Amazon.com

The fact that Genius Loves Company will be Ray Charles's final new album inspires an unavoidable blue feeling. But it's also a happy reminder that the man spent the last months of his life at work. The overall effect of these dozen duets is not only autumnal, but smooth; Brother Ray is on point and cruising here. Fine moments abound--you can hear his delight even in the rather stiff company of Diana Krall and Natalie Cole. His voice sounds a bit frayed by ill health at times, but it also allows for great performances (the slyness behind the ache in his version of the old soul hit "Hey Girl" with Michael McDonald; a grand "Crazy Love" with Van Morrison). Potently, he and Gladys Knight also remind us of the continued timeliness of Stevie Wonder's "Heaven Help Us All." Its best moments make Company one more essential purchase for Ray Charles fans. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Amazon.com

Soul and r&b legend Ray Charles may not have lived to see the success of Hollywood's ultimate tribute to him, but director Taylor Hackford's biopic (featuring a landmark performance by Jamie Foxx as the musical legend) will further burnish his legacy as one of the cornerstones of contemporary American music. Though it stretches from 1953's ecstatic, proto-soul "Mess Around" to a sublime, bluesy live take of "Georgia On My Mind" recorded in Japan in the mid-70's, this 17-track song-score can only be an inviting appetizer to the singer's epochal body of work. Charles' artistry may have virtually defined soul music itself, yet it also triumphed in genres as far afield as blues blues ("Nightime is the Right Time") and country ("I Can't Stop Loving You," "Bye Bye Love") during the 60's, the impossibly rich era from which the bulk of this soundtrack is culled. Crucially, fully a third of the cuts here are live recordings -- including electrifying 1965 performances of "What'd I Say," "You Don't Know Me" and "Hallelujah I Love Her So" hand-picked for the film by Charles himself -- the forum in which the singer consistently operated on a whole other artistic plateau from mere mortals.-- Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though Amos Lee's music is frequently described as a fusion of folk and soul, such an equation fails to reflect the singular artistry of this impressive debut. Like labelmate Norah Jones (who guests on two cuts), the Philadelphia singer-songwriter recognizes the power of simplicity, distilling an emotional essence that cuts across categories. The opening of his "Seen It All Before" echoes Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"; the stunning "Arms of a Woman" channels Otis Redding's "I've Got Dreams to Remember"; "Give It Up" cuts a classic Bill Withers groove; "Black River" has the sound of an age-old spiritual; and the closing "All My Friends" follows Van Morrison into the mystic. Throughout the song cycle, the bare-bones arrangements behind Lee's vocal flutter reinforce an organic unity that transcends genre. For all of the debts he owes to the music of the 1960s and '70s, the results sound timeless rather than retro. In his cautionary "Soul Suckers," Lee sings that "nothing is more powerful than beauty in a wicked world"--and proceeds to prove it. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (59)

ladies love amos lee aka LL Amos L
i've never been one for opening acts. most of the time you just sit through an amalgam of amateur musicianship and languid lyrics, as you swill beers in succession. amos lee and his band of style-conscious pretenders were no exception.
i saw this young boy open for bob dylan and i can honestly say i was less than unimpressed. for starters, his real name is not amos lee. this should be the first clue that this is more about image than music. he must want to portray himself as an old time folk mid-western rocker of some sort. all of this, despite the fact that he's dressed to the nines and his hair is absolutely perfect. i must say, the ladies in attendance ate this up. i heard screams usually reserved for the likes of the backstreet boys. i must say i was a bit jealous. but, this was a fugitive feeling that passed away quickly.
from the opening note of his first song, i was addled by his warm reception. i came close to experiencing an aphasia. i was utterly speechless. the crowd was so energentic, i was expecting some august and impressive fellow to emerge or at least a dynamo of some sort. were they here to see amos lee? nevertheless, this obfuscation did not last long, as i soon realized that some actually were. one woman cried out in a stentorian voice, "i love you amos!" i felt like finding this wayward dame and importuning her to get some real taste in music. sure, his stuff is very polished, and he delivers a legato performance, but that's about all that can be said for him. the music may be smooth, but it's your standard country/folk/rock sound. there is nothing interesting going on with this band, unless of course you call amos lee's sexual preference into question.
why people like this stuff is beyond my ken (and i do have a wide range of knowledge). maybe, it transports their minds to some majestic elysium far away from cold reality, a blissful place where no one dares cogitate anything of substance. you immediately imagine yourself in some sylvan setting, enjoying a repast with your special someone. you eat the food of the gods and soak in fresh country air. perhaps, some adventitous occurence might cause amos lee to appear and serenade you both. with his help, you might ferret out those long dormant lustful desires, while listening to a brand of trite and bittersweet folk/rock. all in all, this stuff is not for me. i'm a much more sentient person than amos lee, despite appearances.

You heard it here first
Get this CD and be the first to tell your friends who will receive the Grammy for best new artist.

Amos Lee proves that less is more in this must have, impressive, impressive, impressive debut album. If you don't love it, I'd venture a guess that medication is in order.

Auspicious debut
Amos Lee is clearly being marketed as the male version of labelmate Norah Jones -- who herself makes a token appearance here -- but where Jones' updated easy-listening style is based in cool jazz and countrypolitan, Lee mixes singer-songwriter acoustic-guitar convention with an effortlessly soulful outlook and delivery.Like Jones' debut, however, this disc comes as a gust of fresh air in the increasingly stale realm of Adult Alternative music.Lee's sweet, expressive alto -- a more flexible version of the young Marvin Gaye's -- is given plenty of room to maneuver, as he shows a remarkably relaxed confidence and impressive stylistic range for a debut.If there is a downside here, it's in the relative thinness of the material; at 11 songs (a couple of them feeling like filler) and about 35 minutes one might worry a bit about the prospects for a follow-up, but for now put away those straining-to-be-soulful John Mayer and Jack Johnson records and check out this guy -- he's the real thing.

A phenonemal CD!
Starbucks has this CD in their stores. I am not one to normally pick up a record without having heard any tracks off of it, but I was drawn to this one and finally bought it. All I can say is....WOW! What a talent this gentleman is, great voice, great songwriting, great music. I can't help but wonder why he hasn't broken into the mainstream yet. He belongs there with John Mayer and Jason Mraz (other favorite singer/songwriters of mine). He definitely is of equal talent. Buy it, buy it, buy it!

A Piece of What's Missing From Popular Music...
A singer, songwriter and guitarist with great soul and depth, Amos Lee proves on his recently-released self-titled album that a prestigious career is in his stars. With a rich, emotive voice, he sings and plays with a conviction that is missing from the majority of today's popular music.

Although the schmaltzy lead single "Arms of a Woman" has been earning him great favor among female listeners, he clearly has more up his sleeve than romantic fluff. The opening "Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight," for example, finds Lee reflecting on the good and bad of his life so far, keeping in mind that his future is vast and looming.

In "Soul Suckers," the Philadelphia native observes that "nothing is more powerful than beauty in a wicked world," later living up to his words in "Seen It All Before" where he brushes off a girl who simply isn't worth his time, opting for self-respect instead of manipulation.

The crystalline "Love In the Lies" is an upbeat affair where Lee soaks up the revelation that "it's time to make a brand new start," while the somber "Colors," cloaked in a profoundly gorgeous melody, features vocal harmonies by Norah Jones, who is a featured player on several tracks on the disc along with her bandmates Lee Alexander and Adam Levy.

"Black River" is a cathartic track where the singer/songwriter rests assured that his savior will ease his burdens and be his guiding light. The disc ends on a similarly optimistic note with the captivating "All My Friends" where he states he will always have his arms open for those he holds dear, since life has its share of ups and downs.

Despite the fact that "Amos Lee" is clearly a powerful start to his recording career, it should be noted that Blue Note clearly is looking for a male counterpart to Norah Jones, and therefore songs that showcase Lee's charisma and witty personality like the provocative "Teddy Bear" and "Caramelized" have been left off the album in favor of a more uniform atmosphere. These can still be heard, however, at select live performances, which prove that he is even more engaging in person than on record.
... Read more

Amazon.com

Not every 16-year-old white, English girl can hang with the likes of Betty Wright ("Clean Up Woman") and Angie Stone. Joss Stone (no relation), however, is blessed with a strong voice and a will to sing old-school soul. This debut CD is worthy of more than novelty status, though. Wisely avoiding iconic songs by the genre’s biggest names, Stone and a production team that includes Wright opt for lesser-known tunes more often by the likes of Laura Lee, Joe Simon, and the Soul Brothers Six--not to mention their digging out (with guest co-producer ?uestlove from the Roots) the great soul lyric in the White Stripes’ "Fell in Love with a (Boy)." Joss Stone occasionally misses a connection; her "Some Kind of Wonderful" is listless, and when she develops a bit more subtlety, it’ll be welcome. But The Soul Sessions has a spark beyond the album’s obvious good taste. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (277)

A Must For Any CD Collection
I'm going to be honest: there are a lot of white singers out there that try to profit off of so-called 'black music' and come off sounding fake. There are also a lot of young singers that try to sing music more grown up than they are, and sound like a joke. Joss Stone is neither of these. This 16 year old's break out album is phenomenal! From the first track, "The Chokin' Kind," up until her beautiful rendition of "For the Love Of You" you're hooked on her music. "Super Duper Love" is a wonderful soul song, in the vein of Aretha's "Think." Joss even delves into the oft-avoided blues genre with her song, "Dirty Man." If you can't feel her pain, you ain't breathin'! But it is truly the final cut that stands out. She took the classic "For the Love of You" and turned into a beautiful seven and half minutes of her pure voice with a minimal amount of instruments. From start to finish this album is a must have. In an age where most cds only have one or two good songs, there isn't a bad apple on this one. "Soul Sessions"is classic soul with a modern voice.

Subtle and Mellow
"The Soul Sessions" is definitely one of the best R&B/Soul CDs to come along in awhile. I love R&B and this collection is truly a gem amongst the generic. It not slick or flashy, it's just about singing good songs. Joss's voice is strong and powerful, yet mellow and calming. This is the kind of music that teenagers, young adults, and those older can listen to without worrying about numerous sexual innuendos. It represents what Rhythm and Blues/Soul used to sound like when I was growing up. It was more subtle and it truly moved you emotionally. Given her youth, it is surprising that her voice carries such great emotional depth. Many of her contemporaries sing on the surface. But Joss sings from the inside out. There's a certain sincerity in her voice that makes her effort believable. It doesn't sound like she's feeding you hype or manufactured tunes. Everything seems to come from the soul. This CD is worthy of its title. If you listen objectively, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Excellent 1st Effort
Whatever I may feel about the politics behind this ever lightening face of R&B/Soul music, I have to give this girl her props. The music was kept simple. Even on more upbeat tracks like Super Duper Love I was not left with a sense of overproduction which blended well with Joss' strong vocals.

Real Music- It's About Time!
As a lover of all genres of music, Joss piqued my interest the moment I heard her voice. I love the fact that the CD is so pure and real. You can hear each breath, clicks the mouth naturally makes when you sing and it's so refreshing from all the edited-to-perfection CD's being produced today.

Joss sings as though you're right there with her. The album feels like a smoky sophisticated club from another era. The brilliance of musical genius compilation is extraordinary. Stone must have felt so honored to work with each one- and for them to hear the raw talent showcasing their work.

I play Dirty Man when it housekeeping time. I sing to Fell In Love With A Boy and each song evokes a new emotional riptide from inside my soul.

In a world of over-techno'd vocals, fancy packaged future Playmates and unfeeling songs- this album inspires me to keep listening to music.

Joss is soul. She embodies every aspect of truth in music and we'll be hearing her for years to come.

Try it out, you just might Fall In Love....

Outstanding - A Force to be Reckoned With
With so many artists' cds to purchase I just recently purchased "The Soul Session". My delay had nothing to do with the competence of the artist cause I know this gal can sing. I don't care what country or ethnic group this young lady is in the girl has raw talent. I am amazed that more people are not singing her praises. Compare to many of the urban talent out there, Joss is in a class by herself. The cd is an absolute masterpiece. The producers team her up with the likes of some of the greatest, namely Betty Wright, Angie Stone and Latimore. And the girl has her own band. No electronics or gimmicks here. The girls can sing with just the guitar and a drum, which is rare these days. She is pure and raw soul. I have introduced her to a few friends and they just love her. They all want to know "Who is that"?
The opening cut "The Chokin Kind" opens the cd beautifully and prepares you as the young lady takes you on a musical journey right from the first note until the last. Singing about that overwhelming controlling relationship. "My favorite line is "if you don't like the peach, walk on by the tree" Wow.
Super Duper Love - is a true head bobber. Remind me of the ole days of joot joints and pic-a-lo. I can still see the smokey roomies after the song is over. Nice love song and easy to sing along with. The guitar by "little beaver" is a great addition. An anthem of love.
Fell in Love with a boy - the bass and the tenor guitars make this song. And the way the girl climbs that scale makes me want to shout and sing along. One of the best on the album. Angie Stone and Betty Wright lend a hand on the background.
Victim of a Foolish Heart - A beautiful ballad. It really showcases the young lady's voice. Reminds me of Mariah Carey at times but more in control with her voice. She breaks it down to her man about an ex coming in and trying to tear them apart. If you got someone hollerin at your man play it LOUD. A beautiful arrangement.
Dirty Man - My niece came in the room while this was playing on day. She got a kick out of the lyrics and so did I. Singing about cheating it should have followed after Victim. But her she takes an aggressive approach to cheating and not singing the blues like some young hip-hp artist do. Takes control and shows she is not taking any sh**.
Some Kind of Wonderful - positive beat and good to sing along. This girl loves her man. I love this song. Her songs are easy to memorize and you can understand her. Her diction is perfect. She sings with such conviction for a teenager. Ole school sound. Organ is magical. And the lead guitar is amazing. Can I get a witness?
I've Fallen In Love with you - This is my favorite song on the cd. I play it over and over again. It will make you feel warm and inviting. It washes all worry away. I just love this song. And makes you believe in love (again) song with conviction.
I had a dream - It really showcases her vocals. The instruments are soft and her voice shines in it. It could make you depress tho so be careful not to have to much moonshine when listening to it (lol)
All the King horses - Now who could take an Aretha Franklin song and tackle it. Well she does and does an outstanding job. It will make you smile just listening to it. Great song
For the love of you - an old Isley Brothers Hit. The tempo is a little slower that the original but Joss adds her own flava.
Overall I would rank this cd 9/10 or 5*. The girl is bad and I will be looking for here sophomore cd. BUY IT NOW! GO! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? ... Read more

Amazon.com

This double CD collects not only Brother Ray's best-known '50s and '60s singles, but some choice semi-obscurities (the 1953 jump blues "Mess Around," his 1959 cover of Louis Jordan's "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'") that earn their places next to "What'd I Say" and "I Can't Stop Loving You." The man's originality and infectious feeling bleed through on each of these 36 tracks, whether he's transforming "One Mint Julep" or "America the Beautiful" or collaborating (separately) with Willie Nelson and Chaka Khan. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (25)

I will get this double CD to remember Ray......
I recently read that Ray Charles had passed away. This collection will be something I will buy soon as a way to remember him. Ray Charles transcended many genres and could sing all of them so very well. He still wanted to continue making albums too. Much credit to the handlers for finding these 36 songs and compiling them all into one collection. I still love Hit The Road Jack, America the Beautiful, A Song for You, I'll Be Good To You and many others. His music still lives!

All Ray, All the Time . . .
What's he say? For black folks, white folks, grey . . . didn't matter to Ray. His gift and talent will be sorely missed. What a voice, what songs! Brother Ray was the inspiration for my starting an R&B group in LA back in '91. We jokingly wished for a radio station to play "all Ray, all the time." We didn't get that wish but we did learn "Shoulda Been Me" and "Let's Get Stoned." My warmest thoughts and prayers go out to Ray up there in that "Big Jam in the Sky," and to Ray's family. What a treasure-trove of sweet music he gave us! God bless Ray Charles!

the reviewer from california needs to check his/her history
Ray Charles was and still is one of the greatest musicians ever existed!!!!!!! He was also a great songwriter, arranger and producer and the person who wrote review from california needs to check his/her history BIG TIME!!!!!! Although I like "some" of todays artists, they can't TOUCH the chops of Ray Charles. Those cats out today aren't even in the same BALL PARK as "THE RAY"!!!!!!(PERIOD) Ray Charles influenced the musician in me that I am today!!!! Thank GOD for the gift of having such GENIUS that he WAS, IS and ALWAYS WILL BE!!!!!

Some People Can't Be Educated
The previous review of this great artist was written by someone who doesn't understand that genius comes in many forms. Interpretation is the source of musical performance. An artist need not write the music he performs. If that were the case, then we shouldn't listen to Mozart. The guy has been dead for centuries! In fact, considering some of the performers the previous reviewer mentioned, I'm not sure they should be writing or "singing" anything.

Ray Charles was a genius in interpretation of so many genres from gospel to country to blues to R&B to old-fashioned big band singing. He is an artist of the highest order and he will be missed.

This collection is outstanding in terms of the breadth of Ray's work. If you own one collection, buy this or the Ray Charles Anthology from Rhino Records

HE WILL BE MISSED
HE WAS A GREAT ARTIST I LOVED ALL HIS SONGS. HE WAS VERY GOOD SINGER SO I WILL MISS HIM VERY MUCH! GODS LOVES YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU RAY CHARLES YOU WILL BE MISSED! ... Read more

Album Description

Digitally remastered double disc collection of one of the most celebrated women in Rock N Roll.Here are her best recordings from over 5 decades in the business, from the beginning with ex-husband Ike to her triumphant claw back to the top in the 80's and beyond, her star forever shines brightly in popular music.Includes 3 new previously unreleased recordings exclusive to this collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Van Morrison reputedly wasn't crazy about the idea of a greatest-hits package, and this set's haphazard programming--which leaps from period to period, style to style, tossing in two key singles by his mid-'60s band Them--speaks to his lack of involvement. Still, it rivals Moondance as Morrison's most popular album, and for a reason: like that classic, it offers one deeply soulful, spiritually and musically thoughtful track after another. Much of his more "difficult" work is ignored here; in fact, Best of... gives us an intriguing picture of a Van who's almost eager to please. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Pop Music the way it should be
Van Morrison is one of the best songwriters out there. It's awesome to hear his voice and his songwriting talent skip around in different genres, from boogie rock like Brown-Eyed Girl and the spectacular Wild Night to British invasion hookey pop stuff like Gloria and Here Comes the Night to Cat Stevens-ish acoustic reflections like Sweetest Thing and Warm Love and finally to spiritual, decidedly Christian-themed lite rock like Cleaning Windows, Bright Side of the Road, and then God Shines His Light.

There's something very cinematic about his music too. It sounds like it belongs in the movies. It has that way on perfectly capturing the mood of human emotion that seems perfect for a soundtrack.

Unfortuantely, Morrison never really had the best voice around; he sort of screams with a little rasp- like a louder, fuller Dylan, but it's unique and adds a very Van-ish authenticity to his songs. Ultimately this CD is really just beautiful to listen to as a good collection of thoughtful, well-written pop tunes of various genres.

The Bard of Belfast
In the early 1990s Alan Parker filmed Roddy Doyle's wonderful book, The Commitments, about working class Irish kids trying to escape dead end jobs through the power of classic soul music. The band's lead singer--slightly pudgy but with a powerful voice and personality--reminded me at the time of a young Van Morrison. Of course, that's not much of a stretch--Doyle could very well have been basing some of his book on Morrison's early career.

The Best of Van Morrison provides a nice synopsis of Morrison's first three decades as the bard of Belfast. Those humble beginnings with the band Them presents a sound that was as raw as any of the bluesmen and soul artists that he admired and is represented by three songs: the bluesy "Baby Please Don't Go," the anthemic "Gloria," and the ballad "Here Comes the Night." Van's voice sounds more like a growl in these songs, more like Mick Jagger than the warm, smooth sound that would become his trademark.

The CD is not arranged chronologically, so I tend to group the songs by style rather than time period. Van's soul roots as a solo artist can be seen in how he favors background horns and female backup singers, as in "Domino," "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)," "Wonderful Remark," "Brown-Eyed Girl," "Warm Love," and "Wild Night."

The flip side to that is his jazzy style, born from that blues beginning merging with the stream of conscience noodling that saw its fullest expression on Astral Weeks. These songs--"Sweet Thing," "Moondance," "Queen of the Slipstream," "Have I Told You Lately," "Bright Side of the Road"--often have unconventional structures, time signatures, or keys and reflect Van's experimentation.

Often the purview of country music, Van likes the "story" song. His don't necessarily relate a narrative but instead capture characters or a time period. "And It Stoned Me" is a childhood reminescence, while "Cleaning Windows" tries to capture the simpler times when he performed manual labor.

And, lastly, there's the songs of faith, not quite gospel, but like contemporary Christian with more moderate lyrics. These songs--"Full Force Gale," "Whenever God Shines His Light," "Dweller on the Threshold," and "Did Ya Get Healed"--could be maudlin, but there's something about the assuredness of the delivery that overcomes your doubts regarding the message, at least for the duration of the song.

While containing all the radio hits, the total collection of 20 songs provides a great introduction to Van, who can be a little overindulgent and uneven in his albums. Once you become a confirmed fan, you're more likely to enjoy those experiments. Until then, this is your best one album collection.

In Response To IVAVARIO
The new remaster has the unedited Brown Eyed Girl with the "Making Love in the green grass...." line intact.

Now for the review, this is a great compilation for the Van Morrision newbie. It contains his most famous songs, Brown Eyed Girl, Moondance, Gloria (with Them), Domino, Jackie Wilson Said..., Wild Night, Have I Told You Lately..., And It Stoned Me, among others.

The only song that should have been on here that wasn't is Caravan. Other than that a perfect 10.

A++

Once again, if you are irritated about the original taking out that infamous line in Brown Eyed Girl, get the remaster. It shouldn't be hard to find since the unremastered is out of print.

I Hate This Dude
This horrible little idiot is SO annoying. His voice stinks and his lyrics are stupid. His music is only for idiots who are too brainwashed by outdated garbage music like this to realize that there is such a thing as a catchy beat.

A Great Discovery
Having grown up in Generation X, I had no idea who Van Morrison was until a few years ago when I bought this CD for my father. He listened to it and loved it, and I borrowed it from him recently. I consider Van a great discovery.

I was blown away by how great the music on this album is. There are so many songs of Morrison's that I was familiar with but did not know that he was the singer. I feel very fortunate to have "discovered" such a great artist.

Though I'm not very familiar with Van's work, some songs here have become favorites of mine. These include:

'Have I Told You Lately': Later remade by Rod Stewart, this has become one of the classic love songs of all time. The original is best, with Morrison's throaty voice driving the vocals.

'Wild Night': Another song that has been remade, the original of 'Wild Night' is a bit rockier than John Mellencamp's version.

'Moondance': Now one of my favorite songs, 'Moondance' is a classic, laid-back jazzy tune with brilliant vocals and a terrific shuffle.

'Brown Eyed Girl': Year after year, the oldies radio station in Cleveland places this song at the top of their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. There's a reason why.

I've read a few reviews saying that this isn't as good a compilation of Morrison's material as could be made. I can't speak for them, because, as a newcomer, I don't know much about his music. I can say that this album is amazing, and has definitely done a good job of introducing me to the magic of Van Morrison. What more could a greatest hits album ask for? ... Read more

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 essential recording

One of the must-own soul albums, Greatest Hits is fattened with five extra tracks in this reissue. Al Green brought the Memphis Sound into the '70s by slightly softening it, melding smooth funkiness with his miraculous voice and innate sensitivity: his love songs, while perfect for the bedroom, are as conversational as they are blatantly seductive. By adding the likes of "Belle," a 1977 single that's a near-goodbye to the pop life, to the original lineup of "Let's Stay Together," "Look What You Done for Me," "Call Me," and the others, this edition of Greatest Hits also intriguingly fills out the story. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (88)

Smooth and perfect - gets better every listen
Why is Al Green so much better than so many recording artists who think that they have soul?

Al doesn't sound forced or unnatural, and rarely shows you the full range of expression of which he is capable. The biggest hit that he ever had, "Let's Stay Together," begins with Al and the background vocalists whispering, and thereafter he does not raise his voice much from that. All the parts are very subtle, with each instrument seemingly arranged to disturb the whole the least. It's simple, danceable, and has real dynamics, even when the songs are generally quiet.

While I appreciate R+B made in the last twenty years, I don't like the group of mainly female vocalists who think that soul is shrieking your way up and down a given scale. Saying more with less notes is the heart of soul, and it makes for a consistently enjoyable listening experience.

Buy this. It's tremendously... for the value, and if you like soul, it will be one of the few CD's in your collection to which you can listen without skipping. In fact, it might even irritate you that fifteen songs is all that's here.

A Gorgeous Album
Al Green was probably the greatest exponent of arguably the greatest American music ever produced: soul. And this CD has that in droves. Listen to the acknowledged classics "Let's Stay Together", "Tired of Being Alone" and "I'm Still in Love With You" and you'll hear perhaps the finest non-classical tenor singing with all his heart, emotion and life experience. When Al croons "Belle... The Lord and I have been friends for a mighty long time", one is that much more open to his spiritual message because it is conveyed in such a beautiful manner. How could what Al's saying possibly be wrong? This is the first Al Green CD I acquired way back when I was building my soul music collection. For the beginner that I was, it made me so much more receptive to and appreciative of this wonderful music. This, in short, is ground zero for soul. Start here, and afterwards get your Wilson Picketts and Otis Reddings.

One of My favorites
I love the Best of Albums, and this is one of the best. Al Green is awesome and I love how this was comprised. By the time the CD gets to Love and Happiness, I am in tears. Yet, it is excellent.

Words don't describe
Al Green was bad back in the day, he had that great style all to himself, a gritty southern vibe with lush rythmns, orchstration, and Als gruff but smooth vocals. This Greatest Hits set was released in 75 after Al had scored a string of classic albums for the Hi label, and includes most of the singles. This is such a great listening experience from front to back, it don't really matter if your a serious Al fan with all of his albums or just a casual R&B fan, anybody can dig this set. This new version has been digitally remastered for extra bump plus the 5 extra hits tagged on are cool, my only complaint is that the hit 'Take Me To The River' is missing, one of Als killer jams. That aside, this is still Must Own material for any fan of black music.

Great 70's Soul
I only knew 3 of the songs on this album, but I love the rest of it too! ... 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

Amazon.com

The great soul singer made his secular comeback with 2002's I Can't Stop, but Everything's OK is truly Al Green's return to form. Green left the concert stage for the pulpit in 1979, and while his pretty falsetto reading of Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful" could easily be holy praise, he makes it clear in his asides that he's keeping things on a strictly earthly plane this time. Twenty-eight years after "Love and Happiness," these satisfying songs glide on those emotions as Green celebrates joy and carnal desire. He couldn't be clearer than in numbers like "I Wanna Hold You." When he sings about lovemaking his voice seems buoyed by helium, it's so light, high, and soaring. Green and producer Willie Mitchell made magic together at Memphis's Hi Records in the '70s with their mix of Green's buttery tones and ecstatic cries and deep percussion-, horn-, and keyboard-swathed grooves. They do it again here repeatedly, capturing the élan of their heyday on numbers like the title track and "Build Me Up." If Green's new missionary work is putting a little love in our hearts during these turbulent, conflicted times, this reassuringly titled CD is a great start. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Memphis sound is back!!!
Al Green has always been a favorite of mine.I grew up with soul music as a staple.
I slipped this CD in and I thought I was back in the 70's
His style has not changed at all,I was impressed that he can still(with a little push) hit those same high notes he did when I was a young man.If you want to go back to the better times than this CD is for you.

STUNNING ORIGINALS = MASTERPIECE~BRAVO AL GREEN!!!
Everything is more than OK with this stunning collection of unforgettable soulfully charged classics...from the GREAT opening title song, it is clear that Al Green is back in all of his soulful magnificence and more..."You Are So Beautiful" is a ethereal spiritual experience while "Build Me Up" shows that Al Green is at the peak of his wonderous artistic powers! Standouts abound in this awesome collection of original classics and hopefully "The Grammy Awards" and "American Radio" will rise to the occasion of this stellar collection from one of the most brilliant and prolific singer/songwriters ever...this magnificent collection of great songs and tremendous performances define what true greatness is all about in the world of music..."I Wanna Hold You" is a funky jam with a vocal performance beyond compare while "Real Love" defines what great soul singing is all about and is one of the greatest soulful athems ever..."I Can Make Music" is spellbinding while "Be My Baby" is a classic rocking cooker and the soulful trip down the "Magic Road" has the feel of peak Motown at its finest..."Another Day" is totally infectious and contains a wildly passionate vocal that is the ultimate...Bravo Al Green~you are the greatest!!!

ULTIMATEVOCALTOUR-DE-FORCECLASSIC-VERY HOT!
"I Can't Stop" brought back Al Green to the forefront of great soul singers and Reverend Green really defines what great soul singing is all about...and "Everything's OK" cements this fact in grand style as it is a stunning set of great originals that find Al Green at the peak of his artistic powers!A masterful vocal with a grand sweeping arrangement make the engaging opening title track a magnificent opener...then on to a deeply heartfelt and sublime "You Are So Beautiful" and any lover of great soulful singing will be in seventh heaven!!!! This incredible collection of originals is all new and complex therefore it takes a few listens to fully appreciate all its nuances and the fastest way to appreciate this masterpiece is to sit down and relax and follow with the provided lyrics-it is a killer collection!!! "Build Me Up" is a great rhythmic love song that has fascinating tempo changes with an exhubertant and great vocal while the deeply soulful "Perfect To Me" contains a smoldering stellar vocal that is perfection...another soul classic "Nobody But You" and its clear that the Reverend is better than ever-those incredible pure highs are awesome to experience and behold and all the vocals on this set are loose, funky and incredibly inventive. Al Green always includes a down and gritty ballad that takes the listener to the heights and depths of soulful bliss and "Real Love" is that masterpiece in this awesome set...can't wait to see Al Green in concert in LA this summer with these classics!!! "I Can Make Music" and can he ever in this wild funky jam that is a sensual soulful delight which includes a really great harmonica by Bobby Rush that makes this one of the real highlights in a set full of them...a hot rocking invitation "Be My Baby" is another winner and any of these with airplay could be huge hits...I hope that American Radio gets it together on this one!A catchy "Magic Road" sounds like another hit as its a great trip down a very soulful lane...Al Green is a creative genius and anyone who gives this set a close listen will agree.A really classic infectious funky jam is the winning "I Wanna Hold You" which is another great defining moment of what great soul singing is all about with its incredibly great complex arrangement and a vocal that is peerless."And I think it'll be alright Another day" laments Al in the inspirational "Another Day" and you can tell he will...closing with the sublime "All The Time" with the hook "But I do my best all the time" and listening to this masterpiece that says it all!!!Bravo Al Green and lets hope that Grammy and American Radio rises to the occasion of your incredible accomplishment...

Everything is a Whole Lot Better than OK
This cd is truly Al Green in true form.'Perfect To Me' is my favorite song from the cd and it takes you back to the days when you would hear an Al Green record and no one had to say, "who sings that song" you knew it was Al Green. The same goes for Everything's Ok, this cd sounds like the Al Green I grew up on. It's good to hear some real music. The cd is a must have.

My god, what are these people smokin'?
Ok, I confess to being a long-time Rev. Al fanatic.That out of the way, I will confess to being mildly disappointed with the good reverend's last effort, I Can't Stop.It had it's moments as any Al Green CD would, but I didn't think it was up to his earlier classics, which I had worn down to the proverbial nub!I am now listening to Rev's Everything's OK for the first time--and you know what? Everything IS OK!!These people who are dissing this CD either a) aren't long-time fans, b) have some kind of problem with the classic soul genre, or c) are COMPLETE IDIOTS!!Don't waste one minute, buy this fabulous CD and BELIEVE!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Van Morrison went a long way towards defining his wild Irish heart with his first two classic albums: the brooding, introspective Astral Weeks (1968), and the expansive, swinging Moondance. If the first was the work of a poet, its sequel was the statement of a musician and bandleader. Moondance is that rare rock album where the band has buffed the arrangements to perfection, and where the sax solos instead of the guitar. The band puts out a jazzy shuffle on "Moondance" and plays it soulful on "These Dreams of You." The album includes both Morrison's most romantic ballad ("Crazy Love") and his most haunting ("Into the Mystic"). "And It Stoned Me" rolled off Morrison's tongue like a favorite fable, while "Caravan" told a tale full of emotional intrigue. Moondance stood out in the rock world of 1970 like a grownup in a kiddie matinee. --John Milward ... Read more

Reviews (124)

My Own Private "Moondance" with Van.....
This review refers to the Warner Bros. audio tape of Van Morrison's "Moondance"....

I have to confess...I bought this "fantabulous" album on tape so I could pop it in my walkman and have my own private time with Van Morrison, his band and the exhilarating music. But alas, I always get caught. The music and the lyrics are just ones that I can't help singing aloud with(you know...'LA LA LA LA... LA LA LA'...), and playing on my own air instruments!

The familiar and soothing voice, the soulful and oh so recognizable tunes, will "let your soul and spirit fly Into The Mystic". It's always "a marvelous night for a Moondance", and who could ever tire of "Come Running" and "Caravan". So 'rock your Gypsy soul', 'turn it up',and fall in love again to "Crazy Love".....'she give me love love love love...crazy love'.It'll 'seem like and feel like' a "Brand New Day" every time you play it.

All the great sounds of the vocals and the band, including the wonderful solos sound great on this tape.If you are just starting to collect Van Morrison, start with this one.It's definitive of his work and one that you just won't be able to get enough of... 'And so you know, it's got soul'(see buying info for complete list of songs)

Van..."Can I have just one more 'Moondance' with you"??? Just let me know and I'll "Come Running"....
enjoy...Laurie

It's a marvelous night for "Moondance"
Moondance is a wonderful album. Van Morrison is a truly gifted songwriter, not to mention his wonderful, yet unique voice. If you want to hear music that is more flash and glitz and commercialism, give Moondance a listen. Just reading the lyrics to this album could stir your soul. The lyrics are amazing, and the music is great too. In addition to the great acoustic guitar playing, bass and drums, Van has also added saxophones, flutes, clarinets and pianos to many of the songs, giving the album a rather distinct sound. My favorites are Come Running, Moondance, These Dreams Of You, Caravan and of course, the BEST song on the album, maybe Van Morrison's best song: Into The Mystic. This album would get 5 stars just for Into The Mystic even if all the other songs were bad. Fortunately though, that's not the case. Moondance is marvelous from start to finish.

Ice cold audio orange juice
It's not as complex, beautiful and enigmatic as "Astral Weeks" and it's not as much of a soulful, one-two-punch workout as "Blowin' Your Mind," but for sheer, consistent, horn-driven happiness, you can't do much better than "Moondance."

But because of my affection for those other two disks, I admit, I generally tend to underrate this album. But "Moondance" keeps coming back to me in the most unexpected ways at the most unexpected times: I'll hear "Caravan" in "The Last Waltz," or "Everyone" at the end of "The Royal Tenenbaums" or "Glad Tidings" three times in the "Sopranos" Season 5 finale, or notice "Into the Mystic" on the PA at the grocery store and be reminded that I need to let it out to play more often. That's the sign of a truly great musical work.

he got stoned all rite!
yo my parentz lissen tu dis cd! i mean theyre old, and i am an informed consumer uv hot topic clothing! so i must have a better taste in muzak, rite? i mean, da shtuff i lissen too is on da billbored chartz! like, American Idol peeps so bust Van da man fer rekord salez!

Excellent introduction in Van Morrison
I was only familiar with the Brown Eyed Girl and Gloria Van Morrison but bought this because of the strong 5 star rating with nearly 130 reviews. They are right. This is a great CD filled with easily listened to (not easy listening) music. The lyrics are absolutely heartfelt. The speed of the music fluctuates from not to fast to slow and cool. This would be great entertaining music for a small group of people or just for that one person. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Flawed CD
The VERY BEST of Ray Charles? I don't think so. How can you call it that when you leave off Ray's most beautiful ballad "You Don't Know Me." I'm trying to find a CD by Ray Charles that carries "You Don't Know Me," "Georgia on My Mind," "I Can't Stop Loving You," "Hit the Road Jack," "Unchain My Heart," and "Let's Go Get Stoned." Can ANYBODY help me?

It's The Very Best Indeed!
Hats off to Rhino for another winning single disc anthology that more than lives up to its title. There was a time I had about ten Ray Charles CDs and felt that, while all were worthy, it sure would have been great to have all the best key cuts from the length of his career on one convenient disc. And...here it is! Thankfully, Rhino opted to include the full-length version of "What'd I Say". The cool part about this set is the way you go from "I've Got A Woman" to "Georgia On My Mind" to "Hit The Road Jack" to "Unchain My Heart" in one sitting! Solid notes, decent remastering, all the key hits. What more could anyone ask for? The first and best place to get into Brother Ray's genius...

The Very Best of Ray Charles [Rhino]
The Very Best of Ray Charles [Rhino]~ Ray Charles is a tremedous singer, musician and entertainer. I loved every song on this stupendous compilation. 5/5.

Absolutely Essential
This is the Essential Ray Charles collection. A must have for any fan. It has the best of the best of his recordings.

Very Best Of Ray Charles In An 18-track CD? Can't Be Done
I would think that, after putting this together and then releasing it in 2000, the folks at Rhino likely wished they had come up with a better title like, say, "18 Of His Very Best." Because, quite frankly, I don't believe it's possible to squeeze the "very best" of Ray Charles into one 18-track CD.

After all, the man put 76 selections into the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1989, and from 1949 to 1993 added another 26 that scored only on the R&B Top 100 singles charts [most of the others charted on both].

As another reviewer points out, there are far too many notable omissions which, by any definition, would have to be included in anything labelled his "very best." For example, while track 5 was a solid R&B hit in 1959 [# 5], but a low # 95 on the pop charts, songs like You Don't Know Me [# 2 pop/# 5 R&B], Take These Chains From My Heart [# 7 R&B/# 8 pop], Crying Time [# 5 R&B/# 6 pop], Here We Go Again [# 5 R&B/# 15 pop], and Yesterday [# 9 R&B/# 25 pop] were smash hits on both.

However, if you can get past the title and just accept these as 18 of his very best it is a welcome addition to any Ray Charles collection. Five pages of informative background notes written by Bill Dahl, and several more shots of Ray, are augmented by a complete discography of the contents showing label and chart details and the musicians involved on each track. The sound reproduction is flawless. ... Read more

Amazon.com

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 (22)

What does it mean to be a Doobie Brothers fan?
Because of age and circumstance -- I was in high school at the Doobie Brother's peak popularity -- I couldn't resist buying the compilation from Rhino. To me it was an obvious improvement on the two previous volumes of their "Best" as it omitted a lot of fluff, and much better than the live presentations of hits, either because of poor sound (the farewell tour) or personnel (the repackaged "original band" of the 90s compilations). But listening to this album got me to start thinking: how can any one person be a fan of all the distinct incarnations of the Doobies? The early 70s faux-Southern rock stylizations vs. the late 70s blue-eyed soul? Perhaps only if you're a big fan of Patrick Simmons, who seemed to be the only one that meshed with both styles. Perhaps the consideration of the disparate nature of their hesitatingly adopted styles leads me to believe that the Doobies are a band with little grounding, with little aspiration beyond hit-making, and who ultimately can only be appreciated at some surface level. Still, the music is fun, evocative of an era which abounded in experiment, with a lot of bands romancing eclecticism, if only to the degree allowable by AM pop radio standards. Thanks again to Rhino for providing a digital window on an analog world.

Greatest Doobie Hits!!!
The Rhino released "Greatest Hits" offers an excellent overview of the biggest hits from the legendary Doobie Brothers. While it doesn't include every single hit the band has ever made, it does include the signature Doobie classics, the ones you'd expect to find a Doobie best-of.
Tracks like "Listen To The Music", "China Grove", "Black Water" and "Long Train Runnin'" are all here as well as the later Michael McDonald-led tracks "Takin' It To The Streets", "You Belong To Me", "What A Fool Believes" and "Minute By Minute". There are even two tracks each from the band's late '80s/early '90s comeback efforts, "The Doctor" (from 1989's "Cycles") and "Dangerous" (from 1991's "Brotherhood").
This is a very satisfying single-disc collection from a great band of Brothers. All the best-known hits are here.
The CD booklet isn't too shabby either as it offers a brief but detailed history of the band from the beginning up to 2001. If you don't any Doobie Brothers music on CD yet, THIS should be the first pick.

Nice, but incomplete
Seems that most of these greatest hits collections always leave off one or two hits. This one is no exception. This is a good collection and since a group like the Doobie's has such a large catalog, you will never be able to put all the great songs on a single CD, however, when you are supposedly putting out a "complete" greatest hits CD, it should at least include all the top 40 hits instead of bumping some to include lesser hits or album cuts that didn't even chart. Top 40 hits missing from this collection are Another Park Another Sunday and Sweet Maxine. Some other hits that just missed the top 40 that should have been included are Eyes of Silver, Little Darling (I Need You), and Need A Little Taste Of Love.

Perfect way to start off for a new Doobie Brothers fan
I think that this CD is a perfect choice for those who is starting off as a Doobie Brothers fan and this CD is also recommened for casual fans who are on a limited budget and this CD has all of their songs from 1971-91, about half of the songs contains the Tom Johnston era while the other half contains the Michael McDonald era and for those who like a little variety of music would like this CD and it contains everything from southern pop, hard rock, soft rock and gospel sounding pop.

Although a few more songs would've been nice but this CD is great enough to have.

Doobie Doobie Doo... the Greatest Hits!
Although I was very young when the Doobies were still a band, I distinctly remember some of their hits... namely What a Fool Believes, Minute by Minute and a number of hits when Michael McDonald came aboard. The band is great, the songs? Well, they are great as well. Although I prefer that Doobies when Michael changed their 'sound', the pre-Michael songs are also as good. Songs like Long Train Running, Jesus is Alright... sits well with me as with the Michael era. Some songs I just heard through this compilation, but I enjoyed them as well. Had the Doobies been active during the time I was a teen in the 80s, they would've surely been a favorite band for me then. I learned about the Doobies because I was a Michael fan, and I'm sure glad I did.

Get this compilation even if you are not a Michael or Doobie fan... that's if you love great musci for the soul! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The self-proclaimed "King of Rock 'n' Soul" upholds his title on this follow-up to his 2002 Grammy-winning comeback, Don't Give Up on Me. At 64, Solomon Burke's voice still has an electric crackle. Every low purr and keening near-falsetto that he applied to a string of hits between 1961 and 1968 that helped build Atlantic Records remains intact. In fact, if anything, he's more persuasive and versatile today. Burke breathes zestful life into material as diverse as the opening stomp, "I Need Your Love in My Life," the testifying "Let Somebody Love Me," a sweet reading of the Band's "It Makes No Difference," and Hank Williams Sr.'s country-gospel "Wealth Won't Save Your Soul"--the latter of which Burke, who's an ordained bishop, takes to church with a soaring organ-driven arrangement.

Producer Don Was draws on the classic Stax and Muscle Shoals sounds, using keyboards and guitars--the latter played by Ray Parker Jr. and Shoals veteran Reggie Young--to underscore Burke's powerful vocal melodies. And the bloodlines of classic Memphis propulsion run through drummer James Gadson's veins. With such superb accomplices Burke doesn't just make do... he makes great music. --Ted Drozdowski ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Keeps getting better with age
Solomon Burke is my favorite singer and has been practically all my life since we are about the same age. I know people raved over his last effort but for my tastes this one is even better. There isn't a clinker in the bunch and he exhibits his phenomenal range. His lows are on a par with Barry White and his highs are without peer. This CD starts with I Need Your Love In My Life and ends with Wealth Won't Save Your Soul. From beginning to end its a joy.

Don't let this one pass you by
A pleasant surprise.Given the variety of songsand stunning vocals on his last Album, Don't Give Up on Me, I wasn't sure what the King would do as a follow up.But after listening to the new album twice I can testify that he hits the mark quite often here.His anguished wail on "It makes no difference" and his soulful pleas on Fading Footsteps prove once again that this guy sings from the heart and soul.And if you have any doubts about his place in music history, just listen to him tear up the Hank Williams tune "Wealth won't save your soul".Don't let this one pass you by.

Age is no impediment
Solomon teaches the kids how it's done. Turn it up, roll the windows down, have fun.

a REAL soul album
Don't Give Up on Me was fine enough, but it wasn't really a soul album and it was far too subdued. On Make Do with What You Got, Solomon really cuts loose, and he's got a band full of seasoned soul musicians (Ray Parker Jr., who played with Steve Wonder and led the soul band Raydio pre-Ghostbusters, Bill Withers' drummer, Muscle Shoals guitar great Reggie Young, and Solomon's own church organist, among others) with him. The result is stupendous.

The lead-off track is a cover of a Coco Montoya song that sounds just like the Stones circa Exile, but with better vocals. It's just amazing. Fading Footsteps and the title track are both stomping soul number with a slightly more modern (like, mid-seventies) feel. The rest is mostly ballads, including scorching takes on The Stones' I Got the Blues, a Hank Williams gospel song.

This is a fantastic album that any soul music fan should love.

A Classic & A Triumph
I agree with Billboard magazine's assessment - this CD is "a soul classic".The songs are smart & possess quite a kick, and Solomon throws himself into each one - as if he knew how to sing a song any other way.What's especially gratifying is that this is the type of album that gets made so rarely these days.First, it's old-school soul music - 'comfort music' of the first order if you were born anytime from 1950 to 1960.Think Stax, Hi Records, Muscle Shoals - you get the picture.Slippery Hammond B3 organ, snakey rhythmn guitar, tight bursts from the horn section, slammin' drums, all hanging on Rev. Burke's every sung word.Second, it would seem that it was recorded pretty 'live' in the studio, although the performances are all spot-on.In other words, this is a guy who can get it right the first time - he knows what he's doing from note-one to note-last (as he proved on recent appearances on Letterman and Conan). The producer, players, and songwriters are all A-team, but all in the service of bringing the best qualities of the star to the forefront.Dylan, Robbie Robertson, and Dr. John are not only great songwriters, but "What Good Am I?", "It Makes No Difference" and "Make Do With What You Got" are among the best songs they ever wrote.Plus it's a kick to hear him lay into the Stones' "I Got The Blues".Long story short, this is an extraordinary album of great songs, great arrangements, and stirring performances.Buy one for yourself, and another for someone you know who needs a lift.A increasingly-rare slice of funk, fun, and feeling. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

For those music buyers who have enjoyed Barry White's music since the early 1970s but may not be devoted enough for the three-CD box set Just for You, this 20-track compilation brings together all of White's major chart hits between 1973 and 1979, along with a couple of entries from his Love Unlimited Orchestra. White's distinctive vocal style--a deep, resonant baritone-bass that oozes sex appeal--was the icing on the cake for those hits; superlative string arrangements (courtesy of the late Gene Page) encased White in a lush setting, while White's hand-picked rhythm section (which included many of Los Angeles's top session players) created a groove that was hard to beat.The combination was lethal: hits like "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up," "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," and "You're My First, My Last, My Everything" made White a chart staple and an early king of disco; his skill as a vocal interpreter was fully evident on a 1979 reading of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are," another standout on this collection. On the evidence of that track alone, it's hard to believe that, according to legend, White never planned to be a recording artist in his own right and would have been happy to remain in the background as producer and songwriter! --David Nathan ... Read more

Reviews (53)

A MOST SEDUCTIVE COLLECTION OF HITS
If you ever feel romantic and decide to fill half your CD changer with recordings that set in the mood, there are three specific recommendations I have: Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On, Al Green's Greatest Hits, and Barry White's All-Time Greatest Hits. I would suggest three other CD's to fill up the changer and thus make a perfect 6-CD collection, but I'm afraid that nothing else immediately comes to mind.

What makes Barry White's Greatest Hits so great is that the theme of each song is consistent. And that theme is hot romance to the max. Barry White has been able to deliver the message of love as only a true gentleman can. He commands it in a deep baritone voice that can drive the women wild as opposed to those squealing falsetto attempts that never really made it to first base.

Essentially a very thorough compilation of his 20 biggest singles that runs over 75 minutes, Barry White's All-Time Greatest Hits is missing very little. There may be slightly different arrangements in the original LP versions that some listeners might prefer otherwise, but for those who want a definitive collection of Barry White's works, this is about as good as you will ever get.

And some might say that unlike David Lee Roth's A Little Ain't Enough, you definitely can't get enough from this one particular disc. But let's be thankful that we do have this assortment, anyway.

The Bard's Best
I have to admit that I'm not a disco fan. As a matter of fact, I pretty much hate it. But there was one singer of this genre who I could always listen to : Barry White.

Covering the years 1973 to 1978, "All Time Greatest Hits" chronicles his career as a solo artist and with his famed Love Unlimited Orchestra. All the hits are here, from the luscious "Love's Theme" to the smooth grooves of "I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby" and "Never, Never Gonna Give Up" to the naughty piano intro of "It's Ectasy When You Lay Down Next To Me". Of course, the late Mr. White's two biggest hits are here, the inescapable "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe" and the ethereal "You're The First, The Last, My Everything". Both sound as crip and original as they did in 1974. White also vocally examines the softer side of love with "Oh, What A Night For Dancing" and an excellent version of Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are". In fact, this one song alone is worth the price of the cd.

Whether you're a fan of disco or you just love Barry White and you don't have this cd, take my advice and buy it as soon as possible.

Who doesn't want to get a "groove" on with Barry!
His vioce is pure electric and his songs will live forever.

Best Songs From One CD!
The late Barry White was the one voice easily recognizable during the early 1970s. Just listening to his bedroom lyrics of love would send chills to your spine!

As far as a hits collection goes, it was done correctly. All his Top 40 hits from the 1970s are included along with R & B chart entries. Plus, the songs do work together as a team and even the irony of this collection involes two hits from Love Unlimited Orchestra! This works one of two ways: 1) It will save the buyer (perhaps the casual fan) from buying The Best Of Love Unlimited Orchestra from the same label or 2) on the downside, the fan will complain "Isn't this suppose to be about Barry White, the SOLO artist?" True, and if that's the case, then omitting "Love's Theme" and "Satin Soul" could have been replaced with "I Found Someone" and (maybe the ulimate love intro dialogue) "Love Serenade"!

There are several pictures and liner notes along with song credits and chart entries are included.

great cd if you like soul
this msuic sounds dated, and it';s not my cup o' tea, but for the defoted fan, this cd has all the essentials. ... Read more