Amazon.com essential recording

Songs in the Key of Life (1976) was the highest high point of Stevie Wonder's career. More sprawling than Innervisions and Talking Book, this two-LP-plus-EP was also less of a consistent stunner than either of those masterworks. That Songs retains an enormous amount of visionary relevance, though, is demonstrated not only in Coolio's borrowing of "Pastime Paradise" as a template for "Gangsta's Paradise," but in the cold-as-ice synthesized string quartet of "Village Ghetto Land." This is Stevie, so naturally that cut's anger is balanced by the ultra-buoyant "I Wish," "Sir Duke," and "Another Star." The 2000 reissue boasts radically improved remastered sound. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (133)

Digital Sound Defiles a Pop Classic
"Songs in the Key of Life" is truly Stevie Wonder's opus. It is hard to imagine this, having already fallen in love with "Talking Book" and "Innervisions." Many, including myself, consider it to be the greatest pop album ever recorded. It is just about the most magnificent, wide-ranging and deeply moving recording I've ever heard. This record truly displays the depth and integrity of Stevie's gifts as a composer, instrumentalist, vocalist and producer. His choice of musicians on this record (including Herbie Hancock, George Benson, and Greg Phillangaines) is of course top-notch. Musically and artistically it is a masterpiece on every conceivable level. However, I am saying all of this of the original recording, not the one you see here.

I have been trying for some time now to dispell the notion that digital remastering somehow enhances the quality of an older record. I have heard remasters that were excellent, and I think for recordings of the 1950's and 60's vintage they can improve the overall fidelity of early stereo. However, Stevie's albums in the early and mid 70's were also masterpieces of recording technology. I have such fond memories of hearing this record on LP and being so entranced by the warmth and intimacy of the sound. Analog masters sound as though the musicians are with you in the room! Many new recordings lack this quality, sounding sterile and reproduced. I was greatly disappointed with this particular remaster, as well as all of the Stevie Wonder remasters that were recently released by Motown. It sounds to me as if someone simply compressed all of the waves and then cranked up the treble about a hundred notches. Some of the cymbal crashes on this record left my ears ringing, I can't understand why so many people prefer to listen to this.

Having come of age after the advent of CDs, I feel I am being as objective as one can be. I think this is not simply an issue of preference, or analog vs. digital. I think this about preserving and respecting the original 'voice' of the record. Stevie Wonder, in addition to all of his musical accomplisments, was a master producer. He knew what he wanted to hear, and when I listen to the original recording I am so stimulated by the entire sonic experience. There are textures and nuances in many of the layers (especially the intricate bass lines and synth work) that have been obscured by the high frequency, high compression sound format that has somehow become the standard. I am afraid that the fascination with technological advancement has superceded the pure listening experience, and it's disappointing.

Nevertheless, the music speaks for itself. I would only advise that those who wish to hear the album how it was intended to be heard in 1976 buy the original.

This Isn't Music. This Is History.
For those who care to know, this is my 1,000th review (ladies and gentlemen, please hold your applause!), and I thought it'd be a good idea to revisit Stevie Wonder's still-influential masterpiece "Songs in the Key of Life." Yeah, he's turned in other classics, and I'm also fond of "Music of My Mind" and "Hotter Than July," but "Songs..." ranks up there with "The Beatles" and Prince's "Sign o the Times" as one of the greatest double albums ever released. I still have the original vinyl edition (left to me by my late father), and very little of the material sounds dated, but all of it ranges from "excellent" to "even better." Wonder is most effective when he sings about love, as evidenced on the still-groovy "As" (which George Michael and Mary J. Blige would later cover), the brilliant "Knocks Me off My Feet" (which Tevin Campbell would later cover), and the ever-memorable "Isn't She Lovely." Other songs that hold a place close to my heart are "Another Star," "Sir Duke," and the soaring "If it's Magic." More than a quarter century since its release, this album has lost none of its luster. A classic album as towering as "Songs in the Key of Life" isn't simply music. It's also history.

So Lovely, So Funky
Beautiful, rich color and soul. Kicking up the blues into funk, improv, fusion, and prog. Huge fidelity recoding. Songs are so catchy and well-written. You'll be singing the songs before the first of the 2 discs are even finished. A masterpiece.

I couldn't belive...
I walked in to record town with 40 dollars that fatefull day. Totaly disgusted with the music sceen today i drifted in to the back of the store. I looked through the artists and stevie wonder's name appeared. Suddenly somthing came over me and i had songs in the key of life in my hand and i was walking to the cash register. I don't know why i bought it, i don't know what came over me. All i know is that this is one of the best albums of all time. Trust me it wont dissapoint you at all, it will inspire you to do greater things. Don't think, just buy it.

Fav. Songs : Another Star, As, Knocks me off my feet, summer soft, sir duke, if it's magic, ebony eyes, isn't she lovely, have a talk with god, i wish, love's in need of love today, saturn, village ghetto land, pasttime paradsie.

THERE ALL EXCELENT!!!!!!!!!

ignore songlife's review
it is apparent that u songlife have an incredibly foolish
nature when it comes down 2 stevie's important issues such
as slavery and race in his music. these are important topics
that need be addressed and stevie did it with truth and honesty.
if u r black-well then u r a brained washed negro. if u r white
u have never walked in black peoples shoes 2 understand the
painful effects of slavery and how it still affects black people
even 2day right now at this moment!if u r white, u would not

dare trade places with us black people because u couldn't handle
the stress,strife and racism that we black people have 2 endure
on a daily basis for over 450 years and counting.yes-songs like 'pastime paradise' and 'BLACK MAN'are essential and important 2 stevie's career-or betteryet 4 me and stevie 2 make u more upset about the issues of blacks being oppressed buy stevie's 1971 album 'where i'm coming from'and listen 2
'i wanna talk to you'or stevie's 1980 album-'hotter than july'
and listen 2 'cash in your face' or the track that stevie had
written and produced for the group third world called
'you're playing us too close' from the 1982 album
'you've got the power'/or the track 'its wrong'(apartheid)
from stevie's 1985 album,'in square circle'/or the track
'dark'n lovely' from stevie's 1987 album 'characters'/or the
track 'conversation peace' from stevie's 1995 album
'conversation peace'/now with all that being said i suggest 2u fool- stop living in a 'mickey mouse-disneyland'attitude
because racism is alive and well-because these issues are
important 2 stevie's music-YOU IGNORANT FOOL!!! ... 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 (1310)

Pretty good album...awesome album cover!
Vocally, I think she has matured since her first album. It's less "poppy" than her last album. But considering the current "pop" market, I think everyone is trying sound less poppy and a little more "hip hop" (like Britney and Justin collaborated with rappers). This album contains a good balance between up-tempo songs and ballads.

I especially like track 18 "The Voice Within" - it's powerful, it showcases her voice, and most importantly, she didn't "overdo" it with all those improvised "yeah yeah...ahh ahh" stuff. I was disappointed with track 2 "Can't Hold Us Down". This track features Lil' Kim but I think the song is missing a catchy melody or riff or something. It was a waste to use Lil' Kim in this track, especially after "Lady Marmalade" became such a hit - Lil' Kim and Christina are indeed a cool duo. Unfortunately the song didn't do them justice. Track 9 "Impossible" was a collaboration with Alicia Keys. It was a signature Alicia Keys song - in a minor key, with piano/drums/bass and heavy backup vocals - And tell you the truth, I rather hear Alicia singing this track. I think Christina overdid it just a little too much.

There are tracks on this album where I think Christina is exploring and experimenting with different sounds...Take for instance Track 12 "Make Over" reminds me a little of Pink's new sound, leaning a little toward alternative rock. More jazzy sounding tracks include Track 10 "Underappreciated" and Track 15 "Get Mine, Get Yours"...the arrangement are different from a "typical" R&B track.

"Dirrty" is a good one to party to...it's my favorite on the album. I don't know about the video...but then again the track is named "Dirrty"...so I guess the video was appropriate.

Her image - is she just trying to be a bad girl, or do you think this is indeed the real Christina? Who knows?

Overall it's a pretty good album. I would only recommend it if you're a Christina fan.

wonderful lyrics, powerful voice, christina made it again
Dont esitate, buy that album. Stripped is one of the greatests albums of the year. You'll see the new Christina, the real way she is. Amazing lyrics (Co-writed by Christina), powerful voice, and realy nice beats, what should we ask better?? Listen, I like ALL of the 21 tracks on the cd. It is a great album.

1- Stripped (intro) - 7/10 - nice intro
2- Cant hold us down - 8/10 - good beat, great for dance
3- Walk Away - 10/10 - my fav REMARQUABLE lyrics/interpretation!
4- Fighter - 9/10 - realy good rock song, powerful
5- primer amor interlude - 4/10 well its an interlude right..lol
6- infatuation - 9/10 - realy good song, latino, i love it!!
7- loves embrace interlude - 5/10 relaxing interlude..
8- loving me 4 me - 7/10 - slow, but good piece to
9- impossible - 9/10 - great!! beautiful interpretation, r&b
10- underapreciated - 6/10 - okay
11- beautiful - 10/10 - what a great voice !! nice lyrics, good!
12- make over - 6/10 not bad.. sounds rock but weird
13- cruz - 8/10 - i love it !! good interpretation, accapela!!
14- soar - 10/10 - realy good, I cant describe it
15- get mine get yours - 9/10 -WOW! give a listen powerful voice
16- dirty - 8/10 - nice song, great beat to dance, good
17- stripped pt2 - 6/10 - good
18- the voice within - 8/10 - great voice, lyrics, everithing
19- im okay - 9/10 - realy emmotionnal, too good lyrics
20- keep on signing my song - 7/10 great
21- i will be - 8/10 good end to a great album

buy this album, youll be satisfied, thats for sure!!! I love christinas voice, powerful, emotional, just go get this cd!!!! 910 !!!!!

Greatest cd's ever
This is one of the best cd's I have ever heard and by far her best cd.....If you get one cd this you this must be the one

Beautiful and empowering
It took her a while but she came back in full force. All the tracks are great and they show that she really grew up. Through her songs, you understand that she grew into a woman who's comfortable in her skin, sexuality, and just her place in the world. You hear her tears in "I'm Okay", singing about her abusive father and you feel her love for herself in "Beautiful" a song that encourages self love and determination in believing in all that you are. Every woman should own this album. You won't be wasting your time. She kicks Britney's ass with this.

THE ULTIMATE!!
Girlfriend is all over this CD. She is bringing the house down BIG TIME. Miss Christina, you are such a role model, and I love everything you do. Just run and get this album now!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (25)

One of a Kind!
And yet another satisfying "Very Best Of" CD from the good folks at Rhino...

The (Detroit) Spinner were indeed amongst the very best the early '70s had to offer in the orchestrated Pop-Soul genre which also counted royalty like The Chi Lites, Barbara Acklin, The Stylistics, ABC-era Four Tops, Chairmen of the Board, and the O'Jays. If you're a fan of that sort of music, this one's a must.

That said, what keeps this one's away from getting my full, flawless, five-star verdict is the simple fact that the quality isn't as consistent as one would've hoped for; few of the songs ("I'm Coming Home", "Sadie") just aren't quite as magnificent as others ("It's a Shame", "Mighty Love", "Could it Be I'm Falling in Love", "Ghetto Child"), while the Disco medleys ("Working My Way Back to You"/"Forgive Me, Girl" & "Cupid"/"I've Loved You For a Long Time"), although fine, don't measure up against the earlier stuff at all.

But this is still excellent nearly all the way -- few, at the time, did this sort of thing better than master Thom Bell (If needed, seek out the Stylistics for further proof). But Bell also had these majestic voices to work with, so it definitely wasn't all him.

Spinners keep on spinning -- we sallute you!

Their best is the best
More kudos to Rhino Records. These guys (the Spinners, not Rhino) were around for so long, and made so much good music over twenty some years. Most of it is here.

Sorry about the bad luck of Music Fan, but my copy had "Mighty Love", "Love Don't Love Nobody" and "Then Came You". Also included were some of their earlier smooth songs like "I'll Be Around" and "Its a Shame". We even get the Spinners foray into disco, the remake of the Four Season's Working My Way Back To You" is happily included.

They were so polished, and if you have gone a few decades (like I did) withoug hearing these songs, they return like a good old friend. My only complaint? I would prefer the full versions of "Mighty Love", "Love Don't Love Nobody" and "Rubberband Man". But not enough of a problem to dog this one out.

All of the Spinner's Hits!
This is an album that includes ALL of the Spinner's hits! My favorite songs are It's A Shame, I'll Be Around and Could It Be I'm falling in Love. This is one of the best albums to party with. It may be from the 60's, but it will never get old.

Outstanding collection of one of the 70's top groups!!!!
Originally known as the Detroit Spinners, this group was discovered by Moonglows great Harvey Fuqua around 1960. In fact their very first release "Thats What Girls Are Made For" (sadly not included in this collection) was done in the Moonglows style. The Spinners were signed by Berry Gordy in the early 60's but struggled mightily to find their sound. They released a dozen or so singles before finally hitting paydirt in 1970 with "It's A Shame". Convinced that the group needed to go in an entirely different direction, good friend Aretha Franklin convinced they to leave Motown and sign with Atlantic Records where she introduced them to producer Thom Bell. This was a match made in heaven. And the rest is history. Over the next dozen years or so, the group would place about two dozen songs on Billboards Hot 100. Of these, seven made the Top Ten including the 1974 number one smash with Dionne Warwick "Then Came You". The Spinners turned out to be one the most consistant chart performers of the decade. This collection from Rhino records includes fifteen of the very best tracks including "It's A Shame", "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love", "The Rubberband Man" and two medleys from the early 80's "Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" and "Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time". But the entire CD is a delight and I don't believe there is a mediocre track on the disc. As per usual, Rhino has included an eight page booklet with the history of the group and photos. Where are they now? According to their official website, the Spinners continue to perform in small venues around the country. Unfortunately, lead singer John Edwards fell ill in 2002. As a result, the group contacted their lead singer from the Motown days G.C. Cameron who agreed to rejoin the group after some 30 years. If you grew up in the 1970's, this CD should be an essential part of your music collection. Most highly recommended!!!

A release that lives up to being "The Very Best Of"
The music industry is quite a perplexing animal as both Gladys Knight & the Pips and Spinners were largely ignored by Motown and both went on to enjoy an amazing streak of success after leaving their first label. Nothing against Motown, but they never found a way to bring out the best of these talents, but luckally a man known as STEVIE WONDER to took interest in the group by writing and help record a gem titled "It's A Shame", which went on to become their only Motown hit. After much soul searching and rejection, the group was picked up (with much support from Aretha Franklin) by Atlantic.

After the lead singer quit, they began work with the great Thom Bell, Philly soul's "other" great producer besides the legendary Gamble & Huff team who were enjoying continued success with another gem of a group: none other than The O'Jays!While not as flashy or arguably well-remembered as the O'Jays, Spinners hold their own place in music history and this collection is AMAZING as it has every hit, a feat rarely seen in the industry as there are always some songs left out by accident or intent.

Listening to this great collection I am reminded how tasteful, elegant, and lushy romantic this group was. True adult contemporary music before the term was prostituted to include artists that don't receive play on MTV.

Some may forget that Spinners had a few gems that surpassed their signature love songs, as exemplified by the grooves of "The Rubberband Man" and towards the end of their reign had a couple of well received medleys that did not deviate from their roots but incorporated a discoish beat that suited them quite well. I LOVE "Working My Way Back To You/ Forgive Me Girl."

If you are a hard core fan, there is a double anthology titled "One of a Kind Love Affair", but for me this single-disc career summary offers everything that I was looking for and more. '70's soul served at just the right temperature! ... Read more

Reviews (44)

Drowning In A Glass, Can't Find Love At All
Let's be honest we're not buying this CD for the hits, we're buying it for the new material. "That's The Way"--Giorgio and Keith hit the nail right on the head. This has radio hit written all over it. Donna's vocals shine in this very slick, well produced production. Very breathy and playful. She hasn't used her voice in this way for years, and it's a very welcome change. This is the new sound of Summer and I like it! "I Will Live For Love"--Donna's previous co-writes with Nathan DiGesare haven't impressed me at all, but this song is a complete twist. Written for Donna's children's musical "Dreamway Express", the lyrics and the vocals scream classic Broadway. Giorgio lifts this fairy tale from standard theater fare, by wraping the production in enticing effervescent dance beat. "You're So Beautiful"-- Loved it. Although I would love even more to hear a version that features Donna's vocals more prominently. This at least proves that Donna was on the right musical track when she was at Sony. All and all, these new recordings show a Diva awaiting (and deserving) a rebirth. Will it happen? I can only pray. Mykol (I Wanna Love You Baby Like You Know I'm Donna Summer)

The Long, Long Journey
Well, to begin, I must say that I am a biased Donna Summer fan, and have been for the better part of 25 years. That is why I am hard-pressed to give this CD only 4 stars instead of 5. But, there are two major flaws in this release. The first is that one of the new tracks ("Dream-A-Lots Theme...I Will Live For Love"), is a Mouseketeer anthem, very much in the same vein that "Someday" was for the Mouse House CD back in '96. It is very cookie-cutter, dance fodder in it's original version. In my opinion, this is something that Donna should steer away from at least from a production aspect. The second flaw (though hair-splitting it may seem), is that this summer's best dance floor anthem, "You're So Beautiful" was left off the CD's cover credits. Having gotten that out of the way, these remastered classics are as clear as a bell! And the collection, though I personally find some of her greatest songs missing, is a SUPER BUY for the casual Donna fan.

Now, onto the really great news about this CD. The remix of "I Will Live For Love" is a fantastic dance tune that should have everyone hitting the dance floor over and over at least through the Christmas holidays. But, the show-stopper is the cool and breezy "That's The Way". Her throaty and teasingly optimistic vocals just make me shiver with anticipation to replay the song (and to hear an entire CD with Giorgio Moroder).

So Donna, I can't give you 5 stars this outing, but hopefully 4 will do for you and the rest of the listening world...

A Great Donna Summer Collection
The Journey is a superb greatest hits collections for new Donna fans as well as old. All of the top hits are on it along with some new songs and a second CD of extended play singles.

A must have for any Donna fan and a great CD for new Donna fans.
Her music is timeless as evidenced by her staying power.

Highly recommended!!

hirickybear
What can any one say about one of the greatest female singers of our time...DONNA SUMMER is truely in a class all by herself...and this latest trubute to her is lacking POWER HOUSE songs Like..."Once Upon a Time," "Fairy Tale High," " I Remember Yester Day," "Rummor Has It," "Summer Fever," "Autum Changes," "Dim all the Lights," "Sunset People," "Walk Away". These are the songs that Made Donna Summer truly a legend within her life time.

Great Collection. Excellent Price!!
This CDs are a steal at $12. I paid $18 when it first came out and it was well worth it.
Most people are complaining that there are only 3 new songs. In this day and age, this is Donna's easiest way to get some new music out there. Plus this CD was also meant to go with her autobiography so it makes sense that it would be a Greatest Hits.
The three new songs are amazing. I also had the privilege of hearing Donna sing almost every song on this CD(include the three new ones) at a rare concert in Orlando this year and it's incredible how she sounds better than ever.

The remixes are great and they are a great way to play some Donna Summer music at a party. ... Read more

Reviews (99)

Dre putting it Down for California
This album right here is a G-Funk classic this is soooooo
good one of the Best ever from the WESTSIDE this has some
Gangsta type rap in it also I will review each song
1.Chronic(Intro)
2.F Wit Dre Day f Snoop Dogg-never heard
3.Let me ride-classic cruising G-Funk 7/10 ***^
4.The Day they took over I rember it being good 9/10 ****^
5.Nothing But A G Thang-a classic featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg
a great party type Jam Dr.Dre best song 10/10 *****
6.Deeez Nuuuts-Pretty Awesome with great Posse Track 10/10 *****
7.Lil Ghetto Boy-Good Production to little Drummer Boy Beat **
8.A - Wit a gun another classically produced Song a 10 *****
9.Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat-Another good one 9/10 ****^
10.The $20 Sack Pyramid
11.Lyrical Gangbang-great verse by Lady of Rage 10/10 *****
12.High Powered- I Believe I liked it
13.The Doctors office-funny intermission
14.Stranded on Death Row-Tight Beat Awesome 10/10 *****
15.The Roach
16.B_ Aint S_ another great posse track with Snoop 10/10 *****

All in All a great experience the Top 5 are track 5 Track 11
Track 6 Track 16 and Track 8 Peace

Amazing - an all-time classic of any genre
"The Chronic" is brilliant. Although I was initially put off by the lyrics (which tend to be violent, profane, and misogynistic), the talent here is undeniable. Dre himself isn't a great rapper, but he doesn't embarass himself on the record, and the guest stars are all good. Especially notable, of course, is Snoop, who proves himself as one of rap's all-time greats. He brightens up every second of his rapping, and delivers some of the most memorable vocals in recent music history on "Dre Day" and "Nuthin' But A "G" Thang".

Still, though, "The Chronic" gains its reputation primarily on the basis of Dre's production. This album alone can make a convincing case for Dre being the greatest rap producer of all time (not to mention his work on "2001" or "Straight Outta Compton"). The music varies from smooth ("Let Me Ride") to confrontational ("Dre Day", "Lyrical Gangbang") while never losing the incredible funkiness and knack for hooks that Dre brings to every track. And to top it off, it isn't overly reliant on sampling... small wonder that the music here is nothing short of intoxicating.

In short, brilliant rapping and production make "The Chronic" one of the greatest rap albums ever, and a classic no matter what type of music you consider. Highly recommended.

Took a while to get used to...
but once I did, I started listening to it every day. I had been listening to a lot of newer hip hop so it was hard to tune into this, but after I did I realized how great the album really was. I'd recommend this to anyone who likes hip hop.

Good when I got used to it.
I was used to the style of newer rap, and it took a while to get into this album, but when I did, I realized how catchy it was. In fact, I'm listening to it right now

THIZ IZ HOW RAP SHOULD BE RIGHT NOW
Okay if yall neva got thiz album and got 50 cent and eminem's album...then your dumb...seriously...you dont know anythin about rap or hip hop...50 cent and eminem are a bunch of bozo's and i dunno why dre signed them clownz into aftermath...Before dre wuz wacked in tha head....he made thiz classic album...thiz album got alotta ol schoo beatz n it will get you to listen to hiz older muzik...snoop dogg featurez on here too and that time he wuz good before he became lame...Pick thiz classic album up...and also pick up N.W.A. and Easy-E's albums...PICK THAT UP...DO NOT...I MEAN DO NOT BUY AND WASTE your money on rap crap like...50 cent eminem chingy nelly jkwon lil jon crappy muzik...they are not rapperz...they are laughin at ya cuz they are makin money while you are just buyin junk rap crap and makin you feel real dumb...If you disagree...then you need friendz to fit in...LMMFAO!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Given Luther Vandross's precarious state of health at the time of its release, Dance With My Father’s title track--a tale of yearning for a lost loved one--takes on added poignancy. It’s something of a centerpiece on an album that moves in several directions, reaching for varied constituencies, while ultimately staying focused on Vandross’s trademark buttery vocals. In addition to "Dance," there’s more adult-contemporary balladry ("Buy Me a Rose"), lightly sassy soul ("If I Didn’t Know Better"), and a number of collaborations with hip-hoppers that often work surprisingly well. While suspending disbelief is hard when considering Luther and Foxy Brown as a couple ("If It Ain’t One Thing"), remakes of soft-R&B classics with Beyonce Knowles and Busta Rhymes prove to be highlights. With the Destiny’s Child singer, Vandross actually improves on the familiar Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway take of "The Closer I Get to You," turning in a cut that recalls his slow-burning signature reworking of "A House is Not a Home." A languid turn at "Lovely Day," with a purring Busta, works almost as well. (The "Part II" remix is superfluous, however.) Otherwise, Dance is in the vein of post-‘80s Vandross discs, and guaranteed to please fans. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (101)

A soulful masterpiece by Luther! He's a genius!
Luther Vandross is my all-time favorite singer! I have all his CDs and this latest one certainly doesn't fail to deliver. I have played this CD over and over and still look forward to hearing it play again. (When I first purchased it I even just drove around in my car, with nowhere in particular to go, just so I could play the entire CD.)

I love the title cut but I think my favorite song is 'Buy Me a Rose' although there isn't a song on this CD that I don't like. This particular song and the title cut bring tears to my eyes everytime I hear them play, because they ring so true to experiences in my life. I also love the song, 'Think About You,' because how many of us in our lives haven't had a secret fantasy crush on someone that doesn't know that we do. It's wonderful to listen to an artist and be able to relate to the words of his songs.

How bittersweet it is for this debut of Luther's new CD knowing that he is still hospitalized. May God continue to bless Luther and help him continue on a path of recovery so that he can be back to sing more songs with his beautiful voice. A world without Luther singing is a world I don't want to imagine!

I hope that Luther knows how much he is loved and wished well!

Brilliant
Quite possibly Mr. Vandross' best work ever! Every track is well worth listening to (several times). I was not particularly thrilled with listening to Foxy Brown on "If it ain't one thing". Thankfully, most of her ramblings came at the end...smooth and coarse just do not blend very well. I was very pleasantly surprised at "Hit it Again". Sexy, very sexy. Did it need the Queen? No! Mr. Vandross was doing great all by himself on this one!
Ms. Knowles handled herself very well with a music legend! Maybe she is not all flash after all....great rendition of "The closer I get to you".
Mr. Vandross has been so consistent for so many years that we all expect the very best from him. He has raised the bar yet again with this album and I am excited to see his follow-up! Yes, I live in an optimistic world and I fully expect another Vandross CD in 2005. Unquestionably this is a must have CD. He hits the mark with every track!
Je t'aime, Luther.
G

My opinion
Luther Vandross's album dance with my father is the biggest hit he could have ever made and every time I here or see the music video of that song it just makes me think of my father and how he wasn't there for me

Luther's Best Work
This is clearly the definition of a 5 star album. When an artist puts out his best work. Luther has clearly put out his "masterpiece" work and there is no way you can say that he didn't. He uses great song choice and his voice is just fantastic.

What makes this album 5 stars? First, the music supporting Luther isn't monotonous. Each song has unique drum programming/rhythm and each song sounds different. I am partial to all the songs, with my favorites being "Think About You", "The Closer I Get To You" (Beyonce's vocals are absolutely stunning), and "Dance With My Father". All the songs are good. Luther and his partners who composed these tunes did a great, great job. What else is there to say. 5/5!

Bad album
In 2003 this album won a lot of awards and shifted a lot of units, but in truth I think that's more down to the name of Luther & the ill health the brother was in, than the album itself. People like me who have followed Luther for years & have all his albums know he's capable of much stronger material than this. 'Dance With My Father' is an album that does everything it can to sell big. It rides all the fads of the moment, brings in corny guest rappers like Foxy Brown, Queen Latifah, and Busta Rhymes, and flava of the month Beyonce. It all sounds boring, Luther has sold platinum before while staying true to himself & R&B so its confusing to hear him sell out so hard. The production is weak, Luther again avoids real instruments in favour of low budget sounding Casio keyboard-based tunes, the choice of songs are weak, the two covers are bad choices, the material doesn't showcase the full range of his vocals, the hooks are weak, the overall vibe is cheap. This is only the second time in 23 years that he has cut a bad album (the other being 1993s 'Never Let Me Go'), so that explains why this is such a let down. I hate to see a respected vet like Luther go out like this, I hope his health improves as the man has been a great talent & is loved the world over. ... 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

Album Description

Rahsaan Patterson continues to redefine soul music with his third body-moving collection, "After Hours".The highly anticipated follow up to "Love In Stereo" and "Rahsaan Patterson," "After Hours" scintillates with smooth grooves, undeniable melodies and soaring vocals that can only be delivered by Patterson.Van Hunt, Jamey Jaz and Steve Hurley return as Patterson’s core writing and production team, delivering a groove that will keep you moving after hours.Features the hits "The One For Me," "Separate," and "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" plus 3 bonus tracks not featured on international versions. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Amazon.com essential recording

Ray Charles is the Genius of Soul, but he's always had a bit of country boy in him, too. Between playing hillbilly piano when he was a kid and landing several duets on the country charts in the '80s, Charles released this 1962 classic, taking 12 country standards and proving that great songs can remain great, no matter what the setting.Behind blaring brass and thrilling strings, Brother Ray transforms "Hey, Good Lookin'" and "Bye Bye Love" into big-band swing; "You Win Again" into the Nashville Sound; and "I Love You So Much It Hurts" into the most elegant of pop."I Can't Stop Loving You" was the big hit, but everything else here is just as timeless and beautiful. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (14)

what can you say
that hasnt already been said about Ray Charles' Modern Sounds. Lilting and beautiful melody, poignant and masterful vocal phrasing throughout the album. Can melt the hardest of hearts, and thematically represents some of the more dark aspects of love and heartache as only country and western music can. do you really need the formality of five stars?

Modern Sounds in Country & Western
As ever Ray-the Man is ever flexible. He knows his roots only too well. I first heard Ray sing Country and Western years ago on the Album, "The Volcanic Action of My Soul"....Wichita Line Man..was mind blowing....I recently found the reviewed album contained a lot of the tracks I longed to hear again. Multifaceted band, ever brilliant genius...if ever there was a man whose ISness= music then Ray Charles really defies categorization.

I Know the Vinyl Album Not the CD
I grew up listening to this album that belonged to my late father. When he was "bar-b-queing" on the patio in the backyard, he'd have his speakers outside from the "Hi-Fi" in the den, and one of the albums he'd play was "Ray Charles, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music." As kids, our favorite was my Dad's favorites, "Born To Lose" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." The day they announced "Sir" Ray had died, I pulled out that album and played it three times. It still sounds good today. You can't go wrong with the CD.

A new sad day.
Although I knew that the day would come soon that Brother Ray would pass on, but it still feels like the day came too soon. Ray Charles is one of my most cherished icons on American music. He's done so much! He's taken risks on new ideas even when his advisors were totally against it. This album of "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" proves that. He was told that a black man shouldn't do country music, but Ray said that it was in his heart to do it. And it worked! It ended up being his best selling album ever! It was the Number One album of 1962 for 14 weeks and remained on the pop chart for 101 weeks (according to Billboard, Record Research by Joel Whitburn).

Many of his most cherished hits are here: "I Can't Stop Loving You", "You Don't Know Me", "Born to Lose", and more, plus this CD features three bonus tracks, which were also charted classics: "You Are My Sunshine", "Here We Go Again", and "That Lucky Old Sun". And although "Georgia On my Mind" would have been an excellent additional bonus track, fitting for this collection, you will find that in his box set once you're ready to commit to that purchase. Although, his five disc box set "Genius and Soul" is a great collection, for those of you who are, only now, interested in hearing what Ray Charles has done for pop music, pick up this CD of "Modern Sounds...". Sure, you may want to get one of his many greatest hits CD's that are available. But, you may want to get his box set afterwards while still wanting to keep this one landmark album.

Yes, I am saddened that Ray Charles has passed on. I feel somber just as we all did when Elvis Presley passed away. I hope we're going to see a great documentary on the life of Ray Charles some day. Since I've already mentioned him, it would be nice if they would get around to releasing the Elvis Presley documentary called "This is Elvis" on DVD someday.

Ray, we're all going to miss you. Too bad Ronald Reagan's passing and week-long rememberance and final funeral stole the attention Ray deserves to celebrate his life. I guess they'll get around to it someday afterwards.

you da man, ray charles!
i've known and loved this album since it came out. if music doesn't express the human spirit it's just so much deedly-deedly and ol'ray knows what this music says beyond the words - and expresses it with his natural gifts for phrasing, soulfulness, etc. production is kinda gushy 60's but with vocals like this you hardly notice. should be mandatory listening for the nashville hat acts...show 'em how good country can be! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In an era of fast-food divas and ready-made starlets, finding the genuine article is often as hard as finding a needle in a haystack. Anita Baker could not have picked a better time for her return to music. After a decade-long hiatus, the soulful songstress returns with her eagerly anticipated Blue Note debut, My Everything.

The 10-track disc doesn't disappoint. Lush, emotive, and gorgeous are a few words that come to mind when listening to the Toledo, OH native's album. Lead single "You're My Everything" opens the album with an infectiously smooth groove that reminiscent of her classics. The album also includes "You're My Everything Revisited," a jazzy interpolation of the aforementioned single. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds joins Baker on "Like You Used to Do." The ballad, with its warm electric guitar-accented backdrop, evokes a classic R&B sound without dating itself. Other standouts include "I Can't Sleep," and the heavenly "Close Your Eyes."

If the album had any real flaws, it's that Baker's serene sound rarely wavers. Still, "My Everything" could serve as a tutorial to aspiring R&B singers on what it means to deliver music with style, class, and true artistry. --Rashaun Hall ... 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

Amazon.com

No other Otis compilation quite satisfies the way the old double-LP best-of does, but never mind: any way you hear Redding's many great moments is a good one. The Very Best splits ballads and up-tempo stuff half-and-half, letting you hear the great one's humanity in every mood--the pile-driving rock of "Respect," the preaching fervor of "Try a Little Tenderness," the nascent reflection of "Dock of the Bay." A record collection with no Otis is a poor thing: here's yours. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Can't say enough about Otis
Otis Redding died at the age of 26 in a tragic plane crash. It's sad to think of how much he accomplished in such a short time and makes me think of Buddy Holly if only these two men have lived what other wonderful pieces of music would they have made. Redding's sad and emotionally charged "Sittin on the Dock of the Bay" was recorded only days before he died and remains one of the best known tunes around. It is a masterpiece in itself. His song "Respect" which was made known by Aretha Franklin, she released his song and made it popular even though he wrote it. "Try a little tenderness" is an awesome soul song and if anyone wants to hear a great cover of it check out the Duets Soundtrack which Paul Giamtti and Arnold McCuller covered. "Satisfaction" "Pain in my heart" and the wonderful "These arms of mine" as well as the classicly known "I can't turn you loose" add to the wonder of this collection. A great buy for any Redding fan getting his feet wet.

Otis Sings On The Dock Of The Bay
This CD is great for anybody, ecspecially R&B and soul lovers. I love just about all the songs on this CD. His #1 Pop and R&B hit '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay', is included. As well as a Rolling Stones cover of 'Satisfaction' and an Aretha Franklin cover of 'Respect'.
What I like about this CD, is that it has 4 bonus tracks included. These songs are 'That's How Strong My Love Is, My Lover's Prayer, The Happy Song (Dum Dum) and I've Got Dreams To Remember.
The sound quality is not the best, but it's descent. Inside the jewel case, there are pictures and a mini biography on Otis Redding (On the inside of the packet that is shown as the front cover.)
I would recommend this CD to anybody. Like the title says, It Is The Best Of Otis Redding.

Another Rising Star Taken From Us Too Early
Otis Redding, born September 9, 1941 in Dawson, Georgia, was one of those rising young stars taken from us - not through alcohol or drug abuse - but by the fickle finger of fate. Like Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Jiles Perry Richardson [The Big Bopper], Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, and Jim Reeves [to name just a few], Otis perished in a December 10, 1967 airplane crash.

He was just 26 years old, and already he had 21 R&B hit singles to his credit, most of which also scored on the Billboard Pop Hot 100. Following his death he would have another 10 posthumous hits, including his greatest, Sittin' On The Dock Of Bay, which he recorded just three days before the crash and which ultimately reached # 1 on both the R&B and pop charts early in 1968.

In this first of two 16-track volumes re-issuing earlier vinyl LPs, Rhino includes that hit, along with four bonus tracks, and all 16 [unlike Volume Two] were among his 30 charted hits. It starts off with his first ever hit for the Volt subsidiary of Stax Records, These Arms Of Mine, which hit # 20 R&B/# 85 pop in late March 1963, and also includes one of his hit duets with Carla Thomas [Tramp which reached # 2 R&B/# 26 pop in spring 1967].

The insert contains a complete discography of the contents to go with six pages of notes written by Kevin Phinney and six nice photos of Otis and, in addition [in spite of another review] the AAD sound quality is just fine.

"That girl took that song away from me!!!!
It was the summer of 1967. Otis Redding was in the midst of the performance of his life at Monterey International Pop Festival. What he was referring to of course was the way Aretha Franklin had turned his song "Respect" into one of the biggest hits of the year. His version topped out at #35 on the pop charts a couple of years earlier. But I digress. Otis Redding was just beginning to hit his stride as summer turned to autumn in 1967. This veteran performer had been around for a while. The fact is that up until this point he had made the Billboard Hot 100 a total of 19 times although his records usually ran out of gas somewhere in the middle of the chart. His tunes fared much better on the Soul/R&B charts where 8 of them had made it into the Top Ten. It is really difficult to understand why the man had not had greater commercial success up until this point. After taking a few months off Otis Redding returned to the studio in early December 1967. There he recorded a song he had co-written with Steve Cropper. Everyone thought it was a mistake. His wife hated it. Three days later Otis Redding was dead at 26, a victim of a tragic plane crash in Wisconsin.
When the story appeared in the newspaper I remember thinking to myself "Who is that?" And although I had been collecting records for about three years I had never heard of him. Despite his enormous talent Otis Redding had just not quite connected with general audiences. Less than two months later in January of 1968, Volt records released that tune his wife and friends hated so much. "(Sitting On) The Dock of the Bay" went all the way to #1 on the Pop charts and remained there for a month. Everyone was now beginning to realize just how talented this man had been. There are a few different Otis Redding collections around but I find this to be the best of the lot. You'll hear his version of tunes that went on to become hits by other artists like 1965's "I Can't Turn You Loose" and his dynamic version of the great blues standard "Try A Little Tenderness". In the meantime, you'll also enjoy the exhilirating work of the Stax/Volt house band who were undeniably at their peak during this time. For me other favorites on this compilation are the 1968 hit "The Happy Song (Dum-Dum") and Otis' high energy duet with Carla Thomas "Tramp". An informative 12 page booklet with interesting biographical information and chart data for each track is also included. Believe me you cannot go wrong with this one. Highly recommended.

Great Early 60's Soul
Love this CD! Not a bad track on here! ... 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 essential recording

Even for a relatively brief (20-song) overview of Ray Charles's '60s output during the peak of his recording stardom at ABC-Paramount, Anthology covers a hell of a lot of styles. It couldn't be any other way, not when examining the period in which he hit the charts with transformed versions of half-forgotten standards ("Georgia on My Mind"), hip jazz instrumental takes on Clovers tunes ("One Mint Julep"), rocking uptempo R&B ("Hit the Road Jack") and mournful proto-countrypolitan ("I Can't Stop Loving You"). If any of those four titles means a thing to you, this primer on America's greatest singer is probably a disc you should own. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Almost perfect.......
This is the best mini-collections one can get of Ray's music. I think it's a crime that so many of our legends that are still living are virtually invisible, drowned out by the thunder-thump of some of the digital wizards that pretend to be musical artists today. There is one song I really like that wasn't included her. It's "You Don't Know Me" ("You give your hand to me....and then you say hello...."). This is the music of my early childhood, and it was played around my house along with Cannonball Adderley, Lou Rawls, Nancy Wilson, Wes Montgomery..... oh man, the list could go on and on! I find myself reminiscing every time I come to these Amazon music pages! If you are on a budjet, this CD gives you the most for the least dough. Ray Charles is part of the royalty that gave us the best music of the 20th century. He will be eulogized and all after he passes away, but it's just a shame there isn't enough room in the mainstream spotlight for those that got us here.

A SAMPLER OF BROTHER-RAY'S BEST
In 1967 I was stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga. after doing my 1 yr."tour" of Viet Nam. I needed a healthy dose of Soul to re-invent my lost spirits, so I bought a double-album by Ray called "Ray Charles, A Man And His Music", I liked that album so much I kept it, and played it quite often for over 35 yrs. Yikes am I gettin old! I finally gave it away to a friend cuz my record player went to Hell.
Anyway if you like Ray's music even a little bit I think you'll like "anthology" Here are a few of my picks in different
music styles: 1- "I Don't Need No Doctor" (blues-rock) "Unchain my Heart" (blues-rock) 2-"I Can't Stop Loving You (mournful-blues ) "Lets Go Get Stoned" (hard-day-at-work blues)
Buy This One....I am cuz I know what's on it
Later on dudes!!
Blues-eyed Bob

Rest in peace, Genius
This CD features recordings from Ray Charles' 1960s heyday. (I have a first pressing of this CD, which features "Sticks and Stones" instead of "America the Beautiful".) This is all prime Ray Charles. He had (for the most part) stopped writing his own material at this point, and instead became an interpreter of any song that struck his fancy. He could take a song from any musical genre and make it his own. People said he was crazy when he decided to record an album of country songs, but it went on to become his best selling LP. This anthology is by no means complete, (it doesn't include his Number Two hit "You Don't Know Me"), but it is a solid hour-plus of Ray Charles at his best. Highly recommended.

Blues God
I own this CD and The Genius of Ray Charles. Both excellent, but between the two, I have to give my thumbs up to the Anthology. "Busted" is enough of a reason to own this album and the entire CD is just as good. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

A Great Collection
If you're looking for one CD that has the best of Ray Charles on it, this is it. There are more complete collections, but this is the best overall. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

Jill Scott's debut, Who Is Jill Scott?, is a luscious portrait of the artistas a grown woman. In R&B, black femininity has often been reduced to two dimensions:sex and materialism. But Scott lives in 3-D, and it shows in her voluptuous songwriting.She combines a beautiful voice with an extreme generosity of spirit, making her music adreamy, soulful delight. Lizz Mendez Berry ... Read more

Reviews (486)

JILL...AHHH THE THICKNESSSSSSS....
Erykah, you betta get back on it! Jill is comin' full throttle and she looks like she ain't tryin' to stop! Hopefully.

She melts poetry and voice like no one before her. Powerful. Insightful. Sexy.

DO YOU REMEMBER gets me all "good-feely" all inside. I like that vibe. And when I first heard GETTIN IN THE WAY I though Badu had dropped her 2nd album. A LONG WALK is nice sweet ditty that makes you wanna do exactly that with a good close friend. HE LOVES ME (LYZEL IN E FLAT) makes me mad. Why? Cuz it shoulda been me she was talkin' too/about! LOL! THE WAY is smooth and sexy and makes you wanna sing it to ya girl when she comes through the door. LOVE RAIN and ONE IS THE MAGIC # round out the CD very nicely.

James Poyser and Jazzy Jeff (Yes, the same cat from the duo Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince) really know how to put out a sound. I also like the way Jill looks in her all her songs...she is one of the very few artists that has a smile on her face everytime she sings. Amel Larrieux and Janet are the only 2 other singers I see do that. She makes you feel good that she's feelin' good. Feel me? (wink!)

C.D IN CONCERT-I KNOW WHO MISS JILL IS
On March 23, 2001 at the Tower Theatre in Philly Pa I had the devine pleasure of seeing Miss Jilly Jill. It was the most pleasurable audio and visual experience I've had since Miss Badu. Besides the various colorful stars as a backdrop, Miss Scott's vocals were "divamatic" to say the least. If vocal capacity described "Divas" then she is a diva in the making. Miss Scott "brung it". As compared to her cd some of the musical arrangements were different in concert than on the c.d, however they change was refreshing. Some songs had a touch of Jazz, or a Reggae feel. There were a few songs that when you heard the intro you wondered, now what is this, then your brain and hears connected and said, AAh yea that's my sh?t. The band Fatback Taffy and backup singers were grand. The acoustics were crystal clear and the band did not drown out the artist (take note Musiq Soulchild). Yes, Miss Jill was not playing. Then just when you thought it was over, she strikes back with a poem, The Thickness. The poem was about a young sister whose body matured faster then her mind. It was on time. Jill broke it down and dropped some knowledge during and between several songs. I could tell by the look on some folks faces that they felt as if it was neither the place nor the time. But I say get it while you can. Then she sang my song, HE LOVES ME,LYZEL IN "E" FLAT. It was like an operatic experience. Miss Jill belted out that song, then with an operatic stance, hands clasped, she and her girls chorused, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Next time Miss Jill, Sting will be opening for you. Big ups to Kendrid, Jill's opening act. So if you didn't see the concert get the C.D. Peeeece

...
...There is no word that can express this album without insulting it. That is all I have to say.

Jill, We Know Who You Are Now
Jill Scott is the embodiment of strength, irrevocable talent and artistry. She is a self-described poet, and this is what makes her music so consummate and authentic. I did not buy the album until I saw her in concert, and that alone should speak for itself. If it doesn't, let me explain. Jill Scott is one of the most powerful voices I've ever heard, and seeing her live is a special treat, to say the very least. Her voice is pure, but when she sings, you can feel her strength, emotion and tone reverberate throughout the arena. Absolutely infectious. Her band, FatBackTaffy, is masterful, both as individual instrumentalists and together. Excellence. And so I bought the cd. What do I think? Well, I think if you like a booming voice that finds its stride in power notes, yet knows when to become hushed, soft and sweet, buy it. If you like a voice that knows how to playfully flow on jazzy riffs, buy it. If you like a voice that knows how to capture all the subtle nuances of the music, buy it. If you like a voice that displays attitude and funk, buy it. If you like for candid words to be minced with complimentary musical arrangement, buy it. If you like music that contains a great amount of meaning, passion and soul, off to the music store with you.

"Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Volume 1" is a masterpiece of beautiful singing and passionate thought. The arrangement of the songs is intelligent and each flows fluidly into the next. There are no songs to skip over. This is one of few cds to be heard from beginning to end. With that said, if you are wondering "Who Is Jill Scott?" you will soon have your answer. All you have to do is listen.

Loving Classical Soul Jill Scott
This album is like a Classical Soul Record. It is timeless. She is so real that she defines the 'Neo-Soul' movement/genre. This album is so deep that it takes you time and effort to truly understand and appreciate the album's beauty.

Jill Scott for anyone who doesn't know is a touch of Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu with the confidence of Aretha Franklin and the vulnerability of Nina Simone. Except she doesn't just sing, she reads her poetry -sounding like rapping, except it's got this calm soothing tone. Her song are very unique and quite different to each other. The entire album gives me a sense of spirit, soul, and reality. It takes me to a different place, and I can just hit play and let it roll. I think this is due to the album not being overly produced like most R&B albums which leaves you feeling empty. This album is jam-packed with SOUL!

There is also a use of variety of instruments. I can still remember how suprised I was when I heard trumpets in "A Long Walk". Each song tells a personal story.

"Jilltro" sets the tone, and you can see why this girl deserves a Grammy! "Exclusively", "A Long Walk", "He Loves Me", "The Way" are excellent songs that deal with love. But my absolutely favorite jam is "Love, Rain" -a piece of brilliance. Jill Scott not only co-wrote and co-produced the album. She wrote most of the lyrics herself, proving how song-writers are really poets.

This album always gets me onto a high positive buzz, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a taste of 'Neo-Soul'. For a darker retrospect album try Sarah McLachlan's "Surfacing" or Lauryn Hill's "Miseducation", but for a positive jam get this one! ... Read more

Amazon.com

After mounting successes with the Commodores during the late '70s, Lionel Richie exploded into one of the biggest stars of the '80s, then enigmatically disappeared from the music business for nearly a decade. Fourteen of the tracks on this 20-track anthology (which also includes a five-cut bonus disc compiled by Richie) topped the charts, ample testimony to Richie's remarkable success in shifting from the Commodores' roots in the Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye Motown to a pioneering career as a crossover balladeer. His willful drift to the middle of the road found that its yellow line was nothing but gold. This collection charts the singer's upbeat successes with his former band, segues gracefully into the ballads and party-lite sensibility that made him such an unlikely '80s icon, and touches on his late-'90s reemergence. A newly recorded duet with Enrique Iglesias on "To Love a Woman" suggests that the elder popmeister hasn't lost his touch; indeed, his voice seems more warm and soulful than ever.--Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (36)

A guilty pleasure, but not too much guilt
For me, admitting that I like Lionel Richie's music is a little embarrassing. How can a rock 'n' roller admit to liking something like "Say You, Say Me?" The answer is, to quote Mr. Richie, it's "Easy." The tunes compiled here are nearly all heartwarming and catchy, perfect for romance or just pleasant listening. This collection beats the previous "Back to Front" hits CD -- after all, it is titled "Definitive." The two extra new songs included are OK but not quite in the league of his very best work. The bonus disc is more of collector's item than anything amazing. Lionel's songs such as "Sail On" have given me a lot of listening enjoyment over the years, but I don't quite rank him as an "all-time great." My only comment regarding Richie's place in late 20th Century pop music is that just before hearing this collection I listened to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" CD. Called "the greatest album ever" by Smokey Robinson, the Gaye disc puts Lionel to shame. You won't find ANY Richie song on The Definitive Collection that comes close to the magnificence of "Mercy Mercy Me."

Adult Contemporary Staple Finally Gets His Hits Collection
Yes, Lionel Richie actually had two hits collections on the market before THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION- but BACK TO FRONT missed as many hits as it included, and TRULY: THE LOVE SONGS just contained his ballads. So it's welcome that 2002's THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION actually tries to live up to its nature as a definitive compilation, and fortunately, it does a very good job in compiling Richie's biggest hits, along with two new songs that are fine, but still forgettable ("To Love a Woman" and "Goodbye").

While listening to this album, it's easy to see why Richie was such a popular solo artist during the 1980s, as many of these songs have stood the test of time with grace, whether they be dance numbers like "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Dancing on the Ceiling"; midtempo pieces such as "Running With the Night" and "You Are"; and ballads like "Endless Love"; "Truly"; and "Hello." It's also nice that five ballads from the Commodores (all led by Richie) also make it into this collection, as they help tell why Richie has remained a staple on adult contemporary radio over the years (especially "Easy" and "Three Times a Lady," two of the best songs in the genre). That said, THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION is still not perfect; it's still missing a few big solo hits like "Se La," "Love Will Conquer All," and "My Love," and even though the nonchronological sequencing here isn't bad at all, it still makes the overall collection feel incomplete.

But this still has most of Richie's big numbers anyway, both solo and with the Commodores, and these big numbers are so good that they make the shortcomings of the collection forgivable. This may not be a completely definitive collection, but it's still pretty terrific anyway. Recommended for anyone who enjoys adult contemporary radio.

An Outrageous Collection
Rarely regarded as one of the great singer/songwriters of the 1970s and 1980s, Lionel Richie has certainly has had his share of hits, both with the Commodores and as a solo artist. His profile remains high today, and recently released the "Just For You" album.

It's pretty easy to find your favorite Lionel Richie track here. Whether you enjoy "Three Times A Lady", "All Night Long (All Night)", "Say You, Say Me" or "Dancing On The Ceiling", you will not be disappointed by this cd. I was certainly surprised to find that my favorite Lionel song, 1992's "Do It To Me", was included, since it's the only one of his solo Motown singles not to hit the top 10 that is included here (1987's "Se La' also didn't make the top 20 but isn't included here). I also enjoyed some of his songs that were big hits their first time out but not that big today: "Stuck On You", "Penny Lover", "Ballerina Girl", "You Are" and "Running With The Night".

Lionel recorded some new tracks for this album as well. "To Love A Woman" is a country - tinged Enrique Inglesias duet that harkens back to some of his earlier work, and "Goodbye", a simple piano - driven ballads whose roots lie in "Truly" and "Easy".

There are a few top 10 hits missing from this cd that I would have loved to have seen included, both solo and with The Commodores. They are:

"Sweet Love" (number 5)
"Brick House" (number 5)
"Lady (You Bring Me Up)" (number 8)
"Oh No" (number 4)
"My Love" (number 5)
"Love Will Conquer All (number 9)

Those songs aside, this is an excellent collection of classic music that should be cherished for years to come. Also, pick up the aformentioned "Just For You" cd, and catch Lionel's daughter Nicole on Fox's "The Simple Life".

You Listen To This "All Night Long"
With so many great artists getting recognized with definitive collections of their greatest hits, it was only a matter of time before Lionel Richie would have this honor bestowed upon him. With 18 big hits and two new songs, this album remains one of my favorites and is the most complete collection of his hits to date.

For a cd with his most popular hits, "The Definitve Collection" can hardly be beat. Songs like "Hello", "Three Times A Lady", "All Night Long", "Endless Love" (with Diana Ross), "Say You, Say Me" and "Dancing On The Ceiling" have become engraved in American pop culture and remain radio staples. Songs like "Penny Lover", "Stuck On You" and "You Are" rank among his finest efforts of all time, while "Do It To Me" remains my favorite, with a sweeping melody and a nice, mellow saxophone. And then there's "Angel". This is such a great song. I remember hearing this song at least once a day on some radio station on the way to work. The two new tracks are really special. The counrry - tinged Enrique Iglesias duet "To Love A Woman" and the haunting "Goodbye" prove he still has golden touch.

Alas, it's still not a perfect collection. This could've been a two - disc set, as there are many songs with The Commodores plus some solo hits that could've been included. Here a list of some (if not all) of those songs, plus their chart positions:

"Machine Gun" (number 22)
"Sweet Love" (number 5)

"Brick House" (don't knwo exactly what its peak position was, but was a top 10 hit)
"Oh No" (number 4)
"My Love" (number 5)
"Love Will Conquer All" (number 9)
"Se La" (number 20)
"Don't Wanna Lose You" (number 39)

I would also like the to have included his live version of "All Night Long (All Night" from the 1984 Olympics as a bonus track, but otherwise, this a great cd filled with countless hours of classic music. Get it today.

Soppy ballads and tunes for the tv generation!
Listening to this is like watching a current tv show. Fluff, brief "possibly" entertaining interludes, but overall it leaves one unstimulated!

Listening to this is like watching the world go by. Not good for the soul. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Smooth Sounds from Smokey
This is a great additon to the Ultimate cd and I'm just loving it! Smokey has amazing music. So smooth! I was happy to get my favorite song "Yester Love" on cd and I'm glad they included two new bonus songs. This is a great deal for a legendary artist. ... Read more