Very Best Of En Vogue CD

This compilation features selected tracks from En Vogue's 6 albums originally released on Atlantic, East/West and Elektra between 1990 and 2000.

Additional personnel includes: Salt 'N Pepa, Debbie T (rap vocals); Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy [FMob] (spoken vocals, keyboards, drum programming);

Jinx Jones, James Earley (guitar, bass); James "Jinx" Gardner, Marlon McClain, Tommy Martin, Martin Terry (guitar); Grover Washington, Jr., Jeffrey

McCormick, Les Harris (saxophone); Tony George (trumpet); Chris Mondt (trombone); Chanz (piano); Babyface (Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer, drum programming); Giuliano Franco (synthesizer, drum programming); Preston Crump (bass); Michael Fellows, Lil' John (drums); Jon Bendich, Juan Escovedo, Peter Michael (percussion); Randy Walker (programming).

En Vogue may not have been as visionary as TLC, but they were still one of the best female urban groups of the '90s, which is why their Very Best collection works so well. Album by album, they delivered terrific singles, from the swaggering "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Free Your Mind" to the yearning "Don't Let Go (Love)" and "Hold On," plus such wonderful duets as "Whatta Man," where they team with Salt-N-Pepa to deliver a songs so sexy it hurts (but, as John Mellencamp says, it hurts so good). All these are here on this 16-track collection, along with several other singles that didn't climb as high on the charts, plus album tracks, and, well, filler, like a remix of "Hold On." This collection gets the nod over 1999's Best of En Vogue because it has a sharper selection of songs that really make a good case for their gifts. It may have benefited from fewer songs, since it would be a better listen if it was nothing but their ten best songs, but it still offers the best encapsulation of their talents imaginable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Includes liner notes by Janine Coveney.

Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch & Bill Inglot (Digiprep).

En Vogue: Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron (Braggs), Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson.

Producers include: Thomas McElroy, Denzil Foster, Babyface, Herby "Luvbug" Azor, Giuliano FRanco.

Compilation producer: Barry "Rockbarry" Benson.

Personnel: Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson, Maxine Jones, Salt-N-Pepa (vocals); Jah (rap vocals); Martin Terry, Mark Coleman, Jinx Jones, Marlon McClain, Tommy Martin (guitar); James Earley (electric guitar); Les Harris, Grover Washington, Jr. (saxophone); Tony George (trumpet); Chris Mondt (trombone); Marvin "Chanz" Parkman (grand piano); Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy (keyboards, drum programming); Giuliano Franco (synthesizer, drum programming); Lil John , Michael Fellows (drums); Peter Michael, Juan Escovedo, Jon Bendich (percussion); Three Feet (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Manny Marroquin; Ken Kessie.

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Audio Remixer: Marley Marl.

Liner Note Author: Shawn Amos.

Recording information: Brandon's Way Recording, LA; Can-AM Recorders, Tarzana, CA; Doppler Recording Studio, Atlanta, GA; Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA; FM Studios, Oakland, CA; Live Oak Studio, Berkeley, CA; Record Plant, LA; Sound Trek Studios; Starlight Sound, Richmond, CA.

Photographers: Neal Preston; James Calderarro.

Arrangers: Denzil Foster; Thomas McElroy.