The Very Best of Macy Gray
Encyclopedia
The Very Best of Macy Gray is the first greatest hits
album (fourth overall) by American R&B
-soul
singer–songwriter Macy Gray
, released in the United States on September 7, 2004 by Epic Records
. It contains eight hit singles from Gray's first three albums plus two brand-new tracks (the single "Love Is Gonna Get You
" and a cover
of Aerosmith
's 1975 song "Walk This Way
"), three remix
es, three album tracks, and the track "Demons
", a collaboration with Fatboy Slim
from his 2000 album Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars
which had previously not been included on any of her albums. The album failed to attract much attention but nevertheless became another UK top forty album for Gray and charted moderately in other countries of Europe.
On December 1, 2008, the album was re-released in the United Kingdom including "Winter Wonderland
" (which first appeared as a B-side
to the "Sexual Revolution
" single), featured in the Marks & Spencer
Christmas ads. Due to digital downloads
the track reached number seventy-six on the UK Singles Chart
the week ending December 27, 2008.
Japanese edition
Adds "We Will Rock You
" as the fourteenth track, between "Walk This Way" and "Demons".
UK re-release
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album (fourth overall) by American R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
-soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer–songwriter Macy Gray
Macy Gray
Macy Gray is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.Gray has released five studio albums, with her fifth studio album, The Sellout,...
, released in the United States on September 7, 2004 by Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. It contains eight hit singles from Gray's first three albums plus two brand-new tracks (the single "Love Is Gonna Get You
Love Is Gonna Get You
"Love Is Gonna Get You" is the only single from Macy Gray's greatest hits album, The Very Best of Macy Gray, released in 2004....
" and a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
's 1975 song "Walk This Way
Walk This Way
"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
"), three remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es, three album tracks, and the track "Demons
Demons (Fatboy Slim song)
"Demons" is a song by English big beat musician Fatboy Slim, featuring Grammy Award-winning American R&B-soul singer Macy Gray. The song was released as a single from Slim's 2000 album Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, and later appeared on Gray's 2004 greatest hits compilation The Very...
", a collaboration with Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
from his 2000 album Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars
Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars
Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars is the third studio album by British big beat artist Fatboy Slim, released in 2000. It features Macy Gray, Ashley Slater, Bootsy Collins, Roland Clark, Jim Morrison, and Roger Sanchez as guest contributors...
which had previously not been included on any of her albums. The album failed to attract much attention but nevertheless became another UK top forty album for Gray and charted moderately in other countries of Europe.
On December 1, 2008, the album was re-released in the United Kingdom including "Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:...
" (which first appeared as a B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to the "Sexual Revolution
Sexual Revolution (song)
"Sexual Revolution" is the second and final single from Macy Gray's second studio album, The Id .In the United Kingdom, "Sexual Revolution" became Gray's first single since her debut, "Do Something", to miss the top forty. The single had limited success in the United States as well, missing both...
" single), featured in the Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
Christmas ads. Due to digital downloads
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
the track reached number seventy-six on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
the week ending December 27, 2008.
Track listing
- "I TryI Try"I Try" is the second single from Macy Gray's debut album On How Life Is, released in North American in January 2000 . It was Gray's biggest hit to date...
" 1 (Macy Gray, Jeremy Ruzumna, Jinsoo Lim, David Wilder) – 3:59 - "Do SomethingDo Something (song)"Do Something" is the lead single from Macy Gray's debut album, On How Life Is . The song samples OutKast's 1994 song "Git Up, Git Out" and Nice & Smooth's 1989 song "Funky for You", and therefore contained no less than seventeen co-writers including Gray herself.In the United Kingdom, "Do...
" 1 (Gray, Darryl Swann, Ruzumna, Dion Murdock, Patrick BrownSleepy BrownPatrick "Sleepy" Brown is an R&B singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is one-third of the successful Atlanta-based production team of Organized Noize, which has created hits for acts such as OutKast, Goodie Mob, and TLC...
, Raymon Murray, Rico WadeOrganized NoizeOrganized Noize is an Atlanta-based American hip hop production company made up of Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown.-History:Among the hit records they have worked on include TLC's "Waterfalls", En Vogue's "Don't Let Go ", and Ludacris' "Saturday "...
, Cameron GippBig GippThis article is about the American rapper. For the Notre Dame football player, see George Gipp. For the Iowa State Representative see Chuck Gipp.Big Gipp , is an American rapper from the South...
, Robert Barnett, André BenjaminAndré 3000André Lauren Benjamin , better known by his stage name André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor, best known for being part of American hip-hop duo OutKast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi...
, Antwan PattonBig BoiAntwan André Patton , better known by his stage name Big Boi, is an American rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor, best known for being a member of American hip hop duo OutKast alongside André 3000. His work in the duo has produced six studio albums. During the duo's hiatus, he and André...
, Thomas BurtonCee-LoThomas DeCarlo Callaway , better known by his stage name Cee Lo Green, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor...
, Greg Mays, Daryl BarnesNice & SmoothNice & Smooth was an East Coast hip hop duo from New York that consists of Greg Nice and Smooth B . The duo released four albums from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s...
, George Clinton, Jr.George Clinton (funk musician)George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
, Garry ShiderGarry ShiderGarry Marshall Shider was an American musician and guitarist. He was musical director of the P-Funk All-Stars for much of their history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.-Early life:Shider was born in Plainfield, New...
, Bernard WorrellBernie WorrellGeorge Bernard "Bernie" Worrell, Jr. is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a founding member of Parliament-Funkadelic and for his work with Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic...
) – 4:57- Contains a sample of OutKastOutKastOutkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
's "Git Up, Git OutGit Up, Git Out"Git Up, Git Out" is the third single from hip-hop duo OutKast's debut album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. The song is a conscious Southern story-rap about the dangers of giving into circumstances and not doing anything with one's life. The song features Cee-Lo and Big Gipp of Goodie Mob...
" (Patrick Brown, Raymon Murray, Rico Wade, Cameron Gipp, Robert Barnett, André Benjamin, Antwan Patton, Thomas Burton) and Nice & SmoothNice & SmoothNice & Smooth was an East Coast hip hop duo from New York that consists of Greg Nice and Smooth B . The duo released four albums from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s...
's "Funky for You" (Greg Mays, Daryl Barnes, George Clinton, Jr., Garry Shider, Bernard Worrell)
- Contains a sample of OutKast
- "StillStill (Macy Gray song)"Still" is the third single from Macy Gray's debut album, On How Life Is . The song details a troubled relationship between a woman and a man who is abusive towards her....
" 1 (Gray, Ruzumna, Bill Esses, Jeff BlueJeff BlueJeff Blue is a multi-platinum music producer, A&R executive, songwriter, and lawyer who is currently Artists and Repertoire consultant for Atlantic Records. He has worked as Sr. VP A&R/Staff Producer for Warner Bros. Records|Warner California, Interscope Records, Virgin/Capitol Music Group,...
) – 4:15 - "Why Didn't You Call MeWhy Didn't You Call Me"Why Didn't You Call Me" is the fourth and final single from Macy Gray's debut album, On How Life Is .-Reception:In the UK, "Why Didn't You Call Me" became Gray's third consecutive top forty hit on the UK Singles Chart. The single also peaked at number twenty-five on the Adult Top 40 in the U.S...
" 1 (Gray, Ruzumna) – 3:14 - "I've Committed Murder" 1 (Gray, Swann, Ruzumna, Kiilu Beckwith, Eddie HarrisEddie HarrisEddie Harris was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ...
, Francis LaiFrancis LaiFrancis Lai is a French accordionist, and composer noted for his film scores.While in his twenties, Francis Lai left home and went to Paris where he became part of the lively Montmartre music scene...
, Carl SigmanCarl SigmanCarl Sigman was an American songwriter.-Biography:Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his Bar exams to practice in the state of New York...
) – 4:59- Contains a sample of Eddie Harris' "Live Right Now" (Eddie Harris) and an interpolation of Francis Lai & His Orchestra's "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story" Love Story" is a popular song published in 1970, with music by Francis Lai and lyrics by Carl Sigman. The song was first introduced as an instrumental theme in the 1970 film Love Story. The lyrics were added after the theme music became popular.-Covers:The song has been covered many times...
" (Francis Lai, Carl Sigman)
- Contains a sample of Eddie Harris' "Live Right Now" (Eddie Harris) and an interpolation of Francis Lai & His Orchestra's "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story
- "Sexual RevolutionSexual Revolution (song)"Sexual Revolution" is the second and final single from Macy Gray's second studio album, The Id .In the United Kingdom, "Sexual Revolution" became Gray's first single since her debut, "Do Something", to miss the top forty. The single had limited success in the United States as well, missing both...
" 2 (Gray, Ruzumna, Wilder, Swann) – 4:45 - "Sweet BabySweet Baby (song)"Sweet Baby" is the lead single from Macy Gray's second studio album The Id, released in 2001. The single is a collaboration with Erykah Badu, who was a featured vocalist, and John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who played the guitar....
" (featuring Erykah BaduErykah BaduErica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
) 2 (Gray, Joe Solo) – 3:49 - "Boo" 2 (Gray, Ruzumna, Wilder, Swann, Victor IndrizzoVictor IndrizzoVictor Indrizzo is an American session musician, primarily known for playing the drums, as well as a songwriter and producer.Indrizzo was born in Freeport, Long Island, New York...
, Zac Rae) – 4:25 - "When I See YouWhen I See You"When I See You" is the lead single from Macy Gray's third studio album, The Trouble with Being Myself, released in 2003.In the United Kingdom, "When I See You" returned Gray to the top forty after "Sexual Revolution" fell short by several places. It became her fifth top forty hit and her seventh...
" 3 (Gray, Ruzumna, Indrizzo, Justin Meldal-JohnsenJustin Meldal-JohnsenJustin Meldal-Johnsen is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work with Grammy Award-winning artist Beck. He served as the touring bassist for Nine Inch Nails during their final tours.-Recording career:...
) – 3:43 - "It Ain't the Money" (featuring Pharoahe MonchPharoahe MonchPharoahe Monch is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex lyrics, complex delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.-Biography:...
) 3 (Gray, Ruzumna, Indrizzo, Meldal-Johnsen, Troy Jamerson, Beck HansenBeckBeck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
) – 4:07 - "She Ain't Right for YouShe Ain't Right for You"She Ain't Right for You" is the second and final single from Macy Gray's third studio album, The Trouble with Being Myself, released in 2003....
" 3 (Gray, Ruzumna, Indrizzo, Meldal-Johnsen) – 4:12 - "Love Is Gonna Get YouLove Is Gonna Get You"Love Is Gonna Get You" is the only single from Macy Gray's greatest hits album, The Very Best of Macy Gray, released in 2004....
" 4 (Gray, Mike ElizondoMike ElizondoMichael "Mike" Elizondo is a well-known songwriter, bassist, keyboardist, and hip hop music producer.-Musical career:Mike Elizondo is especially known for his collaborations with internationally successful producer Dr. Dre and rapper Eminem. He has played the bass for many of Dr...
, Natalie StewartFloetryFloetry was a British R&B duo comprising Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart . The group recorded two studio albums, one live album, and sold over 800,000 records worldwide. Formed in 1999, Floetry started on the performance poetry stage.In 2002, the duo released their first album entitled, Floetic...
) – 3:00 - "Walk This WayWalk This Way"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. It peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977, part of a string of successful hit...
" 4 (Steven TylerSteven TylerSteven Tyler is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the frontman and lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith, in which he also plays the harmonica, and occasional piano and percussion. He is known as the "Demon of Screamin'", due to his high screams...
, Joe PerryJoe Perry (musician)Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
) – 3:31 - "DemonsDemons (Fatboy Slim song)"Demons" is a song by English big beat musician Fatboy Slim, featuring Grammy Award-winning American R&B-soul singer Macy Gray. The song was released as a single from Slim's 2000 album Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, and later appeared on Gray's 2004 greatest hits compilation The Very...
" (Fatboy SlimFatboy SlimNorman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
featuring Macy Gray) 5 (Norman Cook, Gray, Bill WithersBill WithersWilliam Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
) – 3:14- Contains elements of Bill Withers' "I Can't Write Left-Handed" (Bill Withers)
- "When I See You" (Bugz in the AtticBugz in the AtticBugz in the Attic is a collective of DJs and producers based in West London, who are prominent in broken beat. The collective includes Orin Walters , Paul Dolby , Kaidi Tatham, Daz-I-Kue, Alex Phountzi , Cliff Scott, Mark Force, Matt Lord, and Mikey Stirton. The group also has a label, BitaSweet...
Remix) – 6:35 - "I've Committed Murder" (Gang StarrGang StarrGang Starr was an influential East Coast hip hop duo that consisted of the late MC Guru and DJ/producer DJ Premier. Their style combined elements of New York jazz and hip hop.-Background:...
Main Mix featuring Mos DefMos DefDante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
) – 4:38 - "Sexual Revolution" (Norman Cook Radio Mix at 128BPM) – 3:32
Japanese edition
Adds "We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
" as the fourteenth track, between "Walk This Way" and "Demons".
UK re-release
- "Winter WonderlandWinter Wonderland"Winter Wonderland" is a winter song, popularly treated as a Christmastime pop standard, written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith . Through the decades it has been recorded by over 150 different artists.-History:...
" – 2:53
- 1 From On How Life IsOn How Life IsOn How Life Is is the debut album by American recording artist Macy Gray, released in the United States on July 27, 1999 by Epic Records. Produced by Andrew Slater, it became Gray's best-selling album to date, selling 3.2 million copies in the United States and seven million copies worldwide.-Track...
- 2 From The IdThe Id (album)The Id is the second studio album by American recording artist Macy Gray. It was released in the United States on September 18, 2001 by Epic Records, a week after the September 11, 2001 attacks, perhaps the main reason for its domestic underperformance; it debuted and peaked at number eleven on the...
- 3 From The Trouble with Being MyselfThe Trouble with Being MyselfThe Trouble with Being Myself is the third studio album by American recording artist Macy Gray, released in the United States on July 15, 2003 by Epic Records. Despite not being a major commercial success for Gray, it received mostly positive reviews. The album features the singles "When I See You"...
- 4 Previously unreleased track
- 5 From Halfway Between the Gutter and the StarsHalfway Between the Gutter and the StarsHalfway Between the Gutter and the Stars is the third studio album by British big beat artist Fatboy Slim, released in 2000. It features Macy Gray, Ashley Slater, Bootsy Collins, Roland Clark, Jim Morrison, and Roger Sanchez as guest contributors...
Charts
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop 50 Ultratop 50 singles, often just Ultratop 50, is the weekly chart of fifty best-selling singles in Flanders, Belgium, and is produced and published by the Ultratop organization. The chart has existed since March 31, 1995... (Wallonia) |
52 |
| Dutch Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
50 |
| Italian Albums Chart Federation of the Italian Music Industry The Federation of the Italian Music Industry is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy.... |
58 |
| Japanese Albums Chart Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
236 |
| Portuguese Albums Chart | 23 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
84 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
36 |