Ultimate Aaliyah was released in the U.K., but it has a lot to offer U.S. fans of any degree, especially if they have a region-free DVD player. Between the two audio discs in the set -- the first is a greatest hits, the second is a helpful grab-bag set -- all but three of Aaliyah's chart entries are included ("Age Ain't Nothing But a Number," "I Refuse," and "Come Over" are missing), and a DVD contains an hour-long documentary that features interviews and promo clips. Disc two contains the remainder of her tracks from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack as well as material from the Timbaland and Timbaland & Magoo albums she guested on. As of 2005, this was the most thorough Aaliyah best-of available, since 2002's I Care 4 U was split between past hits and new material. From the delightful "Back and Forth" through the all-too-sobering "Miss You," Ultimate Aaliyah adequately represents the shortened career of a tremendous talent who benefited from some of the best songwriting and production work by Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and R. Kelly. Casual fans will get most of the hits; collectors will be pleased to plug some gaps and get the documentary as a bonus. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
Ultimate Aaliyah is the second compilation dedicated to late R&B singer Aaliyah. It was released before Memorial Day in May 2005 (U.K.) and was available for online order & import on June 27, 2006 (Worldwide). The collection includes two compact discs and one DVD video disc.
The second disc is entitled Are You Feelin' Me?; its title track was also released as a promo single in the UK to promote the album but the song failed to chart on any of the UK charts. The second disc compiles several of Aaliyah's tracks that were included on both soundtrack albums and on studio albums for labelmate Timbaland. The bonus DVD runs for sixty minutes, and features promo clips, interviews, and special features. Among the included DVD material are an MTV special, MTV News Now: The Life of Aaliyah, a Tribute to Aaliyah, Aaliyah's VH1 Behind the Music installment, and her E! True Hollywood Story episode.
The compilation debuted at #30 on the UK Albums Chart. Ultimate Aaliyah has shipped over 1 million worldwide.
Rare Recordings and DJ Remixes was released two months after, and included the songs "Are You Feelin' Me?" and "Messed Up" as its first two tracks, like the second disc of this boxset. It also included the "Bump N Flex Club Mix" of "More Than a Woman".
