View source for Reflections (A Retrospective)

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Reflections (A Retrospective)
| type       = greatest hits
| artist     = [[Mary J. Blige]]
| cover      = Mary J. Blige - Reflections - A Retrospective album cover.jpg
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = {{Start date|2006|12|12}}
| recorded   = July 1992 – May 2006
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = {{flatlist|
*[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
*[[soul music|soul]]
*[[hip hop soul]]}}
| length     = 65:57
| label      = [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
| producer   = [[Bryan-Michael Cox]], [[Sean Combs|Sean "Diddy" Combs]], [[Kendrick "WyldCard" Dean]], [[Jerry Duplessis]], [[Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds|Babyface]], Kendu Isaacs, [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]], [[Wyclef Jean]], [[Mark Ledford]], [[John Legend]], [[Prince Markie Dee|Mark Morales]], [[Chucky Thompson]], [[Poke & Tone|Poke]], [[J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League]]
| prev_title = [[The Breakthrough]]
| prev_year  = 2005
| next_title = [[Growing Pains (Mary J. Blige album)|Growing Pains]]
| next_year  = 2007
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Reflections (A Retrospective)
 | type        = greatest hits
 | single1     = [[We Ride (I See the Future)]]
 | single1date = November 2006
 | single2     = [[MJB da MVP]]
 | single2date = 18 December 2006 (UK only)
}}
}}{{italic title|all=yes|noerror}}

'''''Reflections (A Retrospective)''''' is the first [[greatest hits]] album by American [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] singer [[Mary J. Blige]], released in Europe on December 1, 2006, and in the United States on December 12 by [[Geffen Records]]. The album hasn't been certified by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] but has sold 900,000 (according to the December 2009 ''Billboard'' magazine issue) copies in the United States. The album has also sold an estimated 140,000 in the United Kingdom despite only reaching a peak of number forty—this was due to consistent sales of 40k+ over the [[Christmas]] weeks. As of May 25, 2008 worldwide sales are 1,381,376.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}

==History==
''Reflections (A Retrospective)'' was originally scheduled for release in November 2005 with the title ''Reminisce... Until the Breakthrough'' before the decision was made by Blige and Geffen Records to delay the release in favor of the new studio album, ''[[The Breakthrough]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1513267/11082005/blige_mary_j.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060205105137/http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1513267/11082005/blige_mary_j.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2006 |title=Mary J. Blige's ''Breakthrough'' Is Coming Out This Year After All |accessdate=November 15, 2007 |work=[[VH1]] |date=November 8, 2005}}</ref> New songs that were due to appear on ''Reminisce''—"[[Be Without You]]", "[[One (U2 song)|One]]", "[[MJB da MVP]]", and "Can't Hide from Luv"—were all transferred to the new album and the release date for the greatest hits was rescheduled to the spring of 2006. However, due to the commercial success of ''The Breakthrough'', the release of ''Reminisce'' never materialized. In October 2006, Geffen Records announced that the project would finally be released on December 4, 2006 in the UK and December 12, 2006 in the U.S., under the title of ''Reflections (A Retrospective)''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56777/billboard-bits-mary-j-blige-saliva-itunes-latino |title=Billboard Bits: Mary J. Blige, Saliva, iTunes Latino |accessdate=November 15, 2007 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 1, 2006}}</ref>

===New material===
Although ''Reflections (A Retrospective)'' is a retrospective collection of songs, writer [[Bryan-Michael Cox]], who co-wrote and produced Blige's record-breaking single "Be Without You", confirmed that the release would feature four new songs, which includes the single "[[We Ride (I See the Future)]]" as well as "Reflections (I Remember)", "You Know", and "King & Queen", a duet with [[John Legend]]. The new material was originally intended to be part of a repackaged version of ''The Breakthrough'' to be released towards late 2006, but was transferred to the greatest hits release instead.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/57682/austin-eyeing-blige-duet-for-ocean-drive |title=Austin Eyeing Blige Duet For 'Ocean Drive' |accessdate=November 15, 2007 |magazine=Billboard |date=July 28, 2006}}</ref>

Also, on the back cover of the album (UK/International editions), track #17: the hit single "One" with [[U2]], although it says (Mary J. Blige and U2), it is actually a solo version with U2 singing the chorus. Blige also sings the first part of the song, originally sung by [[Bono]]. This solo version is exclusive to the album, the original version with U2 (Bono's vocals) is on ''The Breakthrough''.

==Critical reception==
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="allmusic">[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r936973|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[musicOMH]]''
|rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="musicomh">{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Neil |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/mary-j-blige-reflections-a-retrospective |title=Mary J Blige – Reflections: A Retrospective|publisher=[[musicOMH]] |date=December 4, 2006|accessdate=March 31, 2017}}</ref>
|rev3 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
|rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130222045743/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/mary-j-blige/albumguide Rolling Stone Album Guide]</ref>
|rev4 = ''[[Slant Magazine]]''
|rev4score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref name="Slant Magazine">{{cite web|last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/mary-j-blige-reflections-a-retrospective |title=Reflections (A Retrospective) — Music Review — Slant Magazine |publisher=[[Slant Magazine]] |date=December 15, 2006|accessdate=March 31, 2017}}</ref>
}}

Robert Sandall, writing for ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', felt that the "18-track résumé of the career of the 21st century's first lady of soul intends to deviate from the greatest-hits formula is clear from the start. The first four tracks are brand new and as strong as any of the more familiar stuff to come."<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web|last=Sandall|first=Robert |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/3657006/Pop-CDs-of-the-week-Mary-J-Blige-Oasis-Dizzy-Gillespie-and-more....html|title=Pop CDs of the week: Mary J Blige, Oasis, Dizzy Gillespie and more... |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=December 9, 2006|accessdate=March 31, 2017}}</ref> ''[[musicOMH]]'' editor Neil Jones found that "Blige is undoubtedly one of the fascinating figures of modern pop culture, so even though there's more than a suspicion of [[Christmas]] cash-in here, and omissions are made, ''Reflections (A Retrospective)'' amply represents every extreme of her ouvre. It's a mixed bag that more than anything else highlights the differences between commercial and artistic creation, and as hip hop continues to veer towards the former, provides a pretty relevant story."<ref name="musicomh"/>

[[AllMusic]]'s senior editor [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] wrote that the album "remains a completely enjoyable (if not completely satisfying) listen", going on to say that "Unfortunately, ''Reflections (A Retrospective)'' is nowhere close to being that straightforward.  A mere handful of the top ten hits are included; while obvious picks [...] are present, a casual fan could rattle off just as many well-known songs that are not."<ref name="allmusic" /> Similarly, Sal Cinquemani from ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' noted that "the tracks previously unavailable on a Mary album make this a valuable purchase for diehard collectors, but it will be useless to more casual fans. The fact that ''Reflections'' might be one of the worst excuses for a greatest hits collection ever is a testament to the longevity and consistency of Mary's career."<ref name="Slant Magazine"/>

==Commercial performance==
''Reflections (A Retrospective)'' debuted at number nine on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] Albums Chart, selling about 171,000 units in its first week. In addition, it peaked at number two on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jonathan |last=Cohen|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/young-jeezy-hicks-debut-atop-147266 |title=Young Jeezy, Hicks debut atop Billboard 200 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=December 21, 2006|accessdate=March 31, 2017}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the album debuted and peaked at number forty only, but was certified platinum by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI), for shipments of 300,000 copies.<ref name="bpi"/>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline      = ''Reflections (A Retrospective)'' track listing
| extra_column  = Producer(s)
| total_length  = 65:57
| title1        = Reflections (I Remember)
| writer1       = {{hlist|Mary J. Blige|[[Bryan-Michael Cox]]|[[WyldCard|Kendrick Dean]]|[[Johnta Austin]]}}
| extra1        = {{hlist|Cox|[[WyldCard]]{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length1       = 4:06
| title2        = [[We Ride (I See the Future)]]
| writer2       = {{hlist|Blige|Cox|Dean|Austin}}
| extra2        = {{hlist|Cox|WyldCard{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length2       = 3:57
| title3        = You Know
| writer3       = {{hlist|Blige|[[Sean Garrett]]|[[Eric Hudson]]}}
| extra3        = Hudson
| length3       = 3:37
| title4        = King & Queen
| note4         = duet with [[John Legend]]
| writer4       = {{hlist|[[John Legend|John Stephens]]|Avriele Crandle|[[Paul Bollenback]]|[[Stevie Wonder]]}}
| extra4        = {{hlist|AVenue|Legend{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length4       = 3:46
| title5        = [[No More Drama (song)|No More Drama]]
| writer5       = {{hlist|[[Jimmy Jam|James Harris III]]|[[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis|Terry Lewis]]|[[Barry DeVorzon]]|[[Perry Botkin Jr.]]}}
| extra5        = [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]]
| length5       = 4:27
| title6        = [[Family Affair (Mary J. Blige song)|Family Affair]]
| writer6       = {{hlist|Blige|Bruce Miller|[[Dr. Dre|Andre Young]]|[[Camara Kambon]]|[[Mike Elizondo]]|[[Sa-Deuce|Asiah Lewis]]|Luchana Lodge}}
| extra6        = [[Dr. Dre]]
| length6       = 4:26
| title7        = [[Real Love (Mary J. Blige song)|Real Love]]
| writer7       = {{hlist|[[Cory Rooney]]|[[Mark Morales]]}}
| extra7        = {{hlist|Rooney|Morales}}
| length7       = 4:27
| title8        = No One Will Do
| writer8       = {{hlist|[[J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League|Erik Ortiz]]|[[J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League|Kevin Crowe]]|Clifford L. Brown III|[[Dave Young (musician)|Dave Young]]|[[Bunny Sigler]]}}
| extra8        = {{hlist|[[J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League]]|Blige{{ref|c|[c]}}|Young{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length8       = 4:47
| title9        = [[Be Without You]]
| writer9       = {{hlist|Blige|Cox|Jason Perry|Austin}}
| extra9        = {{hlist|Cox|Young Smoke{{ref|a|[a]}}|Blige{{ref|c|[c]}}|[[Ron Fair]]{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length9       = 4:06
| title10       = [[I'm Going Down (Rose Royce song)|I'm Going Down]]
| writer10      = [[Norman Whitfield]]
| extra10       = {{hlist|[[Chucky Thompson]]|[[Sean "Puffy" Combs]]|"Prince" Charles Alexander{{ref|a|[a]}}|Mark "Led" Ledford{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length10      = 3:42
| title11       = [[911 (Wyclef Jean song)|911]]
| note11        = duet with [[Wyclef Jean]]
| writer11      = {{hlist|Wyclef Jean|[[Jerry Duplessis]]|Katia Cadet|Mary Brown}}
| extra11       = {{hlist|Jean|Duplessis|Katia Cadet|Sedeck{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length11      = 4:19
| title12       = [[Not Gon' Cry]]
| writer12      = [[Babyface (musician)|Kenneth Edmonds]]
| extra12       = [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]]
| length12      = 4:50
| title13       = [[My Life (Mary J. Blige song)|My Life 06]]
| writer13      = {{hlist|Blige|Combs|[[Roy Ayers]]|Thompson|Arlene DelValle}}
| extra13       = {{hlist|Kendu Isaacs|Thompson{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length13      = 5:07
| title14       = [[Be Happy (Mary J. Blige song)|Be Happy]]
| writer14      = {{hlist|Blige|DeValle|Combs|[[Trackmasters|Jean-Claude Olivier]]}}
| extra14       = {{hlist|Combs|[[Trackmasters|Poke]]}}
| length14      = 5:38
| title15       = [[I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By|I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By (Razor Sharp Mix)]]
| note15        = featuring [[Method Man]]
| writer15      = {{hlist|[[Method Man|Clifford Smith]]|[[The RZA|Robert Diggs]]|[[Nickolas Ashford]]|[[Valerie Simpson]]}}
| extra15       = [[RZA|Prince Rakeem]]
| length15      = 3:41
}}

{{Track listing
| headline      = International edition
| extra_column  = Producer(s)
| title16       = [[As (song)|As]]
| note16        = with [[George Michael]]
| writer16      = Wonder
| extra16       = Babyface
| length16      = 4:41
| title17       = [[One (U2 song)|One]]
| note17        = with [[U2]]
| writer17      = [[Bono]]
| extra17       = {{hlist|Fair|Tal Herzberg{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length17      = 4:20
| title18       = [[MJB da MVP]]
| note18        = with [[50 Cent]]
| writer18      = {{hlist|Blige|[[The Game (rapper)|Jayceon Taylor]]|[[50 Cent|Curtis Jackson]]|[[Ronnie Baker (musician)|Ron Baker]]|[[Allan Felder]]|[[Norman Harris (musician)|Norman Harris]]|Hame Johnson|[[Cool & Dre|Andre Lyon]]|[[Cool & Dre|Marcello Valenzano]]}}
| extra18       = {{hlist|Blige|[[Cool & Dre]]|[[Patrick Dillett]]{{ref|c|[c]}}}}
| length18      = 4:10
}}

'''Notes'''
* {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies additional producer(s)
* {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} signifies co-producer(s)
* {{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} signifies vocal producer(s)

'''Sample credits'''
* "King & Queen" contains samples from the composition "Visions" as performed by [[Stevie Wonder]].
* "No One Will Do" contains excerpts from "I Swear I Love No One but You" as performed by [[The O'Jays]].
* "Be Happy" contains a sample of the song "You're So Good to Me" as performed by [[Curtis Mayfield]].

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Weekly chart performance for ''Reflections (A Retrospective)''
! scope="col"| Chart (2006–2007)
! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[ARIA Charts|ARIA]])<ref name="ARIA history pages">{{cite web|url= https://imgur.com/a/3Bafstx | title=Mary J. Blige ARIA Chart History complete to 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= July 26, 2024}}  N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>
|align="center"| 134
|-
{{album chart|Austria|75|artist=Mary J Blige|album=Reflections (A Retrospective)|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|12|artist=Mary J Blige|album=Reflections (A Retrospective)|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Italy|52|artist=Mary J Blige|album=Reflections (A Retrospective)|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2017}}
|-
! scope="row"| Japanese Albums ([[Oricon Albums Chart|Oricon]])<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/168109/products/684344/1/ |script-title=ja:リフレクションズ ～ ア・レトロスペクティヴ {{!}} メアリー・J.ブライジ |trans-title=Reflections – A Retrospective {{!}} Mary J. Blige |language=ja |publisher=[[Oricon]] |accessdate=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201042929/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/168109/products/684344/1/ |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| 30
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|66|date=20061210|rowheader=true|access-date=February 1, 2022}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|23|artist=Mary J Blige|album=Reflections (A Retrospective)|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|19|artist=Mary J Blige|album=Reflections (A Retrospective)|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|40|date=20061231|rowheader=true|access-date=February 1, 2022}}
|-
{{album chart|UKR&B|9|date=20061224|rowheader=true|access-date=February 1, 2022}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|9|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2017}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=Mary J. Blige|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2017}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ Year-end chart performance for ''Reflections (A Retrospective)''
! scope="col"| Chart (2007)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2007|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 11, 2020}}</ref>
| 67
|-
! scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums/|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2007|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>
| 18
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Reflections (A Retrospective)''}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Mary J Blige|title=Reflections – A Retrospective|award=Platinum|relyear=2006|certyear=2024|id=20523-369-2|date=November 22, 2024|access-date=November 22, 2024|refname="bpi"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==Release history==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Release history for ''Reflections (A Retrospective)''
|-
! Region
! Date
! Label(s)
|-
!scope="row"|Europe
|December 1, 2006
|rowspan="7"|[[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
|-
!scope="row"|Australia
|December 2, 2006
|-
!scope="row"|United Kingdom
|December 4, 2006
|-
!scope="row"|United States
|rowspan="2"|December 12, 2006
|-
!scope="row"|Canada
|-
!scope="row"|Japan
|December 13, 2006
|-
!scope="row"|Brazil
|January 31, 2007
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs master|78784|Reflections (A Retrospective)}}

{{Mary J. Blige}}
{{Mary J. Blige singles}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2006 greatest hits albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Eric Hudson]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]]
[[Category:Mary J. Blige albums]]
[[Category:Geffen Records compilation albums]]