Eighteen of Mariah Carey’s best-known songs have been collected for release on an album called, The Ballads. While the album has already seen some international release, it is scheduled to be released in the U.S. & Canada on January 20th, 2009.

Mariah Carey rocketed to stardom with her debut album in 1990. Achieving eight top 10 albums through the course of the decade she became the Nineties’ most successful female singer/songwriter.

Her incredible success has continued throughout the 21st century and her stunning five-octave voice and songwriting talent have now delivered multiple hit singles. This collection of her most renowned songs features such hits as “Hero,” “One Sweet Day,” “Vision of Love,” “Always Be My Baby” and “Dreamlover.”

Also included are duets with Luther Vandross (”Endless Love”) and Whitney Houston (”When You Believe”).

The album will mark her sixteenth release to date. For more information on Mariah Carey you can visit her website, mariahcarey.com.

Aretha Franklin is already known the world-over as the Queen of Soul, but now according to a recent poll conducted by Rolling Stone magazine she can also consider herself the greatest singer of the rock era.

The results of the poll placed Franklin, 66, ahead of Ray Charles at No. 2, Elvis Presley at No. 3, Sam Cooke at No. 4 and John Lennon at No. 5. The magazine surveyed 179 musicians, producers, Rolling Stone editors, and other music-industry insiders.

The 100-strong list was published earlier this month in an issue of Rolling Stone that featured four different covers.

In the issue R&B singer Mary J. Blige writes, in a testimonial, that Franklin is “the reason why women want to sing.” Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, who was No. 15 on the list, describes Presley’s voice as “confident, insinuating and taking no prisoners.”

Besides Franklin, the only other living people in the top 10 were Bob Dylan at No. 7 and Stevie Wonder at No. 9. Marvin Gaye was No. 6, Otis Redding No. 8, and James Brown No. 10.

Other notables included Paul McCartney at No. 11, one place ahead of his idol, Little Richard; and Mick Jagger at No. 16, also one ahead of a key influence, Tina Turner. Among the top 25, 50-year-old Michael Jackson was the youngest, coming in at No. 25.

Voters included Metallica frontman James Hetfield, folk singers David Crosby and Yusuf Islam, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, punk rock veteran Iggy Pop and English pop star James Blunt. They each submitted their top 20 choices, and an accounting firm tabulated the results.

For more information on this issue of Rolling Stone, including images of actual voter ballots, you can visit their site, rollingstone.com.

It is a rare pleasure these days to hear a singer with a completely original sound and an immediately recognizable voice that mesmerizes with sheer tonal beauty and style. Such an artist is soul and jazz powerhouse Maysa, who, like Anita Baker (to whom she is sometimes compared) occupies a completely unique niche in the musical cosmos, at the intersection of jazz and soul.

But Maysa has ranged far more widely, into the realms of Acid Jazz, as a featured vocalist with Incognito, and dance music. Her multi-faceted artistry is part of what makes her special but it may also be a reason why she has not been more widely known, despite the fervor of her fans, in a world that depends far too much on easy categorization.

The release of her seventh album, Metamorphosis, an impressive set of all-original material that follows up on her two acclaimed albums of classic soul, may well be the album that takes her to the next level of appreciation as one of the foremost contemporary vocalists on the scene today.

“My vision for this album,” Maysa notes, “was to change the music a little bit to be in line with the way I feel spiritually and emotionally. On a couple of my previous albums I was playing it a little too safe. I’m not afraid to express myself now.”

Metamorphosis offers many high points that underscore Maysa’s impressive ability to project her soul into different musical contexts. Songs such as “Simpatico” deliver the kind funky Brazilian-inflected jazz that Maysa has been noted for with Incognito, as well as on own her albums. “Never Really Ever” is slinky neo-soul while “I Need A Man” is a straightforward R & B ballad.

Metamorphosis also features some impressive guest performers; saxophonist/flautist Najee and guitarist Nick Colionne and drummer/producer Michael White.

Blues & Soul Magazine has said, “Maysa’s voice is as smooth and as rich as chocolate…its pure, perfect tone is gorgeous and caresses with a languorous sensuality.”

The Baltimore Sun wrote, “Maysa is one of the best singers in underground soul.”

Maysa released Metamorphosis, back in October, for more information you can visit maysa.com.