Amazon.com essential recording

It's the most complete single-disc collection of EWF chart rockers, and Greatest Hits' splendid remastering makes one of the major exponents of '70s funk positivity sound sparkling. From the driving "Shining Star" to the syncopated mastery of "September" and "Boogie Wonderland" to the slow-jam heaven of "After the Love Is Gone," this is a reminder of what made the group so special. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Great EWF Compilation!
Like another reviewer has posted, EWF's Greatest Hits is just that...all their hits in one cohesive cd.

This set is great for people who are re-discovering EWF like myself - who really only heard their popular hits on the radio, but never bothered to buy a single EWF CD/Album.

What is neat about this set when I bought it is that with some of the titles, I never knew... until I heard the song and said..."oh I know this one!... "didn't know they did this song"!

It ended up I knew about 12 of the 17 track on here already, which was great!

Bottom line: Great funky tunes, R&B classics, as well as nice soulful ballads. That's what EWF is and will always be... a shining star.

Get it!

EWF Greatest Hits Collection Shining Bright To See
Mid-1970s black music seemed dominated either by fun, mindless party jams like "Jungle Boogie" and "Skin Tight," or dour warnings like "Future Shock" and "Living For The City." Stevie Wonder sang his share of life-affirming music but Earth, Wind & Fire, here with a definitive one-disc greatest hits, made such positive strength the heart of their musical identity.

Some of the era's most needed, heeded messages ran deep and sweet atop Verdine White's bass grooves (front and center on "Getaway"), brother and leader Maurice's drum and percussion tracks honed over years with Chess Records' rhythm section ("Saturday Nite," "Kalimba Story," 1977's dazzling "Serpentine Fire"), Louis Satterfield's horn section scrambling through jazz-rock mazes every track (becoming a 80s rock stalwart backing Phil Collins), and Phillip Bailey's high, clear falsetto on "After The Love Has Gone," the prom dance standard "Reasons," the soaring chorus of "September," and the elegant "Fantasy" which, with "Serpentine Fire," gave R&B one of its best 1-2 LP opening tracks. (It's restored to album length here, with Larry Dunn's superb keyboard intros, after being edited on two previous best-ofs).

Messages like "You're a shining star...shining bright to see what you can truly be," "If you sing a song today, you will make a better way," "Try to resist all the hurt that's all around ya..." moved feet and hearts, misinterpreted by spiritual seekers and hedonists alike in the "Me" decade's last discofied days. The Whites understood disco's falsity: "Morning deals a bad hand to a woman who has made too many bets," Maurice sings on 1979's galloping disco smash "Boogie Wonderland," adding, "You dance and shake the hurt." But by early 1982, needing a hit after a slow-selling double-LP the year before, EWF gave in to the dance grooves and party-down lyrics of "Let's Groove," their last Top 5 hit.

Despite a generous 18 tracks (and an excellent geneology of the group by Kevin Goins), longtime fans will miss "In The Stone," "Fall In Love With Me," "Head To The Sky," "Let Me Talk," and others. These are found on 1995's "Eternal Dance" box, the "Elements of Love" ballads collection, or two previous best-ofs. This "Greatest Hits" packs their best-known pop songs into an exceptionally sounding disc (thanks to Mark Wilder's remastering), providing an essential introduction to one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's most surprising, satisfying member groups.

best CD of all time
If I could give this CD more than 5 stars I would. I'm 23 and my mom (43) and grandma (63) were on a road trip listening to the CD. All of us LOVED it. This is the greatest CD of all time.

Lovin' It!!!
I am in the sixth grade and I LOVE this CD! (In fact, I'm listening to it as I write this!) For school, we had to bring in CDs that people don't listen to now (2004) and I brought in this CD. EVERYONE in the class loved it, including myself and my teacher, who remembered it, and loved it, both when she was a kid and now! She was even singing along to "Let's Groove"! :) Kids asked me what the songs were called, who sings them, etc. and we all love it! It's great music to sing along to and dance to and, as one kid in my class put it, "You can just picture all these guys with afros in bell-bottoms singing it into the microphones! :)" Lately, instead of popping in Black Eyed Peas or Now 15 (which are both great modern-day music CDs...thumbs up to them, too!) in my portable CD player, boom box, or parents' cars, I've been listening to Earth Wind & Fire! I love disco music and, for me, disco never died and never will! If you love disco, too, you HAVE to get this CD and listen to it! Enjoy! :)
P.S. I recommend "Shining Star", "September", "Got to Get You Into My Life", "Fantasy", and "Let's Groove" as the Top 5 songs on the CD!

la-la-LOVE IT!
So I'm you're average high school student who's in love with Earth, Wind and Fire [kudos to my parentals]. I just have to say that this is by far the best cd I have in my collection. It has the perfect mix of songs to dance to, sing to, get intimate to, and just to feel good to. Thank you Earth, Wind & Fire. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While most neo-soulsters crank out albums like their hip-hop counterparts, Jill Scott takes a more traditional approach to her craft. Four years after the release of her debut, Who Is Jill Scott, Words & Sounds Vol. 1, Scott returns with the masterful Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds Vol. 2. The album features a collection of lush and hypnotic songs that will make you want to fall in love, live life, and be a better person all at the same time. Lead single "Golden" is a prime example of this. Set to a midtempo groove made for the dance floor, "Golden" is a shiny, beautifully-written narrative about living life to its fullest. The old-school R&B ballad vibe of "Petition" is reminiscent of Minnie Ripperton or early Chaka Khan. However, "Bedda at Home" is anything but laid back. Combining elements of jazz, soul, and old-school hip-hop breakbeats, Scott extols the greatness of her man with a swagger that can only be described as cool. Other highlights include "Family Reunion" and the socially conscious "Rasool."

The album's only flaw may be that it ends too soon, but then again it's always better to leave a listener wanting more. For Scott, being "Beautifully Human" means just that--finding the allure in all that life has to offer and that's well worth the wait. --Rashaun Hall ... Read more

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Like the Beatles' The Beatles 1, this rundown of Stevie Wonder chestnuts is merciless in cutting a huge list of classic tracks down to a single disc's worth of the most recognizable. Anyone who's treasured even one or two of these songs and yet never bought a Wonder record will be more than pleased with the acquisition of The Definitive Collection. These records continue to ring with importance and history, but more important, all except two or three remain fresh and capable of surprising even veteran fans. Those listeners may note, though, that Wonder is among the few performers who could release a retrospective containing 15 No. 1 R&B hits and still invite the complaint that the album felt incomplete--not least in explaining how the man transformed himself from a multitalented teenage hitmaker into the funk-pop visionary of Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of Life.--Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Somewhat Overjoyed
Lots of classic Stevie is packed onto this single disc collection, no doubt about that. It's in chronological order, which means "Fingertips" kicks off the set--dating all the way back to 1962! A small handful of his early work is represented, including "I Was Made To Love Her," but this set really picks up steam in the middle with his brilliant work from the 1970's. Songs like "You Haven't Done Nothing," "Living For The City," "Superstition," "Higher Ground," "Sir Duke" and "Master Blaster" (actually from 1981) are all brilliant and rank among the very best pop and soul music from that period. Wonder's work declined a bit after that, and although "Part Time Lover" and "I Just Called To Say I Love You" were huge hits, they don't hold a candle to the great stuff mentioned earlier. If you're a casual Wonder fan and simply want the biggest hits over the course of his long career, this is for you. But a strong case can be made for the brilliant compilation "Musiquarium." Then go back and find a reasonably priced collection of his 1960's work. There won't be any overlap, and you'll have all the essential Stevie without any of his lesser works.

The definitive Steve Wonder htis collection...for now...
The first collection of Stevie Wonder hits came out in 1968, when he was still a teenager. Of course, as a pre-teen "Little" Stevie gave Motown its first #1 album. In retrospect 1968 turned out to be a pivotal year in Wonder's career, which began covering Ray Charles songs and whose first hit "Fingertips, Part 2" actually came as a pre-teen, because that was the year he finally started writing most of the songs on his album (e.g., "My Cherie Amour"). The Wonder years definitively come in the early Seventies when he was putting out albums like "Music of My Mind," "Talking Book," "Innervisions," and "Songs in the Key of Life." This explains why the middle part of this collection is the best. Stevie Wonder is one of those artists where an album like this presenting his best work should give you impetus to go check out his best albums. Certainly there are artists where a good hits collection is all you need to have in your music library, but Stevie Wonder would not be one of those artists whose distinctive blend of odd riffs, incessant modulations and unpredictable melodies take advantage of his three-octave range. Yes, if you have but one Stevie Wonder album "The Definitive Collection" would be the one to get, but you should also explore at least the middle pair of the above referenced quartet.

Stevie Wonder - The Definitive Collection
Stevie Wonder - The Definitive Collection~ Stevie Wonder is an amazing collection from a very tallented songwriter and musician. He is intelligent yet not prententious and seems to have great time making his music. A must have...

21 Songs To Adjust Your Mood
This collection is awesome!! Stevie Wonder's music remains timeless. 15 number 1 hits!! Plus 6 more that reigned at the top of the charts! Stevie Wonder's genius cannot be squashed into one CD but they did a GREAT job trying. We all may have our favorites, some have been left out BUT 21 Stevie songs is nothing to complain about. If you grew up with his music, this CD will transport you right back to that time, and leave you overjoyed. A time when EVERYBODY knew all the words to EVERY song, because EVERY cut on the album was great. If you were too young, you still won't be able to keep from groovin' to this CD. Invite some friends & family over. Through the burgers on the grill. Pop in this CD. Feet can't help but move, heads will be boppin', as everyone relaxes to Stevie Wonder's heart and soul he put into his music.

Also, the CD insert is worth reading. A good bit of trivia that they included was how each song rated on the R&B, Pop and Adult Contemporary charts.

left out a small number of good songs, but the rest is tight
Love this album, nearly every song is a gem ... Read more

Reviews (27)

very good soundtrack
This is an excellent soundtrack to a great movie. The best song is Accidently in Love by the Counting Crows. It is a cute playful song that fits the movie well. This CD has songs from artists I've never even heard of. I loved the song As Lovers Go by Dashboard Confessional. I really liked it, because I thought it sounded romantic. The duet Livin La Vida Loca by Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas is a very funny version of the popular song. Butterfly Boucher sounds really good covering the David Bowie classic Changes. Bowie actually sings on a cover of his own song which I thought was neat. I really like the song Holding Out for a Hero. Jennifer Saunders really sings this song well, because she has such a powerful voice. I'm On My Way is a pleasant song by Rich Price. I think he has a sexy voice.

Little Drop of Poison is a sexy song. I think it is a good song to slow dance to if you have a partner. Funkytown is a great disco classic and a good addition to this soundtrack. People Aint No Good is a sad song sung with a lot of emotion. I really liked it too. Shrek 2 is a fun soundtrack with a nice variety of songs. I loved it!

Good enough for the car!
Jennifer Saunders, Jennifer Saunders, Jennifer Saunders... So nice that they added the songs from the movie. She is so talented, and the songs are brilliant. Also, gotta love "Accidentally in love" I don't care how old I am thids CD is so much fun.

Captures the essence of the movie
I love this soundtrack! I felt it was very representative of the movie. It was a wonderfully eclectic compilation of songs that just make you feel good. The opening tune by the Counting Crows, which also opened the movie, is infectious rock. I also really enjoyed the remake of "Funkytown" and the songs from the movie.

Jennifer Saunders is remarkably talented. I love her version of "Holding Out for a Hero" and who can't smile at the Disney-parody "The Fairy Godmother Song"? The line about the bichon frise cracks me up every time!

great cd for a great movie!
this movie was awsome and the music was equally awesome! all the music was well placed and they only put music from the movie on the soundtrack! a thing not many movies do but it makes people already familiar with the music! i like all the songs but my fave is accidently in love. i highly suggest this soundtracvk to everyone. even if you didn't like the movie. (whih you should have)

Eclectic
I enjoyed this CD very much. It is rather diverse and has many different types of music on here. The best track is Holding Out For A Hero by Frou Frou and for comedy, Livin' La Vida Loca with of course Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Puss-N-Boots (Antonio Banderas. I am a big David Bowie fan however but was dissapointed by the cover of Changes. I enjoyed his vocals but Butterfly Boucher is atrocious. One of the worst female voices I have heard in a long time. But otherwise a good CD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Taken literally, this album's title is sure to cause endlessarguments. Nothing from Dirty Mind, not atrace of the early anthem "Controversy," no "Erotic City"--no non-LPcuts at all, save some edited single versions--and a cold shoulder tothe criminally out-of-print Gold Experience. Damn.As a compendium of 17 key A-sides from 1979 to 1992, however, TheVery Best of Prince is (ahem) a quick-'n'-dirty review of the dayswhen the Artist was, in the estimation of R.E.M. guitaristPeter Buck, one of the weirdest musicians in the Top 10. Blessed withboth creative cunning and the wish to reach every listener possible,Prince revitalized rock and soul modes from the sex-crazed ("Little RedCorvette") to the cryptically spiritual ("Purple Rain"). Often heblurred lines between attitudes as surely as he did musical ones; theNew Testament image of "Thieves in the Temple" became in his hands acomplaint about a stolen girlfriend. Though a fine party artifact, thisdisc is still likely to prove too scanty even for many casual Princefans. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (91)

For casual fans only
One of the biggest pop stars to emerge from the eighties was, obviously, Prince. During the decade, he shelled out some of the biggest and best hits the pop music industry had ever heard. There have been a plethora of Prince hits compilations out before this one. Is this one any more special? Read on for my review of this so-called Very Best Of Prince.

PROS:
-Well, if you're a casual fan and you want the big hits, you'll find them all here. Little Red Corvette, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain, and most of the well-known songs are all here.
-To my knowledge, these songs are the full-length uncut versions, not the edited versions that are often played on radio stations.

CONS:
-As Amazon.com stated, the compilation title is sure to cause disputes, since everyones interpretation of what Prince's best work is is different.
-Many albums have no tracks on here.
-Eighty minutes just isn't enough time to represent one of the greatest pop stars of the eighties.

OVERALL:
Take my advice and get this ONLY if you're a very casual fan. My actual recommendation is to buy all the albums, but this can get a bit pricey. You may want to shell out a little extra cash and get the previous two-volume best of set. This is good material, but it's just not enough.

Guilty Pleasure
I see that a lot of Prince's diehard fans are appalled with the release of this album as is Prince himself. I can certainly understand why and I can hardly blame Prince or his fans being upset at this single disc collection of Prince's hits. I for one have never fawned over Prince. He is good but I don't consider him a god to rock and roll. I do however have found some of this music enjoyable which are the songs found on this album. I won't call myself a fan of Prince but rather a casual listener of his music. Maybe there could have been more music added to this best of collection of Prince's songs, considering Prince's extensive catalog of music. I'll admit that Warner Bros. only put together Prince's more popular songs. For the casual listener this is one of the best best of collections I've heard in the past few years. I enjoyed listening to all the songs I grew up on hearing on the radio like "When Doves Cry" and "Little Red Corvette". This album is a good party album for people who just want to hear Prince's more popular songs.

A total hatchet job
The problem with this album isn't the selection per se, (although excluding Erotic City is a major faux paus) it's that all of the songs are butchered. It's as though someone had a stopwatch going and when they reached the limit, they faded out the song. The songs are not even the radio mix in many cases. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

17 Songs of Genius
It took me 20 years to catch up to Prince's stuff.
Back in the day, his music--much less some of his album covers (for instance, what WAS he thinking with the "Lovesexy" cover???)--were a bit too racy for little kids (and I was a little kid back in the early 80s when the Purple One's most groundbreaking stuff was coming out.) So, I never really got into his music until much later on.
Anyway, 20 years later, I realize both that "Little Red Corvette" ain't about a car and that this dude from Minneapolis is a freakin' genius. The gems on this 17-song album are a great primer into the wild world of Prince. Such essential tunes included here are "Purple Rain," "When Doves Cry" (although in its abridged single version), "Kiss," "Alphabet Street," "Sign 'O' The Times," and "Gett Off" (a song I love simply because of the slick little reference he makes to James Brown's "Mother Popcorn.")
That said, this is by no means a complete anthology of his work. "I Feel For You," "Soft and Wet," and "Adore" are essential Prince songs and are nowhere to be found here. In fact, if it had been left up to me, I would have included "If Was Your Girlfriend" from "Sign 'O' the Times" instead of "U Got the Look." But that's just me...
Paraphrasing a previous reviewer, this is a great starter kit for casual fans or people looking to replace those singles that got lost, scratched, or broken from the 80s.
In a word: essential.

This is the only Prince album you need!
I have to admit, I always liked Prince. I love the whole Purple Rain album, but I have to say I do not own even one of his albums.
I had to buy this. It has every single that I have always cherished. So if you are not a die-hard fan, but like his hits. This is the only Prince CD you need. I do wish they put "Pop Life" on it, but I am not complaining. This CD is Slamming' and should be in everyone's collection. Even if you are just a fan of just the singles Prince put out, this Collection has it all (except "Pop Life".)Yes there are a few more, the Batman theme etc. But, it's still awesome.
This CD still deserves a 5 out of 5 stars for the not so in love with Prince fans, but love his singles. I say get this CD. It has 17 unforgettable tracks that take you back to the days of retro fun and then take you into the present, this whole CD is a FUN RIDE!! Amen for this compilation. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

disco's best cd
this cd is a genius mix of great disco songs. its hard not to like it. to understand why, just look at whats on it: celebration by kool & the gang (classic), funkytown by lipps inc, dancing queen by abba, ymca by the village people, and many more. i mean, who doesnt know YMCA? also on this cd are less popular songs, such as knock on wood and hot stuff, but they were still popular and you will most likely know them as soon as you listen to the cd. at the end is the awesome grease megamix that anyone who likes the movie grease will know all the words to. on the megamix are grease lightning, you better shape up, you're the one that i want, and summer nights. this cd is great for parties along with personal listening because once you turn it on, everyone will want to get up and dance. Pure disco is the best disco mix around.

Disco is making a come back.
Well maybe Disco isn't really coming back, but at least this compilation sounds better than ever. Plus, when thinking about it, when did it ever actually end? There's not much that really separates the music of twenty-five to thirty years ago with today. Disco was the generic term for dance music of the 70s and maybe 1980 and 81 up until MTV came into the scene. Today dance music still is around, even if several of these artists are not. But it is fun hearing the roots of clubbing and rave. Look at what you will get with this CD:Funkytown by Lipps Inc., which featured members of the Prince's Revolution Band famous for his Purple Rain disc, Abba's Dancing Queen which inspired a Broadway play Mamma Mia, Celebration by funk-disco band Kool and the Gang, a classic. I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor which is one of the most covered tunes and a top dance song of all time. The Gap Band is here and they are an eighties favorite. Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, and Barry White are legends and they're here. My favorite song is Amii Stewart's Knock on Wood from this collection. Plus among other's the famous mix of Grease tunes from the movie not found elsewhere. Give it a try and buy the other two as well. I am sure you will dance all night.

Great collection of Classic Disco
Yea, we all love to dance- but this collection of music
are classics and they always get people young and old up to
dance. Disco is NOT dead!

What a great series!
Let me first go on record saying that my favorite artists of all time (at this point) are Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. In that vein, you wouldn't really expect a guy with a taste for that sort of music to dig disco. But I really do. Disco music defines "good times." If you've ever been to any sort of party in your life (hosted by a professional DJ, that is), the odds are you've heard a number of the songs on this compilation. And they're all great.

Some are better than others, of course, but each song is catchy and the bass lines are funky. Not to mention cheesy. If you're looking for a cool collection of disco music and don't want to splurge the cash for expensive box sets or individual artists' albums, the "Pure Disco" series is a great investment. Throw in the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack and you've got enough great disco songs to blister your feet up.

Why only four stars instead of five? That's easy. Barry White's "the First, the Last, My Everything" isn't the REAL version. Polygram omitted the spoken introduction and the phrasing is just a bit different from the original version. Must be some sort of radio edit.

Despite this, great compilation. Two other recommendations: "the Bee Gee's Greatest Hits: the Record" and "Barry White: the Ultimate Collection."

PURE DISCO / VOL . 1, 2 & 3
This is the best disco set available!!! Although,disco music
was short lived,it was an era that no one will forget.To some it
was a fashion statement.To others,a threat of,the downfall of
rock & roll music,as we knew it.No matter how you felt about it you must agree that some of best feel good music came from that
generation.I also feel that the word: "CHEESY" came from this time period.I,myself,liked it because I could sleep in my clothes
without the fear of wrinkling them... ... Read more

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Whether with the groundbreaking group Rufus or on her own, Chaka Khan has one of the most distinctive and influential voices in R&B. She's able to wail at full emotive throttle or deliver a love song with nuanced jazz-inflected tones, and sometimes even do both within the same track. This 1996 collection gathers some of Khan's biggest and most beloved solo efforts. Included here are the classic tangy attack of "Ain't Nobody" and the turntable-enhanced smash "I Feel for You" (penned by admirer and recent collaborator Prince). There's also the anthemic original version of "I'm Every Woman," the moody "Through the Fire," and her 1996 collabo with Me'Shell Ndegeocello, "You Never Miss the Water." As all great vocalists do, Khan takes control of every song, breathing fire and life into the words and interpreting them without overpowering their meaning. One listen to Epiphany and it's abundantly clear that, even though she's been AWOL from the charts for a while, Chaka Khan remains a founding mother of soul and funk, armed with a potent voice that can both illuminate and elevate. --Amy Linden ... Read more

Reviews (39)

FANTASTIC! GET HITS #2 OUT ASAP!!!
Chaka returns with the much anticipated hits collection which will be no let down to any fan! Epiphany: The Best Of Chaka
Khan Volume One is one hot Chaka tune after another and to top this collection 5 new tunes are included and show this girl
in superb form! Echoes of old Chaka are balanced with the new are a feast for the ears! Of the new tunes my 3 faves are
"Everywhere," Somethin' Deep" & "Never Miss The Water" all which become classics amongst her fans worldwide. Of the

golden oldies you got "I'm Every Woman, "Ain't Nobody," "And The Melody Still Lingers On (Night In Tunisia)" & "I Feel For
You" to get you going! If the title is correct and means that there is a Volume Two in the works...Boy I think of a load of gems
to fill it up with! All the material has been digitally remastered with the HDCD system and the sonics will knock you out. Believe
me...Youhave never ever heard Chaka hit those high notes or her soft purring on the tunes like on this CD! The booklet
includes all the lyrics to her 5 new tunes and all I can say for now is GET VOLUME TWO OUT!

Whew!!! There has to be an encore!!!
This CD is awesome!!! What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than sitting, smiling and listening intently to this CD. There isn't!

Epiphany...a sudden revelation! What a concept, but who hasn't heard of Chaka Khan. She's the essence of greatness, personified in a voice. Her sense of timing, passion, texture and variety helped to create a super musical career. I bet she's an awesome person to have this greatness within her.

Ain't Nobody is the perfect entry into her catalog of songs. It's funky, streetwise and ethereal at the same time. How often do you get that combination?

Other honorable mentions are the classics 'I Feel For You', 'I'm Every Woman' and 'Through The Fire'. Those are worth the price of admission alone. Then you get surprises like 'A Night In Tunisia', 'The End Of A Love Affair' and 'Love Me Still'. What a collection!

I could go through and rate all the songs, but I'll just say that I''m waiting for an encore. I missed hearing some of the other great Chaka songs like 'Be Bop Medley', 'Got To Be There', 'This Is My Night', 'Eye To Eye', 'My Funny Valentine', 'Clouds', 'Love You All My Lifetime', 'You Can Make The Story Right' and so many more. I know an encore (Volume 2) is coming. How can it not?

"THE VOICE" SEEMS TO JUST GET BETTER AND BETTER!
Reviewer: kprovo@hotmail.com
EPIPHANY - The Best Of Chaka Khan, Volume One (Warner/Reprise) Review by Kirk Douglas Provo

Just check out Chaka Khan's stellar performance of the standard My Funny Valentine on the Waiting To Exhale film soundtrack. It rings through loud and clear. Khan has claimed her rightful place at the front of the line for Queen of Soul divas in waiting! With an immensely impressive body of work to support her, Khan is perhaps the most qualified contender for Aretha Franklin's long-held moniker. (The only other serious potentials who come to mind would be vocal powerhouses such as Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Stephanie Mills, and a few others.)

Listening to these recordings, mostly from the 70s and 80s, it strikes one that Chaka Khan's contribution to Rhythm & Blues/Soul, as well as pop music at-large is as immense as her astonishing vocal rage. The wonderful jazz meets funk flow of The Melody Still Lingers (Night in Tunisia), and the tailor-made What'cha Gonna Do For Me are just two testaments of the unique vocal prowess she has been treating record buyers to since the early 70s.

Never Miss The Water, the first single release of five new cuts, re-teams Chaka with producer David Gamson (Scritti Politti). It is a funky romp, recalling their Love You All My Lifetime, from the Grammy-winning The Woman I Am. Musician Me'Shell Ndegeocello's strategically placed raps lend some street authenticity to the tune, and maestro Frankie Knuckles' smokin' club re-mix should go over quite well with the under-thirty-five dance crowd.

Elsewhere on this collection we find, Through The Fire, from '84's I Feel For You. This beautiful ballad is a stunning reminder of just how sweet 'n girlish Ms Chaka can be when she puts her mind to it. (Remember Sweet Thing?) On the other hand, we find Rufus' awarding-winning swan song Ain't Nobody. This song, with its space-bound keyboard turns, hook-laden lyrics, and straight from the street vocal, is just as hip today as it was when initially released back in '83. The ! countless remakes of this tune of late don't hold a candle to the original funk masterpiece.

Of the new cuts, Every Little Thing, is a playful little ditty that keeps sounding better and better with repeated playing. It jams; it swings. Some of Chaka's best scat-singing is featured here - while the bass playing is to die for! Something Deep, is a much-welcomed, heavily bass-driven, sassy low-down groove thing from the team behind some of Brandy and Tevin Campbell's most recent dance jams. Khan really spreads her wings here, encompassing, as only she can, straight from the heart soul diva lovelorn wailing, then sliding effortlessly upward into razor sharp jazz-scale phrasing of a class that seems to get better with each new recording.

Everywhere, the surprising but logical re-make of a Fleetwood Mac song, is done here with a warm Caribbean treatment. Diehard rock fans may flinch at the new direction this song has taken. Yet, all-in-all, it is business as usual for Ms Chaka, as she flaunts her bountiful interpretive skills on the tune.

The compilation says it all: Chaka Khan is The Voice. Bless yourself, or a friend - hear theses recordings for yourself and experience the magic. The Queen of Soul-in-Waiting has spoken.

kprovo@hotmail.com

Chaka rocks, no doubt about it!!!
I'm really glad I got this CD. I always knew Chaka was good, but after hearing this CD, I know she's REALLY good!!! My all-time favorite song by her will always be "Aint Nobody", that song just carries me away!!! All of the other songs are very good, too, I also like "Through The Fire" and all of them, really. She's so versatile, too, she can do hard funk, jazz, quiet storm and out-and-out soul!! This CD is a must, if you love good r & b!

My Ideal for Volume II
Here's my track listing for a volume II

Clouds
Love You All My Lifetime
Roll Me Through The Rushes
Stuff Like That (with Ashford & Simpson)
Pain (from Living Single Soundtrack)
My Funny Valentine
Got To Be There
Eye To Eye
This Is My Night
You Can Make The Story Right
Miles Blowing (from Sugar Hill Soundtrack)
Baby Me
I Was Made To Love Him
Be Bop Melody
The Longer We Make Love (Duet w/Barry White)

This would make for a perfect addition to Epiphany. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

OK, so it's a bit eclectic...
I think that was the whole idea behind this collection. Country, folk, stadium rock, R & B, pop, Motown, funk, disco, and a little jazz; it's all there. Sure you could argue that some really great songs from the 70's have not been included, but this is a compilation of Sony owned music; some of these records I remember as being on ABC Records and Epic. I grew up in the 70's and I would recommend this collection just for the cheap trip down memory lane!

Great compilation CD!
This CD series has a bunch of really great songs from the 70's - early to late. It is a winner for the value ratio too! Check it out and you'll love what you hear.

This is a slack compilation
I think the seventies have many more representative hits than the offered in this compilation. A good compilation needs at least 10 cd's to bring together the highlights of "golden era of music production" This is not a good stuff to buy. I recomend AM Gold Collection, Superhits of the 70's (have a nice day) - rated by myself as the best - , a year of your life, and others.

Garden Variety Compilation
The sound is good, and that earns my three stars. What some call eclectic, I call incoherent. There's no theme. It's a random post-mortem of 70s pop that includes one of the most hated tunes of that era: "Arizona", by Mark Lindsey. Where's the masterpieces? There are none. The 70s deserves much better recognition than is offered here. This is not testimony, it's nearly slander.

Must Have Multi-Set
so many Great songs here.this really captures the 70's&it's full range of styles&Artists that represented the time period.this was the Era of Songwriters&story-telling.I have all of these songs be it on the Artists Albums or on other sets this 3 Disc Set is a Must have. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The Meters bring the Bayou funk with the Cymande touch
If you love The Meters and you've never heard of Cymande (sah-mahn-day) then you got to check this out. The Meters brought down home Bayou funk to the table. But they also had some of that Carribean feel to them. Well, Cymande takes it to the next level of deep funk, carribean reggae and jazz blends. Cymande "The Soul of Rasta" available here on Amazon is a must have.

These original funky brothers from all hailing from the West Indies created the most amazing and invigorating fusion of funk and african reggae ever heard.

Most famously sampled by the Fugees, De La Soul ,EPMD and many others. Cymande is one of the most sampled bands in Hip Hop ever.

However, no longer is this band hip hop's little secret. This album allows new listeners to hear the great original tracks in a re mastered format. Featuring "Brother's on the Slide" and "Listen". This is an anthology of their most memorable material from the original 3 LPs recorded the between 1972-1974 in London, UK. Its unfortunate that their amazing musicianship was too unique for the period.

Yet today people are rediscovering and grooving to these hidden jewels. Dive in and feel the Funk!

funky fun Mardi Gras
I first heard of the Meters from a small time record producer who threw this record my way and its great. The kind of music people that love good music and have huge good music collections love. This is good feeling party music that was made in the seventies and doesn't date, it just remains good like so much New Orleans music does. The Meters still tour too. So watch for them. Another CD to get is The Wild Tchoupitoulas, which was a one album only New Orleans all star group which featured the Meters as well as the not yet formed Neville Brothers. The Meters solo albums are funky and have an upbeat feel to them and they are often lyrically funny but musically they are highly respected and regarded as pioneers. Even though it sounds like they're partying in the studio while recording (which they probably are) they're also doing interesting things blending funk with other styles of play and always listenable. Some of the lyrics will crack you up and this album will put you in a festival going mood every time you hear it and everyone always wants to hear it again once they've heard it. Their live CD is also great and features some extended versions of their classic songs(all here) for true Meter fans and I am one. If you're only gonna own one this is the one.

gotta love it!
what else can be said about the Meters that hasn't already been said? If you like funk and soul, then you need to get this CD.

Relentless New Orleans funk
Nearly all of the The Meters best-known sides are here, including their first hit recordings for Josie from the late '60s and more sophisticated tracks laid down for Reprise through the mid-70s. In addition to the seminal funk-soul of "Cissy Strut" and "Look-Ka Py Py," the Meters offered unusual touches like the banjo-like guitar hook of "Tippi-Toes," the happy-go-lucky organ topping "Soul Island," the 50's styled R&B novelty "The All Ask'd For You," and the New Orleans piano of "Cabbage Alley." Though the later works add horns, wah-wah pedals and even (gasp!) vocals, the Meters remained true to their New Orleans rhythmic roots throughout.

Each of the four original Meters was a master of New Orleans meter, with drummer Joseph "Zig" Modeliste showing especially deep mastery of second-line rhythms. Leo Nocentelli's guitar and Art Neville's keyboards combined in a similar way to the soul sounds heard from Booker T & The MG's, but there was an underlying funkiness (in no small part due to the rhythm battery of Modeliste and bassist George Porter, Jr., but also from the way Nocentelli and Neville played both melody to rhythm) that gave the band its distinctive sound.

This is a nearly perfect single-disc distillation of The Meters brand of rootsy New Orleans funk, with excellent, informative liner notes. Those who need a broader view should check out Rhino's double-disc "Funkify Your Live: The Meters Anthology," but most will find this nearly hour-long disc to be a compelling and sufficiently complete tour through the band's catalog.

GOOD FOR THE SOUL
This cd is a good refresher compared to todays soul and R&B. Todays R&B has nothing to do with rythm and blues. it disguists me. what has the world come to when something as simple as rythm and blues has no rythm or blues in the song. it is sad that soul has gone away i hope people will wake up and listen to good music like hendrix led zepplin and zz top to name a few. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

The Best of the Series
This is the best of the "Pure Disco" series. It contains all the best songs. It kicks off with a decent remix of Gloria Gaynor's disco standard "I Will Survive" and the album takes off after that. My favorite track would probably be "Turn the Beat Around," an explosive purscussion-based track. You also get "What A Feeling" from the movie Flashdance which was which hit long after disco's hey-day and "Rock the Boat" which was is considered by some the first disco song. Abba are included with "Gimme Gimme Gimme" which was not one of their bigger songs, but a great disco track anyways and the Weather Girls are a great addition with "It's Raining Men." This is an awesome CD for a party. It'll be sure to have everyone up and dancing to these great disco classics!

Wow! A Fun Disco Compilation!
Who knew a disco compilation could be so fun? This is actually one of the best (And funnest) CDs I have ever listened to. The album starts out with the fantastic I Will Survive Remix, which is followed by the classic Shake Your Booty by KC & The Sunshine Band. Vicki Sue Robinson's song Turn The Beat Around combines catchy hooks and great vocals to make one of the biggest dance anthems ever. Then the CD gets corny for just a little bit to include Macho Man and We Are Family. Irene Cara was a huge star after the songs from Fame and Flashdance, and she shows she has some killer vocals on the uplifting Flashdance (What A Feeling). The next few songs are sort of medium until you hit Rock The Boat by The Hues Corporation, which was recently featured on a Pepsi commercial. Then comes Love Rollercoaster, which was definately one of Disco's biggest hits. The rest of the highlights are Abba's haunting and catchy Gimmie! Gimmie! Gimmie! (A Man After Midnight), Anita Ward's unique vocals on Ring My Bell, the two classic hits Last Dance by Donna Summer and It's Raining Men by the Weather Girls, and then finally the Diva Megamix. If you are a fan of disco, or are just looking for a fun party CD, this is definately the one for you!

The best of the Pure Disco series.
This is a great compilation album! It starts off with a remix of "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. I prefer the original, found on Pure Disco #1. The second track is the KC and the Sunshine Band Hit, "Shake Your Booty", which I doubt anyone doesn't know at least one line of. Then is one of my favorite disco songs, Vicki Sue Robinson's "Turn the Beat Around". It is a song with so much going on you almost get lost! After that is "Macho Man" by the Village People, which is definitely not one of my favorites, but some people like it. Next is Sister Sledge's "We Are Family", which is just a bit repetitious. After that is the famous "What a Feeling" by Irene Cara. It may not technically be disco, but it's a nice inclusion. Next is Andy Gibb's "I Just Want to Be Your Everything", which I like the beat and melody, but not Andy Gibb's vocals. After that is "Everlasting Love" by Carl Carlton, a quite unappreciated song. Then you'll hear "Can't Get Enough of Your Love", a Barry White song I'm not too fond of. After that is The Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat", which annoys me for some crazy reason. Then you'll get "Love Rollercoaster" by the Ohio players, the most annoying disco song of all time. The only songs after that worth mentioning are "Upside Down", a fun song by the Motown/Disco legend Diana Ross. "Gimme Gimme Gimme", one of my favorite ABBA songs, "It's Raining Men", a song with about 3 other versions floating around, and "Last Dance", the most energetic disco song I've heard. The best songs on here are "Last Dance", "Turn the Beat Around", and "What a Feeling". I reccomend this to any disco fans.

My kids Love This Collection!
I do too...Listening, i forget how long it has been since these
songs were popular! Few of these artsts had great albums,but if you are looking for a collection of good disco music from a fun
era...when you could still escape with music...this is a must-have! My kids love it too...and they are very young!
Regina

Flash Back in Time
Great selection of favorite listening and dance hits from the 70's. Although some of the songs I really wouldn't classify as disco, every one on the cd brought back many memories. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A towering figure in postwar American music, for over 40 years James Brown has written, produced, and performed some of the most compelling R&B ever recorded. 20 All Time Greatest Hits! distills Startime!, itself a four-CD set that barely scratched the surface of Brown's prodigious output. As such, this collection concentrates on Brown's best-known records: "I Feel Good," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," and "Cold Sweat." The propulsive one- or two-chord vamps with Brown's hoarse, declamatory vocals laid the groundwork for modern funk. It's a perfect starter set for anyone unfamiliar with Brown's work. But be warned--Brown is addictive. Like peanuts and potato chips, it's impossible to stop with just one. Buy this and don't be surprised if one day you find yourself scouring used record bins for a rare copy of Grits and Cornbread. --Steven Mirkin ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Don't Ask Why or How...Just Get This Disc!
You can have your Elvis Presley, but for my time and money, you can't beat James Brown for stage prescence, charisma, tight grooves, and cultural impact. His influence in popular music is beyond calculation, and his songs deliver a rush of energy unlike anything you will ever hear. Diehards will probably steer towards his box set, but this single disc collection is just as good. You know the hits, and if you don't, you've definitely heard their samples: "Sex Machine," "The Payback," "Get Up Offa That Thing" and so forth. Serious jams and real insruments with the Godfather himself grunting and screaming throughout. John Lennon once said, "Before Elvis, there was nothing." Well, even visionaries like Lennon can be wrong. Along with Chuck Berry and Little Richard, James Brown is one of the key founding fathers of popular music, and this disc is a great display of his many hits. Priceless and timeless.

Still underappreciated genius
If you're looking for a single-disc collection of the Godfather's greatest, this is it.

For most people, James Brown is known for I Feel Good, Livin' in America, and his prison sentence a while ago. Most people have no clue what James Brown really did for American music. He's the acknowledged Godfather of Soul, one of the original and probably the greatest funk master, an R&B legend, and if you've ever bothered to find out where so many rap song samples come from, you'll recognize him at the roots of hip-hop.

This disc is a fine introduction to a career that everybody needs to hear more of. The album starts off with the obligatory and overplayed "I Got You (I Feel Good)," but then we get to hear JB rip it up on the classic "Sex Machine." Then, we get classic after classic including my favorites "Mother Popcorn, Pt. 1," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "It's A Man's Man's Man's World," " Cold Sweat, Pt.1," "Super Bad, Pts.1&2'" and my absolute favorite on this disc "The Payback," a long, slow, heavy, politically-charged piece that really grew on me.

Just remember that this disc just scratches the surface of the JB catalog. You may not be able to afford it, but if you're looking for a great retrospective of James Brown's work, you need to get the Star Time box set. It includes career highlights from the 50's all the way to the 90's.

I hope you take my advice and get this album because it's a great testament to an artist who remains underappreciated by most people.

This is not complete!!!
This should have had Livin' in America!!! That song would make it complete!!!!!!

Faultless compilation of soul and funk
James Brown is without doubt one of the greatest popular musicians of the twentieth century. Listen to this album and find out why.

The true Elvis
After Chuck Berry, James Brown is possibly one of Rock and Funk's most undeniable forces. This twenty track collection is only a small sample of the sound that is James Brown. Some criticize the repetition found in alot of his music, but this is due to the point that though many of his songs contained conscious elements, he was first and foremost an entertainer that specialized in dance. It can be claimed that not only is James Brown the creator of Funk, he is the catalyst for the obsession with Dance music that continues in several genres of music in America. James Brown was created to truly move the crowd and keep them off the wall. Mission Accomplished. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Maybe this music by Prince & the Revolution will never quite sound as,well, revolutionary as it did in 1984 (and nothing else has ever sounded like the extraordinary cooing and fluttering of "When DovesCry"), but it's a pop landmark in Prince's Artist-ic career. The hit moviewas really just a big-screen showcase for Prince to perform these songs (some ofthem in tear-the-roof-off "live" versions set in a Minneapolis club). I don't know why that warped sermonette introduces "Let's Go Crazy"(one thing you've got to love about Prince: he's always been weird), but somehowI'm glad it's there. Other highlights include the sexual scorcher "DarlingNikki" (with its crazy backwards coda) and that anthemic title tune. Don'tyou miss Wendy and Lisa, too? --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (122)

"Let's Go Crazy And Let's Get Nuts"- One Of Prince's Best!
After Prince went forward and made a major breakthrough with 1982's "1999" that spawned the hit singles "Little Red Corvette" and the dance-pop hit, "1999", Prince and his new band the Revolution began to write music for the album that made him a superstar called "Purple Rain". "Purple Rain" was the first album to be credited to the Revolution that featured longtime keyboardist Matt Fink, drummer Bobby Z, bassist Brown Mark, and the fabulous female duo of guitarist/vocalist Wendy Melvoin and keyboardist/vocalist Lisa Coleman. While Prince strays away from his R&B roots in favor of more pop-oriented styles, that doesn't mean he turned his back on soul music since a lot of the album carries soulful elements. Though the soul is still on Prince's mind, he mixes it up with dashes of metal, new wave, pop, and even some traces of psychedelia. "Purple Rain" was the one that helped launch Prince into superstardom. The album opens up with the rocking, "Let's Go Crazy". As Lisa Coleman's wailing organ and Prince's gospel-like sermon ends, Bobby Z's rhythmic elctric drum tracks comes with metal-blazing guitar riffs and wailing keyboards. Then, there are the puncy bass lines that come in. Next, there is the smooth and psychedelic tune, "Take Me With U", as it opens with the mid-tempo bass drums and the melodic synthesizers that are accompanied by the pounding bass lines. It's a beautiful duet with the Purple Rain movie co-star, Apollonia. The strings are just wonderful. "The Beautiful Ones" is a great R&B-like ballad, which has some great drum work by Bobby Z and Matt Fink's piano and organ-sounding synthesizers are lushy, as well as, great. The tune is about how beautiful women aren't always happy. "Computer Blue" is a funky, pop tune, which is very hard-pounding. The guitar-work and strong backbeat percussion is breathtaking. "Darling Nikki" totally sounds like something from his 1980 album, "Dirty Mind". The song is all about eroticism. The tune has some killer, blazing metal guitars. "When Doves Cry" is probably Prince's greatest song ever. It went #1 on the charts and stayed there for six weeks. The song doesn't have any bass included, it just has percussion, keyboards, and guitars. "I Would Die 4 U" is a up-tempo tune with some great, energetic synthesizer work. "Baby I'm A Star" is a funky, dance-pop song with Prince saying that he doesn't want to stop being a star, until he reaches the top. The spritual-like "Purple Rain", has to be one of the best compositions Prince has done. The song has some well-focused instrumentation in it. It has a beautiful fusion of guitar, cello, violin, drums, and strings. The album, itself, is a major classic. Every song on here are probably Prince's best performances ever. His 1982 album, "1999" might've introduced Prince to pop music, but "Purple Rain" was the one that kept the monumental going. It was the album that took pop music to a whole new horizon. "Purple Rain" is truly a pop landmark. The disc will never leave your CD player, trust me. A+

Gee,What A Toughy!
How do I review an unimpeachable classic?Well lets take a
look at the artists past.Prince had previously been known for
producing his own varried,minimalist elecrto-funk/rock with
overt erotic/political lyrics,even on "1999".But on "Purple Rain"
Prince allows the mass public to enjoy and/or get into his music
without losing his artistic integrity.Side 1 is pretty seamless-
the opening rocker "Let's Go Crazy" and his Apollonia duet in
"Take Me With U" and his unique electro-funk jam "Computer Blue".
The live' Darling Nikky" may delve into the lust of yore but
then you get "When Doves Cry"-simply put the greatest pop creation without a bassline.The intense "I Would Die 4U" doesn't
go very far in it's magnifisance while "Baby,I'm A Star" leads
the Revolution through a major-legue workout.Then theres the
closing tital cut,a brilliant,catchy hard rock ballad that serves
to sum up the overall albums culmination of soul,funk,pop and rock of the past 25 years before this.Black aand white musicians
of all those genres have attempted to do the same thing with
popular music but largly without the multitalented capabilities
of Prince never quite achieved the same feel or results.Unlike
the movie,the "Purple Rain" album is simply breathtaking!

No "Sex Shooter" on this soundtrack
Some labels just have a habit of excluding certain song(s) off movie soundtracks. There are some songs or instrumental beats in a movie that a person may love and hence purchase the soundtrack not for the heck of it but because of that song(s). But leave it to Prince to exclude Apollonia's "Sex Shooter" and the beautiful piano arrangement/piece whatever you want to call it, which was played by his "on-screen" father on the piano. But hey, you can't win 'em all. However, the soundtrack is delicious. Prince is sexy and the lyrics are orgasmic---apps~

Memories
This CD brings back so many memories of 1984-I was staioned overseas in the military that year, and those were some great times. Lots of partying, and the music from this CD takes me back to that period . '84 was a long year with many ups and downs, and Purple Rain reminds me of those times. This is a great additon to my '80s collection, along with Hall and Oates, Billy Ocean, Madonna, Def Leopard, Teena Marie and scores of others. This, IMO, is Prince's best work EVER..a must have for any pop music fan..

Wah-Hoo!
This is one of my favorite records now and when it came out. Prince is a great singer/songwriter, one of the world's best, if I may say so myself. This was Prince's highest selling album, and I can see why. While some other of Prince's releases may seem not my style, this one shows that Prince is one of pop/rock's greatest stars. Adding equal amounts of pop, rock, and funk, Prince shows off his talent. Although this record may seem extremely 80's at first listen, it really is one of those timeless ones, like the Beatles 'Revolver' or Ratt's 'Out Of The Cellar'. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As the title would lead to you to believe, these are the greatest hits from a group that had a fair share of hits in the late '60s and early '70s.Too pop savvy to be merely a funk band, and too damn funky to be just a rock band, Sly and his multicultural crew made intelligent party music that crossed boundaries and became AM radio staples. Included in this collection are smashes like "Dance to the Music", "M'lady", "Sing A Simple Song", "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)" and "Everybody is a Star".--Amy Linden ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Great CD! Makes you move and groove
This CD was on for 6.99, so I thought, "What the heck. It's the band who did Dance to the music." (I thought that's the only hit song they had). Then I put the CD in and the first thing I heard was "I want to Take you Higher." And I thought, "Sly and the Family Stone did this? Wow". It just got better with "Everyday People", "Hot Fun in the Summertime," "Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" and "You can Make it if you Try." There's nice funk and groove musac (aka music, when it's funk you call it Musac). Has some slow songs too like "Everybody is a Star". Awesome CD. If you have no idea who Sly and the Family Stone is, get this CD, if you do know who Sly and the Family Stone, get this CD. DANCE TO THE MUSAC!

The band that made pop funky, and FUN...HOT FUN..
Anybody who was under, say 25 in 1969..and had a pulse, 'got' this, and really, really dug it. Every single track is a testament to how GOOD this band was. Hendrix and Sly (and of course Ritchie Havens...whose life and world all begin with a dream'; and advertiser's dream, that is) were the only "black cross-over" acts at Woodstock, and Sly, I think, outdid Hendrix. Back then that really counted. This CD will bring back the "hot fun in the summertime" - and as Cynthia says..."all the squares, "GO HOME!!"

Psychedelic funk at its best!
There was, and is, only one band like "Sly & the Family Stone". A group that put the "H" in high produced a slew of hits during the 70's. There was some major ones to follow the tracks gathered, but this "greatest" package, for the buck, is a "must-buy". The album version of "I Want to Take You Higher", presented here in all its glory,is a brilliant tour de force, combining R & B, pop, and funk with the masterful of Sly and company.

One word : FUNKEY!!!
You gotta love Sly. If you can put on this cd loud enough, and remain quiet, check your pulse! The grooves are so powerful, they define funk, and they make you wanna move! The first song just grabs you, and it doesn't let go until the last. Great grooves, great vocals. Now, I think we need to clarify. A reviewer said that Freddie invented slap bass lines. I think not. It was Larry Graham, even before getting into S&tFS. One of the first (if not the first) recording of slapped electric bass is "Thank You", a track included here. Now, get your afro wig, your plattform shoes, and dance to the music!

Everyday Star
Greatest Hits concluded the first phase of Sly and the Family Stone's career, neatly summing up their boisterous, politic-pop era. But the darkness was creeping in, as heard on the sarcastic "Thank You (Fallenme Be Mice Elf Agin)" and the resigned "Everybody is a Star." Sly's next move would be the mercurial There's a Riot Goin' On, and then his subsequent slippage. Greatest Hits is one of the few "best-of" packages which serves as a complete statement rather than the typical career supplement of most such collections. This stunning set covers a mere two years of recording and argues favorably for the group place alongside The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Kool and Funky Wins The Race On This Greatest Hits CD
THE greatest hits CD to own from one of the 80s top hitmakers. Never as groundbreaking as Michael Jackson or Prince, or as flamboyant as George Clinton or Earth, Wind, & Fire, Kool & The Gang earned a steady stream of Top 10 hits throughout the decade that, heard together, indicates how quietly prevalent their sound was.

Never as popular as the comparable Ohio Players at their mid-70s peak, Kool & The Gang with producer Eumir Deodato crafted a funk/R&B/pop formula that clicked literally as the clock struck midnight to begin the 80s. They hit equally with funkier tunes and lush ballads, many with one-word titles: "Fresh," "Misled," "Cherish," "Joanna," "Tonight," and the cliched #1 hit "Celebration" (refreshed little by a house remix).

You also hear the group's bass-heavy, influential and heavily rap-sampled early hits like "Funky Stuff," "Hollywood Swinging," and the "Pulp Fiction"-featured "Jungle Boogie." Together, these songs form nearly 15 years of hitmaking that, despite personnel changes that ultimately sunk the group, stands with the best in modern classic R&B. Recommended.

All the Hits!!!
I knew Kool and the Gang was an awesome band. I grew up listening to them. But I never realize the impact that they had on modern music until I got this collection. Just hearing the songs (hits) back to back, made me respect their work even more. In a time, where R&B artists actually wrote, produced, and played their own music, what set Kool and the Gang apart from others is they had alot of crossover hits. But they never lost their funkness or koolness. Get this collection and learn to love Kool and the Gang all over again.

You're Right...ALMOST the Greatest Hits
This thumping, soulful collection of one of the greatest pop/dance and R&B/Rock bands that exploded out of Harlem and took the disco craze by storm in the 70s' and 80s' is almost complete. It includes all of their songs from the funk intro era of the late 70s' to the more pop/rock mixed and synthesized dance hits they made in the 80s'...except for 'Stone Love'! How could they leave that out? There are other collections made by tons of companies that feature all of these songs plus 'Stone Love' and others that are missing, plus several remixes and liner notes. If this is your collection though, its perfect sounding and a good edition.

Almost "The Very Best of...
Overall, this is a very good compilation that should satisfy most listeners. However, if they really want to hear just how diverse and talented this band was, they should have included the classic, "Summer Madness" It was (and still is) a mind trip of massive Jazz/Funk/and R&B proportions. Any true Funk Aficionado should hunt for this song and give it a listen.
Also, Where is the disco era's "Open Sesame" ? The horns on this cut are ree-diculous, The nasty bass line propels this song like a freight train, and the soaring vocal harmonies are not to be missed.

A full tilt boggie ride!
This collection by Cool and the Gang will turn your everyday living room into a funky disco tech. Immediately, as my wife and I were jamming out to tracks like Fresh, Misled, and Take It To the Top,we both were transported back to the time when roller skating on Saturday nights was so cool and so fun. This collection of hits by Cool and the Gang is a full tilt boggie ride for those of us who still love the way disco makes us move and feel. Treat yourself and buy this funky collection of hits. You won't be sorry. Enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Where Off the Wall was pretty much straight good times, Thriller introduced dread into Michael Jackson's solo work. By 1995's HIStory, this element curdled into overwhelming self-regard and out-of-touchness, but here it's bracing. While Thriller offers its share of cute ("The Girl Is Mine," a duet with Paul McCartney that was the album's first single; "P.Y.T."), the most memorable cuts remain "Billie Jean," "Beat It," and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," all of which meld musical imagination and worried-mind lyrics.

There's also the title track, which takes a cue from Parliament's concept pieces in employing Vincent Price to warn that nonfunky forces will "terrorize y'all's neighborhood." Thriller, of course, continues to battle with the Eagles' first greatest-hits package for the title of biggest-selling U.S. long-player ever. Bonus material on this edition includes "Someone in the Dark," from Jackson's E.T. children's album, and a Quincy Jones interview in which the producer cites "My Sharona" as the inspiration for "Beat It"--and, even better, the real-life Billie Jean's claim that Michael was "the father of one of her twins." --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (126)

5++ stars...
I give Michael Jackson's Thriller FIVE stars and I don't care for the title track, Billie Jean or Beat It (all which were world-wide hits). The album really opened the door for Michael's solo career thanks to, in part, the 25th Anniversary of Motown and the video for Thriller. At that time very innovated!!

I enjoy this album in large part because of The Girl Is Mine, Human Nature, P.Y.T and the Lady in My Life...all very R&B soulful tracks.

On the remastered versions includes behind the scenes (so to speak) with Quincy interview and a home demo for Billie Jean. As a fan of Michael Jackson-and I assure many fans agree...that this was a wonderful move by Michael and Sony. Rare tracks without going underground! :-)

Included tracks on the remastered version of Thriller are...
Someone in the Dark...track for the ET Storybook...really rare to hear. Nice slow track.

Billie Jean home demo...what can we say? a work in progress...a real treat, even for those of us who are not a fan of the track!! :-)

Voice over session from Thriller-including the never heard before 2nd verse. With Vincent Price...another wonderful treat.

and a song called Carousel...a pleasant song but I am glad that if a song had to been omitted the first time around, this song was a good choice to leave out compared to the other tracks on the album. It's another rare track if you don't get bootlegs from the underground

All in all, you can't go wrong with this cd, even if you have the first version cd because the extras and the remastered version of the original songs are well worth the money!!

What A Thrill
Thriller has been a household word for almost twenty years now. The mere mention of it conjures up images of invisible footprints, Michael and gang dancing to Beat It, the huge Thriller video, and Michael's showstopping performance on the Motown 25 television special. With no less than seven hit singles, this has become the biggest seller of all time, so much so that this album has been mentioned on the cover of the Guinness Book Of World Records. With this release, Michael Jackson and Thriller have become a phenomenon.

However, you when you take away all of the awards, music videos, and tabloid stories, you are left with the music. The special edition release is a chance to listen to the music with fresh ears. The remastering is a quantum leap over the original CD release, possibly because the original CD release was rushed out. Everything sounds a lot crisper, particularly the percussion and horns. Beat It sounds absolutely majestic in this new version and the most improved song of all.

The bonus tracks are a major treat. Someone In The Dark from the ET storybook is one of the lovliest songs he's ever done. The Billie Jean demo is obviously a work in progress but is interesting. The Billie Jean demo raises the question of whether or not there are other demos and outtakes around. They would be fascinating to listen to. The Vincent Price Thriller rap is hilarious and includes the missing 2nd verse (can you dig it?). Carousel, a Michael Sambello cut is okay but having it on the original album might have disrupted the impact of the original.

The front cover of the CD package sports a stunning cover of Michael with a baby tiger. With all of Michael's subsequent appearance changes, this photo's impact is particularly striking. It's almost as if the Michael that came out with Thriller doesn't exist anymore. With this album, he was not yet named "the King of Pop" but he was probably one of the most recognized and beloved person on this planet.

Buy this CD and rediscover the Thrill.

Genius!
Theres no question that this was overhyped. It doesn't matter. It deserves to be. One thing though I would like to say is that, even though this is a perfect album, I find albums like Dangerous, Bad, History and Blood On The Dancefloor to be better.

I do think this was a better follow up to Off The Wall.

Michael Jackson, the biggest selling recording artist in history, proves himself with the biggest selling album in history.

The best tracks are Wanna Be Startin Somethin, Baby Be Mine, Girl Is Mine, Billie Jean, Beat It, Human Nature and PYT!

Songs like Lady In My Life shows that he can sing beautiful ballads. The title song, "thriller" gets annoying so i skip that track often.

Michael Jackson is 100% innocent!

Visit my site: www.mjacksononline.tripod.com

Thriller [Bonus Tracks] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [EXT
Thriller [Bonus Tracks] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [EXTRA TRACKS]~ Michael Jackson is simply put it stupendous with many memorable tracks, i.e., beat it, thriller to name a few. It is the best selling album of all time and when one listens to it one knows quickly why.

60 million copies sold, the biggest selling album of all tim
60X platinum. Need we say more? ... Read more

Amazon.com

God bless punk and new wave. Without them, '80s pop music might well have ended up as vapid and ghettoized as, well, pop music of the '90s. Those late '70s movements were frankly reactionary at heart (seeking to counter what was perceived as the overwrought tendencies of rock's prog and hard-rock elite and calling for a return to the diverse energy of '60s Top 40), but their influences can be felt on nearly every cut of this triple-disc hits anthology, from the Buggles' all-too-prophetic "Video Killed the Radio Star" to the nouveau funk of Kool and the Gang, the Dazz Band, and the Gap Band, to the nascent big-hairdom of Night Ranger ("Sister Christian") and Whitesnake. If you're looking for the roots of alternative rock or obscure college playlist fodder, look elsewhere; this is prime-time '80s pop chart glory, as seen on MTV (over and over and over). Though the songs here cover a breadth of style and genre (if not necessarily substance), there's a remarkable unity of purpose and hook-laden musical accomplishment that's sorely missed. If this collection woefully shortchanges hip-hop, it still underscores a distinctly irony-free era where style admittedly triumphed over substance, as opposed to the '90s, where style caricatured substance. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Spud from Idaho
This was a great CD. There were a lot of artist missing, but not too many minor artists included. I bought another 80s CD set and there were a lot of songs in it that I'd never even heard of. This is a great CD if you don't have many 80s CDs. I had a lot of them on tape, but needed to upgrade to CDs.

This CD has a lot of good memories, but some are still missing.

Overpriced overview
Goodness knows there are enough 80's compilation CD's out there, and many cover exactly the same territory.

ROLE CALL! Culture Club, present. Blondie, present. Tears For Fears, present. Michael Jackson, absent. Soft Cell, present. Duran Duran, absent. Eurythmics, present. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, present. Cyndi Lauper, absent. Thomas Dolby, absent. Peter Gabriel, present. Madonna, absent. Kool & the Gang, present. Bryan Adams, present. New Kids on the Block, absent, but who cares? Not a bad turn out.

Given that there's under 50 tracks, there's a pretty good representation of the hits of the day, and even a few misses (Tempted, Oh Yeah, Weird Science) that have aged better than several high charted songs.

If somehow, by this point in your life, you've avoided buying these tracks separately, this is a good way to get them together for your next retro party. But you probably already have more than half of them or you wouldn't be reading this far. As such this may be more than you want to spend.

Check out Rhino's New Wave Dance Hits (Just Can't Get Enough) series for a lot more depth and a lot less repetition with your current collection.

Wonder who'll be included on the first 3-CD review of this decade...

Good Collection, not Great
This is a good collection of a variety of the pop side of the 80s music, although still lacking some of the most popular artists of the time, where is "The Material Girl," Madonna, Michael Jackson's "Thriller"? Cindy Lauper's "Girls Just Want to have Fun"? Huge hits from the 80s pop culture, all missing. Also missing, is another huge part of 80s music, the "hair bands" that were so wildly popular. Where are Cinderella, Poison, Faster Pussycat, Tesla, Motley Crue, Mr. Big, Skid Row? Not to mention it's missing the heavy metal, such as Metallica, Halloween, Jackel, WASP, Quiet Riot? I still have them on tapes that I bought throughout the 80s and I remember hearing them on the radio, why drop a huge part of the 80s music era? Also missing is the collections of the alternative bands of the 80s like Love and Rockets, The Cure, where are they? I like this collection, I just feel that they focused on one type of music that came from the 80s and ran with it. This would have been a great collection had they dropped some of the lesser known songs and added some of the other genres of the 80s sounds.

Lots of memories (of better songs)
It's a good collection of tunes from the 80s that appeals to those of us who came of age during the time. But, after a listen-through, it left me craving a collection with a few more of the high-points from the decade.

Music I grew up with...
There is not a bad song in this set. It is full of wonderful, classic music from the 80's and not to be missed. Ahh, the 80's. How I miss that time. At least now I can relive some of it with this music! ... Read more

Amazon.com

At the Close of a Century may seem a rather portentous title for a box set, even one showcasing the work of such a formidable writer-performer as Stevie Wonder. Consider, though, that these discs appear a few months before Wonder's 50th birthday and that he's already spent 36 years making records; he has more right than most to get a little highfalutin when invoking temporal milestones. Despite various retrospectives over the years, Close is the first to cover the arc of Wonder's entire career. By the end of the first disc we've heard his early Motown hits and watched him develop into the masterful artist who'd go on to stack up landmark album after landmark album in the '70s. (Aretha Franklin's Wonder-penned hit "Until You Come Back to Me" is here in a rare version by the composer.) The string of LPs from Talking Book (1972) to Hotter Than July (1980) provides gem after gem on the two middle CDs--with all of 1973's Innervisions save one cut represented--while post-"Master Blaster" winners such as "That Girl" and "Overjoyed" are the meat of the final disc. Add a smart booklet of essays, photos, and a discography, and this handsome package starts to look like a sharp addition to the collections of even hard-core Stevie buffs. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (96)

One Of The Best Boxed Sets EVER!
Too often, record labels spend an inordinate amount of time planning how a boxed set LOOKS, but not what makes it up. Witness the many sets loaded with lame-o live cuts of songs you love, rare B-sides few people outside hardcore fans remember or demos made when the artist was still in diapers. In the case of Stevie Wonder, there had never been a single or double disc CD set that accurately covered the breadth of the man's career. And make no mistake, Wonder was that rarest of performers: his appeal crossing generational lines (from the sixties to the nineties), musical lines (name me one seventies rock fan who doesn't rock out to "Superstition") and commercial/experimental lines (his seventies albums employed synthesizers in innovative ways). His songs retain their magic, charm, boldness and genuine soul easily, effortlessly and with true-born genius. Likewise, Motown's usual short-changings (inferior sound remastering, single vs. album cuts, short-shrift booklets) are set aside here to paint a vivid portrait of a seminal modern music figure. Taken in this context, it's easy (and logical) to list Wonder alongside the 20th century's finest singer-songwriters: Bob Dylan, Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Lennon-McCartney, Noel Coward. From the Little Stevie Wonder years ("Fingertips") to the seminal pre-rap seventies funk-rock workouts ("Living For The City") to his unquestionable skills as a balladeer ("I Just Called To Say I Love You"), this 4-disc collection is, simply put, one of the best boxed sets ever produced. Absolutely essential!

FRONT LINE pushed to the back of the line once again...
At first glance I was impressed with the wide spectrum of songs included. Maybe Stevie deserves more that just a quartet of discs. (As an example, upon opening up his vast back-log of unreleased material in boxed set form, Springsteen ended up rush-releasing his "TRACKS" album, to collect ommitted trax).

None the less, as I read the reviews from AMAZON customers I could not help but note the number of gross ommisions. Granted, you can't please everyone, but over the course of 4 discs, you'd think you could hit the mark on every major cut.

My Personal Plee was for the extended 12" mix of FRONTLINE that I own in album form, but I would have settled for a single version. With its riveting groove and strong lyrical message, you would have thot its unclusion a no-brainer.

It is a bit unfair to dock the 312 minute marathon a star for one left out song but as I add up the number of complaints, I think there are some missing moments here (DON'T DRIVE DRUNK, ALFIE, and so on).

Maybe a live, rarities and B-sides disc is in the works, but the great, great early to mid-sixties Moptown cuts are so, so wonderful, it's a shame Little Stevie does not think as much about his past (he had Motown pull the 3-LP LOOKING BACK anthology from disctribution).

I wish those would come back once more...

WONDERful
This is truly the best Box set and retrospective I have ever bought. This is well worth the money. I love how it starts from his early work and ends at his most recent work. I love every CD. Motown did a fabulous job in collecting Stevie's work and giving it to his fans. I am elated when I put all the disk in my player and listen for hours. I love the booklet, that is included. It is wonderful when you learn more about an artist and this gives you exactly that.
Thank you Motown for such awesome work.

Closest Thing To A True Retrospective!
There are other "Greatest Hit" collections for Stevie Wonder but this one is probably the best one! It has nearly everything from the beginning of his career up until the mid-90's! True, it'll miss a song or two but overall, you can't complain! Get it! Worth the money!

TOTALLY WODER-FULL
The ultimate collection of Stevie Wonder's work. Every song brings back memories and stays strong for today's market. If you have to own one of Stevie Wonder's CDs, this is the one to get. ... 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

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

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