [3] The label instead intended to feature a remix of "Creep" from another British production duo, The Shapeshifters, but the idea was eventually scrapped. [nb 1] Differing from its CD release, the digital version of the album contains four other bonus tracks: "Turntable", "Kick Your Game", "Silly Ho" and "Hat 2 da Back". [17] With these additions, this version is eventually a re-arrangement of Now & Forever: The Hits's standard physical edition. [5] Many music producers contributed to the collection, with names spanning from Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Organized Noize, The Neptunes, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Jermaine Dupri, and Daryl Simmons, to the group's frequent collaborator Dallas Austin, who received credit on nine of the nineteen songs on the digital version. [30] [14] [31]
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [24] |
News Shopper | [1] |
The Daily Express | [32] |
Writing his review for online music guide AllMusic, author Andy Kellman gave the compilation four out of five stars while pointing out "In Your Arms Tonight", "Come Get Some" and "Whoop De Woo" as a couple of "smart picks" that weren't big hits on the album. [24] However, Kellman still preferred them to other better songs from studio releases. [24] For a conclusion, the writer compared the album to Now & Forever: The Hits as "a little [less] thorough", but still, it was a "fine substitute." [24] British newspaper Daily Express gave the album three stars with a mixed review, stating: "Back in the Nineties, TLC were one of the biggest girl groups in the world, although listening to this best-of collection, it's not always easy to understand why." [32] The critic observed that besides a handful of "brilliant" works like "No Scrubs", "Waterfalls" and "Unpretty", the trio also "churned out some pretty forgettable, bog-standard R&B." [32] Also from England, Robert Fisk from local publication News Shopper disagreed, giving the greatest hits a four-star review and claimed that first-time listeners can "easily possible" enjoy the album without any knowledge of the back story. [1] However, Fisk harshly criticized "Come Get Some" as the compilation's "only real negative" due to it being a "male rap-heavy" track, against the trio's usual lyrics dealing with female empowerment and "being equal to, if not stronger than, the men in their lives." [1] In the end, the reviewer still gave out a praise for the album: "Crazy Sexy Hits is both a classic blend of R&B, hip hop and dance for those keen to rediscover the band as well as being a perfect place for anyone starting their TLC collection, working back one record at a time." [1]
The album debuted at number 57 on the UK Albums Chart of August 26, 2007. [33] The following week, the compilation dropped to number 107 before falling to number 192 and disappeared from the chart after staying for three weeks. [34] [35] Its peak, however, outperformed Now & Forever: The Hits's peak at number 86 back in 2003. [7]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "No Scrubs" | She'kspere | 3:39 | |
2. | "Waterfalls" |
| Organized Noize | 4:19 |
3. | "Creep" | Dallas Austin | Austin | 4:28 |
4. | "Red Light Special" | Babyface | Babyface | 4:40 |
5. | "Diggin' on You" | Babyface | Babyface | 4:14 |
6. | "Baby-Baby-Baby" |
|
| 4:05 |
7. | "Come Get Some" (featuring Lil Jon and Sean Paul of YoungBloodz) |
| Lil Jon | 4:21 |
8. | "Girl Talk" |
| Eddie Hustle | 5:19 |
9. | "Damaged" |
| Austin | 3:51 |
10. | "Whoop De Woo" |
| Austin | 3:52 |
11. | "In Your Arms Tonight" | Pharrell Williams | The Neptunes | 4:27 |
12. | "Get It Up" | 4:14 | ||
13. | "What About Your Friends" |
| Austin | 4:06 |
14. | "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg" |
| Austin | 4:11 |
15. | "Unpretty" |
| Austin | 4:05 |
Total length: | 62:14 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
16. | "Turntable" |
| Jerkins | 3:25 |
17. | "Kick Your Game" |
|
| 4:14 |
18. | "Silly Ho" | Austin | Cyptron | 4:15 |
19. | "Hat 2 da Back" |
| Austin | 4:16 |
Notes
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Very Best of TLC: Crazy Sexy Hits. [30]
Chart (2007) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scottish Albums (OCC) [36] | 68 |
UK Albums (OCC) [33] | 57 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC) [37] | 15 |
TLC is an American girl group formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1990. The group's best-known line-up was composed of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. The group enjoyed success during the 1990s, with nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one singles: "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs", and "Unpretty". The group also recorded four multi-platinum albums, including CrazySexyCool (1994), which received a diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). TLC also became the first R&B group in history to receive the Million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for FanMail (1999).
CrazySexyCool is the second studio album by American girl group TLC, released on November 15, 1994, by LaFace and Arista Records. Following the group's record deal, they released their debut album Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip in 1992 to positive reviews and commercial success. The following year the group began working on a follow-up with an unproductive recording process due to personal struggles, notably those of member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes who was involved in a volatile romantic relationship and struggling with alcoholism. The album's recording lasted until September 1994, with Lopes' role diminished because she was in rehab.
"Waterfalls" is a song by American hip-hop group TLC. It was written by Marqueze Etheridge and Organized Noize with a verse by TLC's Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, for their second album, CrazySexyCool (1994), with production by Organized Noize. The song was the third single released from the album on May 22, 1995, in the United States, followed by a United Kingdom release on August 5, 1995.
"Breathe" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue, from her sixth studio album, Impossible Princess (1997). It was released on 16 March 1998 as the third single from the album, and her final one for the Deconstruction Records label. "Breathe" was co-written by Minogue with Ball and Vauk and produced by Dave Ball and Ingo Vauk. Backed by synthesisers and keyboards, it is an electronica track. The lyrics revolve around contemplation and calmness. "Breathe" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, some of whom highlighted the track as an album stand-out and commended the lyrical and vocal delivery.
"U Remind Me" is a song by American singer Usher. It was written by Edmund "Eddie Hustle" Clement and Anita McCloud and produced by Clement for Usher's third studio album 8701 (2001). A mid-tempo R&B track, the song is about a man who meets a woman who seems like a nice catch, but he decides not to enter a relationship with her because she looks too much like an ex-girlfriend with whom he had a bad breakup.
Now & Forever: The Hits is the first greatest hits album by American girl group TLC. It was released by Arista Records on September 30, 2003, in Japan, on November 24, 2003, in the United Kingdom and on June 21, 2005, in North America.
"When the Lights Go Out" is the second single released from British group Five's debut studio album, Five. It was released in early 1998. The song was co-written by the group alongside Eliot Kennedy, Tim Lever and Mike Percy, and John McLaughlin. It was co-produced by Eliot Kennedy, Tim Lever and Mike Percy.
"Creep" is a song recorded by American singing group TLC for their second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). Dallas Austin, who tried to write the track from a "female perspective", wrote and produced it. It is based on member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins's experience with infidelity. The lyrics portray the singers as women who cheat on their unfaithful lovers for attention. This context was controversial within the group, and strongly opposed by member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, who threatened to wear black tape over her mouth on its accompanying music video.
"Smooth" is a song performed by American rock band Santana and Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, who sings the lead vocals. It was released on June 15, 1999, as the lead single from Santana's 1999 studio album, Supernatural. It was written by Itaal Shur and Thomas, who re-wrote Shur's original melody and lyrics, and produced by Matt Serletic.
"The First Night" is a song by American singer Monica for her second studio album, The Boy Is Mine (1998). It was written by Tamara Savage and Jermaine Dupri, featuring production and additional vocals from the latter. Built around a sample of Diana Ross's 1976 recording "Love Hangover", penned by Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer, who share co-writing credits, the song is about the protagonist's battle with sexual temptations on the night of her first date, despite her conflicting emotions and strong sexual desires.
"He Wasn't Man Enough" is a song by American R&B singer and songwriter Toni Braxton. It was written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, and Harvey Mason, Jr. for her third studio album, The Heat (2000), while production was helmed by the former. "He Wasn't Man Enough" is an uptempo R&B song that differs from Braxton's previous ballads. The song was released by LaFace Records on February 29, 2000, as the lead single from the album.
"Dear Lie" is a song by American group TLC. It was written by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and band member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins for the trio's third studio album FanMail (1999), featuring production by Edmonds. The song was released as the album's third and final single on December 6, 1999, peaking at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 40 in several other countries. "Dear Lie" is included on the group's 2009 compilation album, We Love TLC.
"There You Go" is a song recorded by American singer Pink for her debut studio album, Can't Take Me Home (2000). The track was co-written by Pink, Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, and Kandi Burruss and was produced by Briggs, while Burruss produced the vocals. The song is about a relationship that the protagonist has ended, but the ex-boyfriend wants her back.
"Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" is a song by Canadian recording artist Deborah Cox, released as the lead single from her second studio album, One Wish (1998). Written by Montell Jordan and its producer, Anthony "Shep" Crawford, the song was released on the same day as the album, on September 15, 1998, by Arista Records. It is Cox's most successful song, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and spending a then-record 14 weeks at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2017, Billboard ranked the song at number five on its "Greatest of All Time Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" chart.
"Swear It Again" is a song by Irish boy band Westlife. The ballad was released on 19 April 1999 in the United Kingdom as the first single from their debut album, Westlife (1999). The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks, giving Westlife their first of 14 UK number-one singles. "Swear It Again" is Westlife's only single to have charted in the US, peaking at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ranking number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart in 2000.
"Red Light Special" is a song by American vocal girl group TLC for their second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). Written and produced by Babyface, LaFace and Arista Records released the song as the second single from the album on February 21, 1995. The song found chart success, reaching number one on the US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 chart and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"Diggin' on You" is a song by American girl group TLC, from the group's second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). The song was written and produced by Babyface. It was released by LaFace and Arista Records on October 10, 1995, as the fourth and final single from their album. A pop ballad, the song consists of a guitar, synthesizer and drum machine. The lyrics depict a relationship between a male and female during a summer afternoon.
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"Come Get Some" is a song by American recording group TLC. It was written by band members Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas along with Kandi Burruss, Craig Love, Sean P of YoungBloodZ and Lil' Jon for their greatest hits album, Now and Forever: The Hits (2003). Lil Jon produced the song and also appears with Sean P as guest vocalists.
"Kick Your Game" is a song recorded by the American group TLC for their second studio album, CrazySexyCool (1994). The "funky" R&B-dance track was written by frequent group collaborator Jermaine Dupri, Manuel Seal and member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes. On August 26, 1995 it was picked by LaFace and Arista Records for release as a promotional airplay single from the album. In the song's lyrics, TLC teaches boys who flirt in a club "the proper way to approach a lady"; Lopes' rap verses reportedly referred to then-boyfriend Andre Rison, whose house she burned down during the making of CrazySexyCool.
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