On this very day 25 years ago, Usher released his sophomore album My Way, and the rest, as they say, is history. However, in Usher's case, history is still being made. To commemorate this milestone anniversary, the entertainer has released My Way (25th Anniversary Edition), a deluxe reissue of the album that kicked off his ascent to superstardom, and premiered an accompanying mini-documentary, Usher: 25 Years My Way, to remember the time.
My Way (25th Anniversary Edition) includes the My Way album in its entirety. The original release remains untouched and will conjure up all the nostalgic feels when you listen again. Where the original ends is where the super-sized special edition begins. Tacked on to the back end are reworked versions of the album's three singles and their instrumentals as an added bonus.
Ryan James Carr (who backed Usher on drums during his infamous Tiny Desk Concert) is the maestro behind the new tracks “You Make Me Wanna… (Ryan James Carr Remake),” “Nice & Slow (Ryan James Carr Remake)” and “My Way (Ryan James Carr Remake).” The producer/drummer doesn't just remix the songs, instead choosing to switch up the whole vibe with different arrangements and live instrumentation under Usher's original vocal tracks.
The updated spin that Carr puts on these classics is different, but not unexpected. In fact, if you watched Usher's Tiny Desk, then these new arrangements will sound familiar because they actually debuted there with his live band. Now fans get to enjoy these 25-year-old songs anew.
The My Way celebration didn't end with the reissued album. Usher released the short film Usher: 25 Years My Way, which gives a brief but informative deep dive into the making of his breakthrough album. Joined in conversation by Jermaine Dupri (and later Ryan James Carr), Usher recalled the memories surrounding My Way's creation, shared personal stories and relived some of the magic that they made in the '90s – and plans for more magic to come.
Usher has more milestones coming up in the next couple of years, including his 30th anniversary as a recording artist in 2023 and the 30th anniversary of his self-titled debut album and 20th anniversary of Confessions both in 2024. So there'll be many more celebrations of Usher's music, impact and overall greatness ahead. For the moment, though, it's all about giving My Way the props it deserves, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Usher My Way (25th Anniversary Edition) [Amazon][Apple Music][TIDAL]
