Ultimate Aaliyah

RELEASE
May 10, 2005
LABEL
Blackground
GENRES
Rhythm & Blues, Contemporary R&B, Pop

Album Review

Ultimate Aaliyah was released in the U.K., but it has a lot to offer U.S. fans of any degree, especially if they have a region-free DVD player. Between the two audio discs in the set -- the first is a greatest hits, the second is a helpful grab-bag set -- all but three of Aaliyah's chart entries are included ("Age Ain't Nothing But a Number," "I Refuse," and "Come Over" are missing), and a DVD contains an hour-long documentary that features interviews and promo clips. Disc two contains the remainder of her tracks from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack as well as material from the Timbaland and Timbaland & Magoo albums she guested on. As of 2005, this was the most thorough Aaliyah best-of available, since 2002's I Care 4 U was split between past hits and new material. From the delightful "Back and Forth" through the all-too-sobering "Miss You," Ultimate Aaliyah adequately represents the shortened career of a tremendous talent who benefited from some of the best songwriting and production work by Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and R. Kelly. Casual fans will get most of the hits; collectors will be pleased to plug some gaps and get the documentary as a bonus.
Andy Kellman, Rovi

Track Listing

  1. One in a Million
  2. If Your Girl Only Knew
  3. Hot Like Fire
  4. The One I Gave My Heart To
  5. Got to Give It Up
  6. 4 Page Letter
  7. We Need a Resolution
  8. Rock the Boat
  9. More Than a Woman
  10. I Care 4 U
  11. Try Again
  12. Back and Forth
  13. Are You That Somebody
  14. Don't Know What to Tell Ya
  15. Miss You
  16. At Your Best
  17. Are You Feelin' Me
  18. Messed Up
  19. Come Back in One Piece
  20. I Don't Wanna
  21. Man Undercover
  22. John Blaze
  23. I Am Music
  24. More Than a Woman [Bump N Flex Club Mix]
  25. Hold On
  26. The Aaliyah Story [DVD]