The Best of the Dramatics - STAX
Artist: The Dramatics
Community Score: 9.25

In the 1960s, Stax Records was best known for raw southern soul that rejected the type of sleekness and pop sensibilities favored by the northern soulsters at Motown. But by the early '70s, Memphis soul was losing its popularity, and Stax's A&R department started to emphasize northern and so-called "uptown" soul in order to stay competitive. One... Read More

The Best of Gladys Knight - BUDDAH
Artist: Gladys Knight & the Pips

This 10-song compilation is oddly structured and was even more strangely timed when it showed up in the winter of 1976. The group had just come off of their fourth Buddah LP, 2nd Anniversary, a Gold Record-winning album with a pair of hits, and a best-of seemed premature. Additionally, five of the album's songs came off of the 10-song... Read More

Chronicle
Artist: The Emotions

A fine collection of The Emotions' greatest hits, Chronicle also includes several songs that weren't as popular but were nearly as good. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More

The Best of Bill Withers - SUSSEX
Artist: Bill Withers
All-Time Classics
Artist: The Stylistics

When the Stylistics switched to Amherst in the '80s, their glorious "sweet" soul hits were repackaged on a couple of collections. This was a singular set covering their finest '70s numbers; another package split them into a two-part release. It's slightly improved in sound quality over the 1975 The Best of The Stylistics, and hearing Russell... Read More

The Best of the Spinners - ATLANTIC
Artist: The Spinners

The Spinners lost lead singer Philippe Wynne in 1977, as he left to join Parliament/Funkadelic. While they were getting replacement John Edwards acclimated, Atlantic issued this greatest-hits LP containing all the gems with Wynne as their lead singer. Until the Atlantic two-CD set was issued, this was a definitive work, and it's still as... Read More

At His Best
Artist: David Ruffin

The best of his solo outings alongside selections from his days with the Temptations make for a comprehensive overview of his career. ~ John Lowe, All Music Guide Read More

Chirpin'
Artist: The Persuasions

After two ill-advised albums for A&M with instruments, The Persuasions returned to their a cappella roots. No longer popular enough to chart, the music was in no way diminished. Highlights include a swinging version of the gospel standard "It's Gonna Rain" and a dramatic reading of Tony Joe White's "Willie and Laura Mae Jones." ~ Rob Bowman, All... Read More

Live
Artist: Mother's Finest

Mother's Finest tried to smash the embargo blocking black rock acts with this live record. It was the closest any album came to actually conveying the kind of nonstop excitement, spontaneity, and unpredictability of their live shows, although it also showed how vocally erratic they could be in performance. The failure of a band that had as... Read More

Another Mother Further
Artist: Mother's Finest
Community Score: 7.50
Anthology - 1976
Artist: The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5's volume in Motown's Anthology series was a three-LP extravaganza boasting 33 of the quintet's greatest hits, plus room to collect a few solo hits (mostly from Michael). There's no need to argue with most of the inclusions here, while the long running time also permits a few gorgeous album tracks ("Don't Know Why I Love You,"... Read More

Sparkle
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Community Score: 7.33

Aretha Franklin's career was in a down period in the mid-'70s when she collaborated with Curtis Mayfield to sing his compositions for the film Sparkle. The film proved a non-event, but for Franklin it marked a return to glory. Once again she was the Queen of Soul, doing the chilling, spectacular leaps, cries, whoops, and shouts that defined... Read More

Whispers Greatest Hits
Artist: The Whispers

These songs encompass the Whispers' Janus recordings that chronicle the second phase of their recording career; they cut their teeth with Dore Records. A larger recording budget and better songs make this a sweeter package then the primitive sounding Dore tracks. Unlike the Dore tracks, these recordings got played outside of California and... Read More