Aaliyah I Care 4 You CD

Recorded in New York, New York, Los Angeles, California, and Chicago, Illinois.

This collection of tunes by the late R&B siren Aaliyah serves double duty as a greatest hits package and a rarities compendium. While the first half of the disc reaches back to Aaliyah's previous albums and snags some of their most memorable songs ("One in a Million," the title track, etc.) the second half consists of previously unreleased material that admirably extends the legacy of a talented young artist whose bright flame was snuffed out far too early. Hearing the old songs again, it's striking how successfully Aaliyah's sensual but feather-light voice interacts with Timbaland's always-inventive production. On the new tracks, the arrangements are a bit more straightforward and predictable (no Timbaland, you see), but Aaliyah's strong vocal presence still rides atop each one with equal amounts of delicacy and authority.

Initial pressings included a bonus DVD.

Personnel includes: Aaliyah, Tank.

Producers include: R. Kelly, Timbaland, Teddy Bishop, Jazze Pha.

Personnel: Stevie Blacke (strings).

Audio Mixers: Acar S. Key; Jimmy Douglass; Mr. Lee; Peter Mokran; R. Kelly; Timbaland.

Recording information: Battery Studios, New York, NY; Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL; Chung King, New York, NY; Chung King, NY, NY; Magic Mix Studios, LA, CA; Manhattan Center Studios; Music Grinder Studios; Pyramid Studios, Ithaca, NY; Sony Studios, New York, NY; Sony Studios, NY, NY.

Photographers: Albert Watson; David LaChapelle; Jonathan Mannion.Rolling Stone (1/23/03, p.67) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...[A] slick collection of old hits and previously unreleased songs..."
Entertainment Weekly (12/13/02, p.82) - "...These hits and unreleased cuts prove she was a muse in her own right....A further reminder of her interpretive talent--and our loss." - Rating: A-
Uncut (3/03, p.121) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...The bulk of I CARE 4 YOU has been filled out with Aaliyah's greatest hits, her silvery and subtle reconfiguration of R&B....A nice summation of an unusually graceful, unhappily short career..."
Vibe (2/03, p.136) - 4 discs out of 5 - "...Gathers some of the most adventurous dance-pop of the last 10 years..."