She famously doesn't count birthdays, but Mariah Carey is taking 2020 to commemorate the birth of her music career with some rare and unreleased material.
Earlier this month, the pop icon announced #MC30, a celebration throwing all the way back to her self-titled debut, issued three decades ago this past June. The campaign promises weekly "digital EPs, remixes, bonus cuts, rare tracks, acapella moments and mind-blowing live performances" - and five releases have occurred so far.
The first, The Live Debut - 1990, captures tracks from one of Mariah's first concert performances: an intimate gig at Manhattan's Tatou Club, presented as an industry showcase. Debut single "Vision Of Love" had already topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks that August, and follow-up "Love Takes Time" would reach the summit for another three weeks that November. Those tracks are both present here, along with deep cut "Vanishing" and a cover of "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)," first recorded by Ben E. King and covered by Aretha Franklin in 1970.
From there, four expanded EPs have been released offering remixes of Mariah's biggest early singles from domestic and international releases. From her self-titled debut, remix bundles for "Someday," the album's third of four consecutive chart-toppers, and U.K.-only single "There's Got To Be a Way," were released digitally last week, featuring remix work from Shep Pettibone. Today, EPs from her 1992 sophomore released Emotions - the chart-topping title track and the Top 5 single "Make It Happen" - are available, featuring not only mixes from the team of Robert Clivillés and David Cole of C+C Music Factory, but rare live versions of the latter track: one from the Daydream World Tour in 1995 at Madison Square Garden and one from the iconic VH1 Divas Live television special.
Mariah celebrated the 25th anniversary of her Merry Christmas album last year, earning a 19th career No. 1 with a reissue of the immortal "All I Want For Christmas Is You." That certified her as the solo artist with the most Billboard chart-toppers, second only to The Beatles overall. With a planned induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021 and a memoir, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey, due this fall, the #MC30 campaign looks to be a boon for fans of one of pop's most celebrated chanteuses.
The Live Debut - 1990 (Columbia/Legacy, 2020)
- Introduction/Announcer
- Love Takes Time
- Vision Of Love
- Vanishing
- Don't Play That Song (You Lied)
All tracks recorded live at The Tatou Club, New York, NY - 10/22/1990. Tracks 4-5 previously released on video on The First Vision - SMV Enterprises VHS 19V-49072, 1991
Someday EP (Columbia/Legacy, 2020)
- Someday (New 7" Straight)
- Someday (7" Jack Swing Mix)
- Someday (New 12" House)
- Someday (New 12" Jackswing)
- Someday (Pianoapercaloopella)
- Someday (House Dub Version)
- Someday (New Jack Dub Version)
- Someday (New Jack Bonus Beats)
Tracks 1 and 3-5 from Columbia 12" 44-73560, 1990
Track 2 from Columbia single 38-73561, 1990
Tracks 6-8 from Columbia 12" promo CAS 3057, 1990
There's Got To Be a Way EP (Columbia/Legacy, 2020)
- There's Got To Be a Way (7" Remix)
- There's Got To Be a Way (12" Remix)
- There's Got To Be a Way (Vocal Dub Mix)
- There's Got To Be a Way (Alt. Vocal Dub Mix)
- There's Got To Be a Way (Sample Dub Mix)
Tracks 1-2 and 4 from Columbia U.K. 12" 656931 6, 1991
Track 3 from "Emotions" CD single - Columbia 44K 74037, 1991
Track 5 from Columbia U.K. 12" promo XPR-1634, 1991
Emotions EP (Columbia/Legacy, 1992)
- Emotions (Special Motion Edit)
- Emotions (12" Club Mix)
- Emotions (C&C 12" Club Mix No. 1 Mix)
- Emotions (C&C Dub-Dub Mix)
- Emotions (12" Instrumental)
Track 1 from "Make It Happen" CD single - Columbia 44K 74189, 1992
Tracks 2 and 5 from Columbia CD single 44K 74037, 1992
Tracks 3-4 from Columbia U.K. 12" promo XPR-1675, 1992
Make It Happen EP (Columbia/Legacy, 1992)
- Make It Happen (Radio Edit)
- Make It Happen (C&C Classic Mix)
- Make It Happen (Extended Version)
- Make It Happen (Dub Version)
- Make It Happen (Live At Madison Square Garden)
- Make It Happen (VH1 Divas Live)
Tracks 1-4 from Columbia CD single 44K 74189, 1992
Track 5 from "Open Arms" U.K. CD single - Columbia 662872 2, 1996
Track 6 from VH1 Divas Live - Epic EK 69600, 1998
Jacob Hudson says
It is too bad these aren't coming out on CD, I am a big fan of early Mariah and would buy these. I am not ready to buy downloads just yet.