Everybody Loves a Good Time!: The Best of Major Lance
Artist: Major Lance

Delightful 40-song, double-CD compilation of Lance's best work for OKeh between 1962 and 1967, including all of the chart singles, quite a few misses and B-sides, five previously unreleased cuts, and some Curtis Mayfield songs from his debut LP. The later tracks, recorded after producer Carl Davis and songwriter Mayfield had moved on to other... Read More

St. Louis Woman/Memphis Soul
Artist: Ann Peebles

St. Louis Woman is a terrific four-disc, 63-track box set covering Ann Peebles' entire career, concentrating (rightly so) on her seminal early-'70s recordings for Hi Records. All of her hits are here, of course, along with underappreciated album tracks, lost singles, B-sides, rarities and a handful of unreleased cuts. Certainly, this isn't the... Read More

Lady Soul/Aretha Now
Artist: Aretha Franklin

Mobile Fidelity reissued two of Aretha Franklin's best albums, Aretha Now and Lady Soul, on one gold CD. Although these are two classic records, only hardcore Aretha fans will need to acquire this disc, since the disc carries such a high retail price. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More

Anthology: The Best of Diana Ross & the Supremes
Artist: Diana Ross & the Supremes

Motown Records' Anthology series, first introduced in the 1970s, presented three-LP sets devoted to the work of its major artists, among them, of course, Diana Ross and the Supremes, who got a 35-track treatment in 1974, chronicling their chart hits and a handful of their more adventurous stylistic forays. Twelve years later, Motown brought out... Read More

Pillow Talk: The Sensuous Sounds of Sylvia
Artist: Sylvia

20-track compilation drawn primarily from her mid-'70s albums, adding four songs from non-LP singles of the era, and a couple of cuts from 1982 Sugar Hill singles. It can get a little gooey over the course of its 79 minutes, not to mention a bit comically unsubtle at times. Her cover of Marvin Gaye's "You Sure Love to Ball," to take one example,... Read More

The Very Best of Barbara Mason
Artist: Barbara Mason

Most of this 15-track compilation deals with her 1972-1975 stint on Buddah, ending with a few tracks from the late '70s and early '80s. Those who prefer '60s soul to '70s soul will prefer her early work, but at the time of its release this was the best CD compilation of her material available, including the hits "Give Me Your Love," "From His... Read More

The Best of Bunny Sigler: Sweeter Than the Berry
Artist: Bunny Sigler

Sweeter Than the Berry collects the biggest hits from Philly soul singer Bunny Sigler on a single disc. It's a thoroughly entertaining retrospective and the only disc many Sigler fans will ever need to own. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More