Biography: The Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits compilation album by British recording artist Lisa Stansfield. Released by Arista Records on 3 February 2003, it features seventeen tracks, hits and rare songs, including: "All Around the World", "This Is the Right Time" "Change", "All Woman", "The Real Thing" and "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up". The album, which garnered positive reviews from music critics, peaked at number three in the United Kingdom and was certified Gold.
Background
In June 2001, Stansfield released Face Up, her final studio album with Arista Records. The obligatory compilation, Biography: The Greatest Hits was issued in February 2003. Four months later, Arista Records remastered all of Stansfield's studio albums and re-released them with bonus tracks. The Complete Collection box set was also issued at the same time.
Content
The European edition of Biography: The Greatest Hits includes three songs from Affection ("This Is the Right Time", "All Around the World", "Live Together"), four tracks from Real Love ("Change", "All Woman", "Time to Make You Mine", "Set Your Loving Free"), three songs from So Natural ("In All the Right Places", "So Natural", "Little Bit of Heaven"), two tracks from Lisa Stansfield ("The Real Thing", "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up") and one song from Face Up ("Let's Just Call It Love"). It also contains few non-album tracks: "People Hold On" (from Coldcut's album, What's That Noise?), "Down in the Depths" (from charity compilation, Red Hot + Blue), "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" (from The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album) and "These Are the Days of Our Lives" (from charity EP, Five Live). The North American edition includes "You Can't Deny It" and "Never Gonna Fall" instead of "Little Bit of Heaven" and "Set Your Loving Free". In Europe, limited edition with bonus remix CD was also issued. Biography: The Greatest Hits was released simultaneously on DVD which includes most of Stansfield's music videos and a bonus material.
Singles
The album does not include any new recordings. Arista Records issued promotional singles with new remixes of "All Around the World" created by Norty Cotto. The single was released in the United States on 28 April 2003 and reached number thirty-four on the Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs. A remix by Junior Vasquez was also created. In 2014, these remixes of "All Around the World" were included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of Face Up (also on The Collection 1989–2003).
Critical reception
Professional ratings |
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Review scores |
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Source | Rating |
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AllMusic | [1] |
Biography: The Greatest Hits received positive reviews from music critics. Heather Phares from AllMusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars and wrote that it is a must for die-hard fans and an excellent primer for casual listeners.[1]
Commercial reception
Biography: The Greatest Hits peaked at number three on the UK Albums Chart and at number four in Italy. It also reached top forty in Belgium Flanders. The album was certified Gold in the United Kingdom.[2]
Track listing
1. |
"Change" (Edit) | Lisa Stansfield, Ian Devaney, Andy Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:33 |
2. |
"Someday (I'm Coming Back)" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:56 |
3. |
"This Is the Right Time" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Coldcut |
4:30 |
4. |
"The Real Thing" | Stansfield, Devaney | Devaney, Peter Mokran |
4:18 |
5. |
"People Hold On" (featuring Coldcut) | Stansfield, Matt Black, Jonathan More | Coldcut |
3:58 |
6. |
"In All the Right Places" (Edit) | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris, John Barry | Devaney, Morris |
5:16 |
7. |
"So Natural" | Stansfield, Devaney | Devaney |
5:05 |
8. |
"Time to Make You Mine" (Edit) | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:10 |
9. |
"Live Together" (Edit) | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:35 |
10. |
"Little Bit of Heaven" | Stansfield, Devaney | Devaney |
4:27 |
11. |
"Set Your Loving Free" (Edit) | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:09 |
12. |
"Let's Just Call It Love" (Edit) | Stansfield, Devaney, Richard Darbyshire | Devaney |
3:59 |
13. |
"Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Edit) | Barry White | Devaney, Mokran |
3:51 |
14. |
"These Are the Days of Our Lives" (with Queen and George Michael) | Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon | George Michael, Queen |
4:43 |
15. |
"Down in the Depths" | Cole Porter | Devaney, Morris, Stansfield |
4:27 |
16. |
"All Woman" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
5:16 |
17. |
"All Around the World" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:22 |
1. |
"Change" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:33 |
2. |
"Someday (I'm Coming Back)" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:56 |
3. |
"This Is the Right Time" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Coldcut |
4:30 |
4. |
"The Real Thing" | Stansfield, Devaney | Devaney, Mokran |
4:18 |
5. |
"People Hold On" (featuring Coldcut) | Stansfield, Black, More | Coldcut |
3:58 |
6. |
"In All the Right Places" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris, Barry | Devaney, Morris |
5:16 |
7. |
"So Natural" | Stansfield, Devaney | Devaney |
5:05 |
8. |
"Time to Make You Mine" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:10 |
9. |
"Live Together" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:35 |
10. |
"You Can't Deny It" (Edit) | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:20 |
11. |
"Never Gonna Fall" (Edit) | Stansfield, Devaney | Devaney, Mokran |
4:35 |
12. |
"Let's Just Call It Love" | Stansfield, Devaney, Darbyshire | Devaney |
3:59 |
13. |
"Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" | White | Devaney, Mokran |
3:51 |
14. |
"These Are the Days of Our Lives" (with Queen and George Michael) | Mercury, May, Taylor, Deacon | Michael, Queen |
4:43 |
15. |
"Down in the Depths" | Porter | Devaney, Morris, Stansfield |
4:27 |
16. |
"All Woman" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
5:16 |
17. |
"All Around the World" | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris |
4:22 |
1. |
"Change" (Knuckles Mix) | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris, Frankie Knuckles |
6:25 |
2. |
"Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Knuckles Mix) | White | Devaney, Mokran, Knuckles |
8:41 |
3. |
"People Hold On" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Mix) | Stansfield, Black, More | Coldcut, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels |
6:11 |
4. |
"The Line" (Black Science Orchestra Mix) | Stansfield, Devaney, Terry Gamwells | Devaney, Mokran, Black Science Orchestra |
5:58 |
5. |
"8-3-1" (David Morales Club Mix Long Intro) | Stansfield, Devaney, Darbyshire | Devaney, David Morales |
8:28 |
6. |
"Never Gonna Fall" (Junior Vasquez Mix) | Stansfield, Devaney | Devaney, Mokran, Junior Vasquez |
8:24 |
1. |
"Change" (Knuckles Mix) | Stansfield, Devaney, Morris | Devaney, Morris, Knuckles |
6:25 |
2. |
"Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" (Knuckles Mix) | White | Devaney, Mokran, Knuckles |
8:41 |
3. |
"People Hold On" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Mix) | Stansfield, Black, More | Coldcut, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels |
6:11 |
4. |
"The Line" (Black Science Orchestra Mix) | Stansfield, Devaney, Gamwells | Devaney, Mokran, Black Science Orchestra |
5:58 |
5. |
"8-3-1" (David Morales Club Mix Long Intro) | Stansfield, Devaney, Darbyshire | Devaney, Morales |
8:28 |
6. |
"Never Gonna Fall" (Junior Vasquez Mix) | Stansfield, Devaney | Devaney, Mokran, Vasquez |
8:24 |
7. |
"Baby Come Back" | J.C. Crowley, Peter Beckett | Devaney, Mokran |
3:34 |
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Chart (2003) |
Position |
Italian Albums (Hit Parade)[13] |
70 |
UK Albums (OCC)[14] |
123 |
Certifications and sales
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Release history
Region |
Date |
Label |
Format |
Catalog |
Europe |
3 February 2003 |
Arista |
CD |
74321 98954 2 |
2CD |
82876 50222 2 |
North America |
18 February 2003 |
CD |
07822 10616 2 |
Australia |
24 February 2003 |
74321 98954 2 |
Japan |
26 March 2003 |
2CD |
BVCA-28003~BVCA-28004 |
References
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