Inside Music with Melinda Newman

Mariah Carey releases new album one week before Whitney

'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel' out Aug. 25; first single 'Obsessed' out today

By Melinda Newman Tuesday, Jun 16, 2009 1:44 PM

Mariah Carey

Credit: Mario Sorrenti

Mariah Carey will release her 12^th studio album, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," on Aug. 25. Yes, my fellow release- schedule watchers-that is exactly one week before Whitney Houston is putting out her still-untitled first studio album in seven years. But remember, they aren't rivals...no, not at all.

First single, "Obsessed," is out today; check back here later today for our review.

Like "Obsessed," the bulk of "Memoirs" was produced by Carey, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream. Similarly to how Clive Davis gets an executive credit on Houston's albums, Island Def Jam head Antonio "L.A." Reid" gets an exec producer title here.

"Memoirs" is Carey's first album since "E=MC2," which came out in April 2008. While that album sold well, it was not the powerhouse that Carey's huge comeback, 2005's "The Emancipation of Mimi" turned out to be. That mega-success sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and was the top U.S. seller that year.