Love Songs - RHINO
Artist: Aretha Franklin

Musically, this collection's hard to fault -- 16 romantic tunes from the 1967-76 Atlantic years, including such hits as "Baby I Love You," "I Say a Little Prayer," "A Natural Woman," and "Call Me." Whether you want to add this to your collection depends very much on the way you assemble records. If you want to get these tunes, many of them are... Read More

Many Different Roads
Artist: Gladys Knight

Incredibly gifted and prolific soloist Gladys Knight released her first inspirational album in 1998. While many of her past albums carried music of significance, rightfully earning her a place in the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this is the first album which she focused entirely on the spiritual side of music.... Read More

The Greatest Hits
Artist: The Impressions

There's no doubt that the recordings the Impressions made for ABC Records from 1961 to 1968 were arguably the group's greatest and the ones that certainly made the career of Curtis Mayfield. This best of compilation features 16 rock-solid testimonies to the man's genius, all crafted like the two-minute 30-second R&B symphonies they are. Even on... Read More

Fabulous Impressions/We're a Winner
Artist: The Impressions

A reissue that combines 1967's The Fabulous Impressions and 1968's We're a Winner onto one CD. Although The Fabulous Impressions was a solid enough soul record on its own merits, it's not one of the more notable entries in the Impressions' catalog. There aren't any big hits, although a couple cuts, "You Always Hurt Me" and "I Can't Stay Away... Read More

Live at Tipitina's 1982
Artist: The Neville Brothers

This two-CD set gathers both previously released albums from the Neville Brothers' September 1982 gigs at local New Orleans hangout Tipitina's, 1984's Neville-ization/Live at Tipitina's and 1987's Nevillization II/Live at Tipitina's, and strives to roll them into one complete, concise work. The only problem is that although the albums were... Read More

Ballads Collection
Artist: The Gap Band

The Gap Band weren't known for their slow, romantic numbers, yet they did quiet storm as well as any other funk band, as The Ballads Collection proves. The disc features 12 songs, both singles and album tracks, all delivered by vocalist Charlie Wilson. Some of the group's finest moments, including "Yearning for Your Love," "Outstanding" and... Read More

At Home in Muscle Shoals
Artist: Bobby Womack

The first CD hits package to focus on Bobby Womack's Muscle Shoals recordings of the late '70s and '80s, At Home in Muscle Shoals is a 15-track collection including "Trust Your Heart" and "Stop Before We Start," a duet with Candi Staton. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide Read More

Smooth, Smooth Jackson
Artist: Chuck Jackson
Community Score: 10.00

An import compilation of Chuck Jackson's All Platinum sides recorded in the '70s. Many are unaware Jackson recorded on the label that spawned the Moments, the Whatnauts, Sylvia, and Shirley Goodman before transforming into rap city with Sugar Hill Records. He only mustered two tiny hits: "Needing You, Wanting You" and "I've Got the Need," both... Read More

Prisoners of Soul
Artist: The Escorts

Recording entities have jumped on tracks by the Escorts, reissuing them under various prison-related names, including this import from Sequel Records -- Prisoners of Love. All the titles are apropos; the Escorts called New Jersey's Rahway State Prison home when producer George Kerr undertook the project of recording them for Alithia Records. The... Read More

The Very Best of Chuck Jackson 1961-1967
Artist: Chuck Jackson

Varese's The Very Best of Chuck Jackson is a 16-track retrospective of his classic Wand recordings, featuring all of his biggest hits ("I Don't Want to Cry," "I Wake Up Crying," "Any Day Now," "Tell Him I'm Not Home," and the Maxine Brown duet "Something You Got") and several fine, lesser-known singles. Jackson's work was remarkably consistent,... 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

I'll Never Get Over You - VARESE
Artist: Chuck Jackson

Chuck Jackson's resonant baritone hardly gets untracked on this Charles Wallert production. Wallert's so laid-back on these 14 songs that the sound is closer to easy listening than soul. The only song he claims is an aching rendition of "Walk Away From Love," the David Ruffin hit (the beautiful female voices deserve bonuses), and two duets: "If... Read More