Voodoo Jive: The Best of Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Artist: Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Screamin' Jay Hawkins -- genius or lunatic? An investigation of Hawkins' body of work suggests these two options were hardly mutually exclusive in his case, and while he certainly tended to favor material that indulged his fondness for the vocal freak-out, the man also possessed a solid baritone voice and knew just what to do with it. (A careful... Read More

Higher and Higher
Artist: Jackie Wilson

Charly Records did a good job narrowing the selection down to these 25 songs when you considered the many albums Wilson recorded. Some diligent person took the time to wade through a lot of stuff to pick these jewels. Picking the hits was easy, but coming up with "Tear of the Year," "You Don't Know What It Means," "Am I the Man" and "Why Can't... Read More

Their Greatest Hits - MCA
Artist: The Moonglows
Community Score: 10.00

At 16 tracks, Their Greatest Hits isn't nearly as comprehensive as the two-CD Blue Velvet, which has 44 songs. But for someone who wants just the highlights, as opposed to just about everything, Their Greatest Hits is the better buy, including their most celebrated tunes ("Ten Commandments of Love," "Sincerely," "Blue Velvet"). The only... Read More

Cry to Me: The Best of Freddie Scott
Artist: Freddie Scott

One of the sleekest soul senders of the 1960s, Freddie Scott grew a bit rougher as the decade progressed, though his 1966-68 period with New York's Shout Records still find him in fine form. Cry to Me includes 20 tracks, featuring hits like "Are You Lonely for Me Baby" and the title track as well as two previously unreleased tracks. ~ John Bush,... Read More

Curtis - JAPAN BONUS TRACK
Artist: Curtis Mayfield

A masterpiece, and still one of the greatest urban soul albums of all time. Curtis Mayfield stepped into the spotlight and immediately showed that he would have no trouble away from the Impressions. While he had done many transcendent singles with them, he'd never made a song as searing in its indictments or immediately compelling as "(Don't... Read More