Greatest Hits | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | November 18, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1985 – 1997 | |||
Genre | Smooth jazz | |||
Length | 77:03 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Producer | Kenny G Narada Michael Walden Phil Ramone Dan Shea Hank Cattaneo Walter Afanasieff David Foster Preston Glass Michael Bolton | |||
Kenny G chronology | ||||
| ||||
My Heart Will Go On |
Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | B− [2] |
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Greatest Hits is the second greatest hits album by saxophonistKenny G. It was released by Arista Records in 1997 and peaked at number one on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number 15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 19 on the Billboard 200.[1]
Production[edit]
The album combined Kenny G's hits since the beginning of his career. Shortly after the release of the album, the blockbuster film Titanic was released, and having already produced the hit single of My Heart Will Go On performed by Celine Dion, producer Afanasieff returned to the studio with Kenny G to produce an instrumental version of the Love Theme from Titanic.
This recording was released as a single and was bundled with the Greatest Hits as a promotional item. The cover is a photograph from the Greatest Hits booklet with water superimposed over the top. The packaging for the single declared itself to be 'The first instrumental version available of this classic theme for all time'. Since this first release, it has appeared on every Kenny G greatest hits compilation.
Track listing[edit]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 'Songbird' | Kenny G | Duotones (1986) | 4:00 |
2. | 'Silhouette' | Kenny G | Silhouette (1988) | 4:32 |
3. | 'Forever in Love' | Kenny G | Breathless (1992) | 4:59 |
4. | 'Every Time I Close My Eyes' (lead vocal: Babyface) | Kenneth Brian Edmonds | The Moment (1996) | 4:59 |
5. | 'Sentimental' | Kenny G; Walter Afanasieff | Breathless | 4:18 |
6. | 'The Moment' | Kenny G | The Moment | 4:43 |
7. | 'How Could an Angel Break My Heart' (lead vocal: Toni Braxton) | Toni Braxton; Kenneth Brian Edmonds | Toni Braxton album, Secrets (1996) | 4:22 |
8. | 'Loving You' | Kenny G; Dan Shea; Walter Afanasieff | Previously unreleased | 3:19 |
9. | 'You Send Me' (lead vocal: Michael Bolton) | Sam Cooke | Previously unreleased | 4:03 |
10. | 'Going Home' | Kenny G; Walter Afanasieff | Kenny G Live (1989) | 4:15 |
11. | 'Havana' | Kenny G; Walter Afanasieff | The Moment | 7:22 |
12. | 'By the Time This Night Is Over' (lead vocal: Peabo Bryson) | Michael Bolton; Andy Goldmark; Diane Warren | Breathless | 4:21 |
13. | 'Baby G' | Kenny G; Dan Shea; Walter Afanasieff | Previously unreleased | 3:35 |
14. | 'Don't Make Me Wait for Love' (lead vocal: Lenny Williams) | Narada Michael Walden; Preston Glass; Walter Afanasieff | Duotones | 4:06 |
15. | 'Theme from Dying Young' | James Newton Howard | Dying Young Soundtrack (1991) | 4:02 |
16. | 'All the Way/One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)' (lead vocal: Frank Sinatra) | Jimmy Van Heusen; Sammy Cahn/Harold Arlen; Johnny Mercer | Frank Sinatra album, Duets (1993) | 6:07 |
17. | 'Innocence' | Kenny G; Walter Afanasieff | The Moment | 4:00 |
Total length: | 77:03 |
Import bonus tracks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
1. | 'My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme From 'Titanic')' | James Horner; Will Jennings | Previously unreleased | 4:22 |
2. | 'Asian Dream' | Kenny G; Walter Afanasieff | Previously unreleased | 4:07 |
3. | 'The Joy Of Life' | Kenny G | Breathless | 4:21 |
4. | 'Always' | Kenny G | The Moment | 5:35 |
5. | 'The Wedding Song' | Kenny G; Walter Afanasieff | Breathless | 3:24 |
Total length: | 21:49 |
Certifications and sales[edit]
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[3] | Platinum | 250,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[4] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[5] | Platinum | 20,000* |
Japan (RIAJ)[6] | Platinum | 200,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[7] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[8] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[9] | 3× Platinum | 3,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Asia Pacific | -- | 1,500,000[10] |
*sales figures based on certification alone ^shipments figures based on certification alone |
References[edit]
- ^ abErlewine, Stephen Thomas. Greatest Hits at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
- ^Cannon, Bob (1997-12-12). 'Greatest Hits Review'. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
- ^'Brazilian album certifications – Kenny G – Greatest Hits' (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^'Canadian album certifications – Kenny G – Greatest Hits'. Music Canada. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^'IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1997'. IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
- ^'Japanese album certifications – Kenny G – Greatest Hits' (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 28 May 2019.Select 2000年1月 on the drop-down menu
- ^Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002(PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 946. ISBN84-8048-639-2. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
- ^'British album certifications – Kenny G – Greatest Hits'. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 May 2019.Select albums in the Format field.Select Gold in the Certification field.Type Greatest Hits in the 'Search BPI Awards' field and then press Enter.
- ^'American album certifications – Kenny G – The Moment'. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 May 2019.If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- ^McClure, Steve (14 September 2002). 'Really Big in Japan'. Billboard. p. 40. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greatest_Hits_(Kenny_G_album)&oldid=919360653'
Biography
American jazz saxophonist performing under the pseudonym Kenny G (the real name Kenneth Gorelick) was born in 1956 in Seattle. When he was a teenager, he understood what he would like to do in the future and that it was music that would become his destiny. Kenny G’s first saxophone was presented to him by his mother and the musician still keeps that instrument. Kenny G entered the University of Washington, where he studied accounting. His father insisted that he should continue the family business; however Kenny G had the other point of view and remained faithful to the music. In 1982 the talented saxophonist was noticed and he was offered a contract with the record company. The same year his debut album titled Kenny G (1982) was released.
The second studio work G-Force was issued in 1983 and it was followed by Gravity (1985). They were well received by the music lovers and Kenny G’s music was very called-for: both albums were certified Platinum. The fourth album Duotones, which included the famous composition Songbird, got the 5x Platinum status. The musician was gaining popularity, feeling that he was moving in the right direction. Thus the album of 1988 Silhouette peaked at number one in the Jazz Albums Chart. There is no doubt that such songs as Silhouette and We've Saved The Best For Last contributed to its success. In 1989 the saxophonist released his first live album titled Kenny G Live, which reproduces the atmosphere of his concerts just perfectly.
1992 was incredibly favorable for Kenny G and his album Breathless, which became the world’s most successful instrumental album ever. The musician won his first Grammy Award for the composition Forever In Love, while the very album was certified Platinum fifteen times. Breathless brought the real fame and respect to Kenny G, however his following album Moment (1996) was less successful in comparison to Breathless. While working on Moment, Kenny G collaborated with Babyface and Toni Braxton and he was very satisfied with the result. The songs That Somebody Was You and Everytime I Close My Eyes turned out to be very strong and were performed in Kenny G’s original style. In 1997 the musician was included into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest saxophone performance: his record made up 45 minutes and 47 seconds.
In 1999 Kenny G released the album of cover-versions titled Classics In The Key Of G, which included such brilliant classical songs as Summertime and What A Wonderful World. In the new millennium the musician kept on creating strong albums, among which are Paradise (2002), two cover-version albums At Last...The Duets Album (2004) and I'm In The Mood For Love...The Most Romantic Melodies Of All Time (2006). The latter included the famous romantic song Besame Mucho. In 2010 Kenny G issued his new studio work Heart & Soul. The composition No Place Like Home from that album was recorded with his old friend – Babyface. Heart & Soul is the traditionally strong album with Kenny G’s original sound that can hardly be mixed up with someone else’s. There is absolutely no doubt that Heart & Soul will be enjoyed by all the good music lovers. Anyway, Heart & Soul is the right album to start the acquaintance with the legendary saxophonist’s music.
Studio Albums
17
Compilation albums
The Essential Kenny G
Celebrating his 50th birthday this coming July 6, Kenny G has a string of accolades to his name. Twenty years since the five-times platinum recording of 1986, Duotones, he is back with The Essential Kenny G, an anthology of his greatest hits
1
Lives
1