Creatively, R. Kelly came a long way since 1992. The Chicago singer started out his career with catchy, if conventional, new jack swing, but as the '90s progressed, he evolved into one of more interesting, risk-taking male singers in urban contemporary and neo-soul. It would be a stretch to say that Kelly is in a class with Al Green, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, or Marvin Gaye -- he's a product of a different generation and a different era, and he needs to be evaluated on his own hip-hop-minded terms rather than '60s or '70s terms (even though he has plenty of '60s and '70s influences). But it's no exaggeration to say that some of Kelly's work has been excellent, including many of the songs on The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 -- a best-of release that paints a generally favorable picture of the Chicagoan by focusing on his more essential recordings. Many of Kelly's well-known hits are provided, and they range from "You Remind Me of Something" and "Bump n' Grind" to "I Believe I Can Fly," "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)," and "I'm Your Angel" (the singer's unlikely duet with Celine Dion). Spanning 1992-2003, the collection shows how much Kelly evolved during that 11-year period. The thing that ties many of these songs together -- from the Guy-ish new jack swing number "She's Got That Vibe" in 1992 to "Fiesta" in 2000 -- is hip-hop, which has always been an integral part of the singer's output. Vol. 1 isn't the last word on Kelly's output; some major hits are missing, and the Vol. 1 part of the title implies that a Vol. 2 is needed. But for the novice or casual listener who wants to have many of Kelly's hits in the same place, Vol. 1 serves its purpose nicely. [The album was originally released with a limited edition CD of five bonus tracks.] ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Ernie Isley (Guitar), The Soul Children (Children's Voices), Mr. Lee (Programming), Mr. Lee (Drum Programming), Tony Black (Programming), Tony Black (Engineer), Yvonne Gage (Choir, Chorus), Dennis Collins (Vocals), Glen Brown (Assistant Engineer), Tom Thumb (Vocal Producer), Michael Clark (Vocal Producer), R. Kelly (Arranger), R. Kelly (Keyboards), R. Kelly (Programming), R. Kelly (Vocals), R. Kelly (Multi Instruments), R. Kelly (Producer), R. Kelly (Mixing), Tawatha Agee (Vocals), Timmy Allen (Programming), Timmy Allen (Producer), Percy Bady (Keyboards), Percy Bady (Choir Director), Boo (Rap), Jeff Bova (Keyboard Programming), Jimmy Bralower (Drum Programming), Bobby Broom (Guitar), Bob Cadway (Engineer), Lafayette Carthon, Jr. (Conductor), Lafayette Carthon, Jr. (Keyboards), Lafayette Carthon, Jr. (Vocals), Humberto Gatica (Engineer), Humberto Gatica (Mixing), Larry Gold (Conductor), Larry Gold (String Arrangements), Diva Gray (Vocals), Steve Grisette (Choir, Chorus), Keith Henderson (Guitar), Loris Holland (Conductor), Loris Holland (Keyboards), Loris Holland (Organ (Hammond)), Loris Holland (Vocals), Hart Hollman (Orchestra), Ronald Isley (Vocals), Nancy Jackson (Vocals), James Lee (Engineer), James Lee (Assistant Engineer), The Luv Club (Vocals), Donnie Lyle (Bass), Donnie Lyle (Guitar), Paulette McWilliams (Vocals), Tony Maserati (Mixing), Rob Mathes (Conductor), Rob Mathes (Orchestral Arrangements), Doug Michael (Assistant Engineer), Peter Mokran (Programming), Peter Mokran (Engineer), Peter Mokran (Mixing), Jeffrey Morrow (Choir, Chorus), Herb Powers (Mastering), Anthony Ransom (Vocals), Paul Riser (Conductor), Paul Riser (Orchestration), Paul Riser (Horn Arrangements), Paul Riser (String Arrangements), Tim Roberts (Pro-Tools), Rachel Robinson (Children's Voices), Johnny Rutledge (Choir, Chorus), Steve Skinner (Keyboards), Steve Skinner (Drum Programming), Jim Slattery (Keyboards), Allan Byrd Tatum (Programming), Allan Byrd Tatum (Vocals), Stefon Taylor (Assistant Engineer), Fonzi Thornton (Vocals), Richard Travali (Mixing), Chris Trevett (Mixing), Rob Trow (Vocals), Spencer Washington (Vocals), Pamela Watson (Stylist), Cheryl Wilson (Choir, Chorus), Mario Winans (Drum Programming), Elisabeth Withers (Vocals), Serban Ghenea (Mixing), Tony Flores (Mixing Assistant), Doug McBride (Assistant Engineer), Robert Moe (Vocals), Stan Wood (Programming), Stan Wood (Engineer), Lisa Lougheed (Vocals), Stephen George (Programming), Stephen George (Engineer), Stephen George (Mixing), Stephen George (Vocal Producer), Walt Whitman & the Soul Children (Children's Voices), Nathan Dean (Assistant Engineer), Wyclef Jean (Producer), Ron Lowe (Mixing Assistant), Bobby West (Keyboards), Poke (Producer), Tim Nitz (Assistant Engineer), Stevie Robinson (Choir, Chorus), Chris Brickley (Programming), Chris Brickley (Engineer), Jackie Murphy (Design), Jackie Murphy (Package Art Direction), Juan Ortiz (Program Assistant), Jason Bacher (Assistant Engineer), Brenda Blonski (Choir, Chorus), Joan Collaso (Choir, Chorus), Jerry Duplessis (Producer), Don Hachey (Assistant Engineer), Carl Robinson (Engineer), Sparkle (Vocals), Chris Brooke (Assistant Engineer), Trey Fratt (Assistant Engineer), Abel Garibaldi (Programming), Abel Garibaldi (Engineer), Abel Garibaldi (Assistant Engineer), Ayuana George (Vocals), Matthew Robinson (Children's Voices), Motown Romance String Orchestra (Orchestra), Kendall D. Nesbitt (Keyboards), Gregg Landfair (Guitar), Jason Stasium (Assistant Engineer), Rick Behrens (Assistant Engineer), Jeff Vereb (Assistant Engineer), Jeff Vereb (Mixing Assistant), Brian Calicchia (Assistant Engineer), Mark Johnson (Mixing Assistant), Robert Bowker (Vocals), Troy Bright (Vocals), Jim Bottari (Mixing Assistant), Strings (Rap), Cathy Richardson (Vocals), UB Tirado (Assistant Engineer), Serge Tsai (Engineer), Serge Tsai (Mixing), Michelle Fox (Assistant Engineer), Bill Douglass (Assistant Engineer), Jake Ninan (Assistant Engineer), Tone (Producer), Jeffery Lane (Assistant Engineer), Andy Gallas (Programming), Andy Gallas (Engineer), Andy Gallas (Assistant Engineer), Ian Mereness (Programming), Ian Mereness (Engineer), Ian Mereness (Mixing), Reisig (Photography), Gotti (Rap), Steve Bearsley (Program Assistant), John Hanes (Digital Editing), Jessica Janis (Children's Voices), Paul Mabin (Choir, Chorus), Amber Morrow (Children's Voices), Joseph Morrow (Children's Voices), Leah Robinson (Children's Voices), Simbryt Whititngton (Choir, Chorus), Patrick Woodward (Mixing Assistant), Rodney East (Keyboards), Greg Calvert (Program Assistant), Jason Mlodzinski (Engineer), Jason Mlodzinski (Assistant Engineer), Jason Mlodzinski (Mixing Assistant), Jason Mlodzinski (Program Assistant), Nathan Wheeler (Program Assistant), Delatrice Alexander (Choir, Chorus), Deatta Staples (Choir, Chorus), Michael Shlesinger (Engineer), NDoffene MBodji (Assistant Engineer), John Pirretti (Assistant Engineer), Felicia Coleman Evans (Choir, Chorus), Bruce Kelly (Vocals), Latasha Jordon (Vocals), Lori Holton Nash (Choir, Chorus), Omar Gilbert (Hair Stylist)
![R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 [Bonus CD]](http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/amg/pop_albums/cov200/drg000/g062/g06218z86nt.jpg)
