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Classic Masters by
Tavares!
Critic's Review
William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
Tavares scored 12 pop single chart entries (not counting the B-side "My Ship") between 1973 and 1980, and all 12 are presented in chronological order on this midline-priced, digitally remastered best-of, from "Check It Out" to "Bad Times," and including the gold-selling "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" and the group's contribution to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, "More Than a Woman." The sequencing allows an appreciation of Tavares' evolution from a vocal group of soul balladeers to disco stars. The selection strictly serves their pop crossover fans; they scored many more hits on the R&B charts, but none of the singles that failed to make the pop charts are included, not even "Never Had a Love Like This Before," which was a Top Five R&B hit. There are more thorough Tavares compilations at full price, but for the money this is an excellent overview of their career.