Reviews (15)

Strange Flower
Aya has a beautiful voice and this woman turned down BIG money from the Recording Industry to do this album with Naked Music HER way....well it paid off....every song has her voice lining it like silk and with Jay Denes producing it you couldn't expect anything less than the best My favorites from the Albumn were Curtain Call, Looking for the sun, Slippin, Nobody knows me, Uptown, and 45 Parade Palace....I hope we can expect more from this rising star

An exquisite musical voyage
This is a wonderful album that will appeal to just about anyone. All soulful music lovers will definitely enjoy the collaboration between Jay Denes (Blue Six) and sweet, and seductive, vocalist Aya (Sade). Jay is the man in the studio, dropping the vibe that all Naked Music fans can appreciate (I'm talking to you, old-school freakz), while Aya compliments him behind the mike with her own style. Ah, it's great real instruments... The first track sets off the feelings, while a smooth accoustic-inspired follow-up hits you from nowhere. Uptown is already well-known to the dancefloors that are full of people feelin' it, but Jay's dub is what really does it for me. Then there's a song called Sean, with a funky Stevie Wonder intro, destined to keep bodies moving. All in all, this is a sublime album that can warm you up, yet make you feel chill. If you like good music, then this is definitely one for you.

Etheral Pleasure
Never heard of her until I happened to crossed this page, heard some samples and immediately bought the cd. I have to say it is pretty good. Very calming, relaxing, and etheral. Its a very chill out cd. My only complaint is that some of the songs can tend to sound the same. Aya is a good vocalist, but not as good as Sade (someone said she was better than Sade). But realistically they don't even have the same type of sound to their voices so the comparison is really unwarrented. Anyway, good cd. I recommend it if you want to chill at home and just relax.

Naked music at there best!!!!
14 tracks of pure sonic intoxication!!!! Can't wait for Lisa Shaw and Gaelle album to drop.

I'm not recommending this.. I'm TELLING you - BUY THIS NOW!!
This is a remarkable album!

"Strange Flower" is not released on a "major label," which may account for the relative lack of publicity/reviews. Also, distribution seems to be a bit screwed up at the time of this writing - out of stock at a lot of e-tailers, though available for download at the iTunes Store. The extra effort you may have to endure to get this will be rewarded on the first listen.

Unlike most current releases, EVERY song on "Strange Flower" is excellent.

Aya displays the finest vocal styling of any popular female singer today. Especially interesting and evocative are the moods developed in Aya's "doubling" of her vocal.

I have seen her compared to Sade Adu, but this is unfair. Aya has a far superior vocal range to that of Sade, and is able to deliver a " heat" Sade never approaches.

Truly a landmark debut album - the last time I heard a "first effort" of this caliber was Pete Yorn's "musicforthemorningafter" in 2001. While I have never listened to it, I think Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me" is also comparable in its excellence to "Strange Flower"; though both Yorn's and Jones' music is different styistically from what you will find here.

Simply put: Aya's "Strange Flower" is the best release of 2004 (so far). ... Read more

Album Description

Throughout her illustrious career, Vanessa Williams has maintained a reputation as one of the most respected as one of the most respected and multifaceted entertainers in the world amassing accomplishments and accolates one after another. Vanessa fans can bask in the warmth of the Valentine's Day spirit with Everlasting Love, a collection of '70s love song covers. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Everlasting Love for good music
Great CD heard her preview it on the Howard Stern Show and couldn't wait to buy it.She's got a beautiful voice and does all these classic songs real justice.I really like the remake of the Ohio Players "Let's Love" and Chaka Khan's "Everlasting Love".All the songs are good so Sit/Lay back and enjoy this class act CD by a classy lady such as Ms. Williams.

Woman, withyou I'm born again
Williams scores another series of hits with producer Bob Mathes, in this well-chosen collection of re-makes from the 70's.

Smooth jazz great, George Benson also adds his articulate vocals to two of the tracks which creates a magical vocal synergy. Although some of the renditions don't stray too far from the originals, Williams certainly adds a vocal energy and passion which is truly her own.With the help of Mathes, the renditions also seem to maintain some of Williams more familiar musical arrangements while showcasing her vocal prowess.

Although her cover of Stevie Wonder's "Send One Your Love" doesn't stray too far, she clearly creates a mood of romance.She also injects her own soulful and romantic new energy into Al Wilson's "Show And Tell", Carol Bayer Sager's "Midnight Blue", Roberta Flack's "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and the seemingly endlessly remade classic "You Are Everything".

The best illustration of the synergy between Williams & Benson is heard on "With You I'm Born Again". The soulful and articulate vocals of both along with the sound of the London Session Orchestra make this track extraordinary.Williams background vocals are as smoothly ethereal as in the orginal and are sure to give you a sorrowful chill.

Some of the lesser known selections from her musical heroes include Rufus & Chaka Khan's "Everlasting Love" and the Isley Brothers "Harvest For The World".

A duet with James 'D-Train' Williams, "I'll Be Good to Ya", picks up the pace a bit and adds a little funk to the collection.

If you grew up listening to the music of this era, you will appreciate this collection and will enjoy this nostalgic musical journey of love.

A Class Act
This is a superb cd. Vanessa Williams is one of those few artists who has taken the time to nurture her talent to keep from stagnating. Her voice is in top form, probably as good as it has ever been. I was not born in, nor did I grow up in the 70s, so I am not familiar with all of the original versions of these songs. However, I believe Vanessa's interpretations of the ones I do know are refreshing and flawless. For anyone who has doubted this woman's talent should feel ashamed. She is amazing, both on cd and singing live. Ms. Williams is one of the few classy actresses/singers left in the business and her performance here is a testament to that.
Favorite tracks:
Midnight Blue
Show and Tell
Let's Love
With You I'm Born Again
One Less Bell to Answer
Nevermind...the whole cd is great!!

Glad She's Back...
It is my personal opinion that she hit a home run with this CD!A cover of classics and a well done one at that!I won't write a long drawn out review, I'll simply say, she does a terrific job on the remakes and I'm glad to see her back again and doing what she does best...and that is sing a tune!No props!No hooks!No over produced garbage!No fillers!We know all these songs and she puts her fingerprints on them and sings them well!

Finally...someone who gets it!
What a great selection of songs - including some of the best songs from the 70's.Vanessa's rendition of "You are Everything" was the first I heard on the DirecTV "Soft Rock" music station.The minute she started singing, I stepped back in time to some very fond memories.The rest of the songs are just as remarkable.This is one of the CD's that you can play according to your mood...whether for sparking romance with your lover, unwinding after a long day, or even if you're feeling just a bit nostalgic!Enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Waiting to Exhale is the exception that proves the rule about mish-mash '90s soundtrack albums. Even though it features 22 different female voices, the album boasts a rare continuity because Babyface wrote or cowrote 15 of the songs and produced all 16. Moreover, the gifted R&B artist used every song to explore the film's theme of women trying to balance self-respect and romantic desire. Not only has Babyface (nee Kenny Edmonds) created a fascinating song suite, he has produced one of the best middle-of-the-road-pop, adult- contemporary albums of the decade. Mary J. Blige stakes out a claim as the new diva on the block with an astonishing performance on "Not Gon' Cry." Babyface's music and lyrics suggest a woman barely holding back a swelling flood of anger and heartache, and Blige's brilliant vocal captures both the agitation and the restraint. --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Great Soundtrack...Five Reasons
Waiting To Exhale is such a great soundtrack that men aren't afraid to admit that they have it in their collection. here are five reasons why this soundtrack is a definite must have.

1. Babyface wrote and produced the entire album, and from his history that instantly makes it worth listening to.

2. Mary J. Blige, SWV, Brandy, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Cece Winans, TLC, Toni Braxton, Aretha Franklin, Faith Evans all sing on this album. Can You possibly go wrong?

3. Brandy - Sittin Up In My Room is my favorite midtempo track of all time

4. The soundtrack stands alone. In fact I have never seen the movie but own the soundtrack. Usually you buy the soundtrack and then see the movie or vice versa...not so with this one. The songs perfectly tell the story of the movie judging from the reviews of the movie. Every song has a definite theme and feel.

5. The soundtrack is soothing and relaxing but not sleep inducing. Some cd's have a laid back feel but sometimes make you sleepy...that's not evident here though.

Waiting To Exhale - One of the Great Soundtracks of the 90's, right up there with Above The Rim and Murder Was The Case. An Essential album.

Great Soundtrack
The soundtrack for WAITING TO EXHALE is an excellent collection of R&B songs from the divas in R&B. Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Shanice, TLC, Toni Braxton, Brandy, Mary J Blige, Chaka Khan, SWV and many more appear on this soundtrack. Some highlights include the self affirming "Not Gon Cry" by Mary J Blige, the beautiful "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" by Whitney Houston, and also another song by Whitney titled "Why Does It Hurt So Bad", "Let It Flow" by Toni Braxton, "My Funny Valentine" by Chaka Khan, and more. It was a great idea to include so many different female R&B artists, on one collection of great songs, which really do fit the style of the movie. Any fan of R&B music will want this CD, as it represents a different time in R&B, when it meant something completely different, than it does today in R&B. A great soundtrack overall and well worth looking into, and the movie is pretty good too!

A greatest OST album ever!
first, the artists are great!! they are not only famous but awesome. all songs impressed me. i bought this album luckily. it is a rare album in korea. my money deserves this album. songs are impressing. i don't regret this album and i recommend this.

Brandy - Sittin up in my room
Mary J. Blige - Not gon cry
Whitney & CeCe - Count on me
Sonja Marie - and i gave my love to you

a must-have of the 90's
your 90's collection of r&b music is incomplete without this compilation of r&b/soul singles from artists of that time like TLC, Toni Braxton, Mary J Blige, Brandy and musical legends like Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin and Patti Labelle. It would have been even better if female artists like Janet Jackson, Monica, Aaliyah, Mariah Carey and En Vogue were featured too, but still a must have. Standout tracks are Exhale, Sittin Up In My Room, This Is How It Works, Not Gon' Cry, Count On Me

not the best
i love babyface. he is much better than david foster but still i was skeptikal listening to an album full of babyface songs, as it would get kinda boring...and it did. i liked whitneys hit "exhale", Toni braxton's "let it flow" and brandy's "Sittin up in my room" but that's all i pretty much liked. I wasn't feeling TLC (tho i usually do) on "This is how it works." I love all the singers on this soundtrack and i thought with babyface it would be a dream come true but it ended up being a nightmare. Sorry but a WHOLE ALBUM with babyface? I dont think so. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mariah Carey's #1's is as much a time capsule of '90s pop and R&B as a record of one woman's chart toppers: the disc chronicles a shift from the sweet, nearly '50s-style "Vision of Love" to more recent hip-hop-lite grooves featuring heavy input from Puffy Combs ("Honey"), Jermaine Dupri ("Sweetheart"), and O.D.B. ("Fantasy"). Some hit, some miss, but all feature the fluttery swoops that Carey substitutes for expression of feeling. Depth is beside the point, but few of these tracks are even fun. Still, after eight years, there seems to be no stopping her, and this album will hardly break her streak of successes. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (418)

Mariah is truly #1
In the liner notes for this CD Mariah says that this is just a gift to her fans and it's not really her greatest hits album. She's right! Mariah's had over 40 top 50 hits! I have only rated the new material on this CD. I rated the songs on a scale from 1 (horrible) to 10 (great.)

1. Sweetheart- (7/10) This song is okay. I really don't like the rap. Thank god that it's not all the rap that was in the original version of Sweetheart. I think that the song mainly focuses on JD and not Mariah. There never seems to be a chorus. It's not very catchy.

2. When You Believe- (10/10) I love this song! This is one of few of Mariah's songs that were included on a movie soundtrack. The song includes Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, two of the greatest vocalists ever. There voices really make this beautiful song even more amazing. I have no problem listening to this song over and over. It's amazing that Mariah and Whitney dueted since some believe that Tommy Mottola wanted Mariah to record an album so that Whitney would lose some fame.

3. Whenever You Call- (5/10) I loved the version of Whenever You Call on Butterfly but I can't stand this version. Brian McKnight has a beautiful voice but I don't think that he should have done this song. I don't even think that the song was rerecorded. I hope that Mariah doesn't do this again without rerecording the song that she wants to rerelease.

4. Fantasy- (7/10) I only included this #1 song because it is the remix of Fantasy (not the one from Daydream.) This is a great remix but it was (as many of her remixes) not RERECORDED. O.D.B sounds kind of nasty when he raps like him and Mariah are madly in love.

5. Do You Know Where You're Going To- (8.5/10) This song is nice. Mariah doesn't sing strongly like usual though. She's pretty quiet throughout the song. It's a cover of the Diana Ross song. This song is only on imports of #1's.

6. I Still Believe- (10/10)This is a cover of the Brenda K. Starr song. It's very good and climbed very high on the Billboard charts in 1999.

B for effort
There's nothing really wrong with this album except that like the LA times said, it really emphasizes her limitations. The songs are good on their own, but as a whole, this album is really uneven and doesn't flow. Every song on the album can be classified into three categories- 1. A guy has left her (or she left him) and she's upset about it. (Someday, I Still Believe, I Don't Wanna Cry, Love Takes Time, ect.) 2. She's praising a new guy in her life. (Honey, Sweetheart, Fantasy, Emotions, ect.) 3. Inspiration/Believing. (Whenever You Call, Hero, When You Believe, One Sweet Day, ect.) She needed more variety in the songs to show that she is a well rounded performer, and more words to her disposal than "baby," " love," and "believe." I have bought all of her other records too and enjoyed them, but this one is definitely my least favorite. The bottom line is- If you've never owned a Mariah cd before you'll love it, and if you have her other cd's, then you won't like it. Since I have all her cd's, I didn't really like it, (and the naked picture of her as kid inside the liner notes was kind of self exploitative, if you ask me.)

An accomplished collection of brilliant songs
This just proves how briliant Mariah Carey's music is; 13 No.1 hits are included on this album, along with four bonus tracks. The songs are well written and the new songs are great; 'I Still Believe' being the best. All the old favourites are here; the incredible 'Vision Of Love', the inspiring 'Hero' and the song with the longest run at #1 EVER 'One Sweet Day'. And of course the new hits, 'Honey' and 'My All' which are excellent songs, with more of an urban/RnB feel, which shows how Mariah is comfortable with both sweeping ballads and up-tempo tunes. The best songs in my personal opinion are 'When You Believe', 'My All', 'Honey', 'Always Be My Baby', 'Hero', 'Emotions', 'Love Takes Time', 'I Don't Wanna Cry', 'I Still Belive' and the awesome 'Vision Of Love'. This collection of songs is a must for any serious music fan, and an excellent addition to anyone's record collection and musical repertoire.

A Perfect Collection of #1 Hits
This collection is of Mariah Carey's number 1 hits. Most of the songs can be found on albums (Self-titled, Emotions, MTV Unplugged, Music Box, Daydream and Butterfly) except for the first, second and last track.
Sweetheart featuring JD is an upbeat song, could have been included on the Butterfly album (meaning it sounds more like the material off that album)
When You Believe, the duet with R&B/pop diva Whitney Houston is from the Prince Of Egypt soundtrack, a beautiful song about believing in yourself.
I Still Believe is a beautiful strengthening song, I could see this song being on a single with Hero (and the later track Never Too Far from Glitter).

The other tracks that appear on albums but have been remixed are Fantasy and Whenever You Call.
Fantasy featuring ODB is originally on the Daydream album, this song is very danceable and one of Mariah's best remixes.
Whenever You Call which originally appeared on the Butterfly CD appears here but with guest vocalist Brian McKnight. I prefer this version more compared to the Mariah only version. It's very beautiful done with a male voice.

Overall, it's definitely a must by for any Mariah fan but if you mainly like her singles get this and/or Greatest Hits (which contains songs that didn't make it to number one). A perfect collection.

Mariah Carey's #1's
Keep in mind that this album is called #1's and not Greatest Hits. So you know that it will include Mariah Carey's most popular songs and not necessarily her best. That being said, you can already guess why it gets only 3 stars from me.

The most noteworthy songs on this album are the ballads. Which has always been the case with just about every Mariah Carey album. She does the ballads so much better than she does the pop/commercial songs. "When You Believe", "Love Takes Time", "I Don't Wanna Cry" and "Hero" represent the core of this album. Those are the most powerful songs and they prove that Mariah Carey is a great vocalist. Maybe it's just me but the commercial songs like "Honey", "Sweetheart" and "Fantasy" always annoyed me. Her good fast songs were the ones back on her early albums like "Emotions" and "Someday". I'm a hip-hop fan to the fullest but her collaborations with rappers never impressed me much. They seemed to be made just for the sole purpose of being raped to death by the radio. Well at least the disc closes on a high-note with Mariah's stellar performance on "I Still Believe".

All in all, this collection isn't all bad. However, I don't recommend you purchase it unless you need it to complete your Mariah Carey collection. Mariah's 2-disc Greatest Hits is available now and it features just about every song here plus many of her other great works. Even if you like her pop songs the Greatest Hits album is still better. It will satisfy you much more. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Handsome in his designer clothes and angelic, nappy dreads, Maxwell styles himself a modern-day urban love prophet in the tradition of Marvin Gaye. He concocts a conceptual music suite that purports to tell a fully rounded tale of meaningful love set in the tough but misunderstood inner city. What he delivers, however, contains only the faintest hints of what he promises. Instead we get a whole lot of the same tired R&B elevator slush and lyrics like "Gonna take you in the room suga'/ Lock you up and love for days." Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite is significant only in that it recasts the same old same old as something monumental, and nearly pulls it off.

Initially, there's a lot to like about Maxwell: On his openers, "Urban Theme" and "Welcome," the early '80s full-band R&B and jazz pop grooves are reminiscent of Maze's brightest days and Steely Dan's coolest nights. But soon even Maxwell's passionate voice gets lost in a flat mix that turns every song into faceless background music. While R&B is at no loss for suave and sexy personalities to take the stage, a dearth of new ideas keeps the genre for the most part floundering and visionless. In the end, Maxwell's urban hang suite is just another empty room.--Roni Sarig

... Read more

Reviews (110)

Urban Excellence
3 words...
GET THIS ALBUM!!

If your a lover of quality R&B then this should be in your collection. If its not, then your not as cool as you think you are!!

Maxwell, brings an album which is totally fresh and full of great tracks.
Vocally he is top notch and the music will satisfy all.

Track 1
The Urban Theme
Basically its an intro. But funky and sets the mood. You've opened the doors to Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite here.

Track 2
Welcome
So your into the Hang Suite now, and Maxwell is welcoming you. This is the first taste of his voice. Its a very cool track that is great to kick back with a drink in your hand and listen too.

Track 3
Sumthin' Sumthin'
Now we really get into it. This track is out of this world. You might know this one, it was a single. Catchy chorus but oh so cool. Sexy sexy track.

Track 4
Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
This just beats Sumthin Sumthin for the title of the albums best track. One of my favourite songs of all time. Once again its cool and catchy, but its a beautifuly written song. With Maxwell's voice oozing soul, this track is without a doubt fantastic.

Track 5
Dancewitme
This track is bassy and once again really chilled. Maxwell is making a move this woman and telling her to dance with him. Its another sexy track. Not to be missed.

Track 6
Til' The Cops Come Knocking
This is the first ballad on the album. If you want to impress a lady fellas, make them dinner, bottle of wine, with this track playing in the back ground. A winner for sure.

Track 7
Whenever Wherever Whatever
A sentence most people like to hear. Another classy ballad. Not a great as Til the cops... but still a beautiful track.

Track 8
Lonely's The Only Company
The theme of the album is a chilled one. This ballad is not only fantastic but very emotional. Maxwell's voice range is in full flow here. A corker.

Track 9
Reunion
Bit more upbeat here than the previous three. Still a cool song. Maxwell continues his emotional mood. Superb.

Track 10
Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
Fellas, want to propose to a lady? Let Maxwell do it for you!
His voice shows a completly new side here. Sounds almost like another singer. Its just testement to his vocal ability.
A lady won't say no!

Track 11
The Suite Theme
Its the farewell tune. But while other people are leaving the Hang Suite, Maxwell wants one particular lady to stay with him.
Its love making music baby! Fantastic end to a uttely superb album.

Overall
I cannot recommend this album highly enough.
You must buy it. Your missing out if you do not have it.
Its just fantastic.

.... Just the beginning for Maxwell
If you are a R&B music fan and you don't have this CD in your collection, you might want to do some soul searching. This is one of the best CDs of all time, in my opinion. I first heard Maxwell when I saw the video for "Til The Cops Come Knockin'". For most new artists, I have to hear a few songs before I buy their debut CD. That wasn't the case this time. Then, to make it even better, "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" was released to radio, before "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite" was released. After I purchased the CD and listened to it a couple of times, I realized that Maxwell had a classic on his hands. I would put this CD right up there with D'Angelo's and Chico DeBarge's debut CD, as well as Eric Benet's and Erykah Badu's. Although, their styles are all different, their CDs bring light to a different form of R&B, separate from what you hear most of today. My favorite two songs on the CD are "Welcome" and "Whenever Wherever Whatever". Those two songs represent the best uptempo and slow song on the CD, in my opinion. "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite" is really an r&b CD with a jazz appeal to it. That's one of the reasons why I like the CD so much. Other gems include, "Sumthin' Sumthin", "Lonely's The Only Other Company" and "Suitelady". I would also recommend that you pick up the "Ascension" (Don't Ever Wonder)" CD maxisingle, because it has a remix version of the original song and a song that is not on the CD called "Lock You Up In Love For Days". You should also pick up "Maxwell's MTV Unplugged" for the classic "This Woman's Work" and his 2nd disc "Embrya". Believe me, you won't be disappointed.

Opinions are a dime a dozen!
Urban Hang Suite is my very favorite record in my collection!! This record is the "Holy Grail" of the post 1970's Soul Revolution!
THIS IS REAL SOUL MUSIC AND MAXWELL'S BEST WORK.

From the biggest Maxwell fan of all time, MichauX http://www.michauxmusic.com

Maxwell, if you are reading this, I can't wait to get your new record, "Black Summer's Night".
By the way, Tom Coyne has an autographed copy of "Just MichauX" waiting for you when you come into your mastering session at Sterling Sound.

........a must
I never get tired of this disc. Great funk, smooth vocals, and never boring. If your reading this and you don't buy it, your making a big mistake.

Fresh at the time...
I remember 1995 when this kid came out of nowhere with 'Maxwells Urban Hang Suite' and blew everybody away. Back then it was all slowed down g-funk with explicit lyrics and wailing & screaming that qualified as contemporary R&B. Maxwells more intelligent and changed all that with his throw back to the ole school masters. The kids silky smooth falsetto combined with laid back, jazzy grooves makes for one awesome listening experience.

From front to back this album flows perfectly, the kid constructs real harmonies with real feeling & strong but understated sexual vibes. You've got to consider either this or D'Angelos 'Brown Sugar' as the Greatest Soul Record of the 90s. Back then it looked like Maxwell was going to be a major player but his two albums since have been real disappointments and I guess D'Angelo really is The Don these days. Classic debut though. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

I'd give it ten stars if I could...
This is one awesome CD. I originally bought it because I saw two songs I liked on the CD case - "Brickhouse" by The Commodores, and "Car Wash" by Rose Royce. Not being too familiar with the funk genre at the time, I figured this would be another of my CDs where I bought it for the two or three songs I liked, and the rest were throwaways. Besides, it was on sale, and looked like a good bargain.

After having played the CD, I was like, WOW! Every song on this CD totally jams! I found myself buying albums from the likes of Issac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield just through the influence of this CD. I now have a much broader musical taste and enjoy the strains of "The Theme from Shaft" while rolling down the highway. This is my favorite CD by far, and is unlikely to be unseated by another in the near future.

Yes!
This CD rocks the house. It's got all the classic funk songs, from Shaft to Superfly to Brickhouse and Car Wash. It is excellent. The tunes just keep bouncing around in my head. It's great dance music as well. This is a classic, buy it today.

luv da funk
volume 1 and 2 of pure funk r the twon best funk cds out there buy them 2day

PURE!
Thank you, oh funk-compilation-geniuses. This CD introduced me to funk and lifted me out of the disco genre. While "Don't Stop the Music" is a low point, and i have developed a pyschological block to "Car Wash" (very like my relationship with fleetwood mac's "Landslide") the rest of the album is funk, at it's purest best. "Brick House" "Shining Star" and "Lady Marmalade" are very, very worth the money. It's a great CD for listening to when you're having a low day (i.e. Mondays), or at a party. Basically rooted out all of the crappy funk that otherwise innocent souls would have had to sift through.

Solid!
Pure Funk is the best compilation CD of funk I've seen. Although there are a couple of misses and boderline songs (Cameo, Yarbrough and Peoples), the disc holds up very well. It would be hard to include more funk hits into one disc, but a glaring missing-in-funk-tion is James Brown's "Get on Up" or "Hot Pants". The first four songs are worth the price of the album. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Put tracks #1 to #5 on continuous repeat and u got 5 stars
Jodeci's freshman album was a definite hit and it put these church boys from down south on the international map of secular music. However, Jodeci knows love songs not dance beats and fails in its efforts at upbeat tunes. If this cd was recordable, I would record over all songs after track #5. Even with the medicore and half-assed songs that fill the rest of the album. The love songs that greet you at the commencement of the CD are truly contemporary r&b classics.

Forever a Jodeci fan.....
Jodeci first released their debut album Forever My Lady in 1991. They have been noted as sparking off the freaky, bump-and-grind flavored songs that we now know so well. This quartet knew how to make awesome slow-jams that younger people could relate to. Jodeci paved the way for the R&B boy bands of today like 112, Dru Hill, Jagged Edge, Silk and countless others. In my opinion, Forever My Lady was a musical masterpiece. Never before had we been serenaded with such smooth, sexy ballads like this. My favorite song is "Stay", where Jodeci made begging sound so good. The best thing about Jodeci other than their music and lyrics was their ability to harmonize. They gave the cautious, mellow songs of the 90s a rough edge and urban flavor. Let's remember that they were the bad boys of the R&B music scene at this time. Next up is "Come & Talk To Me" and "Forever My Lady" where the group displayed their distinct style and made their mark on the music industry. These four crooners showed their soft side with "U & I", a pledge to everlasting love. On the other hand, "Gotta Love" was their contribution to the New Jack Swing R&B movement with its upbeat tempo and hip-hop groove. Overall, Jodeci and Forever My Lady taught us how to get down and dirty, have true love and go half on a baby...what more can I say.

A brilliant album indeed.
I was about 10 years old when I first heard this album. I fell in love with it and listened to it constantly. Today, I am proud to say that Jodeci was the best R&B group ever. Like others say, 1-5 was the best tracks on the album. But also, number 9, 10, and 12 was great too. Their voices, along with their "Begging" type of ways got more and more people to listen to their lyrics, rather than chorus lines. Jodeci did pave the way for today's R&B artists. Jodeci had a tight way to harmonize and they also had nice instruments for the melody and background. I jus don't listen to the song and the lyrics, I also listen for the instruments and changes in notes. Much talent. My favorite track on there is of course "Forever My Lady." Not only is it my favorite track, but also my favorite song. I am also a big Al B.Sure fan also and with him as a co. producer, things were fine. I wish they were to soon reunite, along with the help of Al B.Sure and Babyface to make some more tracks. I'm sure it would be an excellent album. I recomment any R&B lover to buy this album. It's worth the money.

classic
oh how i long for jodeci to come back. They sang such great ballads. this album is a classic.

Romantic SMOOTH R&B from very talented boys!
This is one of the best R&B Groups of the 90's. K-Ci has such a rich deep voice and Jo-Jo makes the songs very emotional. So romantic and great to listen to with a loved one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If his albums are any indication, Van Morrison seems to have bounced betweenreligions like a demented pinball. Amazingly, for a decade that saw the Belfast enigma explore Christianity and Scientology before returning, on Avalon Sunset, to Christianity, Poetic Champions Compose serves as a reminder that Van managed to even cram in an agnostic phase along the way. With this in mind, a desperately bleak version of the folk standard "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" lacerates the heartstrings. But the album shouldn't be assumed by any means to be a depressing affair. Three saxophone instrumentals, including the Miles Davis-influenced "Spanish Steps," lend a crisp Sunday morning feel to much of the proceedings, while "Queen of the Slipstream" and the live favorite "Did Ye Get Healed" suggest that, however bad the crisis of faith was (and the quite awesome preceding album No Guru, No Method, No Teacher suggests it was pretty bad), here is a man ultimately happy to find redemption in a love song.--Peter Paphides ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Ethereal Splendour
This is a most serious work and presents Van Morrison at his introspective best. Album after album, with few exceptions, Van shows that he is one of the most intelligent and deep-thinking singer/songwriters in the business. Poetic Champions Compose is THE cd to pop in when you are in a reflective mood. There is not a weak song on the album. This is not lounge jazz or "soft" jazz. This is blues and jazz for thinking people. My favorites are The Mystery, I Forgot That Love Existed, Give Me My Rapture, and Did Ye Get Healed? The instrumentals are dreamy, the saxophones pouring forth an ethereal splendour. Van Morrison has made so many great albums its impossible to pick a favorite but this mid-period masterpiece surely ranks near the top.

Adult jazz and pop music at it's finest !
When it comes to the music of Van Morrison and your a fan of his style, you almost can't go wrong. Alot of people just dont't dig Van's music and it's a shame. I think people don't like it because they are musically limited and frankly Van's style is just too darn urbane for alot of people. But enough of my preaching I don't agree with what alot of critics said about this 1987 release. They said that compared to "No Guru" from the previous year that this was a lackluster effort. Not neseccerily it just depends what style you like. This album has a smooth polished jazz and adult pop sound to it. Let us begin with "Spanish Steps" this saxophone instrumental is a quite dark and brooding opener for a Van album but it is relaxing like the other 2 instrumentals that follow."Next is The Mystery" that has a nice string arrangement it gives the song Van's special celtic touch. Following is Queen of the Slipstream, good song nice complex melody with nice harp and string arrangements. I forgot that love existed is a song that has a " radio friendly " sound to it the way the sax closes the song sounds cool I wish they would have played that part out longer. The only song I don't care for is "Motherless Child" it is just kind of brooding and too long. But Van really shows his talent on "Celtic Exscavation " a great sax instrumentatl" the ending is pretty moving you can even hear Van grunt at the end of it. I think "Someone like You" is my favorite song on the album (very emotional song) guys if this song doesn't turn a woman on I am not sure what music will. Allan Watts Blues is pretty cool it sounds like it also could have snagged some radio play. Give Me My Rapture is a simple but very enjoyable Gospel number that shows another side of the album. " Did Ye get healed " is really cool as well very enjoyable. The instrumental "Allow Me" closes the album and is very good. It either sounds like a slow dance song or a song you get drunk to like the " Leaving Las Vegas" soundtrack. It is so great I can like music even my parents enjoy and this album is an example of that. Definately worth taking a second look at!

JAZZY, ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC
The instrumental Spanish Steps is the languid jazzy introduction to this album of understated songs. The album takes it name from a line in Queen Of The Slipstream, a gentle ballad with a haunting melody. I Forgot That Love Existed is another jazzy number with gorgeous instrumental flourishes, whilst Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child has more of a soul or R&B feel in its yearning vocals and has something of the same effect as Blind Faith's Can't Find My Way Home. Celtic Excavation is an ethereal and evocative instrumental with tinkling piano and a lovely lilting flow and Someone Like You is a slow and moving love song. My favourites include the bouncy Alan Watts Blues with its twanging guitar and the rhythmic uptempo Give Me My Rapture, a catchy inspirational song with great organ flourishes. The piece Did Ye Get Healed? has swirling female backing vocals and the album concludes with another jazzy instrumental titled Allow Me. The album is quite cohesive in creating a mood of contented contemplation with Morrison's characteristic spiritual undertone. It is probably not considered to be amongst his greatest work, but still a classic in my opinion.

The Most Heard Van
I was a wedding photographer for many years & always tried to keep in touch with the DJ's. If the wedding was with an evangelical couple, this CD was normally played during the reception. This is one of Van's more happier & lighter CD's with love songs galore. Comes right after the more profound "No Guru, No Method, No Teacher" which gives a more quasi-Buddhist/Christian direct mystic appeal. Van Morrison always had the singing voice though very emotional & spiritual, can at times be rather rough & therefore many don't care for his songs. But this CD would be a good starting place to get use to his singing voice & enjoy the many styles & subject matters. Van is in top form with this CD, playing his beloved sax at times with a light jazz feel. Other songs are either R&B or straight ballad music. Try the "Listen to Samples" section, each of the songs are very good, the most famous song from the CD "Someone Like You" is not programmed for you to listen to. I gave this CD a "5" because the whole CD is good all the way through. I like other Van Morison CD's better, but their number would be off the chart.

SOME OF HIS BEST LATTER-DAY COMPOSITIONS AND PERFORMANCES
Van Morrison discs will always retain a professionalism of musicianship and at least one great song. Poetic Champions is one of the latter day Van's best albums because a) he isn't resorting to synthesizers and other "flavor-of-the-week" produciton values that have dated much of his '80s work that would otherwaise be timeless, b) lyrically and musically, he doesn't shy away from sentimentality, but there is a distinct lack of Van's trademark cynicism, and c) it's one of the few examples post-Into theMusic, that Van really does seem to get let the music lead him, rather than the other way around.

The album kicks off with the mellow-jazz lounge instrumental (!) "Spanish Steps". It's followed by one of the BEST all-time devotional songs "The Mystery". Other compositions of romance and renewed faith abound: "Queen of the Slipstream", "I Forgot That Love Existed", "Someone Like You". These songs are all excellent and are unabashed love songs, both joyous and joyful. The other great track here is the cover of the traditional "Motherless Children". Van does a wonderful, inspired reading of this song that has been covered from everyone from Blind Willie Johnson to Eric Clapton.

Of Van's post-1980 work, this and Avalon Sunset are absolute must-owns (Hymns to the Silence and The Healing Game are damn good too). ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Although traces of her synthpop roots certainly showed through, Annie Lennox's solo debut, Diva, made it abundantly clear that her new material would veer away from gender-bending robotics of the early Eurythmics sound and continue toward the more emotionally grounded soul of later releases.On Diva, Lennox infuses each song with tenderly perceptive lyrics, hypnotic rhythms, and irresistibly soulful wailings.Her arrangements are clean and simple, utilizing bare instrumentation and sometimes-languid chord work. The singles "Walking on Broken Glass," "Little Bird," and "Why" became radio mainstays, while gems such as the Eastern-influenced dream ballad "Primitive," the hauntingly autobiographical pop-lament "Legend in My Living Room," and the cheerfully satirical "Keep Young and Beautiful" gave the album a plump maturity. --Sally Weinbach ... Read more

Reviews (93)

She's Got It All!
Most people won't even stop and portray Annie Lennox as a diva, but the truth is that only people with icredible taste can view Annie for the intelligence and beauty she eloquently expresses on this album. On Annie's debut record, she strays as far away from the immature side of herself (which was with Eurythmics), to bring a fresh new image of a woman ready to take the world by storm. Through sultry ballads, to catchy pop songs, Annie's liberal self really shines through (and this is her debut album!). "Why" is probably the most well-written ballads about a relationship gone sour, "Walking On Broken Glass," "Cold," and "The Gift" seem to carry the same emotion, but on a different level, "Precious" will make some happy mothers sing along because this song paints a picture that it's about "joys of motherhood," and so the album carrys on with some very beautiful numbers ("Money Can't Buy It," "Little Bird," "Primitive," and "Stay By Me") and a number that has nostalgia written all over it ("Legend In My Living Room.") So don't you say that Annie Lennox isn't a diva, you have to buy this album and look and the beauty this album possesses, then you tell me.

ESSENTIAL LATE NIGHT LISTENING
ANNIE'S DEBUT SOLO RECORD PREDATES THE CHILLOUT DECADE BY SEVERAL YEARS.ALL THE SONGS SUMMON UP A RELAXED AND DREAMY ATMOSPHERE THAT'S PERFECT FOR THOSE LATE NIGHTS."WHY" STARTS THE SET WITH A GENTLE BOSSA NOVA BEAT AND LUSH KEYS THAT INSTANTLY DRAW YOU TO THEM.THIS ATMOSPHERIC PRESENCE IS FELT ON "LEGEND IN MY LIVING ROOM","PRIMITIVE","THE GIFT"(A SONG ABOUT DAVE STEWART,I THINK) AND THE BEAUTIFUL "COLD".ELSEWHERE THE TONE IS BEEFED UP A LITTLE BIT FOR "PRECIOUS","LITTLE BIRD" AND "WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS".HEARTBREAK AND BETRAYEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MAIN FOCUS IN A LOT OF THE EURYTHMICS SONGS,BUT "DIVA" SHOWS A MORE GENTLE SIDE TO ANNIE'S NATURE."KEEP YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL" IS A REVAMPED CLASSIC COMPLETE WITH VINYL HISS AND STATIC CREATED SPECIALLY FOR HER VERSION,WHERE SHE SINGS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ACCEPTED AND LOVED WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND HAVE YOUR GOOD LOOKS.
THE FINAL HONOURS MUST GO TO "MONEY CANT BUY IT",PROBABLY THE ALBUM'S STRONGEST AND MOST REFLECTIVE TRACK.WHY IT WASN'T A SINGLE RELEASE? I DONT KNOW!...STARTING OFF SLOWLY WITH A HEAVY BASSLINE IT PICKS UP WITH ANNIE'S POWERFUL VOCALS MIDWAY THROUGH EXPRESSING ANGER,JEALOUSY AND DISGUST ALL AT ONCE!
LISTENING TO THE WHOLE ALBUM,YOU CANT HELP BUT BE DRAWN INTO HER WORLD.NO WONDER,SHE'S BEEN CONSISTENTLY VOTED AS BRITAIN'S BEST FEMALE SINGER.A DIVA FOR SURE,ALL THE WAY TO THE BONE!!!!

Annie Lennox's First Solo CD
After being a part of Eurythmics, Annie Lennox created her first solo album, Diva. She is truly a diva, musically far above the rest.

The good: Every song has that unforgettable "Lennox touch". Some songs, such as Why, Stay By Me, and Cold are calm, relaxing songs. Songs like Walking On Broken Glass, Little Bird, and Legend In My Living Room have catchy lyrics, a good, strong beat, and a nice rhythm.

The bad: I fell in love with these songs so much that I over-listened to it. Don't follow in my footsteps, please.

I feel Diva was a wonderful transition between Eurythmics and Annie's solo career. You definitely won't be disappointed when you buy this CD.

BEYOND 5 STARS TO INFINITY!!!!!!
It is obvious that paid critics are still critics and DO NOT reflect what fans and people with taste want!!! Daniel Durchholz's ridiculous accusations and paid reviews fall flat!!! Enough said and you have no merit. DIVA is Annie Lennox's masterpiece and that shows clearly throughout this album. This album introduced and silenced those nay sayers who believed that the former Eurythmics front woman could not cut it. Annie has the intelligence, wisdom and vocal chops that continue to elude about 90% of today's pop startlets!!! Here Annie ranks with the likes of Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin,Joni Mitchell, and perhaps Mariah. One can't help but get lost whether on the raw emmotions of songs like Why? or Walking on Broken Glass. If you are serious about listening to some great music then purchase this album now. I have already worn out my copies and its time for a new one or maybe a back up copy too. Unlike, any starlet here you get an amazing voice, intelligent lyrics written by her, and music that is just timeless.

The Dreams, I'll dream instead...
Annie Lennox is one of the best songwriters in the history of music. I think Annie Lennox, Sting and Seal are (technically) extraordinary writers. And I'm truly ready to defend this album, foremost it is one of the best solo debut albums I have come across. Generally other famous artists like Cher and Madonna (for example) only hit their best chapters nearly 30 years after they initiated their career, and what makes this record so special is that from the beginning Annie Lennox made a great impression on music. However I feel this album features more soul-sounding tunes other than pop tunes like ''Money Can't Buy It''. She carries out the pop tunes in a better manner on her 2003 retail titled ''Bare''.

My Favorite songs are: 1. Why, 9. Stay By Me, 7. Little Bird, 5. Cold, 8. Primitive.

This is a classic record, do yourself a favor and get it, you won't be disappointed. Enjoy!. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Whether she sings string-laden pop ballads, lively soul, or gritty electric blues, James's high-powered, enormously expressive voice displays a knack for passionate blues inflections. Emotionally charged ballads including "At Last" and "All I Could Do is Cry" find James blasting through the orchestra with unearthly wails and moans. "If I Can't Have You," a duet with Harvey Fuqua, drops the orchestra in favor of horn-driven R&B and "Something's Got a Hold On Me" is a gospel-flavored romp reminiscent of Ray Charles. A live version of Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me to Do" shows her raunchiest Chicago-blues style, and "In the Basement," with Sugar Pie DeSanto, is a funky workout. Also here are three classics from her soul-drenched 1967 Muscle Shoals sessions.--Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Great selection (but oh those abrupt fade-outs)
There are numerous repackagings of Etta James' Chess recordings and they all have something to recommend them. As an intro to this great singer's work, however, this collection is hard to beat. All her classics, from the elegant "At Last" to the soulfully rocking "Tell Mama" are included here. No doubt some listeners will prefer one side of her musical personality to another, but her versatility is genuine, and it's impossible to imagine her limiting herself to just one genre. A live version of Jimmy Reed's "Baby, What You Want Me To Do" prefigures her more recent forays into rootsier blues. And "All the Way Down," produced by Gabriel Mekler, has all the funk of a Sly & the Family Stone track. Etta can and does do it all. The only problem with this collection--as one other reviewer has pointed out--is the fact that too many tracks come to an abrupt ending. (You can't even really call them fade-outs: they just stop.) Still it's wonderful to have so much great Etta on one disk, that's something of a quibble. Very good, informative liner notes by Peter Grendysa.

Not only a Drag Queen, but a tremendously gifted singer!
Etta James was born, Joshua James Etters, in Atlanta, Georgia on May 23, 1930. The world now knows him as Etta James, the soulful and powerful voice behind the legendary "background song", AT LAST. When I first heard this beautiful song I was watching television in my Manhattan apartment. It was, as I recall, a commercial for Jaguar Motors. I leaned forward in my chair, stared at my TV and said, "WOW!" It was then and there that I set out to learn all I could about the overweight, poor little farmer's son who grew up to be one of the world's greatest female impersonators...a true drag diva before the word and genre was fashionable. This CD says it all. Lean back and imagine that you are driving your '62 Buick to the Jersey Shore... Kennedy's is President and..."LIFE IS LIKE A SONG".

Miss Peaches Stands Apart From The Crowd
When songwriters Harry Warren and Mack Gordon had their composition At Last become the B-side to the 1942 Glenn Miller # 1 hit (I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo, they probably thought they had died and gone to Heaven. Especially when it too charted at a respectable # 14 with Ray Eberle doing the vocals. A decade later they struck paydirt again when the song was resurrected in the movie Orchestra Wives and then taken to # 2 by Ray Anthony & his orchestra.

But the best was yet to come, and when a 23-year-old from Los Angeles by the name of Jamesetta Hawkins decided to record it in 1961 under her stage name Etta James, from that point on it became HER song. It may not have done as well on the pop charts as the earlier versions [# 47] but it did become a # 2 R&B and is, by any standard, the best version of that enduring love song.

Her career had actually commenced in 1955 when, at age 17, she recorded an "answer" song to the 1954 # 1 R&B hit Work With Me Annie by The Midnighters [Hank Ballard and crew]. Also known as Roll With Me Henry, and with Richard Berry providing the bass male vocal, it too reached # 1 R&B early in 1955 as The Wallflower as by Etta James and "The Peaches" [hence the later nickname]. That same year Georgia Gibbs would have a # 1 pop with it as Dance With Me Henry.

Later that year she would have her second hit single when Good Rockin' Daddy climbed to # 8 R&B with the backing of The Dreamers, a group that included the great Jesse Belvin, and Maxwell Davis & His Orchestra.

Personal problems then set in, and Etta would be off the charts until early 1960 when she returned with the stirring ballad All I Could Do Was Cry, which scored on both the R&B [# 2] and pop [# 33] charts. And from there right through to 1976 she would be seldom off the charts, racking up another 27 R&B hits and putting 26 more on the pop charts.

This CD gives you the best of those along with nine pages of liner notes by Peter Grendysa of Words On Music Ltd., a partial discography of the contents [no chart information], and two more nice photographs of Etta, who was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1993.

Just 65 years old, Etta is still wowing them in personal appearances. This is a must-have compilation for any true R&B fan.

The place to start
This is the bare essentials. For those wishing to sample Etta James Hawkins' classic period at Chess Records without going for the box set anthology, this single-disc is the perfect purchase.

Featuring 20 of the tracks that appear on the double-disc "The Essential Etta James", without anything literally essential left off, this is the one-stop, first-time purchase for those who wish to sample Etta's mixture of soul, R&B, blues and, well, pop.
4 1/2 stars. There is no better starting place than this.

Etta rocks!!
This Cd is great.Etta can really wail out a tune and put so much emotion into every song.All the songs on this disc are great.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

NOT the 80s!!!
Just listened to my friend's CD. This was NOT the 80s I remember. This compilation is the kind of lowest of lowest common denominator garbage that gives the 80s a bad name. Unfortunately there are few alternative collections that roll together the true new wave groundbreakers, godfathers of electronica, and pre-90s alt rocker forebears that made the 80s a phenominal time for good middle-of-the-road pop rock - no such thing even exists today. The radio is full of teeny-bopper pop, rap, or classic rock. Please Music Industry, help us!!!

How can it be 2003 now??? Where did my youth go?
Yes, I am too old for teenie bopping now, but I can listen to this and bring it all back ike it was yesterday. I close my eyes and my hair still shines, there are no crows feet threatening my eye area and my thighs are an acceptable size. Nice selection of hits from the 80s. Sit back and enjoy

Great CD
I love this cd. There are many different types of eighties. If you feel like a ballad there is one if not you can find something fast. Its has many of the songs you love and some you never really heard but sre still great.

A Couple Radio Edits Apparent
Ah, the 80s-a musical era filled with big hair, candy-fluorescent-colored music videos, and some of the most high-style, low-substance pop tunes ever recorded. But in spite of these apparent drawbacks, I found quite a few tracks on this collection of Reagan-era pop-charting tunage to be a reasonably enjoyable and nostalgic diversion. Heck, just listenin' to the first disc alone took me back to those lazy days when I'd veg out to the playlist of the local Top-40 station!

Sadly, although I loved more than a few of the cuts in this collection, I made the sad discovery that at least two of the tunes-- Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' and Paul Young's 'Every Time You Go Away'-are not the LP renditions. I'm sure a few of the other tracks in this set are the radio edit versions as well, though I couldn't tell ya exactly which ones. Needless to say, if you're a stickler for owning the entire uncut tune, I recommend you look elsewhere...

'Late

80's Pop Hits
Never heard of the songs on the 3rd CD? Whoever said they didn't hear of the 3rd CD must not have been listening too closely. The songs on these THREE CDs are great!!! I was stationed overseas during most of the 80's and heard every song played on the Armed Forces Radio Network. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After a decade and a half of only making records that tickled his own eccentric fancy, Prince has returned with a rather high-minded agenda to educate listeners in the science of music--or at least take them back to school--make that old school, bragging on the title track that "We got a Ph.D. in advanced body movin'." But his braggadocio is not without merit. The Purple One has reconnected with that deep vein of funk after experimenting with his splendid and messy excesses since the cusp of the nineties, and turned out his best album since 1987's Sign of the Times. Lean and minimal but with pronounced airtight grooves, the musician once again fuses the spiritual with the carnal, but has turned down the heat quite a bit since becoming a Jehovah's Witness. Instead of a dirty mind, Prince extols the joys of wedded bliss (he married Manuela Testolini on New Year's Eve 2001) on the slow, seductive "Call My Name," displays a sardonic sense of humor when he skewers his old 80s rival Michael Jackson on "Life O The Party" (My voice is getting higher/I ain't never had my nose done), and shows a rather tart and anxious social conscience throughout the disc; most eloquently articulated on the arch and acerbic "Mr. Man" where he not only references the gospel but the U.S. Constitution. "Cinnamon Girl," which borrows its title from Neil Young's infamous seventies anthem comes closest to the inscrutable musician's former high water marks, and shows that Prince well deservedly is able to reclaim his thorny crown. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (232)

Prince Is Striking Back With Musicology!!!!
Well, after Prince released the 56-minute, jazz instrumental EP, N.E.W.S, I thought that he was going in different and new directions in music. I also thought that he was straying away from pop, funk, R&B, and rock. With the release of his new album, Musicology, it seems that Prince returns to his rock, pop, and R&B formula. Musicology is the album listeners and fans have been waiting for Prince to deliver. This 12-track, rock and soul affair, is a pleasant and satisfying release. The title track, "Musicology" is a upbeat, funky, and humorous tribute to old-school funk artists like Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown, and Earth, Wind, & Fire. It's probably one of the best tunes on here. Then, there's "Illusion, Coma, Pimp, and Circumstance", which is a funky, head-nodding track that is about a white girl that can't dance, but she still pays out for the funk. "A Million Days" is a rock song with bluesy lyrics, yet it sounds like an ordinary rock opera. "Life 'O' The Party" is a funky, party jam with a somewhat off-key rhythm. "Call My Name" is a decent slow jam, but I consider it as a small filler-track. "Cinnamon Girl" is a so-called rock anthem, in my opinion. It's the best straight rock tune on Musicology. The song, itself, has some well-crafted hooks. "The Marrying Kind" and "If Eye Was The Man In Ur Life" are both uninteresting to me, but they both have great, well-balanced rhythms and beats. "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?" is smooth R&B track that has Prince playing an old 1980's, Linn drum machine. I first heard this track on his website, www.npgmusicclub.com. The song is one of my personal favorites on this album. "On The Couch" is another blues-type track. The song has a gospel sound in it. "Dear Mr. Man" is a catchy, soulful tune that has Prince approaching into the President's policies and other social problems. The closing, "Reflection" is a beautiful yet, mellow acoustic tune. All in all, Musicology is a great album, but it doesn't break any new ground. You get 49 minutes of new, well-balanced material. All I can say is that some fans or listeners will love this effort, some may hate it. It's probably his best effort since Rave Un 2 The Joy Fantastic from 1999 or even the triple-album, Emancipation from 1996. It's demanding to think that he hasn't recorded a great album in probably 10 or 15 years, but Musicology is nevertheless, a return to form album. So, buy it, listen, and enjoy. A-

Prince back on top!
Prince is back on top of the charts again with Musicology!
I love it!

With "Musicology," Prince does what his many detractors -- pretty much the entire community of critics, radio tastemakers and pop-culture gatekeepers -- believed was beyond his present-day capability: He crafts a disciplined pop-rock-soul statement that's fun from start to finish and doesn't require a fan club decoder ring to appreciate.

It's got crazily catchy hooks and moments of unexpected euphoric bliss. It takes swipes at Prince's rival in weirdness, Michael Jackson ("My voice is gettin' higher and I ain't never had my nose done," he sings in "Life of the Party"). And it delivers slivers of showstopping guitar cast in contrasting shades, from the metallic crunch of "Cinnamon Girl" to the liquid jazz that enriches the gentle bossa "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?"

In songs that resist overt religious proclamations and outright booty calls while flirting, as ever, with both extremes, Prince comes close to the fireworks-erupting energy of old. He looks to his "Purple Rain" heyday, then back further to display a formidable command of music history. There's a minute of ripping avant-jazz swing appended to the otherwise uneventful "If I Was the Man in Ur Life," and those organ chords of "On the Couch" align with the Sam Cooke gospel phase.

But he never succumbs to outright nostalgia. His vamps are as dense and culturally diverse (sitar over here, turntables there) as those of OutKast. His melodies are endlessly inventive when compared with the drooled sweet-nothings of the celebrated neo-soul crooners.

It's possible to read "Musicology" as not merely late-innings career reclamation, which it surely is, but as Prince's periodic table, a codification of funk's essential elements. The creator of "Soft and Wet" and "Gett Off" has appointed himself a Wynton Marsalis-style conservator of all that's "true" about funk. He connects the slow-cooking rituals of groove associated with Eddie Hazel-era P-Funk to the age of spotless and symmetrical computer music. He finds new application for the restraint that made James Brown a drama machine. He recasts Sly Stone utopianism in a language the hip-hop fringe can understand.

The pan-generational lunge works because it's based on the old-school ideal: Everything's so tightly wound it squeaks, each instrument contributes just what's necessary and nothing more. After years of struggle, Prince has decided that revisiting the past doesn't have to be a craven glory-grab. You hear the razor-sharp sounds, and fleeting mention of "terror wars," and you begin to think that the old purple eccentric hasn't lost it after all. Then you hear him utter the rallying cry "Watch me now," and for all his romantic, self-referential yammering about "the day," it's clear that this guy has his feet planted firmly in the present

Prince is the prince!
I love tha album Musicology and the video!

Ingredients Are Missing
Almost every song made me think of a different era in Prince's evolution. I kept thinking this song sounds like he wrote it when this or that cd came out. The songs reminded me of old Prince without the edge, the power, the raw sexiness, the oomph. Someone called Musicology Prince lite. I concur. He needs to go back deep himself and find that old recipe. No carb free zone in my headphones!

he's still great, but...
I miss the raunchiness. This is Prince "lite" for some kind of New Age meets airy funk something or other...

Prince needs to stick with what got him here - lustiness, edgy lyrics and real wild funk. Taking tea with Kenny G was not what I was expecting with this one! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' 25-cut disc is the single mostimpressive one of Motown's Ultimate Collection series (which features 17artists). Combining Smokey's endlessly inventive twists on romance (good andbad) with the Miracles' handful of straight-up party hits, it showcases one ofAmerican pop's most sure-footed and touching acts. The frontman's prowess assinger, writer, and producer lights up each of these single mixes;less-celebrated tracks like "My Girl Has Gone," "(You Can) Depend on Me," and"The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" stand as tall as the many oldies-radiostaples featured here. (For much more, including "Mirage's" unstoppable flipside, "Come Spy with Me," check out the four-disc 35th Anniversary box set.)Robinson and his collaborators, both in and out of the group, regularly injectedundeniable emotion into their creamy constructions, making for a stack of tracksthat remain as relevant as the contemporary creations of fans Lennon-McCartney and Bob Dylan.--Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (20)

No question about it....still the best collection available
Checked out all of the other available offerings on amazon.com and found that this is still the best available collection from one of the pioneer groups at Motown. And the price is right too. Although Smokey Robinson and the Miracles were never on Motown's "A" team in terms of chart success, they were nonetheless a reliable money maker for the label for over a decade. Lead singer Smokey Robinson, who wrote all but three of the selections on this disc, has long been regarded as one of America's greatest tunesmiths. From the first big smash "Shop Around" released in 1960 until their the final #1 hit "Tears of A Clown" in 1970, the Miracles were on the charts almost continuously. You'll find nearly all of their hits on this 25 track disc. Among my personal favorites are 1967's "More Love" and "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" from 1969. It is really quite amazing that the Miracles did not achieve even more chart success then they did. Thanks to the masterful pen of Smokey Robinson, the group had a seemingly endless supply of material to work with. Alas, Smokey left the Miracles and went solo in 1972. The Miracles went on to have a couple of more big hits over the next few years. And Smokey enjoyed some chart success on his own as well. In looking over some of the other reviews here on amazon.com the verdict is virtually unanimous. This is a five star selection!!!

CLASSIC MOTOWN
Smokey Robinson is what Bob Dylan described as "the greatest living poet". Whether you agree or disagree, this compilation album easily gives you an understanding of that statement as the vast majority of these tracks remain stunningly unique!Robinsons' vocals are crystal claear throughout and the best of the hits include their first single release, SHOP AROUND, YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME, I SECOND THAT EMOTION and the two very fine classics that are possibly their very best cuts (certainly amongst their most famous), THE TRACKS OF MY TEARS and THE TEARS OF A CLOWN. The classic sound of Motown was defined by groups like Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and Robinson was one of the most talented songwriters at Motown. He produced most of Diana Ross and the Supremes early recordings as well as major hits for The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and The Supremes (their 1972 FLOY JOY album). An excellent compilation from one of Motowns best groups!

Undeniably "miraculous!"
Certainly, a fitting compilation of the group's best songs! These aren't all in chronological order like some of the other "Ultimate Collections" are. That shouldn't detract from your enjoyment, though. That matters the least. I don't thank Motown missed anything when this was being put together. For someone young, I know Smokey and the Miracles well, and there are some songs I never heard of. Those were remarkable, too. It felt like the disc was never going to end. 25 songs is a perfect line-up. This is certainly one of the best Motown "Ultimate Collections." Second my emotion, for it's worth your while!

being related to Smokey's best friend makes this even cooler
Smokey Robinson is best friends with my grandpa, Ronald Welser.
I got to hear this pre-release due to this fact.
It is awesome.
Buy it NOW if you like Smokey.

An interesting Motown group
In Britain, Smokey and the Miracles are remembered primarily for two songs, these being Tracks of my tears (later revived by Linda Ronstadt) and Tears of a clown, but they were more successful in their homeland. Among their American hits to be found on this collection are I second that emotion (later revived by the Supremes and Temptations), Shop around (later revived by Captain and Tennille), Mickey's monkey and You've really got a hold on me. All of those hits came in the early sixties, before Motown's success spread internationally.

Smokey was a prolific songwriter, but as the sixties progressed, he gave many of his best songs to other Motown acts, so hits for his own group tended to be smaller and fewer. The last significant American hits they had together were If you can wait, which just missed the American top ten in 1968, and Tears of a clown, which was actually released on an album in 1967 but became a transatlantic number one in 1970. So their biggest hit came at a time when they were a fading attraction. It did not revive their career, which ended as a unit with 1972's We've come too far to end it now.

A separate compilation in the same series is available of Smokey's solo recordings with Motown. Being with you and other solo gems can be found on that compilation. So, this excellent collection of their best songs together includes all the essentials, something that cannot be said of all the compilations in this series. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Another Marvin Gaye overview/introduction? Why not? Pullingtogether the usual hits from "I'll Be Doggone" to "Grapevine," "What'sGoing On" to "Let's Get It On" to "Sexual Healing"--all musts for anyR&B or pop fan--this two-CD set also offers treats for the Marvinconnoisseur. Foremost are the previously unreleased "Where Are WeGoing?" which marries Nixon-era (and beyond) social concerns to alilting groove that brings to mind Spinners records ofthe period, and an alternate mix of Gaye's rare version of "His Eye Ison the Sparrow." Very Best also pays proper tribute to Gaye'sfinal years at Motown with the full 11-plus minutes of the intensely,casually funky "Got to Give It Up," Here, My Dear'ssmoldering "Anger," and several tracks from the under-heard LoveMan/In Our Lifetime sessions. More than just aprofit-generating package from the parent company, it's a loving, roundedselection that's sure to widen newcomers' perceptions of a greatartist's creativity and spirit. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Mercy, Mercy Me these discs are a great compilation
Marvin Gaye wrote the book of Motown. He brought style. He brought millions of fans to his side, and to Motown. His music has come in handy lately in the hard times America is going through right. His song "What's going on" was done by twenty or so artists in different ways and made into a cd benefiting victims of September 11. Remember the crazy clothing, the high platform boots. Remember his music. Remember him. Think what one song has done to help our nation. This cd brings out all his qualities. His first disc of the pair portrays the love appeal with 'Ain't no mountain high enough', "I heard it through the grapevine' and 'To busy thinkin' 'bout my baby' and others. The second disc has more insightful, deep songs like 'Inner City Blues' 'Where are we going' and 'What's going on'. It has the sex appeal in 'Let's get it on' and 'Sexual Healing'. And of course the a girl-heartthrob song 'Distant Lover' This awesome album brings out the best attributes in the legendary Marvin Gaye.

Beautiful, Definitive, Fantastic¿ the best ever Compilation
What can I say. There has never been such a beautiful Marvin Gaye compilation. I've owned every LP, CD and DVD. This is the nicest thing I've ever seen on Marvin. But nuff about me. The sound quality on this-the remastering-is sensational in every way. I hear things I never heard on songs like "Grapevine," "Hitch Hike," "You," "What's Going On," "Inner City Blues," the list goes on. Also offered here for the first time are two previously unreleased songs. The newly discovered "Where Are We Going?" and the alternate version of the rare gem "His Eye Is On The Sparrow." Plus other rarities like the single only releases "You're The Man" and "Ego-Tripping Out." Another MAJOR point is that aside from the out-of-print boxed set "The Master," the is the only Motown compilation that has the CBS track-and final masterpiece from MG- "Sexual Healing." So you get EVERY HIT on these double CD set. Deluxe, beautiful digipak packaging (with photos I have never seen before) done by the same guys who brought us the other jewel of the year, "What's Going On (Deluxe Edition)." These are by far the best Marvin Gaye releases ever. Pick the latter up if you haven't done that yet. You will LOVE the unreleased, new song "Where Are We Going?" It sounds like it was recorded yesterday. The wonderful essay by Gaye biographer (and "Sexual Healing" author) David Ritz should not be overlooked. very refreshing. This CD is for all ages and colors.

The Best Marvin Gaye Retrospective
It took Motown nearly 20 years to finally get it right, and release the first career spanning collection of Marvin Gaye's music. It begs the question one question, however: what took them so long? Marvin Gaye was arguably the most influential rhythm and blues artist of his generation and this moderately priced 29 track double C.D. is the best retrospective of Gaye's work. It is the only "Best of" CD that will aquaint the casual fan with the scope of Marvin's career. There are some unreleased treats for the collector, but the avid fan will want it because it's the first comprehensive set of Marvin's hits since the refinement of digital technology. Many of Marvin's early hits were actually mixed through car radio speakers, so they would sound good on an AM car radio, which was the primary method of marketing music in the early sixties. The muddy mixes of many of Marvin's early hits are cleaned up, and the upper and lower registers of don't "bleed" into mid range sounds.

Marvin Gaye acquired and lost three monetary fortunes during his 23 year musical career. Each time Marvin was confronted with failure, he successfully reinvented himself and gained an even wider following. He became the first black popular music performer to gain complete artistic control over his work, which laid a blueprint for independence to guide other black artists, most notably fellow Motown musician, Stevie Wonder. Marvin Gaye introduced topical and political commentary into his music with his transcendental 1971 album, "What's Going On." Curtis Mayfield may have predated Gaye in the use of social commentary, but no album produced, before or since, has carried the stunning immediacy of "What's Going On." It has become an artistic benchmark by which all other musical accomplishments have been measured.

"The Very Best of Marvin Gaye" doesn't overlook any aspect of Marvin's multifaceted career. The dapper young star of the Motown stable with a string of AM radio hits, his successful pairing with Tami Terrell and Kim Weston for duet albums, his stellar 1970s career as both a protest artist and singer of jazz infused love ballads and his final incarnation as the sleek singer of "Sexual Healing" in his trademark smoking jacket. Marvin Gaye lived in an era that produced the most talented rhythm and blues singers in history. In the ten year span from 1963 until 1973 artists like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Al Green were either emerging or established performers.

Despite all of his personal demons, Marvin Gaye's career spanned well into the 1980s, when most of his peers from the golden age of soul had either died prematurely or had developed a formulatic approach by using the same production template for every album. Marvin refused to use a cookie cutter approach. Marvin Gaye wasn't afraid of taking chances, reinventing himself and redefining his artistry.

Excellent career-spanning compilation
This comprehensive collection contains all Marvin's important American hits as well as highlighting other aspects of his music, including his political songs of the seventies. His British hits were sometimes different from his American hits. Three UK top ten hits are missing, though as this is an American compilation, there is no reason why they should have been included. Abraham Martin and John was an American hit for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - perhaps it was felt that Marvin's version was better for the UK market. You are everything, a duet with Diana Ross, made the UK top five. Onion song, a duet credited as being with Tammi Terrell but recorded with a stand-in, made the UK top ten.

The classic American hits (not all of which charted in Britain) are all here including Can I get a witness, How sweet it is, I'll be doggone, Ain't that peculiar, I heard it through the grapevine, Too busy thinking about my baby, That's the way love is. What's going on, Mercy mercy me, Trouble man, Let's get it on and Got to give it up. Some of his duets are here, too, including Ain't no mountain high enough, Your precious love, If I could build my whole world around you, Ain't nothing like the real thing, You're all I need to get by (all with Tammi Terrell) and It takes two (with Kim Weston).

Marvin always considered himself a balladeer like Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole rather than a typical R+B singer, but his early attempts to establish himself in this role were not a success. Eventually, he did gain acceptance as a balladeer after proving that he could do the R+B material - compare his definitive version of I heard it through the grapevine with the Gladys Knight version, released a year earlier. Marvin actually recorded the song before Gladys but Berry Gordy initially rejected his version. It shows what perseverance can do.

Marvin once again had Berry Gordy worried when he completed his anti-Vietnam album, What's going on. Motown had always been primarily a singles label so this album was completely alien to the marketing department, although it appears that many people at Motown loved it. Once again, Marvin was right. The album was a huge success and three of its tracks are here - they are the first three on CD 2.

This double-CD is a nice introduction to the music of Marvin Gaye, one of the finest soul singers of the twentieth century.

The Very Best of Marvin Gaye
probably one of the very best of all cds, ever. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Potential surpassed the actual product
To say that I was looking forward to "Motown Remixed" is an understatement. Having been a Motown fan since the early 1960s, I was excited to hear the reworkings of classic Motown songs.
First off, let me say that if you go to ITunes, the best songs mixed for this project were left off of the CD but are included on ITunes as "Bonus Tracks." These include The Four Tops on "Reach Out I'll Be There," Martha Reeves and the Vandellas' "(Love Is Like a) Heatwave," and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell on "Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing." Why these were left off in favor of the really bland work that was included on the release is beyond me.
Just so one reading this doesn't think I am a purist who doesn't believe in tampering with a classic, please understand I have been pleased with past remixes. In the last year alone, ALMIGHTY RECORDS remixed the Supremes "You Keep Me Hangin' On" (an edit version of which was included on the U.S. Version of Diana Ross & the Supremes "#1's) and Diana Ross & the Supremes "Love Child." Both of these remixes are light years superior to the sleep-inducing remix of the girls' "My World Is Empty Without You" that is featured on "Motown Remixed." The U.K. release of "Motown Remixed" is supposed to include the 70s' lineup Supremes "Stoned Love." My expectations have been significantly lowered that I won't expect anything from that track either.
The remixes on the U.S. release of "Motown Remixed" do nothing to add to the original luster of these songs, and only detract from them. I found myself expecting something exciting from the remixes of such tracks as Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," but, alas, it was not to be. Most of the tracks don't deliver any punch. I feel as though I am listening to great songs that have been put through the deflavorizing machine. Instead of bringing new sounds and technology to performances -- some of which are now 40 years old -- they sound like they've been given tranquilizers. Some extra vocals have been unearthed for the two Jackson Five offerings. Perhaps Motown will release CD-singles with extra versions of these remixes that might offer some salvation for this project, but I am not holding my breath.
Be careful of some of the review on this page. They are reviewing Motown songs and then they call the songs by the wrong title. Clearly not someone familiar with the Motown catalog.
Save your money. Don't buy the album. But download the bonus tracks from ITunes. Then go to the Almighty's website and get the full-length remixes of "Love Child" and "You Keep Me Hangin' On."

Your Favorite Motown Hits Remixed!
I happened to be in a local music store (FYE) and they were playing a remix of classic Motown songs. The salesman showed me the collection amptly named "Motown Remixed". The songs have all been updated and are given a whole new feel many with new beats and music much like the popular Verve Remixed series. Many of the songs are also longer than their original counterparts. Lovers of the "original" versions may scuff at these versions but I think the whole "remix" idea shows you just how good these songs were. What really comes across are the vocals, they stand out even more than ever. Good examples are Gladys Knight & The Pips "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On", The Jackson's "ABC", Rare Earth's "I Just Want Celebrate" (which has been stripped down considerably from it's original version), The Temptations "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", Edwin Star's "War" (given a house feel), Diana Ross & The Supremes "My Life Is Empty Without You" (slowed down to a ballad), Smokey Robinson & The Miracles "Tears Of A Clown" (also stripped down with a hip hop feel) plus more. Note: There's also a cd of this collection that includes only the original versions instead of remixes.

'Mixed' Blessing?
For the most part, "Motown Remixed" is an attempt to redesign classic Motown anthems to give them a more modern and sometimes Neo-Soul feel. From the remix of "Let's Get It On" which had been receiving significant airplay among adult-leaning R & B stations for over six months to the new mix of "Papa Was a Rolling Stone", this appears to be the over-riding consideration. One of the only musical missteps occurs on a revamping of "War" which should stand as it stood when it first made waves: as an ominous and foreboding anthem. On "Motown Remixed" it appears light and airy.


Prior to the set's release, there was a great deal of buzz among Motown savants about the direction of the remixes. Many were speculating - including excited Ross faithful - that it would have a similar bent to recent remixes assigned to old Diana Ross/Supremes numbers which appeared on vinyl compilations pressed in England which sported dance beats, but that proved not to be the case, but Ross faithful can celebrate that the biggest transformation of any song on "Motown Remixed" is of the classic "My World is Empty Without You".

While fans of Ross can will indulge in the smooth slow jam, fans of Mary and Florence will likely be less receptive to this reworking as it appears the role of Diana Ross dominates. In the case of the original, throughout the entire song the sweet harmonies of Mary and Flo were woven within with great nuance. Here, it is as if at only selected points within the song - maybe 3 or 4 times-Mary and Flo are heard as window dressing.

This is likely to disappoint many Supremes fans who wish the legacy left behind by all three women remain preserved and that it not once again threatened to be overshadowed by what many feel was Diana Ross' own presence as a worldwide solo star.

While the Supremes' legacy is represented, sadly the legacy of Motown's second-biggest girl group Martha and the Vandellas is not honored on this set whose mission appears to be toreintroduce classic songs to a to R and B fans. Though a remix of "Heatwave" was commissioned, it is only available on itunes as a download - not on the actual CD release.

Fans of Miss Reeves may indeed feel it is a slight to Martha that the Supremes receive their rightful spot yet Martha and the Vandellas are nowhere to be found. In terms of preserving a legacy in the minds of Martha's fans, this omission likely reminds her fans of how in other ways Martha has been alleged to have had to play second fiddle to Diana Ross and the Supremes.

When Martha had to surrender involuntarily the hitmaking machine Holland-Dozier-Holland who up to a certain point in her career had been her magical hitmaking machine exclusively until Berry Gordy wanted to jumpstart the Supremes as a singles act and instructed HDH to use that magic on Diana Ross and the Supremes, Martha has hinted in the E! True Hollywood Story on Ross that Martha and the Vandellas began to suffer.

Further making matters worse in 2005 is that the group Rare Earth appears on "Motown Remixed" set with a second-rate song and Martha is not here. Hopefully, Martha will receive her rightful place in upcoming volumes should this set prove commercially successful - given the moderate success of the Gaye radio cut introducing the set, hopefully people will be ready to investigate.

'Must Hear Music', no matter WHO you are!
You probably don't remember where you were when you first heard a Motown song. After all, what's known as the 'Motown Sound' has been so thoroughly embedded into the psyche of music lovers on planet Earth that you'd be hard pressed to find a canon of artistic expression as regularly underrated and overlooked as the label that Gordy built.

Consistently and positively impacting the morphing musical landscape of the world for nigh on 45 years is no small feat... and yet many people seem to feel that they've heard everything Motown could possibly throw at them.

That's exactly what makes the transformative experience of listening to Motown Remixed such an outright joy.

See, I DO remember where I was when I first heard 'I Want You Back'. I was nine and MJs voice was blasting out of a boombox slung over the shoulder of a kid riding by on a bike in my neighborhood. (Boomboxes were the iPods of the late `70s, kids...). In the time it took him to pedal past my block, I heard the last part of the first verse and most of the chorus. It stopped me dead in my tracks and prompted me to go ask my older brother who sang the song, then to save my money and buy a J5 record as soon as possible.

The fact that the producers of Motown Remixed chose I Want You Back as the opening salvo of this head-spinning set is certainly no surprise. What IS surprising is the fact that hearing Z-Trip's reverential yet radical reworking of the classic stopped me in my tracks ALL OVER AGAIN. I got **bleep**ing goosebumps when he dropped the beat. I kid you, not.

The entire CD is filled with moments like that. Each remixer was apparantly chosen for their own unique style and paired with an appropriate song, to great effect. The way Hank Shocklee approaches Undisputed Truth's 'Smiling Faces' couldn't be more different from the way Green Lantern molds Rick James' 'Mary Jane' but it's quite clear that both men hold these songs very close to their hearts and were intent on creating something epic that could live up to the lofty standards set by the legends who provided the source material.

Conceptualizing this project was probably a no-brainer. However, stepping up to the plate is only the first step in hitting it out of the park. Much like a world champion sports team, the crew assembled on Motown Remixed seems to have been selected not only for their raw talent but more importantly their ability to function as a cohesive unit, working toward the same goal - namely, paying homage to the venerable American institution of Motown while simultaneously making you shake your thing.

Motown Remixed is (to complete the analogy) a thundering grand slam of a CD that should not be missed by anyone who is a fan of the original versions of the songs or is just a fan of good music in general.

It is 'must hear music' that belongs in your collection no matter who you are. ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Long Over-due Remastering Worth The Wait
At Last!Stevie Wonder's four "70's Power Albums" get a serious digital makeover.For years the CDs sounds as if they're from a fourth generation master,let alone the original album packaging being chopped up for its smaller predecessor.After hearing At The Close Of A Century and it remastered sound on many tracks,the treatment for Talking Book was around the corner.Not only does it sounds as if I'm in Electric Lady studios(among others) but the packaging includes the original notes,lyrics as well as the translation of the braile message originally inside the gatefold.As for the songs,the clavinets sounds more squashy(Maybe Your Baby)and sinister(Superstition),while the synths on Blame It On The Sun(my favorite song of all time)makes the sadness prevelent in the songs lyrics even more deeper.The jazz inflections in You've Got It Bad Girl and Lookin' For Another Pure Love sound sharper now making you wish Stevie play this type of music more often.You & I ,already remastered for the recent boxed set finally does away with the left channel glitch after the "Don't Worry What Happens To Me"line.Kudos to Harry Weinger for his research as well as Kevin Reeves for his remastering job.Now Talking Book speaks in a more beautiful sound.

Stevie Wonder- Talking Book (1972, Universal)
Musical genius Stevie has made himself even more popular with the song 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life' & 'Superstition', but the main highlight songs here are 'You And I', 'Youve Got it Bad, Girl', 'Lookin For Another Pure Love' & 'Blame it On the Sun'. Almost with the same mood as "Music of My Mind" with some depressing, slow songs, Talking Book is the second Stevie CD in my collection and I love the album very much. It's very good and, like usual, is full of powerful messages, but not like 'Innervisions'. More people prefer "Innervisions" & "Songs in the Key of Life". My personal favorites are "You've Got it Bad, Girl", "You and I" & "Blame it on the Sun". "Blame it on the Sun" is the saddest song ever made in music history (with "Hero of Heroes" from the "Swordsman 2" movie starring Jet Li as being the second saddest song) & I cry and get very emotional every time I hear "Blame it on the Sun"!

Stevie on 'The Next Level'
Having finally been allowed the freedom to record the kind of music he wanted to with 1971s 'Music Of My Mind', Stevie Wonder came back in 1972 to build on that foundation with 'Talking Book'.

This album is another great capsule of Wonders inventive & individual style. The man really had a style all to himself back then & with this album takes himself to the next level. 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' is a classic love groove that kicks things off, and 'Superstition' rides one of the greatest guitar riffs that was ever recorded. From front to back the production is awesome, slick keyboard melodies & guitars, with bongo-based beats. My personal cut has to be the bouncy 'Maybe Your Baby', a great fonk number. 'Big Brother' is another inventive cut with its heavy drums and harmonica based groove.

Stevie Wonders sound is just undeniable to me. The man created an awesome body of work in the 70s and this is another of those classic Must Own albums.

It don't get much better than this.
If you don't have this in your collection, BUY THIS ALBUM!!!

And then go straight to track 9 - Looking for another love.
If only I could write stuff like this. The structure and composition of this album is pure genius. Obviously Stevie was going through a tough time when he made this album, and every emotion comes through when he sings.

I love this album. It's one of those albums that you just never get tired of playing.

I believe...
I first became interested in this music upon hearing the closing track to the film "High Fidelity," which is "I believe (&c)," the last track on this disc as well. I had heard "Superstition" before on the radio, and I liked the sound of that track as well. So I sprung for it, and it has become one of my favorite records (I orginally got it on vinyl, then on CD) of all time. While people tell me that "Innervisions" is the one essential Stevie release, with "Songs in the Key of Life" in second place, I put this one above both. It sounds rawer than either, more unpredictable, yet with a nice studio polish that can be expected from Stevie's work. It's a rock album as much as it is a soul album, and it can also be deeply political ("Big Brother" has new relevancy in the age of the erosion of our civil rights). It's full of feeling, love and creativity. It's really too bad Stevie couldn't keep this quality up after "Key of Life," but the fact that anyone could produce an album this consistently good is amazing. It's in my top-ten list folks, and may be in yours if you give it a chance. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sam Harris has always had a powerhouse voice that raises the roof as well as an honesty that touches the soul, so it seems natural that the former Star Search champion should strike a winning note with his 1999 gospel/inspirational album, Revival.The album had its genesis when Harris's performance of "Bridge over Troubled Water" on The Oprah Winfrey Show prompted the host to declare, "Sam could make Jesus walk through the door!" That Paul Simon standard is included with other familiar tunes such as "Peace Train" and Rockapella's "A Change in My Life" (which features the a cappella quintet as Harris's backup band). "Love Letter" delivers a great funky beat, and "The Rescue" is a spare ballad that works beautifully in contrast to the high-energy tunes. Harris himself contributes two songs, the lovely, yearning "Holding On" and the rousing title tune, while David Friedman's "I'll Be Here with You" is Harris's tender farewell to his longtime collaborator Laurie Beechman following her tragic death from cancer. --David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (109)

Revival Fever Runs Rampant!
Once in every generation a singer comes along that captures the pure emotion that music is! It requires a soulful presence, a mastery of control and emotion that is beyond belief. The singer for this generation is Sam Harris!

The way Sam interprets the songs on "Revival", is unparallelled, unequaled, in all of music. You hear the pain, the joy, the fear, the hope pouring from his heart and his soul in each note.

Over the course of 16 years we have been witness to the growth and maturation of this artist, from the Star Search stage to Internation Acclaim! His uncompromising approach of pouring his all into his music reaches the soul of listeners and pulls them into his joy, ecstasy and passion as he powers the soul through every emotion that God held in His heart at the beginning of time.

"The Cirle" is the epitome of this CD. It's message of new beginnings so appropriate for Sam's beginning again, "Revivalized" and bursting with the power and the splendor that we have come to expect from the Ultimate Artist. Excellent! A must have for any true music lover, and a standard by which all future artists will be measured.

No other entertainer can match the range of this talented young man. No one else can grip the soul of the listener and require him or her to touch the song in the ways that music has always craved.

A powerful and complete experience.

Good, but could've been better.......
Sam's latest CD, "Revival" is a mixed bag of songs that could have used a little fine-tuning. As evidenced on earlier recordings, Mr Harris has an incredible voice, but doesn't always pick the best material to showcase his talents. There are a handful of stand-out tracks here, ("Come to Me", "The Circle", and "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" being among them), but for every great song, there seems to be one of lesser quality thrown in the mix as well. "Giving It Up for Your Love" is one of those throw-away tunes that sounds like it was composed in 5 minutes or less. (featuring this Shakespearean-like lyric......"giving it up for your love, everything......giving it up for your love, right now......" (egad.....) "Love Letter" seems to suffer a similar fate, but I won't quote any of it's memorable lyrics here. Another oddity is "Holding On", written by Sam, himself. Long-time fans who own Sam's 1986 release, "SAM I AM", will remember the song, "Don't Wanna Give Up On Love", which sounds alarmingly similar to this song, right down to the high-sustained note on the end. (Can an artist sue himself for plagiarising his own song? ) At any rate, this is a CD worth picking up for the few truly great songs contained herein, but you'll find yourself wishing it was just a bit better. A voice this good needs better material. MUCH better material.

Preview of Revival
The man could be a preacher, amen this is a sampling that will have to do till I get my copy. WOW, he can bring me to tears, and take me to heaven. What a range he has, he continues to top each performance, better than the one before. Look out Broadway, HERE COMES SAM HARRIS!!!!

Simply THE BEST!!!
This CD personifies Sam Harris at his best. The wonderful piano accompaniment compliments his powerful voice. I highly recommend this CD set; a MUST for any Sam Harris fan.

Great CD-Let's hear something with VIKKI CARR
Sam, been a fan of yours since the 80's and you were recording for Motown...love Vikki Carr and you should record with this multi winning Grammy Award winning international superstar. I know it would be great and Vikki still rocks and so do you! Great job on this release SAM! ... Read more

Reviews (114)

Like Ali, it's the greatest!
I've owned this cd for 3 years and it can't be touched. I'm 27 and I listen to all kinds of music from pop/rock like Rod Stewart to serious rap like N.W.A./ Dr. Dre, old stuff like Chuck Berry to newer stuff like Eminem. However this album is the best. I heard Inner City Blues when I was in high school and went and bought his greatest hits. Then a few years later I heard this album and I was amazed. The songs flow from one into the other, the messages are all good and hey, Marvin is one of the best voices we'll ever hear. Rarely do you get an album that every song is good; actually maybe only this album and Michael Jackson's Thriller (remember that's why Thriller is the best selling album ever). It's funny though, after watching that music special that appeared on all the channels after the World Trade Center attack I thought someone would sing What's Going On, but noone did. However, a few weeks later a few singers together released a version, but nothing compares to the original. Right on Marvin.

It's More Relevant Now Than Ever.
Having just approached the one year anniversary of September 11, I'd thought it be a good idea to revisit Marvin Gaye's 1971 masterpiece, "What's Going On." Originally recorded as a commentary of the socially turbulent 1960s, "What's Going On" has lost none of its power after more than thirty years, and its messages still possess relevance in today's climate. Gaye addresses the environment ("Mercy Mercy Me"), the future of our children ("Save the Children"), and war (the title track). The brilliant finale "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Want to Holler)" obviously wasn't written in reference to the WTC attacks, but I can imagine many people relating to the frustration and anger with which Gaye sings this song. But "What's Going On" also possesses spiritually uplifting messages of positivity, and these messages couldn't be needed more urgently as the survivors of 9/11 struggle to adapt and move ahead. The beautiful "God is Love" is still tough enough to move this grown man to tears, while "Wholy Holy" inspires us to come together, believe in Jesus and "rock this world's foundation."

September 11 was a day that forever rocked this nation's comfort zone, forcing us to reassess our lives and priorities. But instead of conforming to the often dubious forms of patriotism that keep surfacing in this country, let's revisit this still-stunning classic and learn from its messages of optimism and faith.

simply one the BEST musical compositions of all time
This is simply put the greatest body of work ever written for the public to enjoy, and yet to learn from too. He was not just writing for one person, he wrote this for all of us.

It stands alone in the music world, in high demand still, even after its 1971 release. Motown did not want this album, it was too volitile to release in 1969, so it sat for a year and a half. Yet it revoloutionized music, it was an album, a concept album when America was into singles still.
I am so glad they realized someone had to say what was said on this disc. To me this is a work of musical, and spirtual art. He is speaking of himself and of society, all in one beautiful musical journey.If you have never heard this work, listen to this disc, and listen with an open mind.

It is simply one the BEST musical compositions of all time. Timeless and powerful, a piece of love from a man who was so troubled in his own life. He gave us a message from God, a gift he could not ultimately find himself, peace and love.

One of the greatest ever
Marvin had broke out of Motowns formulaic hit making machine with this 1970 album and set out to record the kind of music he wanted to make. The result was 'Whats Going On', possibly the greatest R&B album ever. That title track is just eternal.... What a groove!

The whole atmosphere Marvelous Marvin creates here is just incredible! Moody and dramatic numbers about the world, people of today, social ills... The songs are carefully crafted and flow into each other one by one, culminating in the all time classic high of 'Inner City Blues'. 'Mercy, Mercy Me' is also present, and the rest of the material is equally inspired and pleasurable on the ear. Marvin was in the zone with this one, just as important & relevant today as it was back then, essential.

Legend
There are NO type of words to describe HOW beautiful this album is! I mean, people had been saying that for a while before I finally copped it around 2000 but when I finally heard the album with nine tracks in all its glory, I was floored! I mean, this is what a TRUE artist IS! Marvin Gaye is more than just a musical legend, he is a legend for the entire world. Each song he had done, he always knew how to invoke so much emotion, so much pain, so much hardship and still come out with a piece of beauty.

Save Sam Cooke and Al Green, no other artist turned R&B upside down and made it personal better than the man hailed from the Chocolate City. With his 1971 album, "What's Going On", Brother Marv went from singing about NEEDING love all the time to singing about WANTING love not only for himself but also for the entire world from ghetto to ghetto, backyard to yard, country to country. Forget Elvis, Marvin was truly a rock & roll innovator. He proved Black artists can sing a full album full of personal anguish and make it touch you deep inside your heart.

No track is a filler and it's not so much the music but the message behind it that hits home. Telling a story of the singer's brother returning from Vietnam and asking that important question ("What's Going On"), his Rip-Van-Winkle sense of things-gone-by ("What's Happening, Brotha?"), his descend to drug abuse ("Flying High In The Friendly Sky"), and Marvin's own messages of trying to understand his place ("Right On"), trying to understand why the world is in such a disarray ("Mercy Mercy Me"), tormented because the children of the world are already going through terrible times while living in the ghetto ("Save the Children") to accepting Jesus into his life and also asking those not to question His majesty ("God Is Love") to embarking on a mission to conquer all hate ("Wholy Holy") and finally exposing the truth of his surroundings as poetically as he could in the streets ("Inner City Blues"--which is his landmark single IMO, but it's hard to choose THE landmark since Dude has had so many "landmarks"). This album told a STORY. It wasn't all out there like the work from the Beatles and the Beach Boys, less raucous than music from the Rolling Stones and the Temptations (who was going through a "psychedelic-soul" phase) and was just as serene as the music that would be released soon afterwards from these acts:

Issac "Black Moses" Hayes

Curtis Mayfield
His fellow Motown brotha, the Wonderful Stevie
Leon Ware (who would also produce a classic album along with Marv five years afterward)

And much, much more.

It also paved the way for Black acts to personally write about their own troubles like a book and not so much about pleasing youngsters but pleasing the soul within us. After Sly Stone, Marvin Gaye helped bridged the gap in Black music. This album remains his ultimate landmark but he was just getting started. This will be his decade to shine.

You know the only bad thing about it is that the man who inspired a lot of R&B, rock, pop, hip-hop and soul singers today is no longer with us to experience and tell us more stories about ourselves that before, we didn't have an idea or clue about, also his music is so timeless because the stuff that had happened when he recorded this in the late-'60s and early-'70s (Vietnam, civil rights movement, Black Panthers, etc), is still going on today in 2004 (Iraq, civil rights lawsuits, injustice among celebrities, the FCC, etc).

Long live Marvin P. Gaye, Jr. forever and ever!

My overall rating of this classic: 10+

As I said in the title, LEGEND is all that needed to be said! We love you and miss you, Marvin. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Dusty Springfield's voice is one of the great pop instruments. Showcasedhere on 20 tracks from her '60s and early-'70s heyday, her sensuality andstrength wrap themselves around everything from big-beat rock and roll like"I Only Want to Be With You" and "Stay Awhile" to seductivemasterworks like "Son of a Preacher Man" and "The Look ofLove." Very Best ends with a vulnerable reading of the CaroleKing/Gerry Goffin taking-stock anthem "Goin' Back"--a rarity in theStates, where it appeared only briefly. It's great to hear it here. --RickeyWright ... Read more

Reviews (25)

The songs are sometimes weak - but what a singer!
Let's be honest. Over the years, Dusty Springfield has recorded some really bad songs. Nevertheless she rarely made a bad record. Her voice was so beautiful and expressive that, like Billie Holiday before her, she repeatedly spun dross into gold. Listen to what she does, on this CD, with lightweight, bouncy pop songs like "I Only Want To Be With You," "All Cried Out," and "Little by Little." The songs are forgettable trifles, but once you listen to Dusty Springfield sing them, you won't be able to get them out of your head. And while you're listening, they just sound like classic 60s soul.

This album is an excellent introduction to the wide range of her work. What other singer could go from big Italianate ballads like "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" and "The Look of Love," to the deep soul of "Son of a Preacher Man," "In The Middle of Nowhere," "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself," and "Some of Your Lovin"? Only a few of those songs were really hits, but all of them should have been.

The last song on the album is a real find. "Goin' Back" is wonderful, wise, Goffin-King ballad - it could easily have fit on on Carole King's Tapestry - about growing older and looking back on your life. Never having heard it before, I assumed it was one of Springfield's final songs. I was surprised to discover she recorded it in 1966. The depth she sang with while only in her mid-twenties is astonishing.

From Tenderness To Triumph, Dusty Did It All
The recent passing of Dusty Springfield spurred a recent surge of interest in her music. The surge is welcome, for more people can experience just how good a singer she was, such as in this compilation of 20 of her best.

The album opens with what is unquestionably one of the best songs ever done by anyone, I Only Want To Be With You. Backed by Ivor Raymond's stellar orchestra, Dusty fires off an exhilarating number with power and excitement combined with tenderness - a mixture reminscent of her contemporaries, Mike Smith and Petula Clark.

Wishin' and Hopin' downshifts to sly playfulness and displays her ability to segue from mood to mood, a knack further displayed in such disparate numbers as the bombastic You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, the flirty Son Of A Preacher Man, the desperate What's It Gonna Be, the steadfast Monty Norman-esque (listen for the distinctive James Bond riff throughout this number) classic All Cried Out (contemporary divas like Shania Twain and LeAnn Rimes can't come close to projecting the power Dusty displays here), and the Motown-flavored In The Middle Of Nowhere.

Half the joy of these numbers is the sheer power of Ivor Raymond's orchestra, mixing rock 'n roll riffs with strings and horns seemingly more suited to a movie soundtrack.

Sheer joy is the best description of this album.

a light dusting
This compilation is aptly titled 'the very best of Dusty Springfield' (the lack of capitalization conveys more than a subliminal meaning...), rather than 'Dusty Springfield's Greatest Hits', since Dusty had only a handful of true hit songs. Given the magnetic appeal of her voice, something akin to a sultry Karen Carpenter, it is nothing short of tragic that more of the great composers of the era did not see fit to adorn their best work with her prodigious talent. The most glaring oversight in this regard was Burt Bacharach and Hal David choosing Lesley Gore to record their timeless compositon 'The Look of Love'. Two years later, in 1967, Dusty corrected that error, and she had slightly better success on the charts than Gore with that same song. Her version stands as the centerpiece of this collection, a truly magical blend of writing and performing genius. This one song is worth the price of any Dusty CD it appears on.

There are other memorable moments included here, whether you remember them or not, ranging from Dusty's first hit, released in the UK in late 1963, the bubbly 'I Only Want To Be With You', to her final top-40 US hit, 1969's 'A Brand New Me'. The UK charts were more sympathetic to their homegrown diva than overseas, despite the fact that Dusty's delivery lacked even a hint of a British accent. 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me', Springfield's only UK number one, and had it not been for her British Invasion brethren The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, a US number one (but as it turned out, a number 3 hit), is included here. But by and large Dusty was forced to record substandard compositions, squandering her talent. 'Wishin' and Hopin', 'Son of a Preacher Man', 'I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself' (another Bacharch/David number), and a Gerry Goeffin/Carole King composition, 'Goin' Back', are the remaining highlights among the 20 offerings. It is to Dusty's credit that she could take mediocre material such as 'Stay Awhile' and 'Some of Your Lovin' and make it worth more than one listen.

One other cavaet that must be considered for those delving into the world of Dusty: this woman ascribed to the stereotype of the dependent female, ala Tammy Wynette standing by her man. While even the musical 'progressives' of the era fell victim to sexism (consider The Beatles 'Getting Better' or The Rolling Stones 'Under My Thumb'), some may consider Dusty's willingness to play second fiddle an annoyance. On the other hand, if you consider her gender depreciation as symptomatic of the era, something of a history lesson, you should be able to get beyond this to indulge in the workings of her vocal cords rather than her psyche.

The liner notes establish the timeline for these 20 selections as spanning roughly the same time period as 'Meet the Beatles' to 'Abbey Road'. It is ironic to consider the varied musical directions traveled by The Beatles during that time period as contrasted to the middle-of-the-road consistency in the music of Dusty Springfield. All the radical changes of the 1960's left little mark on her. Thus, since Dusty's style changed so little, there is little need for a chronological sequencing of her music in this compilation. 'Son of a Preacher Man' was recorded in 1968, yet is the fifth selection on this CD, while 'Guess Who?', from 1964, chimes in as the 17th (imagine 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' following 'Revolution'....). Despite how her obviously rabid fans may want to portray the depth and breadth of her music, Dusty's style didn't change any more than her beehive hairdo as she chased after the image of her muse, Peggy Lee.

Dusty passed from the music scene, for all practical purposes, by the 1970's, and her final passing from breast cancer took her talents away from us permanently in 1999. It is a great tragedy that her remarkable vocal talent was never completely tapped while she was in her prime. And the beauty of her voice was matched by the beauty of her appearance, making lines such as "just do it, and after you do, you will be his" from 'Wishin' and Hopin', or "the only man who could ever teach me, was the son of a preacher man" more than simple words to any red-blooded male.

We've been beautifully blended
The '60s/'70s era started its merge of cultures. Professionals such as Dusty better opened our minds (and ears) to the musical talents and interests of others. In effect, she transformed rock and roll to British pop and soul: a beautiful combination! Then a "modern day version," so to speak, of R & B. Definitely a perfectionist in her recordings. One song I especially enjoy, "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten," has a rhythmicity that keeps you on your toes. Aside from the beat, it's a beautiful tune fluctuating in scale from sharp to minor. "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" and "What's it Gonna Be?"--these tunes almost bring a comfort to loneliness from the melodic standpoints. This is the only CD I have ever owned on which every tune is one worth listening to...over and over again!

Best of her sixties solo music
Many people think Dusty Springfield is Britain's finest-ever female pop singer and this compilation goes a long way to show why she has so many fans.

While Dusty was less successful in America than in Britain, she had some notable American successes, occasionally having hits with songs that were not hits for her in Britain. However, this compilation is very strong - the track listing is not very different from what you would find on a typical British compilation, so this will appeal to all customers. Expatriate Brits living in America will find most of what they want here and may therefore not need to import a UK compilation at a premium price.

The big international hits are here, of course, including I only want to be with you, I just don't know what to do with myself, You don't have to say you love me and Son of a preacher man, all of them huge hits in Britain and America. Stay awhile, All I see is you, Give me time and I'll try anything were also hits in both countries for Dusty, though not as big. Wishing and hoping, an American top ten hit for Dusty, is also included. It was not a UK hit for her - the Merseybeats had the UK hit.

All cried out, What's it gonna be, The look of love and A brand new me were American hits that did not chart for Dusty in Britain. I close my eyes and count to ten, In the middle of nowhere, Some of your loving, Little by little and Going back were major British hits that failed to chart in America (the first two bubbled under) but they are great songs and it's good to see them included here. Losing you, another major British hit, made the American top 100, but did not climb very far, peaking at 91. Guess who failed to chart in either country though it bubbled under in America.

One missing song that I might have expected to find here is Windmills of your mind, an American top forty hit. You can find it on Ultimate collection, along with some other songs not included here, including one track pre-dating her solo music and some later stuff. But if you just want her sixties solo music, this is the best American compilation out there, and it's just as good as any of the British compilations I've seen. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Good idea that is poorly executed
A album including #1 hits in the US and UK should include ALL the number #1 hits although one can understand why "Say Say Say" isn't on the cd (bad blood between Michael and Paul). Instead this collection features some #1s and songs that didn't make it to that position on either the US or UK charts. A perfect track listing for a #1s set for MJ would consist of the following songs: Ben; Don't Stop Till You Get Enough; Rock With You; Billie Jean (12" version); Beat It; I Just Can't Stop Loving You; Bad (12" version); The Way You Make Me Feel (12" version); Man In The Mirror; Dirty Diana; Another Part of Me (US #1 R&B hit--12" version); Black or White; You Are Not Alone; Earth Song (UK #1); Blood On The Dance Floor (UK #1); One More Chance (New song) and another new song lifted from the vaults

Jacko Rocks - KING OF POP!
Here is the definitive collection of #1 hits by The King Of Pop, along with a few new recordings. Michael Jackson's reign as Tabloid Favorite only drew more attention to his work as singer, song writer, dancer, actor, all-around-super-talent. While the world is richer for the multitude of brilliant music, it is sad that Michael himself seems unable to truly enjoy his own giftedness; instead walking on the brink of insanity, plagued by unknown demons.

Easily ranking with the now famous Beatles ONE and the Elvis ONE & TWO, as well as Mariah's set of #1's, Michael Jackson will never be unthroned as the ONE and ONLY King of Pop! Come what may, we will always have the music.*****

"NUMBER ONES" REALLY ARE!
Michael Jackson is still #1 to a lot of music lovers, and "NUMBER ONES" quickly shows you why! His vocal versatility and unique creativity cannot be denied. This CD has something for everyone, and "One More Chance" is at the top of the list. Jackson faves like "Billie Jean," "Black or White," "You Are Not Alone," "The Earth Song," and "You Rock My World" are also included for good measure, and this Michael Jackson effort may be one of his very best yet. Buy it; you'll be glad you did!

Curse Epic and Tommy M
First, before I rip this album a new one I must say that I am a huge Michael Jackson fan/supporter and IF YOU WANT HIS GREATEST HITS YOU HAVE TO BUY ALL HIS ALBUMS :). Number Ones is a pathetic greatest hits collection. Most of the songs on here are cut short. Example: You Are Not Alone starts out with MJ singing on the first note which he does not do on the album version and it fades out way early. One More Chance (the only new song) is the worst song R. Kelly has written for Michael. It's not a bad song, but R. Kelly should have kept it to himself. Michael should have submitted one of his own songs. R. Kelly can write better songs, just look at Cry or You Are Not Alone. One More Chance has a one line chorus and it sounds like it belongs on an R. Kelly record. Another problem with this record is the name Number Ones. Most of these songs didn't make it to number one, in fact many didn't even crack the top 10. If you own all of the albums and you want the song one more chance, just buy the single. I own both, but most people shouldn't bother unless they care about a complete collection. This collection is a weak display of MJ's amazing talent. It basically contains radio versions of his songs so they can put more on the cd. I love michael and know that he is innocent. I can't wait for his new album. I think MJ released this just to fullfil his record contract. Now he can be free and actually get promoted :).

A Superb Collection From The No.1 King Of Pop!
As the first few weeks of 2004 are upon us, and I'm sure Michael Jackson will be hoping that this year will bring him better luck than 2003 did. Despite dominating the tabloids with his appearance, the baby-dangling incident and THAT Martin Bashir interview, Michael Jackson still remains the King of Pop. There's some people who are famous. There are some people who are superstars. There are some people who are icons - and then there's Michael Jackson. Arguably the most famous entertainer alive, Jackson's 30 years reign on the charts is unchallenged.

So that's precisely why Michael's latest release, "Number Ones," is essential for all fans of brilliant music. Since the early 1980's Jackson has captivated the world with his music. We've had fun dancing to his music and cried to his emotional ballads, and that's why he's the greatest male performer ever. His talent is undeniable, and even though he's gone a bit off the rails in recent years, the world and his die-hard fans have never forgotten the music which is what matters the most.

First off, Number Ones is a title that tricks the buyer somewhat. There are eighteen songs on this album, and Jackson has had no where near eighteen US No.1 hits. He's had a total of 13 US No.1 singles, and his last was in 1995. Michael has had 7 UK No.1 hit singles, and his last was in 1997. His first UK No.1 hit was in May 1981 with "One Day In Your Life," which isn't included on here strangely enough. Michael's sixth US No.1 "Say Say Say" is also not included, and I have the UK version which includes "Human Nature" instead of "Man In The Mirror." Silly different regions and record companies! What is the point? Why not just have a complete tracklisting?! Also, "Ben," Michael's first ever US No.1, is included on the US version, but not on the UK version. Instead the UK gets "Blood On The Dancefloor," Michael's last UK No.1 single.

Apart from these minor hiccups, all of Michael's biggest and most popular hits are included here. The album opens with "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You." Both songs are from Michael's debut album Off The Wall and both hit the US top spot. "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "Thriller" are up next and all from Thriller, Michael's signature album. 50 million copies shifted worldwide, and nothing's going to take over it any time soon! Up next, we have six songs from the follow up to Thriller. Bad was Michael's third album, released in 1987 and sold 25 million copies as well. The songs from Bad on here are "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "Bad," "Smooth Criminal," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Man In The Mirror" and "Dirty Diana." All these songs were huge hits and all were US No.1's, apart from Smooth Criminal.

After this we get "Black Or White," which was a huge US and UK No.1 hit. It's the only song on this compilation album from Michael's fourth album - 1991's Dangerous. "You Are Not Alone" was one of Michael's biggest hits ever, and is next on here, followed by Michael's biggest selling UK single, "Earth Song." No.1 for six weeks and shifting more than 1 million copies this masterpiece is a perfect world peace anthem. Michael's 2001 comeback single "You Rock My World" follows. It wasn't a No.1, so by rights it shouldn't be included here, but it's a great track, so why not? "Break Of Dawn" wasn't even released as a single, so it's got no excuse to be here! It's from Michael's trans-atlantic chart topping Invincible album from 2001. "One More Chance" is Michael's latest single, and will not top the charts by my 'expert' predictions. "Ben" closes the album, which goes back to the very beginning of his career.

OVERALL GRADE: 8/10

I think it was a wise move for Michael Jackson to release Number Ones. It provides new fans in their teens a chance to get to know Michael's best music, for those who were too young to be digging it when 1995's "HIStory" was released, because let's face it, even people in their early teens love Michael's music! I think some minor adjustments could have been made to the tracklisting to improve this album, but it's still not a bad collection and definitely worth the money. Upon its release this album didn't even crack the US Top 10 - Britney stormed to No.1 that week, but in the UK, Number Ones did just that, and went straight to the top of the charts! All in all a brilliant record to add to any Michael Jackson collection. ... Read more