Reviews (9)

REAL Klymaxx website
Absolutely a MUST-HAVE for anyone who loves 80's music (or just excellent pop/funk/r&b!)
These ladies are the REAL DEAL. In an industry that was controlled and dominated by men, a young lady named Bernadette Cooper pulled together an amazing group of talents including Joyce "Fenderella" Irby, Lorena "Lungs" Stewart and Lynn Malsby. These Original Divas WROTE this music, they PLAYED the instruments, and they SANG the vocals. What's more, they kicked a** at it all!!
Recently featured on an episode of VH1's "Bands Reunited", there is now renewed interest (to say the least!) in the original Klymaxx.
By the way, if you want to check out the REAL, original Klymaxx's website, go to WWW.KLYMAXX.ORG

The REAL Klymaxx website
If you want to listen to some of the BEST from the 80's from "THE ORIGINAL DIVAS" - well, here it is! This stuff is GREAT!
By the way, you can find the REAL Klymaxx website at "WWW.KLYMAXX.ORG"
The original members of Klymaxx were also recently featured on a fantastic episode of VH1's "Bands Reunited" series.
Basically, if you're into 80's music (or just damn good pop/funk/r&b) you've GOTTA have this CD in your collection...period!!

CHERYL COOLEY IS NOT KLYMAXX
THIS CD ROCKS...I CAN'T SAY IT ANY OTHER WAY. I WAS NEARLY BOUGHT TO TEARS BY THE SONG, "I MISS YOU". I HAD FORGOTTEN THE EMOTIONAL BEHIND THAT SONG. BUT I WAS THOROUGHLY DISGUSTED WHEN I WENT TO THE KLYMAXX WEBSITE AND FOUND THAT ONLY ONE ORIGINAL MEMBER WAS IN THE GROUP. CHERYL COOLEY HACKED THE KLYMAXX NAME WITH SOME FAKE FEMALE BAND AND EVEN CALLS THEM 'ORIGINAL'!!I WOULD BE LIVID IF I WERE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS! SO DON'T BE FOOLED...THE NEW STUFF IS NOT THE ORIGINAL KLYMAXX! THE GREAT HITS CD ROCKS TOO. THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS HAVE A LINK ON VH1 THAT TOTALLY ROCKS. BUY THIS CD!! YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY.....

OMG! JUST LIKE FROM SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!!!!!
okay on saturday night live...they did a skit for "the best of klymaxx" greatest hits cd and hallie berry was the girl who talks thru the songs...OMG! I CANT BELIEVE THIS IS REAL IM CRYING IM LAUGHING SO HARD....the one girl talks and then the rest just sing a few lines....its more talk then anything else

"a bw.....a basic women"

"i am much, much in the moon for some bk....some burger king!!"

lmao!!!!!!

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA -----WHOA
This was one of my favorite groups back in the late 80's. I'm sorry that they did not last long, but they have some great songs on this collection.

The Men all Pause, I Miss You, Good Lovin, Divas Need Love Too, and I'd Still Say Yes, sound just as good 15+ yrs later. Klymaxx was one of the best girl groups out there. I'm glad this collection is out, brings back good memories. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

The classic culmination of postmodern pop
In 1980, at the height of their success and the apex of "new wave" rock music, Blondie released this daring and wildly eclectic album. At the time it infuriated narrow-minded rock critics but spawned two of the greatest #1 singles of the era ("The Tide Is High" which took reggae to the top of the U.S. charts, and "Rapture" the first hit to open the floodgates for rap music). A truly revolutionary moment in American pop music, the album defied all expectations by plundering every genre in sight: in addition to reggae and rap, it incorporates classical, disco, jazz, country, art-rock, punk, and even a showtune (from "Camelot"). With it, Blondie introduced millions of fans to a wider concept of what a pop band could embrace stylistically. This long-awaited reissue also features bonus tracks including the full-length version of their rock classic "Call Me" and the ten-minute extended "Rapture" -- but perhaps its biggest surprise will be for those who thought Deborah Harry only started singing jazz in the nineties (check out the irresistible forties-style "Here's Looking At You" and the brilliantly moody "Faces"). This is an album that has something for everyone, but despite its diversity it is distinctly Blondie: no other rock band (with the possible exception of the Beatles) ever had the combination of artistic adventurousness, prodigious talent, brains, and sheer chutzpah required to create an album like this one.

Blondie manages to extend their number ones
Blondie and the producer Mike Chapman are very experimental on this album. It's 1980 and besides being superstars in the rest of the world, Blondie did already have their US #1 hits Call me and Heart of Glass.

Autoamerican proves that Blondie is in evolution! Dance rap on Rapture, dance kind reggea on the The tide is high, a beautiful Angels on the balcony an (almost) intrumental ode for Europe: the beauty Europa, jazz like songs such as Faces and Here's a looking at you.

This remastered verion contains a great long version of the American Gigilo soundtrack Call Me so it contains three US #1 !

Blondie's mission was completed with this album : to settle theirselves as a supergroup in their domestic country: the USA a well chosen album title: Autoamerican, you may ask yourself are they paranormal or something?

An Angel on the Balcony
If "Parallel Lines" is Blondie's greatest collection of songs - snappy, clever and direct, in ideal compliance with their standing as the perfect pop group - their 1980 "Autoamerican" is their greatest album, one that is dignified and complete, perfect in its total unity and harmony. Ironically it is at a time when Blondie were most alienated as a group that they sound most like a band, a contradiction evoked in the record's beautiful cover art.

On "Autoamerican" Blondie, in spirit at least, step outside New York and breathe in the vast scope and beauty of America. The record's opening sequence Europa, a somewhat intellectual concept of the automobile voiced robotically by Harry, is the statement of intent, giving way to the perfect disco bass of Live it Up, containing one of Blondie's great lines: "you know its so passé/to sleep without you every day". Go Through It cruises along an open highway with tender love and gutsy charm. Do the Dark, tinged with North African allusion, is a shadowy and mysterious invitation to "do the Sidewalk Hustle/do the Invisible Dance" and is one of Blondie's most intoxicating songs.

Admittedly The Tide is High becomes increasingly easy to skip over as the album's finest moments become even more alluring; The old time dance-hall number Here's Looking at You - lazy, smoky and poignant, voiced through a glass of bourbon while pining for Monroe. The immortal Rapture, cooler now than it ever was, and a significant piece of pop culture in itself, pin-pointing the exact moment when the New York elite chose hip-hop over power pop. Evoking Basquait and Warhol as effortlessly as it does huge yellow taxi cabs and brownstone buildings; space mutants and b-movies; Coca Cola and Studio 54.

In fact there is not a song on Autoamerican that does not shimmer in the searing heat of a Manhattan summer, not least Jimmy Destri's sublime Angels on the Balcony. Lucid, warm and effervescent, it is imbued with magic and a bittersweet nostalgia and is perhaps the most beautiful song Blondie ever recorded, where Harry's touching vocal is both as cool and as sweet as vanilla ice-cream.

Walk Like Me is Destri's call to arms, invoking the individual in a grid locked, press frenzied America where everyone's merely a number - "change the way you comb your hair and watch what you walk under" states Harry over Clem Burke's stabbing drum punches, before straining angrily "why don't you walk like me?". The record closes with Harry's lovely rendition of the Lerner & Lowe classic Follow Me, as if one needs proof that Blondie, despite their modern sensibility, belong in all times, any time. Genius.

''...in rapture'' when listening to this album
As it can be seen, "Rapture" is one of my favorite tracks from this album. I actually got this album for the Disco Version of "Rapture" because it had been unavailable for many years. I love it! This is one of the first rap songs, although it came after "Rapper's Delight". That might have been an inspiration for this song. I also like the "Tide Is High". It's a fun track. Lower BPM, but it is still great. Finally, this album contains the Long Version of "Call Me". It is amazing! This is the first time it has been released on Blondie CD in this version! It's worth it for just "Call Me" and "Rapture" in the long versions.

RAPTURE!!!
The band has really came a long way and they have just entered a new decade. The '80s! Disco was out and new things were coming in from all directions. The release of AUTOAMERICAN in November of 1980 did some good things for the band. Each track was different and went another way. "The Tide Is High" was reggae, "Live It Up" was a disco type, and "Rapture", well was rap! "Rapure" and "The Tide Is High" both shot to number 1. "Rapture" was the first rap song to reach number 1. AUTOAMERICAN is really an experience in the band's history and one of there greatest albums along with PARALLEL LINES and EAT TO THE BEAT. ... Read more

Amazon.com Music Reviews

The queen of disco--known now for her fundamental conservatism but then known for her extended sex romps that pulsated as minutes turned to hours--Donna Summer recorded a series of hits that playfully courted decadence and consistent chart success. The versions here are the shorter 7" versions. So if looking for the full 16-minute version of "Love to Love You Baby," look elsewhere. But what is here is '70s disco at its peak: "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls," "Last Dance," "On the Radio," "I Feel Love." The kind of stuff that makes weddings and frat parties what they are. --Rob O'Connor ... Read more

Reviews (35)

DOCUMENT OF A TRUE DIVA
THIS IS A GREAT COLLECTION REPRESENTING DISCO AT ITS FINEST AND IS A LESSON IN VOCAL INTERPRETATION OF SONG. THIS MEANS THAT THE PERFORMER SINGS THE SONGS BASED ON THE MUSICAL AND LYRICAL CONTENT AND NOT FOR THE PRIME SAKE OF DISPLAYING THEIR VOCAL ABILITIES. SINGERS SUCH AS MARIAH CAREY AND WHITNEY HOUSTON COULD TAKE SOME POINTERS FROM DONNA SUMMER. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC...NOT ABOUT THE EGO. DONNA SUMMER AND GIORGIO MORODER WERE ALSO PIONEERS IN THE FIELD OF TECHNO MUSIC AS HEARD IN THE PULSATING "I FEEL LOVE" AND THE SPACEY EXOTIC CHARM OF "OUR LOVE". THIS ALBUM ALSO FEATURES THE PERFECT DISCO MEETS ROCK FORMULA OF "HOT STUFF" AND THE MELODRAMATIC OUTBURST OF "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" WHICH FEATURES BARBARA STREISAND. "DIM ALL THE LIGHTS" CAPTURES THE WONDERFUL ROMANTIC CHARM THAT DONNA SUMMER CAN BRING TO A SONG AND WILL STEAL YOUR HEART WITH ITS ENTHUSIASTIC INNOCENCE. THIS COLLECTION ALSO FEATURES THE SULTRY SEXY "LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY" AND HER MEGA HIT "LAST DANCE" FROM THE MOVIE"THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY". "ON THE RADIO" IS A TRIP BACK IN TIME AND WHAT A RIDE IT IS! ESSENTIAL. O.F.

Excellent Collection From the Queen
Donna Summer is the undisputed queen of disco. She is defintely one of THE female greats of the last century ranking right up there with Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey. This collection represents her 70's disco material very well. All of her disco classics are here. "I Feel Love" is probably my favorite disco song of all time and is definitely a Donna standard. And of course you have the oddly appealing "Love To Love You Baby." Of course, we can't forget her dancefloor classics "Dim All the Lights" and the famous last call "Last Dance." The hits don't stop there. You can't have a disco/dance party without the anthem "Hot Stuff" and no Donna Summer collection woul be complete without "Bad Girls." Donna's #1 duet with Barbra Streisand "Enough Is Enough" is ranked right up there with some of the most dynamic and classic pairings of all time *put two talents like them together and it's explosive.* And of course, the title track "On the Radio" is a favorite as is the stunning "MacArthur Park" which shows off her mind-boggling range and is sure to have everyone dancing.

As said, this is a good compilation of Donna's 70's dancefloor standards, but if you're looking for more, I recommend "Endless Summer." It includes her 80's hits as well such as "She Works Hard For the Money" and "The Wanderer." Disco may have been a fad but one listen of this woman's music will show you Donna Summer was not.

Dance and clean!!
When I am just not in the mood to clean the house, I pop in this incredible CD and I just start dancing around with the vaccuum, dust rag, mop, whatever... it has been my "cleaning" music since the album was first released. A classic must-have for Donna Summer fans!

The Queen of Disco gives us her very best!
I went through three copies of this album. One cassette,one double LP and one single CD. I still have the LP and CD. I lost the cassette somewhere. My mom bought the cassette shortly after she bought a new Lloyd's stereo with cassette player in late 1979. Several months later,we bought the 2 LP set. In October 1995,I bought the CD. The title track was the only original track and was a hit. There's also a long version of the song following NO MORE TEARS which is much longer(playing time for NMT is 11:44). NMT is a duet between Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand. It's also on Streisand's 1979 album,WET. Summer was introduced in 1975 with the megahit LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY. Other megahits are LAST DANCE,BAD GIRLS,DIM ALL THE LIGHTS,HEAVEN KNOWS and HOT STUFF. MacARTHUR PARK is a cover of the 60's hit written by Jimmy Webb(I don't know the artist who first recorded it). DIM ALL THE LIGHTS was written by Summer herself. All the other songs are great. Side 1 of the cassette has the songs from sides 1 and 4 of the LP. Side 2 of the cassette has the songs from sides 2 and 3 of the LP. On the LP,side 4 is opposite side 1 and side 3 is opposite side 2. When this album was released in 1979,phonographs with stacking spindles were still made and sold. So owners of this album could place side 2 atop side 1 and side 4 atop side 3. After this album,Summer was dropped from Casablanca and signed with the newborn Geffen label. This was in 1980. Summer had four more big hits after this album. They are THE WANDERER from the 1980 album of the same title,SHE WORKS HARD FOR THE MONEY from the 1983 album of the same title,THERE GOES MY BABY,a cover of the Drifters' recording,and SUPERNATURAL LOVE both from 1984's CATS WITHOUT CLAWS.

Like a journey
An odd compilation that blends all the songs so there are no gaps in between - creating a disco journey, in a way. What fans should realise is many of these are not the original recordings. That's obvious I guess, to create the continous journey of the songs. Nevertheless, it works and presents an ideal CD for a 70's party. Just put it on, and start dancing.

But - what do I have to do to find the original epic recording of "Love to Love You Baby" on a compilation? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite its mirror-ball packaging, The Disco Box presents the music as it was heard on AM radio, not in clubs. The 80 tunes are well-chosen, but almost all are heard in their single-edit version rather than in the often cathartic extended tracks that were one of the form's trademarks. Also, some of disco's best-loved divas (Loleatta Holloway, Taana Gardner) are left out of this history. Still, for those whose record collections don't represent one of pop's most glorious, insane (try 5000 Volts' "I'm On Fire"), inspiring moments, these four CDs are a worthy primer. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (20)

A fair collection of disco, but it's just a starting point!
When exploring the amazing genre of disco music, too many people limit themselves to the "hits". To be sure, radio stations during the late 70s and early 80s often limited their playlists to the hits alone, but this collection only barely scratches the surface of disco.

In my opinion, there are many excellent tracks in The Disco Box. Among the best are the songs by Sister Sledge and Chic, plus Ain't No Stopping Us Now, Turn The Beat Around, Disco Inferno, Never Can Say Goodbye, and Forget Me Nots. A lot of great singers are represented here, including Evelyn King, Thelma Houston, and Donna Summer. At the same time, a lot of the songs in this set are headache-inducing, like Disco Nights and Knock On Wood, and there's a lot of low-quality disco like Shake Your Booty, Get Dancin', and YMCA. Every genre has its high and low points. There are hundreds of much better disco songs than those. A complete disco set should have included excellent and timeless songs (many of them hits) like Give Me The Night by George Benson, Cocomotion by El Coco, Rock With You & Off The Wall by Michael Jackson, Spacer by Sheila & B. Devotion, The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, I Like Love & High Society by Norma Jean Wright, and Never Knew Love Like This Before by Stephanie Mills. And what about super party songs like Stomp by the Brothers Johnson and Relight My Fire by Dan Hartman? They aren't here either. And it has already been pointed out that nothing by the Bee Gees is here. More recently there are superb disco songs by Jamiroquai like Cosmic Girl (1996) and Canned Heat (1999).

I hope that some people who buy The Disco Box will also check out other disco albums, especially the "Best Of" compilations of the great artists I mentioned above. Don't miss out on the hidden treasures!

Disco Never Sounded Better
I was never a big fan of disco until I heard this boxed set, released by Rhino Records in 1999. Now, I have come to appreciate it as one of the leading genres in music. Disco was every bit as important as the swing bands of the late 1930s' and 1940s', the r & b and doo - wop of the 1950s', or the British Invasion and Motown soul of the 1960s'. Disco has grown from a style of music to a legend. And this 4 - disc set keeps that legacy alive and running with 80 tracks that defined an era forever.

Discs 1 and 2 have most (not all) the monster hits that got the disco craze alive and kicking. Songs like "Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5, "Rock The Boat" by the Hughes Corporation, "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston, "Shame" by Evelyn Champagne King, "Get Down Tonight" by KC And The Sunshine Band", "Disco Inferno" by The Tramps and a host of others still sound as fresh and funky as they did 30 years ago. And I defy anyone who listens to The Miracles' "Love Machine (Pt.1)" and Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing" without jumping out of their seat and moving their feet.

Discs 3 and 4 are from disco's declining years, which does not mean that they're terrible. Here is where you'll find defining classics like "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People, "I Want Your Love" by Chic, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" by Sylvester, "Instant Replay" by Dan Hartman", "Celebration" by Kool And The Gang, "Give It Up" by K.C., "Le Freak" by Chic and, of course, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, probably the perennial dsico anthem. And who can forget Sister Sledge's feel -good anthem, "We Are Family"? Nobody, that's who.

As with all compilations, it's very easy to complain about ommisions, and "The Disco Box is no exception. While the people who recorded them (Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones) are more associated with rock than disco, I think that "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and "Miss You" should've been included. Also, any of the 4 disco - orientated Diana Ross hits between 1976 and 1980 could've been included, namely "Love Hangover" and "The Boss", though "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out" are worthy of inclusion. Most tellingly, nothing by The Bee Gees or Barry White is included. These two artists took ordinary dance music and propelled it into the stratosphere. In other words, disco classics like "Stayin' Alive", "You're The First, The Last, My Everything", "Jive Talkin'", "You Should Be Dancing", "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness", "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe", "Night Fever", "You See The Trouble With Me", "Love You Inside Out" and a host of others are gone. And not to be picky, but I would've liked to have seen "If I Can't Have You", "Disco Duck" and "Shadow Dancing" included as well.

Still, the disco box is great for any disco fan. Four discs filled with hours of great music that defined an era. If you aren't a completist, it's the best disco compilation $ can buy.

3 1/2 Stars; All Great Songs But Many Essentials Missing
Whether you love it or hate it, you can't deny disco's appeal on the music community. For years, disco collections have been released numerous timea and all of them were basically trash. In 1999, Rhino Records tried to rectify that problem with the 4 - disc "Disco Box". White it comes close, it still isn't the definitve collection we're hoping for.

For starters, discs 1 and 2 contain little if any rarities. This one includes just the standard fare: "Dancing Machine" by the Jackson 5, "Shake Your Booty" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band (one of three songs by them on this disc alone), "Fly Robin Fly" by the Silver Convention", "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers, and "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps, to name a few. Even if you are new to disco, it's highly unlikely that you haven't heard these songs on the radio or at a party. The only song here I consider a rarity is, unfortunately, the dreadful "I'm On Fire" by 5000 Volts.

Discs 3 and 4 get a little more adventurous by including a few disco rarities like "I Shoulda Loved Ya" by Narada Michael Walden (who later rose to fame by producing Whiteney Houston's biggest hits), "I'm Caught Up" (In A One Night Love Affair)" by Inner Life and two Sister Sledge masterworks, "Lost In Music" and "I Got To Love Somebody". But once again, standard fare like "We Ae Family", 'I Will Survive" (probably the perennial disco anthem), "Celebration" and "Heart Of Glass" outweigh any rarities.

Here are my major complaints. Several artists who were known for recording contemporary rock and pop music scored with one - time forays into disco. I'm talking about artists like Barry Manilow ("Copacabana"), The Rolling Stones ("Miss You")and Rod Stewart ("Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"). All these songs remain party staples today. More tellingly, three of discos biggest innovators, The Bee Gees, Barry White and Diana Ross (though the latter hardly if ever gets credit for it), are not featured at all. For The Bee Gees (called the Kings of Disco) created such rumpshakers as "Jive Talkin'" and "Stayin' Alive", to name two of the many.. White crafted songs like "You're The First, The Last, My Everything", "I'll Do For You Anything You Want Me To" and "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness". And what about Ms. Ross. Does anybody remeber "Love Hangover" (I would have also liked to have seen the original Fifth Dimension version included here), "The Boss", "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out"? Of course you do. Plus, Madonna gave us "Holiday" and "Like A Virgin", which could've easily been hits in 1979 as they were in 1983 and 1985, well after disco's so - called "death".

So, not essential. But if you want a good set of party songs that will get you on our feet, better this than the cheap, single - disc sets that I mentioned earlier.

Good, But 80 Songs Are From Complete
Rhino Records can usually be counted on to release high - quality essential collections for the obsessive music fan. To capitalize on the cravings of the many disco fans still around today, they released this slapdash collection which features 4 discs of some great music. But still, with 80 songs, you can't help but feel the incompleteness.

Disc1 and 2 will only appeal to the casual disco fan, as they stand out as the ones with the most familliar songs. Tracks like "Love's Theme" by The Love Unlimited Orchestra, "Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5, "Get Down Tonight" and "That's The Way (I Like It) by KC and the Sunshine Band, "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps and "Shame" by Evelyn "Champagne" King remain radio staples today. Alas, there is some rarely heard stuff here, like 5000 Volts' "I'm On Fire" and the forgotten Candi Staton standard "Young Hearts Run Free" remain some of the best rumpshakers ever.

Discs 3 and 4 should appeal more to the hardcore disco fans, as there's a lot of rare tracks here, like "Instant Replay" by Dan Hartman, "Love And Desire (Part 1)" by Arpeggio, "I Shoulda Loved Ya" by Narada Michael Walden, "I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair)", "A Lover's Holiday" by Change", and "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" by Indeep. Still the classics like "I Will Survive", "We Are Family", "Le Freak" and "YMCA" weigh out the rarer stuff.

It's okay, but far from complete. There are lot of rarely heard disco stuff not here that would have made it more interesting and appealing to the buyers. What songs? Songs like "My Sweet Summer Suite" by The Love Unlimited Orchestra, "I Don't Wanna Lose You" by Hall And Oates", I Caught You Act" by The Hues Corporation", "Catfish and "H.E.L.P", both by The Four Tops". And if that's not enough. Even some essential classics are missing. I would've loved to see "Love Hangover, "Best Of My Love", "Shadow Dancing", "September", "Boogie Wonderland", "You're The First, The Last, My Everything" and any Bee Gees song here. Aso, a few dance classics from the 1980s' are missing, like "Holiday" by Madonna, "Take Your Time" by The S.O.S. Band, and "Out Of Touch" by Hall and Oates.

If you are an obsessive disco fan, than I highly suggest this set. Otherwise, please consider other collections before buying this.

Great Box Set, But.............
Yes, there are dozens of major hits from mainstream disco included here. Yes, you recognize ALL the songs. Yes, it's great to have especially if you don't have these songs on CD. And yes, it is missing so much ESSENTIAL songs that I don't even know where to begin!

First, the packaging gets an A+ because it's loaded with plenty of pictures along with exhaustive liner notes. The some of the notes you may have already have known, but there might be something you didn't. No complaints here.

Second, the Bee Gees is missing but the rest of the mainstream artists are here along with their well-known hits. No complaints here.

Third, let me start with this question: is this suppose to be a BOX SET or just a 4-CD GREATEST DISCO HIT COLLECTION? I think the answer is obvious. If this was truly a box set, it would have (at the very least) included some rarities or maybe even some unreleased tracks that the fan would find enjoyable. Just something different. Where is "I Love America" by Patrick Juvet, for example? I can think of dozens of other rare or hard to find songs that would have been a welcomed addition.

To sum this up, the only major problem is this is only half the story of disco, the mainstream tracks. My suggestion is this: get this box set if you don't have these songs on CD. If you have the disco years (vol. 1-7), you won't need this (unless you want the liner notes). ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Elegant and addictive
This collection proves the late 70s was a great time for dance music. Along with Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer, Grace Jones and Saturday Night fever there was Chic, with their minimalistic but elegant grooves. My favorites on this collection include Everybody Dance, Le Freak (which was a sort of mini anthem), I Want Your Love, Good Times and Savoir Faire. These are the extended mixes, not the original singles, but that means more value for money! Something in the blend of tight guitar riffs, vocals and sublime arrangements just grab you; this is dance music you can listen to. And if you want more of the same, check out Norma Jean's album Saturday and anything by Sister Sledge. Bring back the Seventies!

Clams on the half shelf...
In Barry White's liner notes to his greatest hits CD, he defends disco as a beautiful music with a certain emphasis on elegant style. This is precisely how I view the best disco, such as that produced by Chic right here. The group in question always strove to present itself in only the most refined light, bordering at times on the snobby. But it was all part and parcel of the disco mystique. Women were presented as these sultry, sensual creatures with a hold on any man that laid eyes on them. Vocals were oft-times breathy..... Chic played a large role in all of this, but never relied alone on its regal persona to sell records. Bernard Edwards' bass and Nile Rogers' guitar saw to that. Lush strings and thumping bass drums were also a factor. If you are already open to dance music, one listen to the insane, virtuosic bassline overture of "Everybody Dance" should be enough to convince you of Chic's genius.

Edwards and Rodgers are musical geniuses!
The evolution of this genre of music goes like this: Ray Charles, James Brown, Sly Stone, Chic, Prince...
Chic gets bad rap because their music was popular in the disco era. That just happens to be the type of music that would sell at that time. Put Edwards' bass lines up against any in the history of funk and you'd be hard pressed to find any better. Take away the strings and the hand claps and you wouldn't be able to date this music.

This CD contains the extended mixes of most of the singles. For example, we're treated to a 8:13 version of Good Times and 8:30 version of Dance, Dance, Dance. Don't worry, the groove never gets old.

Feeling nostalgic for the "Good Times"? Pick this (or any Chic CD, for that matter) and start dancing. Now, when are the record decision-makers going to decide to release a CD version of Nile Rodger's "Adventures in the Land of the Good Groove"?!?

Fantastic!!
Incredible dance music! I highly recommend it to everyone.

The extended versions in all of their glory!
The long versions of Dance, Dance, Dance , Everybody Dance & the brilliant, lovely I Want Your Love are great. Finally, a way to replace the old disco singles! Remember the pink vinyl for I Want Your Love?

My Forbidden Lover is great too ... as is (always) Le Freak. Heck, you can't really miss on one of these hits! ... Read more

Amazon.com

As if the genre didn't have enough stigmas to transcend, countless nostalgic compilations have done disco additional disservice by reducing the canon to a handful of obvious tunes trotted out endlessly. Fortunately, by including lesser-known gems like the Gibson Brothers' "Que Sera Mi Vida" next to classics by Sylvester, Dan Hartman, and Chic, the music supervisors of 54 have assembled irrefutable proof that the late '70s weren't the musical wasteland those idiots who torched their Donna Summer LPs claimed. However, the producers apparently weren't entirely immune to the commercial leanings that undermined disco via overexposure; program your CD player to skip the annoying cut-and-paste medley "Studio 54" and Mary Griffin's updated "Knock on Wood," which pales next to Amii Stewart's chart-topping 1979 reading. --Kurt B. Reighley ... Read more

Reviews (19)

DISCO DIVA - STUDIO 54 # 1
I decided to buy this cd after I saw the movie which I also recom mend.I am building a disco collection and most of the songs on here I am satisfied with."Vertigo/Relight my fire,Contact,You make me feel,Keep on Dancin and Que sera mi vida" are definetely my most favorite songs on this cd!I was 10 years old when Studio 54 was jumping but I remember all of these songs(thanks to my mom aunts and their friends).Most of the songs on volume 2 I have already except the ultimate treasure "Loving is really my game"! Only a true,loyal die-hard disco lover can appreciate and enjoy cds such as this one!!

Doesn't contain any big name 70s hits...Very Disappointing
If you want a "Best of 70s" CD...this is not it. I'm a big disco fan and was expecting this to be "THE" CD to have...an instant 70s party, but it's not!!! A few good songs like "Knock on Wood" but no Gloria Gaynor,no We Are Family, no big names...NO GOOD! Also avoid the 2nd volume--it's no good as well!

A fine collection of unpedestrian disco and funk
In looking at the selection on Volume I, I notice the songs are taken from 1977 to 1979, accurate enough during Steve Rubell's 15 minutes of fame. After a snippets medley of songs done here and on Volume II, Latin rhythms and keyboards come in with Gary's Gang's "Keep On Dancin'". A slow start, given most of the material here.

Diana Ross's "The Boss" was written by man-wife songwriters Ashford and Simpson, and this is typical of the material she did during her disco period, e.g. "Love Hangover" and the Diana album. However, the Michael Jackson style yelps are a bit much.

"Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah)" was one of Chic's first big hits from 1977, and introduced innovative instrumentation during a time that the disco genre was being maligned. With the way string-synths and funky beats are crafted into great hooks, I see yet another Prince influence that kind of made its way into LoveSexy.

Talented multiple instrumentalist and light tenor Dan Hartman's "Vertigo/Relight My Fire" is next, replete with vibes, synths, and other whooshy sounds, well worth its eight minute running time. I'm not sure how his version did but Take That took "Relight My Fire" to the #1 in the UK after his death from AIDS. A standout cut here, as long as no one relights the fire to burn more disco records.

Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" should be familiar, with that high-pitched falsetto of his.

"Move On Up" is the Curtis Mayfield song that its author pushed to #12 on the UK charts in 1971, but done by Destination in 1979. Not too much variation, as it maintains that jamming horn section.

"Eye to eye contact, you and me" sing the gravelly soulful Edwin Starr and his singers in "Contact." It shows how someone can do a fun upbeat song like this and do a politically serious song like "War", which he did the year before "Contact."

Spacey synths and disco synths with a slight bluesy riff on the chorus, and a gospel-tinged chorus that sways with the music, that's Mary Griffin's "Knock On Wood" for you.

"I got my mind made up, come on, you can get it, get it girl, anytime" raps Instant Funk, to which a woman goes "Say what?" incredulously and then "tonight is fine" as the response. Instant Funk, huh? So, how many cups of water do we add? There's already been some disco added, I can tell you.

Odyssey's "Native New Yorker" with its lush strings, is one of those romantic, dance by the fireplace numbers like "Love's Theme" from Love's Unlimited Orchestra, though not as gushy.
The Gibson Brothers' unison shout of "if you should go" in "Que Sera Mi Vida" and electric keyboards echoes the Village People. Strong soul vocals in the verses.

Rose Royce's lush ballad, the UK Top 3 "Wishing On A Star" is the sweetest song here and Yvonne Fair has the best voice of any of the artists on this collection. Clearly they were riding on the crest following the success of the Car Wash soundtrack.

What makes this worthwhile is that for the most part, it doesn't pick the well-tread disco standards found on the Pure Disco compilations but other merit-worthy selections from that era that people may have heard from somewhere but forgot who did them. A superlative collection.

A Must Have Soundtrack
In Australia, this soundtrack was released with the best picks of Volume 1 and Volume 2, resulting in a fantastic compilation (although it doesn't have Sylvester's MIGHTY REAL song which they were stupid to leave off).
Anyway. this soundtrack is high up on the list as one of my all time favourite CD's - because it includes some brilliant dance tracks and hard to find stuff. My favourite track is THE BOSS by Diana Ross followed by FOUND A CURE by Ashford & Simpson. Try and track down the Australian CD version if you can, otherwise purchase Volume 2 - it's definitely the better of the two from what I can work out from the track listings shown on Amazon. Finally, this is a soundtrack that is actually better than the movie ... it's usually the other way round.

If Only the I.R.S. Could Have Shut Down the Movie, too...
I suppose we have "Saturday Night Fever" to blame for all of this retro revival - mirror balls, flared pants, platform shoes, afros. Bad music. If you liked the film, then your tastes in cinematic entertainment are questionable, so it comes as no surprise that you would consider buying this soundtrack (and don't bother renting "The Last Days Of Disco" by the way - it's just more superficial Hollywood rubbish). I couldn't agree more with Kurt Reighley's critique for Amazon - there are some commendable selections on this collection, alongside some lesser commercial crap, but it's hardly a reason to purchase it. Don't let the movie fool you - Studio 54 was far removed from the values of the original underground disco community (feelings of unity and belonging and an embracing of music with positive messages and inventive production techniques). It was a bloated caricature of NY club culture, catering to elitist celebrities and the whims of its owners. Being at Studio 54 had more to do with 'people-watching' than dancing. Even if Studio 54 hadn't been shut down, it was doomed to close on its own. The commercial disco that it championed was on its way out by 1980 - the backlash result of greedy major record labels wanting a piece of the independent market's lucrative pie, but not knowing how to produce or market the music properly. Fortunately, the original underground following (comprised predominantly of gay Blacks and Latinos) evolved despite all this, creating house and garage in the process.

If you really want to hear true disco as it was intended to be, I suggest that you seek out material on these record labels: Salsoul, Prelude, West End, and Philadelphia International, as well as mix CDs by Larry Levan ('Live at the Paradise Garage') and David Mancuso ('The Loft'). By the dawn of its demise, disco had received a bad rap, but the impact and influence left by its true forebearers on contemporary club culture is undeniable. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Finally the long version on CD! YES it is DISCO !
Among my vinyl collection, this album and the DISCO 12" version are amoung my favorite, played to death. When this came out I snapped it up. Yes it is Disco, in its most classic form, complete with single, disco 12", and this album. Also, its on CASABLANCA RECORDS, Donna Summer, Thank God Its Friday, Flash Dance, Village People...nuff said.

Here in Florida, it was a huge club hit, and the long version is still played today. There weren't that many Latin flavored disco cuts, but with Santa Esmeralda and another artist 'Gomez' you couldn't go wrong.

This is one of the timeless classic albums. I am just waiting for someone to grab this and do a remix CLUB version (DJ Sammy could do it or others) and make it a hit again.

It would be, its that good.

Definitely disco - The BEST example
I must respectfully disagree with the first reviewer. This is definitely what I would classify as disco. And I was both a club goer in NYC and sometime DJ "back in the day". Contrary to popular belief, disco produced a lot of excellent music, and Santa Esmeralda is one of the reasons why. They were very hot in the clubs, and for good reason.

If you want to know what the REAL disco music was like, circa 1977-1980 listen to this record.

Disco???? Shame on you!
First, this is DEFINITELY NOT a disco album. This is late rock and roll with a distinctly sensuous latin flavor. If you want disco, go find something else. The main track, "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and the companion track, "Esmeralda Suite," is darn close to being flamenco. I have had the vinyl album for over 20 years. Although it is still in pretty good shape (despite hours and hours of play), I want the CD so I can put it on repeat! If you love a latin beat,the energy of flamenco, and rock and roll you will be won over by this incredible album.

Don't let me be misunderstood
One of the all time greatest workout songs. First heard this one back in 1978 when it was used for a Roberto Duran prefight song. My uncle had the album in his collection, some where between Dianna Ross and Saturday Night Fever. I'm not a big disco fan, but that song rocks! I rated the album 4 stars only because I wasn't big on all the other songs, but that's just my opinion. If you like the Gypsy Kings, you'll probably like this group.

Don't let me be misunderstood
I fully enjoy This album, however, I would like them to make it available on CD. I currently own the LP and I have been searching for the CD. Is this album soon to be out in CD format. Thank you ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Simply The Best
She wan't the first legendary black performer, but she most certainly is the most successful. This set, a revamped, remastered issue of the original 1981 LP, chronicles the stylish post-Supremes singles that elevated Diana Ross from 60's pop sensation to 70's and 80's superstar. All the really big hits are here: the early soulful Ashford and Simpson collaborations ("Reach Out And Touch," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Remember Me,"), her trademark dramatic ballads ("It's My Turn," "Touch Me In The Morning," "Theme From 'Mahogany'," "Endless Love"), and her blood pumping dance records ("The Boss," "Love Hangover," "I'm Coming Out," "Upside Down"). This edition of the album adds two of Ross' more daring hits--the swingin' "Last Time I Saw Him" and her heart-stopping rendition of Billie Holiday's "Good Morning Heartache" from 'Lady Sings The Blues,' neither of which, oddly enough, made the cut the first time. While the new "Motown Anthology" covers much more ground, and her RCA hits are nowhere to be found, "All The Great Hits" gives fans the songs that launched a solo icon.

Ain't No Mountain long enough
I couldn't agree with the reviewer below. I, too bought this CD thinking I was getting the full length versions of these songs. The single edits have been used to death, making the unedited versions a rarity.

How many Diana Ross compilations will Motown force us to buy? The Ultimate Collection had the single edits of Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Love Hangover but was marred by horrible sound quality. The Hitsville boxed sets had superior sound but again the single edits. The Millenium Collection of Diana Ross had...the single edits, and now this!

The songs should be replaced and a new catalog number issued so music buyers will know the difference. Ones that were ripped off, should be able to return the discs for a replacement.

A rip off of the first order!

Diana Ross' icon voice treated with care
Diana Ross' voice is special. Very special! As Marvin Gaye once put it: "Diana Ross is a fine singer. All you have to do is listen to her Billie Holiday stuff: It's marvellous". No female singer sounded better on the radio in the 60s: Young, fresh, uplifting and yet a sadness underneath. Even more she was a role model for all. Black, white, man, woman. She represented hope for a better tomorrow, and she represented "girlpower" before it became popular and even acceptable. On this collection of some of her greatest and biggest Motown recordings as a soloist, she sings from the top of her unique talent in all genres: from her powerful performance of the gospel inspired Remember Me and her breathtaking and sexy talking on Ain't no Mountain high enough to her mindly swinging and tender reading of Goodmorning Heartache. From her endlessly fascinating and sophisticated singing on Touch Me in the Morning and her spontanuos disco-groove on The Boss to her "spelling" of the word freedom on It's My Turn. Just listen to her six U.S. solo charttoppers and you will hear music that is truly original hit material, music that set the standards for decades and artists to come. My hat off to Motown and Kevin Reeves for treating Diana Ross' gems with care. You should work more for Motown, Mr Reeves - they need you. The sound here is simply the best. (And I just love "the little longer version" of Touch Me in the Morning). I would give this collection another star, had Motown included - U.K. charttopping for four weeks - the sweet "I'm still waiting". It would have been nice to have all her Motown/solo number 1s in one collection. But really: This is the best money can buy.

These ARE Great Hits!
Wow! What a collection. It opens up with ENDLESS LOVE and only gets better. From R&B to Disco to Motown. This album is truly well-rounded and a must-have for everyone!

You can hear her vulnerability in songs like "It's My Turn," "Theme From Mahogany (Do You know Where You're Going To)" and "Touch Me In the Morning."

She'll get you boogie-in' with "Upside Down," "I'm Coming Out," "The Boss" and "Love Hangover."

We even get treated with her old Supremes stuff. A medley of it! All in one! You must buy this CD! It's one of my favorites.

Get it from BMG Music Club
Just got my copy today and it contains the album versions of "Love Hangover" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." I highly recommend the cd, the sound quality is excellent. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Summer's Hotter Than Disco On This Greatest Hits LP
This is the best one-disc collection of Donna Summer's work, from her mid-70s disco period through the more ambitious work she tackled through most of the 80s.

What shows most is her versatility. She tackles disco camp (on 1976's #1 "Love To Love You Baby,") wanders in semi-classical disco swirl on "Could It Be Magic" and "MacArthur Park," takes on an early techno classic in "I Feel Love," and belts with Barbra on the set's weakest song, "Enough Is Enough."

Donna got better as disco faded. Her singing grew more compassionate as she tackled the characters in "On The Radio," "Dim All The Lights," and "The Wanderer." Ace producers like Quincy Jones (two from her 1982 self-titled set) and Michael Omartian (represented by "She Works Hard For The Money" and the closing gospel-pop number) also help. Omartian's "Any Way At All," and the opening Civilles-Cole dance number "Melody Of Love," show that if radio and record still pay attention, Donna Summer would be far from her "last dance," and could create music surpassing her previous best in that lockstep idiom. Highly recommended.

Summary of the Queen of Disco, Short and Sweet
ENDLESS SUMMER: DONNA SUMMER'S GREATEST HITS is arguably the best compilation released on the talented artist. It may not go as in depth as THE DONNA SUMMER ANTHOLOGY did, but then again, ENDLESS SUMMER works better because it focuses on the big hits, and Summer was at her best for hits. People could still complain that all of these songs are in their hit versions rather than their album versions or 12" mixes, and they could also groan at missing selections like "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It"; "I Remember Yesterday"; "Once Upon a Time"; and "Sunset People," but then again, ENDLESS SUMMER was clearly meant for the casual listeners. Besides, with these single edits, the entire songlist (which includes "Love to Love You Baby"; "MacArthur Park"; "Hot Stuff"; "Bad Girls"; "The Wanderer"; and "She Works Hard for the Money") clearly shows that Summer's stance as the "Queen of Disco" was not just some media hype- she WAS the Queen of Disco.

It may not cover everything you need to know, but ENDLESS SUMMER: DONNA SUMMER'S GREATEST HITS still serves as an excellent introduction to one of disco's definitive voices. But if you want to go for more than just hits, then THE DONNA SUMMER ANTHOLOGY will still be an excellent buy, but yet not as powerful of a listen as ENDLESS SUMMER.

Disco Bound
It is just so hard to imagine that people really seem to forget about how dynamic Disco music really is. While many people look at it as a guilty pleasure today, it was a trend back in the 70's and early 80's. While many people ignore Disco these days, back then, Donna Summer was all the talk of the DIsco scene. She proved to have the soul and the voice for Disco. Throughout the 70's, her voice broke so many boundaries left and right and all over. Although many people still overlook her voice these days, it is just unmistakeable. She has made so many great songs and still continues to influence people of all boundaries thick and thin.

Endless Summer, is a collection of Donna's biggest tunes from the 70's and early 80's.The songs are really nothing new, unless you just started to hear Disco for the first time. The album contains 18 of Donna's biggest songs including She Works Hard For The Money, Hot Stuff, Bad Girls, and This Time I Know Its For Real. The album also has some overlooked tracks that Donna had recorded including The Wanderer, a track that was highly overlooked from the early 80's, largely because of the Disco Sucks movement, State Of Independednce, and Any Way At All. Nonetheless, this collection is truly one of a kind, with a very beautiful voice.

Although many people may not find this Greatest Hits collection, inplace of her latest hits collection, The Journey: The Very Best Of Donna Summer, this collection does still showcase something very special from the Diva from Boston, MA. If you aren't really interested in Donna Summer's music, this collection might not be for you, but worth listening on that Last Dance.

Not a great compilation
Donna Summer's best years were from 1975-1983. That's what this compilation should have focused on - rather than add mediocre hits and fillers. By adding these fillers, it has robbed the CD of valuable space where the original long versions of some of these classics could have been included.

This album features a tame 3.30 minute version of "I Feel Love". Any real fan knows that the only way to truly appreciate this song is to listen to the extended original version - which runs for over 5 minutes. An 8 minute version also exists.

This CD does not include the original "love to love you baby" - instead you get a remixed 90's version (a big no no).

Other disappointments include cut down version of "Bad Girls".

A CD aimed at people who don't really know the artist that well.

ENDLESS JOY OF MUSIC!
This has to be the most compact and greater collection of Donna Summer's hits, this collection includes all the hits in their edited version, if you're more of an extended 12" fan, the anthology will do you good, but this collection simply has all the cuts that becames dance club hits!, it's nice to have this collection in house when you want to get the disco theme party started, all the tracks are good! so no need to go there! buy it! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Moroder Mesmerizes...
The Chase track clocking in at over 8 minutes is worth the price of the cd alone. This track strongly indentifies the pop-music style of the time . You don't have to strain your ears to realize the Moroder genius touch and Faltermeyer contributions that Chase sounds hauntingly similar to Donna Summer's I Feel Love and Our Love/Sunset People; of course this is no dumb coincidence.Yet, he avoids turning this into a notorious campy disco soundtrack.It is also comparable to Vangelis' BladeRunner theme (the pulsing futuristic synthesized sound). The next memorable track is Istanbul Blues.It's just that; a song done in blues fashion by a male singer named David Castle whose vocals are light and not at all heavy a la B.B. King. It's more a blue-eye soul/blues track. The end track theme is sung by a fascinating female vocalist named Chris Bennett who at times is reminiscent of a Diana Ross protogee with slight more vocal stamina. Some of the other remaining tracks are very haunting and eerie in not just an electronic sense but in an atmospheric way. At times these tracks make you forget it's a soundtrack to an American imprisoned in a Turkish jail. They sound as though they were written for a couple of horror scenes to a sci-fi thriller.

The only disappointment is that the soundtrack is so short in length.

Why poor remixes ?!?!?!?!
This cd is remixed and NOT the original music used in the film.
The music in the film is fantastic and imaginative but the cd is remixed with naff percussion making it sound all discoey.

Don't waste your money if you want the original music.

This is not the original soundtrack
I'm watching the Midnight Express movie right now. The music on this CD is not the exact music in the movie. It's the same melody, but played with different instruments. I want the music from the movie soundtrack, not an immitation. This CD sounds like a phoney synthesizer, but the music in the movie sounds more authentic and real. The theme song sounds like chimes in the movie, but on the CD it's completely different -- sounds like a synthesizer. Where can I buy the version from the movie?? DON'T BUY THIS DISC IF YOU WANT THE ORIGINAL MOVIE MUSIC.

Yes, Giorgio
Before K-holes and Ecstasy, there was the Chase from Midnight Express and an Ehtyl Chloride soaked rag.

Where's the rest of the music?
Midnight Express has got to be the best film I've ever seen along with The Thing, Confessions Of A Window Cleaner and Dumb And Dumber. Unfortunetly, a lot of the perfect music from the film has been left out.
Music genious Giorgio Morodor could have made this soundtrack great by at least including some of the orchestral versions of the Midnight Express Theme ( particually the final scene and where Billy tells his dad he loves him and is led away to prison ) but there isn't any.
And the fantastic scene where Billy goes physco and kills Rifki has good music. But there is some of that music on track 7 heard in the background.
Although not quite the same as the film version, track 1 is great, as is every other track on the CD but come on. 8 tracks?
As I do for the James Bond soundtracks, I pray that a Cd will be released again with the other tracks on.Read more

Amazon.com

Atlantic Records has ridden musical trends since the late '40s; these seven CDs chronicle the first 28 years of the label's work in black pop, during which artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding oversaw the creation and flowering of soul music. Also included are classic tracks by the Drifters, Wilson Pickett, Ruth Brown, the Coasters, Sam & Dave, and many others who walk through the dreams of R&B and rock & roll fans. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (26)

more artists
ps. just like to include more great r n b artists that should be on this great box set from atlantic records like levert & the system. put other divine hits out so more people are aware of other great talent,just plain wholesome good music.do you like good music,that sweet soul music!give us more hits by roberta flack, wilson pickett,ben e. king, arthur conley, otis redding, sam&dave aretha,rb greaves,drifters,spinners,esther phillips,les mccan,eddie harris, herbie mann, yusef lateef, the kingpins, percy sledge,major harris,chuck willis, clyde mcphatter,coasters,jimmy castor,ace spectrum,peggy scott&jojo benson,shirley scott,clifford brown,billy cobham,cornell dupree,blue eyed soul from lulu,delaney&bonnie&friends,awb,bette midler,the manhattan transfer,billy vera,the late,great ms.dusty spingfield,buffalo springfield,derek&the dominos,plus many more!keep up the great work!keep on soulin'on!thank you!jhh52757!

Incredible Collection Needs Updated REMASTERING
This 8 cd box set of historical R&B and early rock and roll classics is an incredible collection that documents some of the greatest recordings by a handful of the greatest R&B/Rock artists who created some of the most captivating and amazingly wonderful, R&B/Soul/Rock standards, from the pre-birth rock era and well beyond,in music history. JOE TURNER, LAVERNE BAKER, RAY CHARLES, RUTH BROWN, CHUCK WILLIS, THE COASTERS AND DRIFTERS to name a few! Rock and roll was alive well before Elvis absorbed and reinterpreted it. Unfortunately, the remastering is circa the 1980's and these recordings[at times]fall flat and sound a bit dull and weak. I bought three of the individual compact discs(they were also issued individually)in the 80's and noticed no difference in the sound quality, in comparison to this "updated" version of the Lp Box to Cd. While this is a "cream of the crop" box of classic R&B, it unashamedly borrows heavily from the STAX RECORDS SINGLES COLLECTION BOX SETS Volumes 1, 2, & 3 to a flaw...You'd think that with ATLANTIC RECORDS' long history, they wouldn't need to duplicate the cream of the crop from STAX, regardless of the fact that Atlantic was the "mother" company of STAX's distribution. I'm a "Collector" and I treasure and cherish every track of my STAX BOX SETS(all three and 28 discs!)- chart hits or non-hits - with their supreme and stellar high tech remastering. I'm a huge fan of "REMASTERING" technology and will buy and "rebuy" reissues depending on what artist is honored! Regardless, the recordings in this Box Set are essential to your ears, heart and soul, as Atlantic made history from 1947 to 1974 and well beyond...and they continue into the 21st century! I waited forever to purchase this Box, hoping the remastering would be redefined - but bought it to avoid missing out, and still, I'm almost satisfied, as you will also be. I highly recommend the Joe Turner Box, Aretha Franklin("Queen Of Soul"), Spinners, Esther Phillips, and Ray Charles(all) Boxed Sets, which are genuinely detailed and supremely remastered to the ultimate sound. You can thank Rhino Records for the finest "reissues" on many of those!

Great Box Set!
This is an amazing and extensive collection. Tied for best box set ever! (The other would be Jackie Wilson)

Really great stuff! Totally worth it!

In the beginning....
This most wonderful CD set highlights the roots of all popular music, be it soul, blues, pop. There is no doubt that the great songwriters of the 60's and 70's, not only grew up with this music but did their best to replicate it. As music, it is excellent, as educational material, it is fantastic. If there is a problem, it is with it's length. So much great music that fill a multitude of disks. The difficulty is in selecting just the right CD to satisfy your current mood. This set has the ability to transport to any sound, any age.

ATTENTION KIDS - R & B STANDS FOR RHYTHM & BLUES!!
This is where rock'n'roll's roots are at. I bought the original 7 (double) LP set. Their original CD equivalents replicated them but for a few track omissions on various volumes. This box includes ALL of the origial LP series plus some 20+ extra tracks not previously included covering the fertile period between 1947-1974. It's an education in itself. This is what boxed sets are about. The raw stuff from the 40's & 50's are a pointer to Elvis & Jerry Lee. This is the some of the original music those artists cut their teeth on. Hearing Big Joe Turner for the first time was a revelation for myself particularly "Corrina, Corrine" and "Honey Hush". I further investigated Ray Charles' recorded output based on this set. The hits are here and things that you may vaguely rememnber as well. Legends such as the Professor Longhair, Big Joe Turner, Lavern Baker, Ray Charles, The Drifters, The Coasters, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and many others are more than amply represented here. I had heard some of these songs for the first time as cover versions by later artists such as Foghat, Elvis and even Paul McCartney whose "Run Devil Run" CD was a tribute to the 50's and a couple of tracks on this set get a nod there. Atlantic have done a wonderful job with this release. This is what R & B really is...before it was just a couple of initials representing what passes for today's music. I doubt a kid listening to that stuff would know what those letters stood for in today's context. My own preferences are to the 60's period during which Atlantic,Stax & Volt really came into their own as great Soul labels. Where Motown was probably more "showbizzy", which is not meant as a criticism, Atlantic revealed real grit and toughness in it's music. I thoroughly recommend this box set if only as a more than ample education of the rich legacy of American Rhythm & Blues music. ... Read more

Album Description

First-ever best-of album from this legendary dance floor diva!

With Let The Music Play: The Best of Shannon, this legendary dance floor diva’s biggest hits—from her ’80s heyday and her successful ’90s comeback—are finally available on a single disc. This album is a boon to collectors, since much of her material as been out of print for years, and completely unavailable in the CD era.

In 1983, the then unknown singer sang on a dance track produced by neophytes Mark Liggett and Chris Barbosa. Within a few weeks, the 12-inch of "Let The Music Play" was being spun by every DJ in New York City. Shannon followed this success up with a string of chart-topping dance singles, but soon left the music business for a successful stage-acting career. In 1995, she returned to music with the European-only single "It’s Got To Be Love" and appearances on singles by Afrika Bambaataa and Sash!, the latter of which made the U.K. Top Ten in 1998. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

SUPER RARE DISCO, Vol. 1 & 2
One of the best collections of 1970's hustle music. As a former New Yorker, I still own hundreds of hustle 45's and 12-inch dance records from the 70's and wanted to get the same songs on CDs. This collection of 40 hard-to-find disco songs (on Volume 1 & 2) is great. I liked Volume 2 slightly better than Volume 1, but both are excellent. Even the liner notes are incredibly well-written by a New Yorker who really appreciates classic disco music and who lived through the NY dance club scene in the 70's.

Excellent Collection!
If you are a disco fan that has "The Disco Box" and/or "The Disco Years, Vol. 1-7" and are looking for something different, then look no further then this collection along with volume 1. It's a great supplement with the well-known mainstream artists. The packaging is superb: entertaining liner notes along with song credits and chart positions. Highly recommended along with volume 1.

Great "Obscure" Disco
I am very happy with this compilation. To me this is better than the commercial compilations that have the overplayed (but still great) classic disco songs. I'm always looking for something that would take me back to the songs that were a hit at the time, but somehow fade slightly from the mainstream as time goes on.
"Mainline" comes to mind. You won't find that on every classic disco compilation. That's what makes it great.
"Ten Percent" - the first commercial 12" record. GREAT!
I am a DJ, but purchased this CD more for listening. But it is great to take to the club and spin a few times for the party goers.
I also appreciate the fact that there are 20 songs on this CD. Making for a large compilation compared to some other CD's that offer only 12 or 13 tracks.
If you are a disco fan, I recommend this CD to you.

...
This is an excellent compilation! Trust me, there are tunes on here that you won't remember until you play them and they'll bring back the memories! I had been looking for Down to Love Town for years before finding this. There is some great arranging and playing on these songs-not your typical fare. I would also recommend Volume 1 if you don't have it already.

Nice to have
This is the kind of record you dream about when you don't own it. It's a record of very good disco music, but then, it's not much more.

If you want to groove, have it for yourself. It's GOOOD disco music, indeed - nothing more. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great Disc--Need More
Great tracks--many heard for the first time on CD. Here's a list of other "forgotten" gems that need to appear on future editions of this series:
--Extra, Extra (Ralph Carter)
--Quiet Village (Ritchie Family)
--Hold Tight (Vicki Sue Robinson)
--Romeo And Juliet (Alec R Costandinos)
--I'm A Man (Macho)
--I Who Have Nothing (Sylvester)
--Love Magic (John Davis & The Monster Orchestra)
--Undercover Lover (Debbie Jacobs)
--Love Rush (Ann-Margret)
--This Is Hot (Pamala Stanley)

--Giving Up, Giving In (Three Degrees)
--Open Up For Love (Siren)
--Let Me Take You Dancing (Bryan Adams)
--Don't Drop My Love (Anita Ward)
--On Your Knees (Grace Jones)
--Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Festival)
--Action Satisfaction (Melody Stewart)
--We're Gonna Rock (Sabu)
--I'm Ok, You're Ok (American Gypsy)
--Seabiscuit In The Fifth (Belinda West)
--Without Your Love (Cut Glass)
--I Think We're Alone Now Suite (Scott Allen)
--Fly Too High (Janis Ian)
--A Little Bit Of Jazz (Nick Straker Band)
--If You Want Me (Barbara Roy & Ecstasy, Passion and Pain)
--Can You Handle It (Sharon Redd)
--Give Me A Break (Vivien Vee)
--Goosebumps (Debra Dejean)
--Dance (Night Force)

Excellent Supplement to the Disco Box
For those who have the Disco Box and/or have the Disco Years (vol. 1-7), this album and vol. 2 are both excellent additions. I'm surprised that there are not more than two volumes since there are so many rare tracks that are not even available on CD. My suggestions for other songs that I can't find and I'm sure other people would think of more songs.
Here are the ones I would like to see:
Peanut Vendor - The Rithchie Family
Tiger Baby - Silver Convention
I Love America - Patrick Juvet

Haven't Stopped Dancin' Yet - Gonzalez
Flip - Jesse Green
Think It Over - Cheryl Ladd
Don't Drop My Love - Anita Ward

FLASHBACK CITY!!!
This is got to be the best CD ever! Out of 20 songs, 18 were some of my favorites back in the day. If your an ex-disco babe like me,(and now a suburban housewife) you'll be hussling in your living room with or without a partner! Gosh, some of these songs were out when I was still in highschool (yes, that long ago!) and this CD made me feel like it was just yesterday that I hussled the night away!

Disco's roots.
This collection (and its Vol. 2 companion) present the early club hits of the discotheques -- before the word "Disco" had even entered the public consciousness. A great collection of underground disco, emphasizing its Motown and Philly Soul roots. Good stuff.

Fun Stuff
This music brought back great memories .. especially cut 17. Girls... it was never on the radio, but we danced all night to it at the clubs. Same with #5, 18 and 17.
Worth it. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Zarathustra spake Brazilian
One of my early exposures to music from Brazil was a jazz musician named Eumir Deodato. Someone recommended that I pick up "Prelude". Trusting this friends advice, I quickly ran out to the store to buy this album. This is a rare album that I have owned on record, cassette and CD at different times.

The highlight of this disc is the opening rendition of Strausss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra". This is the funkiest rendition of classical music I have ever heard. They rock through the number.

This all-star line up features luminaries such as Stanley Clarke, Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Ray Barretto and Airto Moreira among others. This is some classic material.

They also cover the "Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun" and "Baubles, Bangles and Beads" from the Broadway show Kismet. There are also three original compositions. The first track is the deepest on this album. It remains one of my all-time favorite tracks. The rest of the album is good but not quite up to this level.

"Prelude" is an album at once excessive and tacky. It is overindulgent but artistically valid. The music was recorded in 1972 and yet nearly three decades later. It's a time piece that still rings true.

A Monolithic Exercise In Jazz- Rock Fusion
Brazilian jazz keyboardist Eumir Deodato scored one of the great success stories of 70's instrumental rock with this 1972 album that combines the classical orchestral flourishes with jazz and rock. His lush arrangement of Debussy's "Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun" is quite top-notch, as are his own trio of originals ("Spirit Of Summer"; "Carly And Carole", "September 13") and the Wright/Forrest "Baubles, Bangles, And Beads" (based on themes of Alexander Borodin.

Of course, the big track on the CD is his nine-minute adaptation of Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra", the work that became internationally famous in its original classical form in 1968, when director Stanley Kubrick used it in his sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. Using the famous "Dawn" sequence, with its brass fanfare, and then using it to weave a set of jazz-rock permutations, Deodato comes up with one of the great rock instrumentals of all times. It also won him a much-deserved Grammy in 1973 for Best Pop Instrumental, and hit #2 on the American singles chart (#7 in England) in an abridged version.

A very worthy album PRELUDE is. Take a listen.

Also sprach Deodato
Some magic from Brazilia. Deodato is an excellent arranger. I have nearly all his work on LP or CD. This is one of his best work. Also Sprach... and Baubles, bangles and beads are marvelous. Close your eyes, grab a liquer and up to Copacabana!

essential 70's sound
The music reminds me of background soundtrack from our local 70s tv shows, never figured out who made it until i listened to this disc. im more into jazz-rock-fusion but this album didnt disappoint me. keep listening to it and youll keep on discovering new sounds. ESSENTIAL truly.

A Smashing American Debut
Most Americans had never heard of Eumir Deodato when he burst on the scene in 1972 with his smashing American debut, Prelude.
OK, his take on Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra got the airplay, and it is an excellent interpretation, but there is a wealth of other good tunes to be heard on Prelude, too.
I like the Spirit Of Summer as well as Carly and Carole which had both been previously released in Brazil with different arrangements. The keyboard work on the latter is stunning.
I also like Baubles, Bangles, and Beads in the full version that features the soaring guitar of John Tropea in the interlude. I actually heard a truncated Muzak version once in an elevator that cuts the heart from the song. If you've heard only that one, you are missing out.
I'm not quite so fond of Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun as are some other reviewers, but I do find that the driving keyboard and blaring horns on September 13 give Prelude a strong closing statement.
There seems to be a strong unanimity among the reviewers as to the quality of the CD, so anyone who is new to the music of Deodato can order this with the confidence that he/she is bound to enjoy it. Its a pity that there are no bonus tracks, but Prelude still gets my strongest recommendation. ... Read more

Album Details

They Toiled for Almost 10 Years Before their First Album "Check it Out" was Issued in 1974 which Brought them to the Attention of Pop Fans around the World. The Soulful Brothers were Fortunate to have the Duo of Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter Writing Many of their Big Hits. Their Recordings Contributed to the Amalgamation of What Would Be Known Later in the Decade as Disco Music and Became an Integral Part of Disco Repertoire. Here You have a Great Selection of the Hits as Well as Many that Didn't Get Play on the Radio Too, but Just as Good! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Seventies soul group popular in Britain
Looking at their chart history, it seems that Tavares were more popular in Britain, where they had four top ten pop hits, than their American homeland, where they had just one. Exactly why this should be so is not clear to me, but although Tavares were by no means the most important group of their era, they recorded some great songs.

This compilation includes all except one of their American top forty pop hits (Remember what I told you) and most of their ten UK hits, including a remix of Heaven must be missing an angel but not the original. While I would have preferred the original, the difference is not as dramatic as it might have been.

Heaven must be missing an angel, Don't take away the music, Whodunit and More than a woman (a track from the Saturday night fever soundtrack) were all UK top ten hits that made the American top forty pop chart. It only takes a minute was their only American top ten pop hit - it was a minor UK hit in 1986 having missed the chart, or maybe not been released, back in the seventies.

The mighty power of love (top thirty) and One step away (top twenty) are other UK hits included here, while Check it out was an American top forty pop hit. Other tracks include a cover of the Hall and Oates classic She's gone.

If you are interested in seventies soul music, Tavares are definitely worth a listen.

Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel
In reference to the first review, any "Tavares" recording is great!! No matter what. This person was dissapointed with the remake of "Heaven." If you are a true "Tavares" fan, you can appreciate whatever it is they recorded. I am a die hard fan and they are DYNAMIC!!

Not What You Think You Are Buying
One of my favorite songs on this CD"Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" turns out to be a 1986 remake that does not sound like the original song that came out in 1977. It is an adulterated later version of the original song.The other songs on this CD are the otiginal 70s songs like "It Only Takes a Minute" and "Whodunit" which are great and make me give this an average rating,however I am strongly disappointed that "Heaven Must be Missing an Angel" on this CD is not the original version. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Relive The Eighties in Style!
If you remember Vanity 6, Appolonia ( From Purple Rain ), The Jets and Stacy Lattisaw you should remember the Mary Jane Girls, the group brought to the world by funk master Rick James. Just like Rick these girls were fashionable, bold and extremely talented. The best songs on this album are " All Night Long ", ( if you don't know this song you must be living in a box ), and " Candy Man ". Other big hits include " In My House " and " Walk Like A Man ". The Mary Jane girls may not have stayed around long but their music lives on. Some see them as masters of soul. Other see them as fluff music but no matter what you think of the Mary Jane girls, they helped defined an era built on sexuality and female independence.

MEMORIES GALORE!!
Awww, snap. I just picked this up and "CandyMan" is slamming right now! Brings back fond memories of my youth. "All Night Long", "In My House", "Boys" - this CD is worth having if you were a MJG fan back in the day.

a Must
The Mary Jane Girls did more with Two ALbums than Many do with 10 times more.Together with the Funk Mind&Groove of Rick James they Created many Classic Jams that have since been Sampled,Looped&Re-Made so much."In My House" still Blasts Loudly here.that Jam is Timeless."All Night Long" has Been Sampled&Re-Played a ton as well&It still Bumps.can't get enough of these Jams.they truly captured the time.enjoy. ... Read more

Album Description

This new collection, produced by Dobie himself, finds him singingcarefully chosen classics culled from the songbooks of Sam Cooke, Johnny Nash,Clarence Carter, and Bill Withers, as well as more recent self-composed triumphs,and as a bonus fresh versions of some of his time-tested signature smashes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

lukewarm 80's collection
As an avid 80's fan, I thought there was some great stuff on this cd and other stuff that wasn't so great. "Maniac", "The Look of Love", "Cruel Summer" and "Into the Night" are vintage 80's and makes up for the weaker songs such as "Desire" by Andy Gibb which sounds more like 70's disco era music and "Pilot of the Airwaves" which I was not familiar with. This song sounds more like a tune from the country genre. I remember the song by Bruce Willis from the 80's and find this cd unique for including it. I have never seen it on any other compilation. The better songs on this cd however, can be found on other 80's cd compilations that would include other good 80's material that would be more worth the money.

"Some good songs for a great price!"
It almost is like this is a little soundtrack with a few songs from a few films. It contains two songs from Flashdance, "Maniac" from Michael Sembello and surprisingly, "What A Feeling" from Irene Cara. This is a surprise since this song is rare on 1980's hits collections. Another surprise was Bananarama's "Cruel Summer". This song was missing from "The Karate Kid" soundtrack, the scene where this song was most popular, while the original album it came from is out of print in the U.S., the self- tilted Bananarama. This is a fun song. Also included is "Up Where We Belong" from Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, the hit from "An Officer and a Gentleman." Also on the album are two other great songs, "Lady In Red" from Chris DeBurgh and "Into the Night" from Benny Mardones. Great songs for a cheap price. Buy it! It's worth it. ... Read more

Album Description

All-Music Guide writer Alex Henderson put it best: "No White artist has sung R&B more convincingly than Teena Marie."This tempest is a teacup, or "little munchkin White girl," as mentor Rick James once referred to her, belted out some of the most robust, authentic R&B of the late-'70s.

From the get-go, her identity was shrouded in secrecy.To prolong the ruse, her debut album on Gordy featured no photos of her, only a soft-focus image of the sea and sky. The ploy worked:Her first single, "I'm a Sucker for Your Love," a duet with Rick James, reached #8 R&B.When the truth was learned and the jig was up, it was too late:an R&B hitmaker was let lose, and there was no stopping her.Between '79 and '91, she had 23 R&B hits; of those Seven were Top 10.

For the First Time, her finest fire from both her Gordy/Motown and Epic years is captured on a single CD, including "I Need Your Lovin'"; "Suqare Biz"; "Lovergirl"; her two duets with Rick James, "I'm a Sucker for Your Love" and "Fire & Desire"; and her tribute to fellow Motown-to-Sony defector, Marvin Gaye, "My Dear Mr. Gaye." ... Read more

Reviews (19)

No One Has Anything On Teena!
I completely discovered Teena by accident and I must say, it is not an accident I regret! Years after "stumbling" onto Teena's music, I consider myself a die-hard fan. While some of the essentials, such as "Deja Vu," "You Make Love Like Springtime" and "Casanova Brown" are missing, this truly is the Ultimate Collection. There is no other soul-filled, sensual voice as Teena's, who gives her very best on each and every song she sings. With her music full of funk and soul, this is an album you do not want to pass up.

Who would have thought that this little "white munchkin girl," as Rick James called her would find her place among the ranks of other fabulous funk, soul and quiet storm artists? Listening to this CD straight through will put you into Teena's trance! All of Teena's songs after her first album were written, produced and arranged by Teena, so what you hear here is PURE talent.

Teena is a pioneer to many today, paving the way for other artists to cross all barriers. It was once difficult for a white artist to crossover into "black" music and vice-versa, but Teena had to crossover to "white" music! Teena proved that skin color is not and should not be an issue. Pay attention to "Square Biz" and you'll hear Teena rap long before any other female artists did! You will not be disappointed spending your money on this fabulous CD!

Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!

Almost "Ultimate:" Motown and Epic Music On One Album
Teena Marie's tenure with Motown Records (where she had the distinction of being it's most successful white singer) and her later affiliation with Epic (where she arguably reached her artistic maturity) both offer differing but important glimpses into Marie's gifts as an artist. Marie's Motown recordings showcased her youth, her exhuberance, and the live instrumentation and snazzy, jazzy horn section made for some great dance floor hits: among them, "Square Biz" (one of the first songs to incoporate a rap--and by a white woman, no less!), and "It Must Be Magic." At Motown, Teena Marie also began exploring the epic, grand-passion ballads that would grow into her strength on Epic Records. Her Motown affiliation does, however, offer some fine ballads: among them "Portuguese Love," an impassioned and long torch song featuring an ad lib by Rick James, her onetime producer and recently-confirmed onetime lover. When Teena Marie moved to Epic Records in 1982 and released the album "Robbery," she let loose on the ballads and released some memorable love songs; unfortunately, they are not to be found in this not-quite "Ultimate Collection." It is nice to see the exotic "Latin Lullaby," a song she wrote and performed on saxaphone goddess' Pamela Williams debut album, "Saxtress." Also of interest is the jazzy number "Work It," one of Marie's most danceable tracks, from her 1988 album "Naked To The World." "The Ultimate Collection" would have lived up to it's title had it included some of the showstopping ballads Marie released at both Motown and Epic, such as "Yes Indeed," "Where's California," "We've Got To Stop Meeting Like This," "Out On A Limb," "Dear Lover" and "Shadowboxing." The novelty in this release is that it contains both Marie's Motown and Epic affiliations, and that is commendable. But in order to get the true scope of Teena Marie's talents, check out "Lovergirl: The Teena Marie Story" for her Epic-related work and "Greatest Hits: IMPORT" for her Motown work.

LADY TEE!!!!
THIS IS A NICE COMPILATION OF TEENA MARIE BUT THIS ALBUM IS MISSING A LOT OF SONGS I LIKE HER MUSIC. THIS WOMAN CAN SING SHE HAS A NICE VOICE BUT I AM GIVING HER 5 STARS FOR HER VOICE AND STYLE I LOVE THIS ALBUM !!!!!!!

Underrated & Overlooked Today...3-4 Disc Set Would Be Better
Teena Marie is tha bomb! While she isn't as talented as Prince (like a previous poster mentioned...what was he/she thinking!?), there is no question that she is versatile and ecclectic by covering many forms of music in her songs. Like many Funk/R&B/Disco artists of the day, Teena gets overlooked in terms of these dang record companies deciding to pass on re-releasing some of her albums onto CD. The only thing "Ultimate" about this collection is that it ultimately fails to live up to the word itself.

Still, the collection offers a great glimpse into, undeniably, one of the most underrated artists in popular music, namely in the past 25 years. People who are new to Teena Marie will love it, and I'm happy for them....we've all been there before, hungry to discover more material from an artist after having just heard their "Best of" collection!!! So, to those people, enjoy yourself and have fun! I expect that, in time, she will get the praise that Lady T deseves; and when she does, people like us will say "It's about freakin' time!" Peace.

It Must Be Magic....
I'm 18, but I am a fan of Ms. Teena. My mother played Teena Marie all the time when I was younger. I fell in love with her voice and as I got older, I stole some of her tapes and played them in my room. This girl is B-A-D! "My Dear Mr. Gaye" is an excellent tribute to the late Marvin Gaye, and "Fire and Desire" shows just how in love her and Rick were. But why isn't "Out on a Limb" on here? She threw down on that song, the same as "Lovergirl". I love Teena all around, she has so much talent. And like many, I was shocked to find out she was white, but it's all good, because it didn't stop her from selling albums. I'm young and I do listen to more recent, music, but I always came back to Teena. I could sit here all day and tell you my favorite songs from her. (And I can't say that about most of these artists today) For all old school junkies, this woman is really someone you should listen to. You'll be hooked! ... Read more