Respect M.E. in Bloomington, MN

One of the great decade-long singles runs is straightforwardly documented on
Respect M.E.
, a compilation distributed throughout Europe and, unfortunately, not released in the States. From 1997 through 2006,
Missy Elliott
's work -- often the product of a partnership with producer
Timbaland
-- was in steady rotation on the radio and on video programs. Nearly every time out, she came up with something fun, inventive, out of this world, and lasting, charting alternate paths for
pop
music while also projecting the image of a fully empowered plus-size woman in a mainstream populated by females who tended to be anything but. Although each one of
Elliott
's albums is well worth owning, nothing can deny the need for this release, which includes almost every noteworthy track she released during the period, from
"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"
through the underappreciated
"Teary Eyed."
The most significant omissions are
"Lick Shots"
and
"Take Away"
: hardly deal breakers. An ideal companion release would contain the hits
wrote and/or produced for other artists, such as
Aaliyah
's
"One in a Million,"
SWV
"Save Me,"
702
"Where My Girls At,"
Nicole
"Make It Hot,"
Total
"What About Us,"
Monica
"So Gone,"
Tweet
"Oops (Oh My)."
During these years, there was no greater force in popular music. ~ Andy Kellman