Mary J. Blige - Ballads

Mary J. Blige's first compilation, the Japan-only Ballads, collects some of her best slow jams, spanning all of her albums, and brings them together in a cohesive whole, making for an engaging and smooth listening experience, especially for lovers of quiet storm. Some of her ballad hits are not included, most notably her biggest, "Not Gon' Cry," but then again, this isn't necessarily a hits collection (and "You Remind Me," included here, is not really a ballad). A few non-album tracks make this compilation worthwhile for the collector, most impressive among them being her stunning cover of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed," which ranks among the best of Blige's recordings (and is completely unavailable in the U.S.). Read More