R In R&B Collection Vol.1, The [PA] - R. Kelly > Reviews > the b in r'n'b - for bad

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
Value for Money

Advantages:	ballads galore
Disadvantages:	ballads galore

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

Picture the scene, you're at a bangin' (truly bangin' party), movin to the hotel lobby (as R Kelly + chums would do), what song is the crowd dancing to? It has to be...Ignition! The ultimate floorfiller, well in my opinion, then you've got the sexy slick Snake to slither around the dancefloor to, or the ballad The World's Greatest to slow down the tempo to continue the party all through the night with the fellas on ma left, honeys on ma right....you know how the song goes.

When I purchased R Kelly - The R In RnB Greatest Hits Collection 1 I expected a CD filled with ballads, floorfillers, to midtempo slick grooves. What did I get? The guaranteed ignition and a bunch of ballads - OK so I love R Kelly and love ballads, great for an allnighter with your partner, but as for this great CD I could take to a friend's house party, well I would have to look elsewhere. I purchased it for £11.99 which I thought would be a great bargain, well you can buy it much cheaper and boy am I not surprised. Those die hard R Kelly fans will love this but he ain't going to win any new fans with this CD. Greatest Hits, I thought it was pretty dire if those were his Greatest Hits. At the same time, I bought Wacko Jacko's Greatest Hits, another Grade A singer, and I have to say, comparing the two, there was just such a difference in class. And yes, before you say it, I know I bought CDs from two musicians who both have a less-than-healthy interest in minors - as everybody I know has pointed out.

On a record by R Kelly you would expect some great singers to duet or feature, well there was JayZ (great, I love JayZ), Celine Dion (boring but good singer), and a bunch of names I really don't quite know and have never heard of. On Chocolate Factory, he had Fat Joe, Ja Rule, can a man of such great talent not find other greatly talented popular performers to spice up his album. Let me tell you he needs it, for this CD can put you to sleep. Here are the tracks:

1. PARTY SONG
Ignition Remix - well, enough said, it's a truly classic song, I will never get fed up of hearing this song, reminds me of some wild nights, belt it out, turn up the bass, and go wild
'sippin on coke and rum I'm like so what I'm drunk it's the frickin weekend baby I'm about to have me some fun' - find a better lyric than that and I'll skydive naked (maybe not), you get the picture though. 10/10

2. BALLAD-SEXY SONG (!?!?!)
Your Body's Callin - talk about mediocre, I can't stand this song for a minute, makes me want to cry that R Kelly could produce such a dull record. This song has him repeatedly saying he can hear 'your body callin' yes mine is - for him to stop this madness and get rid of this song. He asks 'what's your desire?' to break the CD when I hear this song. In the background, there are a few backing singers singing huskily 'your body's callin', this is meant to be a sexy track - it would put me to sleep rater than in the modd, avoid this song. 2/10

3. BALLAD
I Believe I Can Fly - the age old ballad classic, when this came out it was a cut above the rest, a beauty, now I find it distinctly average and so lengthy, if it was just a minute shorter than the 5.20 it is at the minute, I would be happier. The words are pretty 'I used to think that I could not go on....but now I know the meaning of true love'. It's a sweet song for you and your lover, but that's all it is, it's certainly no Aerosmith. It shows us that R Kelly can produce a decent ballad that you can listen to every now and again before screaming 'go on try it plz fly off'. All I can say is don't listen to this too much or that bottle of paracetamol might start looking good. 4/10

4. BALLAD-SEXY
If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time
This is really just similar to the above with different words and a minute shorter (hallelujah), if I had to choose between the two I'd listen to this, perhaps because the lyrics appeal more - everybody has wanted to turn back the hands of time, not everybody is obsessed with being able to fly. I have to admit though it is a cheesefest of a song and not for the weepy-eyed, it is a bit of a gem - if you don't listen to it much, when you do, it means more. It doesn't really get into the song, the music is really faint and his voice is the predominant feature until nearer the end when it picks it up at about 2.10. For a ballad, I'd recommend it, especially for a man wooing his ex. 6/10 'I did you wrong, I admit I did, and now I'm facing the rest of my life alone' - awwwwwww

5. SEXY - Mid Tempo ish
Bump N' Grind
HALLELUJAH, finally a grat song from the genius I know and love as R Kelly. This puts me in the mind of Snake a little, at the beginning. The lyrics are slick, like the R-Ruh I'm more accustomed to. This has to be one of the best songs on the album, one of the best RnB songs for you and your lover on a passionate night. there are some ultimately great lyrics such as:
'I'm not fooling around with you, baby my love is true with you'
'I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump n grind' (me neither)
'my mind's telling me no, but my body my bodys telling me yes'
It is worth downloading this song if you don't fancy the rest of the album. I truly recommend it. I even prefer it to Ignition, you won't find higher praise than that!! If this song was chocolate, it'd be Galaxy (nah, Thorntons) 11/10 (I meant the 11) A-Class Song

6. UpTempo
She's Got That Vibe - R Kelly and Public Announcement
I was really surprised to discover this track was released in 1991, it is a great song, it's fast and smooth. There's not much else to say except it's one of the best on the album though hasn't received much publicity as one of his best. This is the type of track I expected to fill this album and if R Kelly had filled this album with more of this type of song and less ballads, this CD would have a shelf life of years.
"DJ Pump it up a little more, now baby I gotta let you know you've got that vibe.."
the rap from Public Announcement is even a-class, in the middle of the song R Kelly goes 'wooo' I felt like that when I heard this song after the mundane tracks of 2,3,4. My only complaint is it only lasts 3 mins 19 seconds!!
9.5/10

7. JUST SLOW
Thank God It's Friday - too slow, far too slow, boring, too boring, am not wasting my time on this, soft husky song, or should I say another snooze song....The girl in the background aswell, does she have a nasal problem? "FRIIIdaaayy", not good hunny, not good. Then the tune changes, eh? What's going on? Next song plz...

8. BALLAD
Gotham City - listen to this a few times because I can guarantee the first time you hear it you'll skip it, I did, and thee next time, I skipped it. The name of the track makes you think it'd be fast, a floorfiller, no. But it ain't too bad. It's one of the more bearable songs though I can guarantee by the 3rd minute, with 1 minute left, you'll skip, I do, every time. Boring lyrics, and repetitive but easy listening, you won't want to kill yourself, well, as I'm listening now, I'm not too sure.....
"The city of justice, city of love, city of peace, for everyone of us, we all need it, can't live without it, Gotham City" I change my mind after writing that down, what is this man on about it?? 4/10 I hate his backing singers aswell throughout - they're so dull.

9. BALLAD
The World's Greatest
This is an a-class ballad, this is an anthem, you can enjoy listening to it with close friends, your lover, or even close family. This song is the song of all slow songs. This song is 'the world's greatest' literally. This song inspired me from the first time I heard it to now, it's a feel good song. I will never tire or bore of this song. It makes me smile and makes me feel thankful for what I have - y favourite lines:
'I am the people, I am a helping hand, I am a hero, If anybody asks you who I am, stand up tall, look him in the face and say...'
'I'm that star up in the sky, I'm that mountain peak up high, Hey I Made it, I'm the Worlds Greatest'
C'mon sing along, it'll make you feel good, again I feel the backing singers spoil it though. The words are amazing, this is true R Kelly, just lie back and enjoy (the song that is)... ;) 10/10

10. BALLAD
I Wish
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I Wish I Wish I Wish this song had never been sang 2/10 (I used to love this but right now, it's killing me - one of his greatest, erm no)

11. MIDTEMPO
Fiesta - Remix feat. JayZ and Boo and Gotti (who??) Typical JayZ, typical RKelly, no disappointments here, though it has to be said that without JayZ this song would not be what is it. This song reaches the title of one of the best on the album simply because of the style of JayZ and the class he oozes. JayZ is the miracle worker and the star on this song:
'After the show it's the after party, after the party it's the hotel lobby ..... after the original it's probably dis' The parts R Kelly sings are distinctly average, though it has a good solid beat to glide to on the dancefloor - more a song to dance to with your lover at a party than a one with friends, its a slinky smooth song but I wouldn't glide past it when listening to the album. 8/10

12. UPTEMPO-MIDTEMPO
Home Alone featuring Keith Murray
'Kellys in the mood to make it right' I wish he'd made this album right....anyway, this song.......well you decide I'm fed up of putting down R Kelly, don't want to be too nasty for I really do think he's talented, as for this pile of crap, well er not his best work !! 6/10

13. SEXY
Down Low (Nobody Has To Know) feat. Ronald and Ernie Isley
I have to admit I like this. Its slick and smooth, with a hint of sexiness, a bit of danger, good if you're keeping a relationship under wraps 'secret lovers is what you wanna be' - it feels a little dark this song, which is good, more like an R Kelly classic, a concoction pf sexiness, danger, and slick grooves.
'You want me but he needs you, yet you're telling me that everything is cool, trying to convince me to do as you say'
'Nobody has to know........You Better keep it on the down low..Nobody...'
8/10

14. BALLAD
When A Woman's Fed Up
I'm fed up - of this CD now. 2/10

15. BALLAD
I'm Your Angel feat. Celine Dion
For all Celine Dion bores me, I love this song, yes it's a ballad, yes it's yet another ballad but this song has some beautiful lyrics, it's an up-lifting love song, not a depressing one, it gives a positive side to love, and I love listening to it with my boyfriend (though he doesn't like it), the words can make me cry. This is about somebody being there for someone when they're down, always being there - eveyrbody needs that don't they?? Eveyrbody needs a bit of loving! Even before I bought this album, I had downloaded this song and listened to it over and over and over. The tempo changes, it builds, it goes down, and it builds your emotions. With no crappy backing singers on this, it's a classic tearjerker and that's all there is to say, I'll let the song speak for itself:
'No mountains too high for you to climb, all you have to do is have some courage in yourself, no rivers too wide for you to make it across, all you have to do is believe me'
'Then you will see morning will come and everyday will be bright as the sun'
'I just want you to see Ill be your cloud up in the sky, Ill be your shoulder when you cry, I hear your voice when you call, I'm your angel'
9/10

16. BALLAD
The Storm Is Over Now
Nothing could top track 15 and this was bound to fail, the storm is over, and the CD is over woohooo. 3/10

10/16 are ballads - zzzzzzz; I am impressed R Kelly wrote, produced, and arranged all of the songs though I ain't impressed with all the songs! Please tell me if you were. There was a bonus disc with this album - remixes mainly. This disc was alot faster, great, and included some better songs. An album more like the bonus disc would have been much better.
1. Snake - Remix feat Cam'ron and Big Tigger
I prefer the original, it's a classic sexy song
2. Bump N Grind - Old School Remix
Both versions are classic - the other tops this though
3. Down Low - Live To Rregret It Mix
Still slow
4. Step In The Name of Love Remix
Good uplifting song, easy to listen to
5. Ghetto Religion feat. Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean - speaks for itself, quite good
6. Gotham City Remix
hmmm.....
7. Thoia Thoing
What a floorfiller, great
8. Touched A Dream
quite good, reasonably fast = reasonably good

So there you are, I'm still unsure about this album - the booklets great, I thought the CD would be a stunner, one always in my CD player, every song getting played, well I have to put a program on for this CD, with about 5 of the songs from the actual 16 on the program. It wouldn't be so disappointing, if I didn't expect too much (I'm just too high maintenance ya no) xx