Reviews (2)

Not what you're expecting
The songs are slightly different versions of the radio hits - but not "live" either. Plus 'My Boogie Shoes' isn't included. I was dissapointed.

Not the popular tunes you remember
Something's wrong with this CD. The music is good, the production decent -- but the versions are not the same as those played on the radio in the 70's. Indeed, Nancy, it seems that some malevolent musicians have hijacked the good name of KC and the Sunshine Band! You won't see Harry Wayne Casey's pretty mug anywhere in the CD's scant documentation, and his voice is not in the recording. If you want the real thing, buy the recordings published by Rhino Records. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Every true EWF fan has this CD!
Earth, Wind, and Fire provided the soundtrack for my adolescent years. I had the biggest crush on Maurice White and, to this day, still have the posters that came with the albums! This album, as do all EWF albums, features both ballads ("Sailaway"; as classic a ballad as EWF's "I'll Write a Song For You" and "Imagination") and funky tunes with a message ("Let Me Talk," "And Love Goes On," "Win or Lose). The final/title track, "Faces," brings it all together. At least three times a year, I pop this CD into my 6 disc changer with 5 other EWF CDs and jam and reminisce. Great stuff!

forgot about ewf?
don't sleep on this classic. this was the MOST underrated album of their entire collection. a bit more socially concious than previous albums, but the grooves will knock you off your feet. from the funky, carribean tinged title track,"let me talk", "pride" and the classic "and love goes on" shows them at their top form. i remember getting this for x-mas in 1980. i lived for it then, and i still do. however i haven't bought it on cd yet, i still listen to the same record i got for x-mas in 1980. i'm listening to it right now!!!

Coulda' Been Storter
Let me explain "Faces" in the simplist possible way-this
album contains the Carribean-inspired pop-funk of "Let Me Talk",
the grooving "Pride","Win Or Loose" and "In Time" the wonderful
ballad "Turn It Into Something Good",the tough-rocking funk of
"Back On The Road",the highly dancable "Share Your Love","Song In My Heart","And Love Goes On" and the afro-cuban jam of the elongated tital song.If this had been whittled down to a single
LP containg these 10 songs it would've been a classic-on a par with it's predecessor "I Am".But filling it out with four entirely dispencable ballads was a useless proposition unless
you spend your time PINNING for "Sparkle" or "You Went Away".
All and all-a great double album that coulda' been a CLASSIC
single album,but worth searching out for it's meat,not the fat.

Faces
First of all I have each and every EWF recording and I love this group so please don't hate me for my review on this double record album..While the tunes are nice and sometimes catchy they too many of them and they are not as memorable as tunes on previous albums .."Let Me Talk" is predictable and the bass line is too corny to take seriously. The title track is too long and the tempo gets dropped during the song..There are some great moments on the album but not enough to warrant a double set, and I know I'm not the first one to say that this would have been a better product if it were just one ablum..I know I'm going to get a lot of heat for this , but I'm sorry after the previous ten albums this offering don't show any growth in their sound. My theory is that this was the first album using a great number of outside writers that wrote tunes "for" EWF and the spirit of the band is missing..Sorry if I offended any hard-core EWF fans like myself...

THE MOST OVERLOOKED EWF ALBUM........
I WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD WHEN FAECES WAS RELEASED IN 1980. I REMEMBER MY MOM PLAYING THIS ALBUM ALL THE TIME. THE MUSIC FROM THIS ALBUM IS ORIGINAL AND HAS A MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO HAVE A EAR.
ALL TRUE ELEMENT FANS HAVE THIS ALBUM. VERDINE WHITE AND LARRY DUNN SHINE LIKE THE SUN ON THIS DOUBLE LP(now on cd). THIS ALBUM
DOES NOT GET THE HYPE LIKE "ALL N'ALL"(the best album), BUT IT IS WORTH LISTENING TO. THE SLOW JAMS ARE EXCELLENT!!!!!TRUST ME FACES WILL GET YOU GOING IN THE MORNING. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good collection - But Missing "Go West"
If the Casablanca record label was the Monarchy of the Disco Nation, The Village People were their finest ambassadors. More than any of the prefabricated disco machines that the decade produced, it is the VP's cavity provoking bubble-gum dance records that made strobe lights and disco balls accessible and acceptable to party people of all stripes. Add in the undeniable fact that the innuendo laden singles and their stereotyped get-ups made gay subculture visible and you can actually add the term "culturally significant" to the Village People's list of accomplishments.

But all that pales when placed next to the vibrancy of this brief but solid collection of 10 singles. Like all of the best radio confectionary creampuffs, the songs here convey a kooky innocence (the Navy had to let in on the joke before they backed off their decision to use "In The Navy" as a recruitment jingle) that remains timeless. And in the post-AIDS decades, the more obvious 70's call to the disenfranchised like "San Francisco" and "In Hollywood" are even poignant.

Deny it if you dare, but secretly you know this stuff is great. Just see if your limbs don't start contorting into the alphabet next time "YMCA" gets played on some football arena PA or at your next company party. I double dog dare ya.

PS: You may want to get the version of this from the Casablaca/Mercury release dated 1998. That CD contains "Go West" and drops the 12 mix of "YMCA."

All your favorites
this cd has all your favorite village people songs from the hits such as ymca and in the navy to other great songs like cant stop the music. These songs really showed what 70s music was about. if u are a fan of disco or pop music this is a must. i would also recommend The best of the village people ... Read more

Reviews (4)

QUEEN OF SOPHISTICATED FUNK
As I previously stated in my "La Dona" review, Teena Marie is that rare breed of musician who has such a powerful ability to make you feel. Her voice is so captivating. She is able to express passion, desire, and surrender with such radiant magnificence. Definitely one of my favorite voices in music. This is a explosive collection of some of her finest work, although she's had more than 11 brilliant songs. This CD is a soulful excursion through Teena's edgy brand of "sophisticated funk" and luminous, sensual ballads. There's something magical about Teena's voice and you witness it on songs like Now That I Have You, Deja Vu, and It Must Be Magic, among others. Her lyrics read like pure poetry that only your closest friend would share with you. Teena is a goddess in the pop, R&B and soul genre. She's been underrated but any true fan of soul music knows that Teena is apart of its modern royalty. She's evoked the spirits of the legends before her and created a legacy of her own.

LADY T. Rocks
I have this Compilation on another form but no matter how you slice it this is a must have for Fans of SOulFul Funky Pop Jams that still are Slamming.Teena Marie can Sing/Sang&Can hang with any style you throw up on the wall.Very solid Instrumentalist&Composer.the Re-Mastering here adds another demension too the Songs.

Her best Motown songs...
If you're into her Motown days, then this is a cool CD to have. It's re-mastered, so the sound quality is excellent, plus all of the songs seem to be in their full-length glory. "De Ja Vu..." is the best song, and I'm happy that it's included in all of its 7 1/2 minute splendor.

Teena Marie has an amazing voice and style. If you're only familiar with her through her song "Lovergirl" (which is from her Epic days) or vaguely familiar with her song "Square Biz," then give this CD a try, and she'll become one of your favorites within the r&b category of music.

Improvement on the original
This is pretty much a re-release of the original 1985 Motown Teena Marie Greatest Hits album. All the songs on there are on here, plus a few new ones. All the songs on here can be found on other compilations, but if you dig her early disco-era Motown sides, and you do not feel like hearing the extended versions, as on the "I NEED YOUR LOVIN" compilation, this one is for you. Plus, it has been re-mastered, and doesn't have that poor sound quality that the Greatest Hits CD had. You also can enjoy the brilliant "Aladdin's Lamp" from the deleted LADY T CD. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great Music, Flawed Collection.
Chic is clearly one of the most influential groups of the 1970s, thanks to the innovative songwriting and production team of Nile Rogers and the late Bernard Edwards. This compilation is a collection of the band's hits, and on the surface, it looks flawless. Many of the group's big singles ("Dance Dance Dance," "I Want Your Love," and "Le Freak") appear and this actually has more tracks than the band's previous retrospective, 1991's "Dance Dance Dance." So "The Very Best of Chic" is the better album to get, right? Well, not so fast. On this album, many of the tracks are edited and don't feature the original 12-inch version. What's more, is that "The Very Best of Chic" is missing at least two key songs that appeared on 1991's "Dance, Dance, Dance": the excellent "Chic Cheer" and "Strike Up the Band." Of course, this CD isn't necessarily bad, and it serves as a good introduction to the novice listener. But 1991's "Dance Dance Dance" is really the superior album and is much better than "The Very Best of Chic." Try getting that one instead.

One Of The Seventies Best Disco Groups Gets Remastered!
Chic, headed by the talented songwriting team of Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, was one of the most popular disco/funk groups of the 70's. This "The Very Best Of Chic" cd contains the popular hits "Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)", "Everybody Dance", "Le Freak", "I Want Your Love", and "Good Times" (all of which are in their 12" extended versions) as well as "My Forbidden Lover", "My Feet Keep Dancing" and "Soup For One" to name a few. This cd is also remastered and the sound is superb with crisp highs, increased midrange and extended output. If you enjoy listening to classic 70's disco, then you'll definately want to add this to your cd collection. Recommended!

THE GOOD TIMES...BABY..
GREAT REMASTERED!"GOOD TIMES" SOUND GREAT ON THIS CD.
5 STARS SOUND REMASTERED.

Great Music but Certainly not the Very Best.
I have a few problems with the selections Rhino made for this CD. First, they tried to take songs from over the entire course of thier career instead of thier absolute best which mostly come from thier first three albums. (This material is more sufficiently covered by the Atlantic best of and is the best place for getting acquainted with the band). Therefore "Very Best of" truly better serves as an anthology than a best of. Secondly, with this said, Risque is overrepresented on this anthology with 4 songs, while C'est Chic is underrepresented with 2 songs, even though the albums are of equal quality in my estimation. Third, this CD only includes songs released under the Chic moniker and not those they produced for Norma Jean, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross and others. In my estimation they should have included these songs in thier album length versions, which I am sure Rhino could license, and then they would have a Very Best of Chic CD. 1. Dance, Dance, Dance 2. Everybody Dance 3. Sorcerer (Norma Jean) 4. Le Freak 5. I Want Your Love 6. He's the Greatest Dancer (Sister Sledge: 6,7,8) 7. We Are Family 8. Lost In Music 9. Good Times 10. My Forbidden Lover 11. Upside Down (Diana Ross: 11,12) 12. I'm Coming Out

A Great Overview
After a number of best-of Chic compilations, this one is apt to be the best for an overview of the biggest and most familiar hits. It avoids the more experimental, funk-oriented releases of the mid-80's for the most part, focusing on the 78-80 period. As a hits collection, it does the job and includes some of the notable album tracks from the group's heyday. For someone looking for a single source for Chic material, this would be the choice. There are truly great, highly influential recordings here. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THE HEYDAY OF DISCO
The year saw the culmination of the disco era; in the next decade dance music became Hi-NRG and lost some of its melodic appeal and variety. Born To Be Alive by Patrick Hernandez is a brilliant piece of passionate disco with lots of hooks and a great tune, while Anita Ward's Ring My Bell introduced the syndrum to great effect, I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor is a powerful anthem and the Hot Stuff/Bad Girls mix is an ageless classic, a devastating dance piece containing two of Donna Summer's greatest hits from the year when she dominated the Billboard charts with at least four hits from her brilliant Bad Girls album. At one stage during that year, these songs occupied the No. 1 and 2 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 for a couple of weeks. Both Hot Stuff and Bad Girls featured heavy rock guitar, representing a dramatic break from Summer's earlier synth and strings sound. The other songs have aged surprisingly well although they don't quite have the status of classics. This album is ideal for parties but also offers great listening enjoyment.

Excellent!
The songs in this collection are amazing! Donna Summer, Cher,and Diana Ross are just some of the divas that are included in this collection. Hot Stuff and Bad Girls are in here in an extended version, longer than that of the album version. Diana Ross' "No one gets the prize/ the boss" are mixed nicely together. Overall, I recommend this CD. It has great sound and it is a nice way to get acquainted with Disco's greatest stars. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Voulez-Vous is Abba's Eurodisco album, and if you decide to go there, be ready for some serious histrionics. Typical of the record's wall of sound is "Does Your Mother Know," in which the disco pulse leads into power guitar riffs laid out over a boogie piano. The sound is equally mammoth on the title track (which had been partially recorded in Miami with disco group Foxy), "Summer Night City," and "If It Wasn't for the Night." Released in 1979, the album showcases the band at its most jet-setting, top-of-the-world glamorous. This CD's bonus tracks include the infamously campy "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" and "Lovelight," the latter the B-side to the "Chiquitita" single. --Elisabeth Vincentelli ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Disco ABBA
Riding high on the wave of disco in 79, this release from ABBA saw the group unleash to the world a multitude of hit singles (5 UK Top 5) all of which show the group at their most audibly accessible and brilliant. Production-wise the sounds are uplifting without being cheesy, and the songs brilliantly formulaic - and they work - most of which are now regarded as ABBA classix. Top marks go to the infuratingly catchy title track (still gets people going in a disco 20 odd years later!) and to the first single featuring a male vocal (Does Your Mother Know). Summer NIght City is another song with male lead vocals and you feel the heat and mystery of the song through the deeper registers of the vocals. Klassik. Add to that the wonderful If ItWasn't For The Nights, fantastic uptemp sing which shows the power of the girls' voices when they sing in Unison. The now timeless ballads Chiquitita and I Have A Dream will forever be ABBA faves (altho not personal faves). Of the bonus trax in this cd edition Gimme Gimme is still a timeless campy pop song (originally featured on ABBA's GH Vol.2) and Lovelight, a pure pop sing which still uplifts. Seriously, not one bad tack here (altho King Has Lost His Crown sounds dated now), vocally astounding, musically consistent, and indicative of ABBA's brilliance as pop performers and timeless contribution to the library of popular music.

Uh huh!... Uh huh!!... Uh huh!!!...
ABBA always had a flare for the melodramatic. The vast bulk of their output is either embarrasingly soppy or just plain dull. "Voulez-Vous", however, is a surpring exception. While it does feature some bad moments ('Chiquitita', 'Does Your Mother Know' - Bjorn should never sing! - 'I Have a Dream', 'Summer Night City' and 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! [A Man After Midnight]) the remaining eight tracks are slick, stylish commercial disco at it's very best.

Anni-Frid is the vocal star of these remaining songs: she's downright sexy on both 'The King Has Lost His Crown' and 'Lovers (Live a Little Longer)' - the warmth of her vocals well suited to the sultry nature of the music. Agnetha delivers with Nordic coolness on the closing number 'Kisses of Fire' and burns up on 'As Good As New'. Both girls come together in blissful harmony on 'If it Wasn't for the Nights', 'Angeleyes' and the title cut, never overdoing it (well, a little on 'Angeleyes') like they do on most of their other collaborations.

Of the bonus selections, only 'Lovelight' fits into the context of the record. 'Summer Night City' lacks the style and polish of the other songs, while 'Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)' is too polished, sounding almost mechanical. Not surprisingly the former was released months before "Voulez-Vous" was released, while the latter was recorded afterwards.

Eight out of thirteen isn't bad, particularly for this non-ABBA fan. If you're wanting to get into ABBA's music, it's not a good place to start - a hits package, namely "ABBA Gold" is a great place for beginners. But if you want something sharp, funky yet not too funky, disco yet not too disco, get "Voulez-Vous", program out the duds, and you've got yourself the perfect pick-me-up or great background music for doing the dishes to!

Voulez-Vous [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [EXTRA TRACKS]
Voulez-Vous [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [EXTRA TRACKS]
~ Abba is not one of my favorite abba tracks. Does your mother know is alright. I have a dream is awesome though. Even though most of the songs are not that great it still deserves 5 stars since abba is the best group during the 70's bar the Bee Gees.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is probably ABBA's best CD. Here are the following ratings i gave each song. Ratings range from 1 to 5.
1.Good As New: 4
This song was real good and i liked the lyrics. It's really cool.
2.Voulez-vous: 5
Awesome song! I love the suspension in the music. It's totally awesome!
3.I Have A Dream: 3.5
This song is very pretty. Not one of ABBA's best, but it still qulifies for a very nice and good song. I think most people would like this song. It's very relaxing.
4.Angeleyes: 5
I think this is like one of the best songs ever performed by ABBA. The lyrics as well as the music are so outta this world!
5. The King Has Lost His Crown: 3.5
This song is really funky and it has a weird, cool beat to it.
6.Does Your Mother Know: 5
This song is so cool and i really liek the tune. It makes you wanna get up and dance. I also think that it's nice to hear Bijorn and Benny singing lead vocals instead of Agnetha and Frida. It rocked.
7.If It Wasn't For The Nights: 4
I really like this song. It was very ncie and makes you feel good after a really lousy day.
8. Chiquitita: 5
This song is pretty. That's the one word to describe it.
9. Lovers Live A Little Longer: 5
This song is really weird, but it's inner message is pretty cool. I like this song a lot.
10.Kisses of Fire: 5
This song starts out slow and light and then builds up to an excellent tune. I really like it and the title is really cool.
11. Summer Night City: 5
This is my absolute favorite song off of this CD! I love the retro or disco beat and the way it's so suspenseful and mysterious. I LOVE this song!!!
12.Lovelight: 5
This song is really sweet and i like the chorus a lot.
13. Gimme Gimme Gimme: 5
This song is so weird and funky! I love it soooooooo much! It's kinda creepy with the lyrics and all, but it still bangs!!!!

That's the end and like i said, this is SO the best CD!!!

Voulez-Vous!!..........Solid ABBA Album!!
Voulez-vous is an absolutely amazing album.I love it,but only second to their "Visitors" album.This was a massive album of the late seventies,a great year indeed.This album spawned a number of hits to expand their catalog of hit singles.Voulez-Vous had flown to the top of the US charts and was certified a double-platinum on advanced orders in that year....Incredible.I love the songs "Voulez-Vous","I have a Dream","If It wasn't for the Nights" and "Kisses Of Fire".

Voulez-Vous(the title track) boasts some heavy disco-style music and great sing-a-long harmonies.Perfectly done for a 70's track.If it appeared today,I bet it would still sond massive.I love it the best actually......In French the title means,"Will U" or "Would you"..........mm!!

Another great track that deserves mention is "Angeleyes".I think many artists later on also took on that track name....Ace Of Base was one."Last night I was takin' a walk along a river,and I saw him together with a young girl.......don't look too deep into those Angeleyes....oh no no no....." Interesting plot!! hehe.]

Next I loved also "The King Has Lost his Crown".Nice starting to the track.A brilliant keyboard sound....then you hear them start softly and it gradually gets louder.....lovely piece of work for a 70's track!Features Annifrid on the lead vocals here.She sounds great as always......"I believe ,your new girl turned U down.And they say,she's pushing U around....Disaster and disgrace,The king has lost his crown...." Good lyrical stint,it means to show that how an affair could turn out to be unfair in life......love betrayal though.......

Oh yeah "Chiquitita" is great too,but it takes time to build up on a casual listener though....It was another hit that went to the NO.2 spot.....Blondies "Heart Of Glass" being in the No.1 spot...Agnetha is featured here.Beautiful voice though.

"If It Wasn't for The Nights" is a classy track and quite dancey too!Not much is said about this track's success,but it's a GREAT one.THe woprds are "I've got an appointment's work I've got to do....keeping me so busy,over the do......If it wasn't for the nights I don't think I could make it thro".....They are literally shouting so loud ..not much like the usual melodious ABBA....Great track here.

mmm!"Lover's Live A Little Longer"...I agree with them actually.A truly magnificent track to hear.I can't explain it,U guys got to hear iot to believe it....Featuring both the ladies equally and loud as ever.....That makes two screamy ,high-energy tracks.....

The track"Does Your Mother Know",would also certainly suit the dance floors,this time vocals taken up by the male members.Nice change in style.Hey,they can sing too!!

And finally "Kisses Of Fire",featuring Agnetha on the lead,is a great,great song to finish the album.."Kisses of Fire,burning burning,I'm at the point of no returning....." Fancy it.A hot swinging,dance number again..Great stuff!!

Voulez-Vous is an absolutely massive album.I loved it.I highly recommend it.They really got what it takes to make good pop music....They should have continued on as the Bee Gees did....Anyway I'm sure this would be a remarkable album to add to your collection of ABBA's works.It was also a solid album to end the 70's decade for them.Good! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dismissed as a one-hit heavy breather after her orgasmic dance-floor sensation "Love to Love You Baby" became a worldwide pop chart-topper, Donna Summer has made a career of confounding expectations. This double-disc set gets all the highlights, from the definitive synthesizer pop of "I Feel Love" through the disco diva of "On the Radio" to the proto dance-rock of "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff" to the gospel-inflected "She Works Hard for the Money" and the pop uplift of "This Time I Know It's for Real." Plus, of course, "No More Tears," her duet with Barbra Streisand, is a credential not bestowed upon one-hit wonders. --Ben Edmonds ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Complete Musical Library of Summer's Fabulous Career!
1993 saw the release of THE DONNA SUMMER ANTHOLOGY which unleashed a string of mega hits like "Love To Love You Baby", "Could It Be Magic", "Spring Affair" and "Rumor Has It". Also the legendary (previously unreleased) "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina." This album celebrates Donna's complete career in pop. it also uncovers the mystery phase of the 80's and shows the promise of even greater things on the horizon (Christmas Spirit and... the musical? ). This album is a resource book for the avid fan. But if you want a greatest hits album you can enjoy in one sitting, look elsewhere! This album is a landmark. if you don't have it, order it now!!! it's a must.

A great collection - 10 years later review!
Ten years later, this package sounds just as good if not better now that Donna's music career has spanned to four decades. Thus, it proves that Donna can sing rock (Cold Love), ballad (Friends Unknown), as well as disco (disc 1). As for the song selection, it was wise to include at least one song from her U.S. releases. This recapped her career better for the serious fan (although why the sweet ballad "Winter Melody", #43 pop hit in 1976 is not included I'll never know). You can only find that song from her original album.
For a collection like this, it was great that all these tracks are studio and thus live tracks would have made this Anthology sound uneven.
Obviously, this double-disk Anthology is not for the casual fan since it contains songs that did not make the Billboard charts. Casual fans should stick with the Endless Summer collection instead.

Love this girl!
This is a great array of songs by Donna Summer-great songs of the 80's!

Loved this CD- love this singer!

Great Anthology
Yes, this covers pretty much all her hits. However, this Anthology is nearly a decade old if not longer. I still recommend it, though.

When this set was released, there were songs that were never released to the public that are included in this set. However, since then, I'M A RAINBOW was finally released and fulfilled the longing need of Donna Summer fans for her early 80s material.

It also includes her song CARRY ON which was released as a dance song that went to the top of the dance charts several years after this set was released.

Excellent collection
This is the perfect collection of hits. From the sexy "Love to Love you Baby" to her last full length album "Mistaken Identity" which has the r&b hit "When Love Cries". She also gives a new song "Carry On", which is a great dance song. I just wish that she would stop releasing greatest hits packages with only 2 new songs and release another full-length album. Don't waste your money on the other packages. If you want all her hits from day one get this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Their late-'70s image as white-suited disco kings has earned them cultural-icon status for all the wrong reasons. In their 4 decade recording career, the Bee Gees have built a singularly impressive body of work encompassing the eccentric art-pop that first made the trio unlikely pop stars in the '60s and the R&B-inflected, falsetto-laced dance pop of their Saturday Night Fever comeback. This 4 CD, 74 song set may be a mite too even-handed historically (thus giving short shrift to the group's prolific '60's output), but it presents a representative sampling of the ups and downs of the group, and includes all of the relevant hits and a generous assortment of rare items. --Scott Schinder ... Read more

Reviews (23)

I've(Bee Gees) Gotta Get a Message to You
Tales from the Brother Gibbs surely showed their talent in their carrer from the start till 1990. There's five comments i want to make:
1) Full and Nice
2) Great biography inside the box set (or book set).
3) Includes comments for every song.
4) A great discography.
5) With a book for pianist and guitarist to play the songs in the book edition.

Best record ever!

An Outstanding Collection of Hits & Rarities!
With a selection of songs from virtually every album from 1967 to 1990, this fairly comprehensive four-CD set (with a total playing time of 4 1/2 hours) contains all the highlights in the careers (both collectively and individually) of the brothers Gibb. However, in addition to their many familiar singles, it is the inclusion of ten rare B-sides and three equally-as-rare singles, none of which had previously been included on any official (or officially-released) album, that transport this CD from being merely an outstanding "Best of" collection to being truly a collector's item.

Most notable of the rarities are the two country-flavoured singles ("Railroad" and "I'll Kiss Your Memory") released by Maurice and Barry respectively in 1970 during the temporary break-up of the Bee Gees. Also of special interest are the inclusion of two gentle ballads ("Elisa" and "King and Country") from 1973's unreleased studio album, A Kick in the Head is worth Eight in the Pants.

This gorgeous set is presented within the covers of a 6" x 10" 32-page book. The introduction is exceptionally well-written and informative, there are a number of stunningly beautiful studio portraits of the brothers, and each song includes a brief comment by one of the brothers. The source for each song is also included (ie. the album from which it came or the single for which it was a B-side).

Not only has this collection been beautifully packaged, it has been exceptionally well arranged. The material, which is presented in chronological order, culminates in a live medley of songs from 1989's One for All tour. The closing song is a performance of their very first number one hit, "Spicks and Specks"--a 1966 Australian release. Stylistically, this closing medley of early melodies beautifully encapsulates what is substantively a spectacular collection of songs from one of the most phenomenal musical groups of our time. This is truly a must-have CD to be treasured by every Bee Gees fan. Extremely highly recommended!

a must for EARLY bee gees fans
I absolutely LOVE the work the bee gees did from 1967 - 1973. Gloriously orchestral pop on par with the Beatles and the Left Banke. The post-1974 stuff however... well let's just say I like to call it aural vomit.

That said, this box set is a MUST for any fans of the pre-disco B.G.'s, as it contains many songs from that period that were never released on albums ("Jumbo", "Sinking Ships", "Singer Sang His Song", etc.). In fact aside from the original 45's, I think this box set is the only place you can get these songs.

So for any fans of brilliant albums like "Horizontal" or "Odessa", this box set is pricey but it is essential. Find a used copy somewhere!

Bee Gees Box Set Is Superb!
I like The Bee Gees music whether it's "To Love Somebody" or "Night Fever". In my opinion, this box set was done right for many reasons:
1) Four CDs is just perfect, not too short or too long.
2) It shows the many different sides of The Bee Gees whether it's the 1960s "Beatles-flavored" tunes or the 1970s disco.
3) It has virtually all the hits (except "Living Eyes" most notable and maybe some individual work)
4) It has enough rare songs that have not been available before and/or on CD.
5) It is sequence correctly (disc #1 [1967-1970] - "first heydey", disc #2 [1970-1974] - "up and down, peaks and valleys", disc #3 [1975-1979] - "second heydey", disc #4 [1981-1990] - "the 1980s").
6) If you purchase this, then it will save you from buying their previous "greatest hits" albums and most of their studio albums (the only album I recommend is "Main Course").
7) The packaging is great with never before seen photos and comments on every song.

Highly recommended for the Bee Gees fan. For the casual fan, get "Gold" and/or "Greatest".

Memories
There are just so many performers that are just destiny to fans eyes, and then again, there are some who are just considered guilty pleasures. That truly was in the case back in the 60's and 70's. Largely, the vast amount at the time was largely because of the Disco movement. It just was a exciting time in the music industry, and yet so many performers are just that era in one. That is how people described The Bee Gees in the 70's. There blend of Rock and R&B vibes just were influential to so many acts at the era. Ultimately, The Bee Gees just keep coming back again and again throughout after that period. Unfortunately, that ended in 2003, when Maurice Gibb, passed away from a heart attack. It was just sad, but the music is always Stayin' Alive.

Tales From The Brothers Gibb, was a boxed set that was issued in 1990. The collection arises with true greatness from the voices and harmonies from the greatest songwriting group of all time. The Gibb Brothers have truly embraced and launched an empire in whole bloom. The songs range from true hits from early in the career of The Bee Gees including New York Mining Disaster 1941, I Started A Joke, Nights On Broadway, all the way to there 1980's comeback record, One, including live performances of songs like To Love Somebody, and Islands In The Stream. The boxed set also includes some solo attributes from the group, but the solo work seems lackluster compared to the Gibb brothers as a team. Although the boxed set doesn't include Wishin' You Were Here, there tribute to their late brother, Andy Gibb, or any of their later records, Still Waters, and This Is Where I Came In, largely because the compilation was released before any of those records was issued.

Although I suggest you purchase this boxed set, a lot of the set wasn't remastered completely well. If you really want an affordable collection, I suggest you buy The 2001 collection, Their Greatest Hits: The Record. It is a more acceptable album of hits than this. If you want this one, it is fine, but I really don't suggest it as a must have. It is still a shame The Bee Gees aren't recording anything new anymore. I guess these memories will do just for now. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

E.W.F. Always Bring the House Down
The bottom line is... Earth Wind and Fire dominate the stage! This CD has most of the essentials and is the second best way of hearing them (#1 obviously being first hand). I would recomend this to any true music lover and especially to the EWF fans! Even if the girl with you in the car wants to hear "Fantasy" over and over and over and over.....

The BEST EW&F CD EVER...because it's LIVE in concert!!!
This is a Great value when you order from AMAZON.COM. This CD is also VERY difficult to find in stores. I looked for over a year, before ordering here. For anyone who likes Earth, Wind & Fire, it's especially great hearing Maurice White in concert, since he seldom performs anymore.

Maurice's last concert tour?
I saw Earth Wind and Fire live in Des Moines, Iowa the summer of 2002. But this......this set........OH MY GOODNESS. These guys have been one of the greatest live acts in history - in any genre - and this is some of the best they've caught on tape. It takes up where Gratitude (a classic) left off twenty years earlier. I think I heard somewhere that this concert tour was Maurice's last. The significance of this is evident in the performance. Everybody came out with fingers and lungs a-blazing. Their hearts were a-thump'n and their souls were shine'n bright. I was eight rows from the front at the concert in Des Moines. I'm there again in my mind when I listen to this disc. This, though, has far more energy, emotion and polish. What a fun, positive and uplifting record. If you're a fan, this is a MUST for your collection. If you're not familiar with the "ELEMENTS OF THE UNIVERSE", introduce yourself and get YOUR heart a-thump'n too.

Music for all seasons
EW&F at their best-LIVE! The vocals, the harmony, the orchestra, it is all nearly perfect. The upbeat songs have so much energy you have to dance! The ballads could make a gal melt. The final song on the CD is introduced "We believe whatever you do, do it with Devotion!" Earth Wind & Fire perform with devotion.

Plugged in and live
You know who they are, you know their songs, you know the history- but how does it sound live? Well, let me put it like this: it's probably the best live cd I've heard. It kicks off with In the stone, with that kicking horn intro, follows with September, Let your feeling show, Let's groove and 14 more cuts: all the hits and more. The Champlin/Graydon/Foster penned After the love is gone is one of the most beautiful songs ever, and is very well performed and is one of the highlights on this disc. Other highlights: In the stone, September, Can't hide love, Shining star and Sing a song. This is a buy you won't regret. Viktor ... Read more

Reviews (8)

long live the salsoul orchestra
Now this is one hell of an album.If disco and dancing was ever your thing, then this compiliation is absolutly mandatory
It seems like every song is a N.Y club scene classic. The only thing missing was the disco ball!

Another World Of Disco!
This collection along with the "Salsoul Classics 2" is very essential to all disco fans that want something different than mainstream artists like Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor...

If you bought "The Disco Box" and/or "The Disco Years, Vol. 1-7", then you will like this collection. Salsoul was just as important to the Disco era as those artists. First Choice, Instant Funk, Double Exposure, and of course The Salsoul Orchestra (which had friendly competition with MFSB and Love Unlimited Orchestra) were talented artists that helped spawn disco. Highly recommended.

The Greatest songs in Salsoul history
Without question the greatest selection of music from the
Disco era and one unforgettable record company.
There is not one day that goes by that I am humming
in my head " My love is free' by Double Exposure.
Loleatta's hits "Hit and run", " Love Sensation" and " Dreamin".
" Doctor Love" and " Double Cross" by First Choice.
The music of 2000 and up will never reach the status of classic.
These are songs that will transcend time and I will never stop
dancing to them.

Classic Salsoul!!
This 2-CD set is a collection of some of Salsoul Records' classic tracks, all in their full-length versions. While many songs here may be familiar to those who heard them in the clubs, there are also some tunes that became radio hits ("I Got My Mind Made Up"-Instant Funk, e.g.). The wide variety of sounds found on this set (spanning roughly from 1975 to 1983), is just mesmerizing. Some tunes are ultimate workout numbers: Loleatta Holloway's "Dreamin'", "Love Sensation" and "Hit And Run", Double Exposure's "Ten Percent", and Ripple's "The Beat Goes On". There are two Shep Pettibone remixes from 1983 of previously released records: "Let No Man Put Asunder" (originally recorded by First Choice in 1977) and "Oooh I Love It (Love Break)", a reworking of Salsoul Orchestra's 1975 LP cut "Chicago Bus Stop". Famed Paradise Garage d.j. Larry Levan's "Garage" version of Inner Life's "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" clocks in at 10:27. For those who have just become acquainted with the music of this excellent record label, this 2-disc set is worth every penny!! Other fine cuts from this collection include First Choice's "Love Thang" (1979), Aurra's "Checking You Out" (1982), Inner Life's "Moment Of My Life" (also from 1982), and Skyy's "Call Me" (1981).

Chronic Disco Classics..............
This a great CD to purchase. This CD is packed with jammin disco classics. Many people try to diss disco, but many don't know or understand how DEEP First Choice or Loletta Holloway really are. There are plenty of disco classic on this CD. First Choice & Loletta both got alot of radio play on Chicago's WBMX 102.7 in the 80's. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Music BUT..................................
The single star isn't for the Music on this CD which is fantastic. The single star is for this reason - How can you have a 'best of' without the group's finest track? The tracks on this CD are very good but for whatever reason 'Strange Games And Things', the track in question isn't on it. Maybe it was due to licensing problems but surely some deal could have been done?
As it stands they were in the ridiculous situation of putting out a 'best of' compilation without their best track! The mind boggles.

some of the best music I ever heard
This here is some of the music produced by barry white who took r&b to new levels with the styles he conducted with this tight orchestra here and plus these songs have been sampled numerous times over the past decade still these are classical and masterpieces if you are into this stuff this is for you.

The "Bach" of Soul Romance -- Mr. Barry White
INCREDIBLE CD! This CD is so cool that I had to get two copies. Not one song is a sleeper. In fact, Mr. Barry White's orchestration will lift you into a ballroom with tails and top hat if you may. He is so talented, and short of recognition (unfortunately). This CD is a perfect catch to romance and pleasure. Don't miss it. LAST NOTE..WE ALL WISH MR. BARRY WHITE A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY. MR. WHITE, YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS. 11.4.02 **Angi**

surprises galore
I bought this CD for one tune, "Love's Theme," that is played a lot on the radio. I adore this tune. I was totally unfamiliar with all the others. After listening to the whole CD, there are 2 other tunes I discovered I adore. The rest is rhythm, rhythm with no real melody. I was disappointed. I love "Love's Theme" because of the rhythm layered on top with a lush melody. Much to my surprise, "Theme from King Kong" is like that as well, with even more emotional appeal. It starts off for about 1-2 minutes with just rhythm, then is elevated to the skies with a FABULOUS melody on top. It is AWE-SOME! That tune alone along with "Love's Theme" makes this CD worth buying. I also very much like "Let the Music Play," though it sounds close to an old disco tune, "Native New Yorker." I do recommend this CD if only for the 3 tunes I like. The rest I skip over.

Pure Genius
Barry WHite has a Way with Strings And Conducting.Satin SOul is a tight Cut with Ray Parker Jr on Guitar.The theme form TOgether Brothers was a tight Groove.Love's THeme is a timeless Instrumental.Barry White is a Musical Genius.you Know his Signature sound.He has a Street Vibe with a Wordly Feel.Truly one of a kind Artist. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

They Sure Did Pick The Right Songs...
I own both Volume 1 & 2 of E.W.F.'s greatest hits, and I must say that I'm slighty disappointed (that's only because "In The Stone" isn't on either compilation). If you haven't bought either one of the collections yet, don't get either one of them unless you can't get the latest one that has 17 tracks on it. One thing that really irked me is that this particular compilation includes the song "Fantasy," which is on Volume 1. That ticked me off, but considering that they threw in "Love's Holiday" which vies for my 1st favorite between itself and "Can't Hide Love"... it was kinda-sorta forgiveable. Another thing that really igged me as well was the fact that "Turn On The Beat Box" sounds awful (probably because it was made when the 70's had ended). If I had to narrow down any E.W.F. songs to my top 5, it couldn't be done because there's so many hits. If you own this and don't have Volume 1 (or vice versa), get the other one.

YAWN - WHY BOTHER?
UNLIKE VOLUME 1, WHICH WAS GREAT (IF INCOMPLETE), VOLUME 2 ALWAYS LEFT ME SHAKING MY HEAD. WHILE IT HAS SERPENTINE FIRE (WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON VOLUME 1) AND A FEW OTHER HITS, MOST OF THIS ALBUM IS FILLER (FANTASY AGAIN?). WHAT'S MY POINT? MY POINT IS THAT FOR A COUPLE OF BUCKS MORE YOU CAN GET ALL OF THE ORIGINAL VOLUME 1, THE GOOD STUFF OFF OF VOLUME 2 (MINUS THE FILLER), AND GET IT ALL ON ONE DISC (EWF's GREATEST HITS). I'M JUST HERE TO HELP YOU DO THE RIGHT THING.

No justice here
EWF is perhaps the greatest band of our time. They had the best songs for a 20 year span and yet the record companies continue to put together greatest hit packages on one cd. How the heck can you have an EWF greatest hits on one cd? Impossible. Hey record company, while you're at it, do the Beatles, Elvis, Stevie and Frank too.

Good stuff.... better horns
Perhaps the best part of any Earth, Wind, and Fire track is the horn section. Adding a distinctive character to the music, the EWF horns make the band. The songs included on this compilation include the well-known collaboration with The Emotions, and also the funky Let's Groove. Fantasy is an EWF standard and assumes a rightful place on the record as well. This is a good collection to buy if you like a little funk, and you don't want to buy the box set.

good album
just for loves holiday alone that's 3 stars.i love that song to death.serpentine fire still is funky and lets groove.it's a good record but is not quite with the first hits one.the box set is all that though a must have for a true ewf fan. ... Read more

Album Description

Defected Records is proud to present the next In The House album produced by the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff. Famed for his work within Hip Hop, Jeff takes a little diversion from his traditional sound.He produces what can only be described as a fantastic insight into house music.

"I want to take what Mr. Gamble and Mr. Huff did in the ‘70s and continue the progression of the ‘Philly Sound," he explains.And this is exactly what Jeff has done with his FIRST house music compilation – Jazzy Jeff In The House.The triple-CD collection includes a bonus CD ROM with exclusive interview, photo gallery, special downloads and much more.

This is a collection of contemporary and classic house from one of the biggest DJs in the business and a must-have for anyone’s dance music collection! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

amazing
its sad that he in the shadows of will, but together, they rock! dj jazzy jeff has some smooth beats on here, check it out its very good. i find his talent to overpass will's, but i love them together, like usual.

Jazzy Jeff=Good taste
When I heard that Jazzy Jeff was going to do ItH. I was a little suprised.I Thought to myself,"Well,he has never done a house mix before.He has been doing hiphop for a while,but not house."Then I knew it would be good.I mean,since this is his first official mix,he has to make it count.And it's on defected,of course.Jazzy Jeff adds his own unique taste and sensibility to these discs.He mixes the old with the new,and really pulls it off nicely.It reminds me to respect the so called 'oldies'.They still sound great!This one is right up there with the top ItH releases. Note to Jazzy Jeff:Please do more house in the future!

Outstanding, best ITH mix by far!
The Defected's sublabel ITH Records has been putting out mixes for some time now. The problem with mix-cd's is, that it gets boring real quickly. Often, dj's play the same tracks and many of them released by Defected. Now with Jazzy Jeff In The House, I know I could expect something different. But I was blown away.

The hiphop legend has put together 3 CD's worth of classic house and oldschool. And when talking about oldschool, I mean musicians like The Temptations, Booker T & The MGs, Kool & The Gang, Hamilton Bohannon, Barry White, Nina Simone and many others. And in addition to that, house hedas like Kerri Chandler, Kenny Dope, Soldiers of Twilight, DJ Gregory, Julie McKnight, Jody Watley, Blaze and the list goes on!

The main reason why this CD stands high above the rest of ITH series, is it's classic approach. Jazzy Jeff blends together good old funk classics with some modern house tracks. Yet, he leaves out some of the dancefloor tracks from this or previous year. It has those surely selected tracks that all play their part well. It works! All the way!

It's hard to review the compilation which includes tracks that have pages of stories to tell.

I'll just put it short, if you "consume" a bit more music than the avarage bloke, you need this one!

DJ Jazzy Jeff has done it!!!
This CD is the bomb! DJ Jazzy Jeff brings back the Philly Sound that was the foundation of house music. I really hope Jazzy Jeff continues doing his thing with house music.
There should be more African American DJs involved in house music, after all, African Americans started it, and the true essence of house music is Black Music.
There are some very talented DJs out there, but they are missing the soul, because they are losing the foundation.
Jazzy Jeff brings it back on this CD. Jazzy Jeff is originally a Hip Hop DJ from Philly, but he shows you that House and Hip Hop come from the same foundation "SOUL MUSIC". ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Ms. Marie you are excellent
This album is excellent almost every song was a hit. This is one of those albums you need to be with a sexy man and a glass of wine. The songs Yes Indeed,Portuguese Love,Where's California and of course Square biz alone is worth the purchase. How about it took a long time to find this on cd. I still have my vinyl copy of this album. Teena Marie is an understated artist often over looked, this cd should convince you other wise. Did you know Patrice Rushen did the piano solo on Yes Indeed? Yes indeed

The Magic's in Teena's Music
I recalled hearing her fast songs and duet with Rick James and jamming to them but not hard. Then I at a high school basketball and a friend of mine had her Walkman on. She was listening to Teena's "Robbery" cassette specifically "Casanova Brown." She let me hear it and I fell in love. It's taken me over the last 10 years to get all of her music on CD. My favorite song has always been "Yes Indeed." I had it on cassette but broke it due to extensive playing. So I was so glad to finally get it on CD and know the story behind it that Patrice Rushen played on it, too. Teena...what can I say? The magic really is in her music. The way she holds those notes and incorporates relationship into the other music genres from latin to jazz to classical to soul. No music collection should be without this woman's music. And there's one more song I love that she did with Rick though it got little airplay. It's called "Happy"

Thank God , finally
I would just like to say that I'm so glad that this album has finally come full circle. I have the vinyl and now I'll have it in cd form. Long, long awaited. This is truly one of the best experiences of all of her music to date. Don't get me wrong. All of Teena Maries' music is great, but "Cradle Rob And ME" and "Where's California" and last but not least "Yes Indeed". I considered those songs heaven sent because there's not too many who don't or haven't or won't sooner or later relate to the words.I can't wait for her latest release. Come on Lady Tee, we're waiting for you.

You go Lady T!
I ADORE this album. Teena sounds incredible and the songs are catchy and fun - amazingly, they haven't dated that much, considering this album was released in 1981. I absolutely cannot wait until her new album - La Dona - is released in May 2004. Teena, you're a blessing!

It Must Be Magic
I became a huge Teena Marie fan after purchasing Wild & Peaceful (back in the day when vinyl ruled). From that initial purchase, I fell in love with her music & her voice and continued to buy albums, tapes and now cds of all of her records.

IMBM is by far my most favorite (although Teena counts it as her least fave). I simply pop this disc in and let it play, every song is funky, heartfelt and beautifully arranged. Every time Teena comes to the tri-state area to perform, I break my neck to go because she puts on a SHOW - without pyrotechnics, backflips or breakdancing. She commands the stage the old-fashioned way - WITH HER VOICE!!!

Of course most people are familiar with the ultra successful tracks - Square Biz, Portugese Love & It Must Be Magic; but also noteworthy are Yes Indeed & Where's California, two of the most beautiful ballads I've ever heard. Since this disc has been remastered with two additional songs, I'm buying it again. I can't wait until Teena is recognized either @ the Divas concert or on the Lady of Soul Awards, she surely deserves some recognition. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The TRUTH about The Three Degrees
This venerable, talented trio has never been fully captured on CD. This one is your best bet.

The problem? These girls had two career phases, utterly irreconcilable to most of their fans. Phase one is The Three Degrees most of us know and love: the Philly International years. They were to this label what The Superemes were to Motown, but their monster hits "When Will I See You Again" (1973), "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," (1974) and their grace notes on Tom Moulton's brilliant 1977 remix of "Love Is The Message" did not commercially sustain.

Still, every album they cut on this label is worthwhile. Even minor R&B hits like "Take Good Care Of Yourself" (1975) still send a chill up the spine with their corny but wistful power.

When the hits dried up, the girls teamed up with Giorgio Moroder, the Italo-German wunderkind who made Donna Summer. Most fans of the 3D's early years HATE these records. I like one of them.

The earlier records are better music overall, but the first album cut they with Giorgio ("New Dimensions," 1978) has a thrilling side-one suite. Think of "Givin Up/Givin In," "Lookin' For Love," and "Falling in Love Again" as the Three Degrees five years later...no longer spring chickens, angry with the downside of the love they used to coo about, but not quite through with it.

Side two is notable for "The Runner," a big disco hit in early 1979. Too bad the second album they cut with Moroder, "3D" (1980) is mostly junk, in the same Eurodisco vein.

An ideal compilation would include most of "New Dimensions," plus one or two sweet singles these girls cut before they hit big, including their 1970 remake of The Chantals' ballad "Maybe."

Alas, soul sisters rarely get their due...

Thank God I finally found The Magnificant 3 Degrees again!
I had one variety tape that I taped myself of the 3 Degrees singing 'When will I see you again' and lost it. Every chance I got to see them on TV in the 70s I took. I have been waiting for Radio on Dial to finally play this song. NOTTTTT! In disgust I finally went looking on Amazon.com. And there they were!! I finally found them after all these years! I promptly ordered the CD titled 3 Degrees (When will I see you again). Received it & in about 3 days and I've been in heaven ever since. I play it at home on my computer and on my computer at work a lot! These girls are sooo underrated. The only girl groups who has ever been in the same league with the Degrees were the Jones girls (also VERY underrated!) & the 3 sisters who toured briefly with Earth Wind & Fire in the 70s, sorry I've forgotten their names. I get the same cold chills I used to get in the 70s when I listen to this 3 Degrees CD. I'd never heard them sing Dirty Old Man, Love Is The Message, I Didn't Know, or any of the others, but they too sound so good that I feel like I've just gotten their latest new release. Hadn't the slightest idea that they were the vocalist on the TSOP all these years. Get this CD! I promise if you are a 3 Degrees fan you will be greatly satisfied!!! I love these girl's voices!! Thank you Amazon, now I'm gonna look for the Jones Girls! I still have all their old albums, but no CDs. Anyway I love this 3 Degrees CD!!!!!!

When Will I See You Again My Favorite Song "Maybe"
I have this CD and it's wonderful. My only complaint is that the Record Companies keep releasing many alternate versions of my favorite song "Maybe"
The version I would like to see on CD is from the album "Maybe" 5:37 Roulette (SR-42050) or the "45" "Maybe" 5:37 Roulette (19924) bw "You're The One" which ever information is helpful.

The brief reign of the Three Degrees as disco queens
The Three Degrees were originally a Sixties Girl Group out of Philadelphia, discovered by producer/songwriter Richard Brrett, who also had Little Anthony & the Imperals, the Chantels, and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers in his stable. However, all of the songs on "The Best of the Three Degrees: When Will I See You Again" are taken from the Seventies, when the group was signed to Philadelphia International Records and their albums were being produced by Gamble & Huff. At that point the Three Degrees consisted of Valerie Holiday, Sheila Ferguson, and the only remaining original member Fayette Pickney and the R&B Girl Group was now doing lush disco songs starting with their first hit for their new label, "Dirty Ol' Man." Then they got to sing with MFSB on "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" the new theme song for television's "Soul Train," which went #1 on the Pop Charts in 1974. That same summer the Three Degrees hit the charts with their mega-hit, "When Will I See You Again," which made it to #2 and became their signature song (and therefore the title for this hits collection). The group's other charting songs were "Love is the Message," "I Didn't Know" and "Take Good Care of Yourself," but they were minor efforts compared to "When Will I See You Again." But when the disco bubble popped the Three Degrees went another evolution, changing members and doing a lot of performing and recording in the U.K., where they had always enjoyed more popularity (they played at Prince Charles's 30th birthday party and were invited to his wedding). I was trying to track down the group's Girl Group songs, so this album was not what I was looking for, but in terms of the disco sound these songs have a certain touch of elegance (I wanted to say the Three Degrees have a smoother sound than a lot of their disco contemporaries, but that don't sound classy enough). As is often the case with groups like this, the hits are not necessarily the best of the lot and I would declare a preference for "Can't You See What You're Doing to Me," "I Live Being a Woman," "A Woman Needs a Good Man," and "A Year of Decision" as being the songs worth discovering amongst these 20 tracks.

The Three Degrees
Here is one of the best groups that are in the league with The Emotions. Sheila Ferguson, Valerie Holiday, and Fayette Pickney had some of the tightest harmonies, only second to the harmonies of the Hutchinson sisters of The Emotions. I love all of the songs, but, my favorite song has to be "Love Is The Message", that fused them with the other Philly powerhouse, MFSB (the group that is responsible for the "Soul Train" theme song, TSOP [The Sound Of Philadelphia}, in which The Three Degrees colaborated on, as well). ... Read more

Album Details

16 Great Tracks from the Singer who Hit it Biggest in the Disco Era with her No. One Remake of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' 'don't Leave Me this Way', which Years Later is a True, Bonafide Disco and Pop Classic. Though She Never Quite Hit that Height Again, Houston's Recording Career Has Been Fruitful Nonetheless, Having the Distinction of Recording the First Direct-to-disc Record with the Band Pressure Cooker. That Record Practically Started the Modern Audiophile Vinyl Craze in the 70's. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This one should have been better.
I really wish record companies would stop putting out disco compilations that consist of short versions or radio edits. They just don't get it. True disco fans are after extended or 12 inch versions. Houston's classic "Don't Leave Me This Way" and the house music standard "I'm Here Again" end during the best parts of each song. I was so disappointed that I gave my copy of this cd away for a ride to work.

A major minor talent
Thelma Houston is diva who should have been. She has an explosive voice which can also handle the tenderest of ballads.
This album represents Ms Houston doing what she does best and shows, that with better management, she should have shone as a brighter star than she has.
When we will see the release of her first album 'Sunshower' which really shows the promise the this wonderful singer was capable of?

First Class Singer
Miss Houston displays her formidable pipes on a varied set of soul, pop and disco tunes. Best known for her 1976 Grammy-winning smash "Don't Leave Me This Way," the talented lady has unfortunately and unfairly been labeled as a disco singer. Thelma Houston is a SOUL singer who came to prominence during the height of disco and any listen to this body of work or others by her will attest to her soulful and gospel-fired handling of even the most mediocre material. This set features some cuts not found on other increasingly hard-to-find compilations, including personal favorites, "Midnight Mona" and "Am I Expecting Too Much." Also included is the 1940's- styled hit "If It's The Last Thing I Do;" as well as a few prime cuts from her "Sunshower" lp produced by the notable Jimmy Webb. Also noteworthy is her version of "Can't We Try" -- a ballad covered more popularly by veteran soul singer Teddy Pendergrass. All in all, a good representation of her work; however, with numerous lps under her belt -- including subsequent work on the RCA and MCA labels, a major career retrospective is long overdue.

Wonderful
Miss Houston is a classic disco queen in every sense of the word. She displays such soulful grit on her tunes. Who can forget the classic "Don't Leave Me This Way". You can definetly hear her gospel roots on this cut. But unfortunatly, one of my personel favorites; which was released as a single in the late seventies is the ever groovy "Saturday Night'Sunday Morning". The tune is not on this collection of sure hits. If record companies are going to put together a collection of greatest hits, then I think the public deserves to hear all the greatest hits! Don't you?

I want to know the songs that this album contents
I am interested in buying the album that conteins the song named "I've got the music in me", but I'm not sure if this is the right one.

So please let me know, in order to buy it. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Jammin to Patrice!!!
Patrice is the best!!. I bought this cd along with her greatest hits. This cd really shines. I am only 18 years old. This cd came out 3 years before my time. When i bought the cd I was truly amazed. Of course, I liked the hit " Forget Me Nots" ( this song will never become old, I jam every time I hear it) but there are also other favorites of mine on here also such as: I Was Tired of Being Alone, All We Need, Where there is love( a true gem) and my favorite, favorite that was never released as a single according to my research , " Remind Me". A true classic!

BREAKOUT!!!!!
"Straight From The Heart" is for the most part synthesized,
uptempo and very contemporary but Patrice's appealing mixture of
keyboards and live musicians make this album a through and though delight!"Forget Me Nots" does really some up much of
this album's sound with "I Was Tired Of Being Alone",the Stevie Wonder-like "All We Need" and the instrumental "Number One" being in the same vein."Breakout" is a clavinet-driven funk-rock
ditty while the wistfully jazzy "If Only" and the nearly acoustic
ballad "Remind Me" and the more electric slow groove "Where Is the Love" offer a change of pace.12" remixes are added to
make this interesting to collectors but if you want to get into
Patrice Rushen this is WITHOUT QUESTION where to go first!

Criminally Underrated, But Terrific!!
This is a classic soul LP that is just this side of flawless (some of the production is dated) but it is also a classic that somehow got lost since it was released just months before the Jackson Juggernaut known as "Thriller". While Rushen had been a regular fixture on the Soul/R&B charts since the late 70's, "Straight From The Heart" was her first real pop crossover success and it's easy to see why; the hits are here in all their glory "Forget Me Not's" (this song will NEVER sound old)the full length version of "Remind Me" complete with it's jazzy, cymbal accented intro and electric piano solo, and the positively gorgeous "Where There Is Love", possibly the prettiest melody she's ever composed. The closer, "(She Will)Take You Down To Love" is a stunning, acoustic guitar driven ballad with a hint of danger that nicely rounds out this classic. If you can find it, get the original 9 song LP (I own 2 copies) since the 12" versions don't really enhance the album. This is a brisk pleasure from start to finish.

Patrice Rushen is FRESH!
I first heard "Straight From the Heart" from Patrice Rushen when I was 2 years old, I could'nt believe that somebody could 'jam' so hard!! Of couse when one person thinks about Patrice Rushen they think of 'Forget Me Nots' but what about 'All We Need' and (one of my personal favorites on the album)'Where There is Love'(among others). Incredibly,this album is nothing but hits! I'll tell you "Straight From the Heart" is one of the eighties' best. I like the album, hope you do too! BY THE WAY.. I'm only 15 years old!

Overall Patrice's best work
This CD, originally released in 1982, in my opinion represents her best work,really showcasing her versatility. From being able to make you get up and dance (consider Will Smith's using Forget-Me-Nots for his Men-In-Black rap), to soothing love songs (Remind Me, my personal favorite on the CD, is a gem that deserved much more attention than it ever received) this CD provides a little something for everyone. She even gives a taste of her instrumental ability with the upbeat groove Number One. These songs combined with a strong supporting cast make for a CD that is extremely listenable; one you can put on and just let it play. Every artist has that one album that features them at their best. For me, this was the one for Patrice. While she has gone on to do some fine other work, including a jazz recording with a group known as "The Meeting", and being musical director for the "Comic Aid" specials, this for me will always be the one she's known for. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Those whose familiarity with late former Temptation Ruffin's solo work extends only to the hits "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" and "Walk Away from Love" may be surprised to find about half these tracks, originally issued between 1969 and 1977, making a great case for his work after leaving Motown's greatest group. Ruffin's fervor and control are intact here, even when his producers are chasing someone else's sound, as on a cover of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "I Miss You." David Ritz's liner notes posit this period of Ruffin's career as unjustly overlooked; the above-mentioned smashes, along with tracks such as "World of Darkness" and "No Matter Where," make it hard to disagree. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Fantastic The Brother Could Sing
Hearing David Ruffin Sing is Great for The Human Ears.His Voice had Power,Emotion&SOul.This Disc showcases a Genius who hasn't really gotten all The Respect He should Have gotten.cuz when You Hear Him Singing You Know That You are Listening to a Truly Gifted Artist.

STILL A LEGEND
This year on June 1 marks the 10th anniversary when David Ruffin entered Soul Heaven. This greatest hits CD is focusing the 2nd chapter of David's career after performing with the legendary Temptations (my favorite group). I'm familiar with "My Whole World Ended," "Walk Away From Love," & "Heavy Love," but there were some other songs I haven't heard before which I consider them classics. "I Lost Everything I Ever Loved" will put a tear in your eye. Other songs I enjoyed are "Double Cross," "World of Darkness," & my personal favorite "Who I Am." David trips me out when he recorded a Harold Melvin & Blue Notes classic "I Miss You" & his own composition "Statue of a Man." No one can sing, beg, or scream in a 5-octave range like David can. It shocks me when he passed away 2 years after he & the Temps were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Plus, he was in the middle of a comeback when he went on tour with Dennis Edwards & Eddie Kendricks. But his music & legacy will live on forever. If you haven't purchased this CD, you need to. Don't take my word for it. Check it out yourself. :-)

This Heavy Love! It's too high to get over!!!!
Do you see all the glowing reviews of this CD? Believe them. BELIEVE THE HYPE! It's THAT GOOD. I have been listening to this CD non-stop since I got it in December, that's almost 3 months of non-stop David Ruffin blissful soul singing. You know how sometimes you can't get a song out of your head and it's really annoying? Not here. I have these songs (especially Heavy Love) stuck in my head, and I don't want to get them out. I can only disagree with one reviewer who said that the remainder of the CD is David singing disco. Let me make one thing clear - just because a song is from the mid to late 70's and you can dance to it doesn't make it disco. Reminiscent of disco yes, but not disco songs. The mid to late 70's offerings are danceable R&B pure and simple. They're all incredible songs, my personal favorites being "Heavy Love", "My Whole World Ended", "World of Darkness", "Walk Away from Love", "Statue of a Fool"...you know what? I better stop listing songs because I just realized I'm about to list every track on the CD as my favorite! If you came here, I can tell you now, you are already the prime target audience for this CD. If you've ever listened to recommendations, listen to David Ruffin on this CD because you will discover a world of music that nobody can touch these days. That means NOBODY. David may have been more than a bit proud as a person, but by all means he should have been proud. With that much soul, a voice like that - he had every right to be proud of his talent.

real soul music
the first eight tracks on this CD are absolutely great, the rest of it is David Ruffin doing disco, which is pretty weak. I'd buy it for the first few cuts on it, though. It's interesting to contrast this CD with the Eddie Kendrick's Ultimate Hits CD, because they WERE and always will be the two voices of the Temps.

Incredibly soulful and soul-filled.
There are certainly artists with a "sweeter" voice or a more songful voice but few are in the league of David Ruffin when considering pure power and emotion. The way in which he captures the classic "Miss You" makes this the undeniably best version of the song to be released (in my humble opinion). For example, who else lists the type and brand of liquor that he's turned to..!!! Anyways, this is a gifted spiritual artist that unfortunately let the external ills of his world end his life to quickly and quietly. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Almost perfect
Finally! A domestically released Kool & the Gang collection, with great liner notes and most of the hits from both phases of their career. Disc 1 is the jazz/funk Kool & the Gang of the late 1960s and 1970s, and Disc 2 is the Pop/R&B/rock Kool & the Gang of the 1980s, with JT Taylor on vocals. Both discs are drastically different and serve to highlight the different phases of the band, similar to Fleetwood Mac. My only complaint is that there was enough time on both CDs to include certain songs that were left out, to have made the collection perfect. Those songs are "Jones Vs. Jones," a bona-fide top 40 hit which was criminally neglected, and "Holiday" and "Special Way," their last two hits, and perhaps even "Steppin' Out," another minor hit. To have ended the CD with "Holiday" would have been awesome. Also, I wish they would have included the impossible-to-find single/radio mix of "Cherish," which was the hit version...but other than that, it's great to finally have this. ... Read more