There is a CD that was released recently titled "Aimee Mann--the Ultimate Collection". I want to give everyone a heads-up about this CD, because it was not only something that I had nothing to do with, it's a product I consider to be seriously substandard and misleading. My manager Michael Hausman and I heard that this project was in the works several months ago. In our opinion the label putting out the record, Hip-O Records, had no right to use the material they were intending to use in the first place. But I didn't want to be the bad guy and shut the project down entirely, so I asked Michael to get in touch with whoever was heading the project and offer our services, so that the record could be one I was proud of, even if it wasn't something I wanted out in the first place. I offered to do the artwork, as I had done for every record I've ever made except the first Til Tuesday record, and be involved in song selection. This offer was flatly refused--we were basically barred from being involved in any way on a project that had my NAME on it. As typical as this is in the music business, it still never ceases to amaze me. The most unbelievable thing they did was to take quotes from old interviews and weave them into liner notes for the package so that it would APPEAR that I had been involved--basically using my own reputation for integrity in my music to sell their own .... product.

And the very title--"The Ultimate Collection"--implies at the very least a comprehensive collection, when it doesn't contain anything from Bachelor No. 2 and only one song from Magnolia (and not the Oscar-nominated song), and yet it DOES contain several things I personally consider to be absolute ...., including a rough mix of one song from just one of two reels of tracks, a song recorded live off the radio 10 years ago and never authorized by me to be recorded at all, much less released, a song I recorded for a movie as a favor to a producer friend that I didn't even write, etc. None of the great little B-sides or demos that I was actually proud of and thought would be perfect for this kind of collection.

So I would ask everyone to please give this one a miss-- I hate to see fans being subjected to this kind of music industry bait-and-switch. Michael Hausman and I have been planning to put out our own collection that I promise will be a lot more "ultimate" than this wretched ...... Needless to say, there's also ....... in the works. To put out a record that deliberately gives the impression that it's been authorized by me is really the last straw.

Sonically, this is an outstanding disk.... and there are some great songs on it. But most people would be better served by purchasing other Aimee Mann CDs. Whether you know Aimee only through her work on Magnolia, or are a long time fan, you would do much better with her outstanding new album Bachelor #2. I love every song on that album and it is one of the best of the year, by any artist.If you already have Bachelor #2, I would recommend purchasing "I'm With Stupid" and "Whatever". There are too many great songs from those albums missing on this collection. These include some of my favorites, "Its Not Safe" from I'm With Stupid" and "Fourth of July" and "I've Had It" from Whatever.If you have all of Aimee's other work, then, and ONLY then, you might think about buying this collection for the B sides. That is my honest advice based on the merits of the music on this CD. However, it is worth noting that Michael Hausman IS Aimee Mann's manager. It is terribly unfair that Universal is trying to profit from Aimee's recent success and hard work after the way they treated her.

You CAN go wrong with this disc. In fact, you WILL. This compilation is a misappropriation of Mann's words, images and songs. It was not authorized by her and its purchase should not be encouraged.

Aimee Mann is a genius, and if you haven't yet purchased her solo albums, skip this collection altogether, because it isn't represenntative of her best work. The selections miss the best of her Til Tuesday work and take far too much from "I'm with Stupid". And it completely ignores Magnolia and the brilliant Bachelor #2. Why? Because Hipp-0, the label involved here, is really Universal/Interscope, the label that refused to release both the Magnolia soundtrack and Bachelor #2, leaving Mann with no choice but to buy the music back and distribute it on her own. Of course, she ended up becoming a bigger success than she'd ever been while signed to a label, so here is their attempt now to cash in and fill their coffers (not Aimee's) by releasing any tracks they could get their hands on. UGH>>>>>

Please do not buy this CD! Hip-O Records is ripping Aimee Mann off ... Universal is at it again! Aimee has recently said she is going to put together a REAL "Aimee Mann Ultimate Collection." Wait for that. Don't put another cent in the pockets of slimy record execs who didn't recognize a good thing when they had her. Now they want to make a quick dirty buck. Jerk-offs.