Rhythm & Blues: Oldies R&B Favorites

Track Listings
Disc: 1
1. Stone in Love With You
2. Everybody Plays the Fool
3. Chain of Fools
4. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
5. Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe
6. Working My Way Back to You
See all 10 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Tracks of My Tears
2. Tighten Up
3. It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World
4. Midnight Train to Georgia
5. Hit the Road Jack
6. Georgia on My Mind
See all 10 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3
1. When She Was My Girl
2. Mr. Big Stuff
3. Ain't Gonna Bump No More
4. Loco-Motion
5. Too Busy Thinkin' 'Bout My Baby
6. Dance to the Music
See all 10 tracks on this disc

Rhythm & Blues: Oldies R&B Favorites,Various Artists,St. Clair Records,Pop,R&B,Soul/R & B Collections,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,V/A Compilations

Rhythm & Blues: Oldies R&B Favorites

Rhythm & Blues: Oldies R&B Favorites
Back to Black
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Very good, I wouldn't say Great necessarily
  • music to share
  • Very different.
  • Amy is a breath of fresh air
  • Not just about "Rehab".
 Back to Black
Amy Winehouse
Manufacturer: Republic
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary BluesContemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
Contemporary R&BContemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000N2G3RY
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

  1. Rehab
  2. You Know I'm No Good
  3. Me & Mr. Jones
  4. Just Friends
  5. Back To Black
  6. Love Is A Losing Game
  7. Tears Dry On Their Own
  8. Wake Up Alone
  9. Some Unholy War
  10. He Can Only Hold Her
  11. Bonus Track 1

From Amazon.co.uk

Amy Winehouse's second album, Back to Black, is one of the finest soul albums, British or otherwise, to come out for years. Frank, her first album, was a sparse and stripped-down affair; Back to Black, meanwhile, is neither of these things. This time around, she's taken her inspiration from some of the classic 1960's girl groups like the Supremes and the Shangri-Las, a sound particularly suited to her textured vocal delivery, while adding a contemporary songwriting sensibility. With the help of producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, "Rehab" becomes a gospel-tinged stomp, while the title track (and album highlight) is a heartbreaking musical tribute to Phil Spector, with it's echoey bass drum, rhythmic piano, chimes, saxophone and close harmonies. Best of all, though, is the fact that Back to Black bucks the current trend in R&B by being unabashedly grown-up in both style and content. Winehouse's lyrics deal with relationships from a grown-up perspective, and are honest, direct and, often, complicated: on "You Know I'm No Good", she's unapologetic about her unfaithfulness. But she can also be witty, as on "Me & Mrs Jones" when she berates a boyfriend with "You made me miss the Slick Rick gig". Back to Black is a refreshingly mature soul album, the best of its kind for years. --Ted Kord

Album Description

Hailed by Newsweek Magazine as a cross between Billie Holiday and Lauryn Hill, British soul singer Amy Winehouse's U.S. debut, Back To Black hits the US amid a flurry of accolades, radio and TV buzz unprecedented in recent years for a young siren.

Her brassy mix of emotive vocals tinged with 60's girl-group stylings, sly funk, and anguished jazz, sparked the New York Daily News to crown Back To Black a "marvelous debut that would do Etta James proud" while New Yorker Magazine called her "a fierce English performer whose voice combines the smoky depths of a jazz chanteuse with the heated passion of a soul singer," and Spin Magazine affirming "there's never been A British star quite like her."

Back To Black smolders with a bristling fusion of old school doo-wop/soul inflected uprisings, (the charismatic singer/songwriter wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album) brewing instant classics such as the Shirley Ellis influenced "Rehab," the Supremes tinged title song "Back To Black," the aching "Wake Up Alone," and the album's closer, "Addicted."

Album Details

Ivor Novello Award Winner, Mercury Music Prize and Triple Brit Nominee Amy Winehouse, Follows the Release of her New Single "rehab" and Recent Sell-out Mini-uk Tour, with the Hugely Anticipated Release on October 30th of her New Album "back to Black". On "back to Black", the Follow-up to her Platinum Debut "frank" which Established her as One of the Most Exciting and Challenging Artists in Pop Music, Amy Confirms, Beyond Any Reasonable Or Unreasonable Doubt, What a Truly Remarkable Talent She Is.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Very good, I wouldn't say Great necessarily.......2007-08-06

A good Cd it truly is, but it's kind of short. About 10 tracks maybe. This Cd is perfect if you are depressed and in need of mourning. Her tortured soul bleeds through her songwriting and you really get a peek into her inner turmoil. The songs also tend to sound the same. This cd is addicting but I can't say a classic. I personally love it but I don't want to call it a GREAT piece for every ear out there, but definitely a very good piece.

4 out of 5 stars music to share.......2007-08-06

this is a nice change of recent/newer music.
i bought my own copy & purchased a second for my dad as a father's day gift.
(he enjoys it and is turning others onto it, just the same)
my daughter, 7 at the time of purchase, had me put some of the tunes on her ipod.
that speaks volumes.

5 out of 5 stars Very different........2007-08-06

I heard Rehab on the radio and I thought that this was a different sound. Her voice is husky but filled with emotion. This cd is completely different and refreshing. I recommend this cd if you like to hear an artist off the beaten path.

5 out of 5 stars Amy is a breath of fresh air.......2007-08-04

Her voice is magic and it reminds me of how good R&B used to be and still can be without the preservatives. When she sings, she hits me in the gut and I can relate to her songs in some ways. For someone so young, she sings about a wide range of life experiences. She will go a long way and she's truly an amazing talent.

5 out of 5 stars Not just about "Rehab"........2007-08-03

I had heard about Amy Winehouse long before her American TV performances that made her big in the US. So when her album came out, I just had to get it THAT day. Although most people know Amy from her catchy single, "Rehab", others know her for her jazzy music, incredible voice, and strong, yet witty messages in her songs.

Here's a quick overview of the highlights (and possibly lowlights) from the album Back to Black.

First, I can't go through a complete review without mentioning "Rehab". With its catchy lyrics, sexy jazz feel, and Amy's deep voice, it made a great first US single for this songstress. From there we go onto another of my favorite songs "You Know I'm No Good". The best part of the song is the sing-song, almost nursery rhyme feel of the verses. Its message is a strong one: I've cheated on you but "I told you I was trouble. You know that I'm no good".

Another great song on this album is "Me and Mr. Jones". Although some would argue that the entire album sounds like an old 1960's jazz album, I think "Me and Mr. Jones" is the most 60's sounding song on the album. Amy sings about her complicated relationship with "her man" and suggests that she's really not over him meanwhile inventing her own word to describe what is going on (although I won't mention the word since profanity is not allowed on Amazon). This song is another great example of how amazing Amy sounds when she hits the low notes.

My absolute favorite song is "Back to Black". The infectious sound of the keyboard and the violin, the simple, yet powerful chorus, and, of course, Amy's voice suggests that although the random humorous lyrics she throws in here and there show her playful personality, she also has a hard time dealing with parts of her life. If I were to suggest one song to listen to on this album, "Back to Black" is it.

Two other songs to look out for are "Love is a Losing Game" and "Tears Dry On Their Own". Two different messages but two great sounding songs. "Love" is one of the few ballads on this album while "Tears" is one of the few (if not the only) uplifting songs on this album. The bonus track is simply a remix of "You Know I'm No Good". Not much different from the original since the only difference really is a rap solo.

The other 4 songs I haven't mentioned are pretty good songs but they aren't outstanding. "Just Friends" just doesn't have the catchyness that the other songs have and I tend to skip right over it everytime I listen to this album. "Wake Up Alone"'s sound is extremely catchy (and it almost sounds like something you've heard before) and I absolutely love how sultry and sad Amy sounds. The sort of monotonous sound of the song prevents me from differentiating the chorus from the rest of the song so I wouldn't call this a "sing along" by any means. "Some Unholy War" is rather short and reads more like a letter than a song. "He Can Only Hold Her", again, is another catchy song but I wouldn't say it stands on its own.

I tend to think that my taste in music is eclectic so I didn't have a hard time truly liking this album. People who stick with one type of music may have difficulty getting into Back to Black but I suggest having an open mind when listening to this album. It is nothing like I have ever heard in the last 10 years or so and if Back to Black is an example of what's to come from musicians in the future, I'm ecstatic. I highly recommend this album.
Evolution of Robin Thicke
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Girlfriend Pleaser
  • Incredible, refreshing, sexy cool!
  • Great CD
  • Evolution of Robin Thicke
  • Get caught up in the thicke of things
 Evolution of Robin Thicke
Robin Thicke
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000M8NMV4
Release Date: 2007-02-09

Tracks:

  1. Got 2 Be Down
  2. Complicated
  3. Would That Make U Love Me
  4. Lost Without U
  5. Ask Myself
  6. All Night Long
  7. Everything I Can't Have
  8. Teach U A Lesson
  9. I Need Love
  10. Wanna Love U Girl
  11. Can U Believe
  12. Shooter - Lil' Wayne
  13. Cocaine
  14. 2 The Sky
  15. Lonely World
  16. Angels

Amazon.com

R&B with tempo: Justin Timberlake resurrected it, and it's proving way more influential than that other lost commodity--sexy--he claimed to be bringing back in 2006 on FutureSex/LoveSounds. Timberlake is to Robin Thicke what 'N Sync and Backstreet Boys were to a band like O-Town, in fact: he pretty much made it all possible. But even though it took one blue-eyed soulster with a hot look and an achy falsetto to bang down the door for another, Thicke presents a convincing case here that he had the goods to get us grooving all along: Evolution is a classy disc that tiptoes up to its listeners, first with an elegant duet with Faith Evans ("Got 2 Be Down"), next with a slick lament that wouldn't sound out of place on a Boyz II Men disc ("Complicated"), and then with a sweet plea that commands a finger-snap ("Would That Make U Love Me"). By the time we reach the long, sweeping lullaby that is the final track, "Angels," we've also had a taste of Thicke's swaggering side ("I Need Love," "Cocaine"), his hip-hop loving side ("All Night Long" and "Shooter," both with Lil Wayne), and the side that fantasizes about 1950s Latin ballrooms ("Everything I Can't Have," a hot tamale of a number that commands a visual if ever there was one: it's impossible to hear this song without imagining a raven-haired woman with a red rose between her teeth). Despite the range of moods on display, they're all in service to Thicke's inner R&B smoothie, and they all brush up against the ear with something like affection. Hard as it will be for listeners of a certain age to get past knowing that Thicke is the son of Alan Thicke, the actor who did his part to cheese up 1980s TV with the sitcom Growing Pains, they're going to have to: with his fan base swelling by the second, the evolution of Robin Thicke is going to be a deservedly loud one. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

NOTE: This deluxe edition features a ringtone of "Lost Without U," an autographed poster, and cell-phone wallpaper.

The Evolution of Robin Thicke is the second solo album from the critically acclaimed, Grammy award winning songwriter and producer of records for such artists as Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera. The album is a timeless work of art. With a voice of purity, passion and soulfulness, Robin brings to life the stories and emotions of the last two years of his life.

The album is filled with incandescent magic. It is an album that tells the tales of love, loss, temptation, redemption and finding hope when all the odds are against you. "My greatest desire with this album was to write songs that were completely honest and sing them with the emotion I was feeling when I wrote them, so that whoever listens to my music is brought as close to my experiences and life as possible."

Reflective, redemptive, passionate and etched with a soulfulness that is undeniable, The Evolution of Robin Thicke is an imaginative and heart-felt album that you cannot help but be moved by, bob your head to and smile throughout.

FEATURING GUEST APPEARANCES BY Faith Evans, Pharrell, and Lil' Wayne PRODUCTION BY The Neptunes

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Girlfriend Pleaser.......2007-08-06

It doesn't matter what I think about it, my girlfriend loved it. That's worth the five stars!

5 out of 5 stars Incredible, refreshing, sexy cool!.......2007-08-03

Great lyrics, voice and music! Almost every track is memorable. I Need Love, Can U Believe, Angel, Would That Make U Love Me, Teach U A Lesson, Got 2 Be Down, Lost Without U...Thicke shines in this modern classic!

5 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2007-08-01

Robin Thicke really impressed me with his latest CD. It's wonderfully fresh, hip and soulful. Can't wait until his next one.

5 out of 5 stars Evolution of Robin Thicke.......2007-07-30

Arrived when promised and in excellent condition. Best music I have heard in a long time.

5 out of 5 stars Get caught up in the thicke of things.......2007-07-27

Rarely do you find a cd that has every cut worth listening too, worth singing too, worth repeating over and over again.....it is excellent.
Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Before and After
  • stax of hits
  • Two and a half magic hours
  • Great mucic with great package
  • Stax & back to my youth.
 Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Stax
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000KP62UM
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

  1. GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) - Carla Thomas
  2. LAST NIGHT - The Mar-Keys
  3. YOU DON'T MISS YOUR WATER - William Bell
  4. GREEN ONIONS - Booker T. & The MGs
  5. WALKING THE DOG - Rufus Thomas
  6. I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG (TO STOP NOW) - Otis Redding
  7. CANDY - The Astors
  8. RESPECT - Otis Redding
  9. YOU DON'T KNOW LIKE I KNOW - Sam & Dave
  10. I WANT SOMEONE - The Mad Lads
  11. HOLD ON I'M COMIN' - Sam & Dave
  12. LET ME BE GOOD TO YOU - Carla Thomas
  13. YOUR GOOD THING (IS ABOUT TO END) - Mable John
  14. KNOCK ON WOOD - Eddie Floyd
  15. B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas
  16. TRAMP - Otis & Carla
  17. SOUL FINGER - The Bar-Keys
  18. BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN - Albert King
  19. SOUL MAN - Sam & Dave
  20. (SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY - Otis Redding
  21. I GOT A SURE THING - Ollie & The Nightingales
  22. SOUL LIMBO - Booker T. & The MGs
  23. I'VE NEVER FOUND A GIRL (TO LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO) - Eddie Floyd
  24. WHAT A MAN - Linda Lyndell
  25. PRIVATE NUMBER - William Bell & Judy Clay
  26. WHO'S MAKING LOVE - Johnnie Taylor
  27. I FORGOT TO BE YOUR LOVER - William Bell
  28. I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING (TO ME) - Carla Thomas

Tracks:

  1. TIME IS TIGHT - Booker T. & The MGs
  2. SO I CAN LOVE YOU - The Emotions
  3. WALK ON BY - Isaac Hayes
  4. DO THE FUNKY CHICKEN - Rufus Thomas
  5. JODY'S GOT YOUR GIRL AND GONE - Johnnie Taylor
  6. MR. BIG STUFF - Jean Knight
  7. NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE - Isaac Hayes
  8. WHATCHA SEE IS WHATCHA GET - The Dramatics
  9. RESPECT YOURSELF - The Staple Singers
  10. THEME FROM SHAFT - Isaac Hayes
  11. SON OF SHAFT - The Bar-Kays
  12. THAT'S WHAT LOVE WILL MAKE YOU DO - Little Milton
  13. I'VE BEEN LONELY FOR SO LONG - Frederick Knight
  14. HEARSAY - Soul Children
  15. IN THE RAIN - The Dramatics
  16. I'LL TAKE YOU THERE - The Staple Singers
  17. STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN - Mel & Tim
  18. DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE - The Temprees
  19. IF YOU'RE READY (COME GO WITH ME) - The Staple Singers
  20. CHEAPER TO KEEP HER - Johnnie Taylor
  21. I'LL BE THE OTHER WOMAN - Soul Children
  22. WOMAN TO WOMAN - Shirley Brown

Amazon.com

When Concord Music purchased Fantasy Records in 2006, the bulging Stax catalog came along for the ride. Not a bad deal, especially since Stax remains one of the richest and most vital sources of '60s and '70s soul, blues, and R&B. The newly reactivated label's debut release is a lavishly boxed double-disc set of 50 highlights--as opposed to hits--from the Memphis label's voluminous vaults to celebrate its 50th anniversary. All the usual suspects appear, including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, and the Staple Singers. But the compilers deliver a well-rounded, even eclectic collection by including tracks from such relatively obscure acts as the Astors, Ollie & the Nightingales, the Mad Lads, Linda Lyndell, and Mable John, whose "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" is one of the great lost soul treasures. Propelled in large part by house band Booker T. & the MGs, the majority of these songs have become integral threads in the fabric of American soul. Even at two and a half hours, there's not a dull moment here. That is a testament not just to the Stax musicians, but to a label whose artists defined a classic sound that remains as timeless, relevant, influential, and electrifying as when it was recorded. --Hal Horowitz

Album Description

FIRST TIME EVER! 50 GREATEST STAX HITS IN A SPECIAL 2CD BOXED SET. Set includes chart toppers by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Booker T & the MGs, Isaac Hayes, The Staples Singers, Johnnie Taylor, and more

*Packaged in a UNIQUE HARD COVER BOX with LENTICULAR COVER ART *EVERY MAJOR STAX AND STAX-ATLANTIC HIT from the label's 1960s and 70s heyday. *THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE STAX HITS COLLECTION EVER! *Release coincides with the 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF STAX *DIGITALLY REMASTERED *Features a MULTI-PAGE BOOKLET with notes from "Soulsville USA: The Story of Stax" by noted soul music historian Rob Bowman

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Before and After.......2007-07-21

In 1968 there was a changing of the guard at Stax and the results were dramatic. The whole approach to making music so changed (along with so much else in the world at the time) that you hear two almost seperate catalogues. For me, the earlier period just defined "soul" and that music and those musicians hold a very special place in my world. Stax most likely sold a lot more records in the latter period.

It is still a very worthwhile collection as it makes the transition really clear musically and the booklet in the box does a decent job of lending insight into the inner workings of Stax and the folks involved.

I also found it interesting that the best known songs and artists still stood out from the more obscure ones. The public got it right in this reviewer's opinion. The downside to that is that I didn't find many hidden gems.

5 out of 5 stars stax of hits.......2007-07-07

STAX have a reputation for pure soul as opposed to a certain label who
'motored' off in to a commercial watering-down of black music.Here we have
a generous fifty tracks on two cds of real soul music,not all hits,but all
representative of what STAX could do.A great compilation!

5 out of 5 stars Two and a half magic hours.......2007-06-19

When "The Summer of Love" enters the conversation, most of us mean San Francisco, 1967. Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead. Be-Ins. Flower Power. Sgt. Pepper.

If by "love" we mean white kids from all over the country convening in urban crash pads --- well, that sets the bar pretty low, doesn't it? Given the opportunity, we could have done that. A lot of us would, even now. Just tell us where to show up.

A year before Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed there, it was a lot harder to show the love in Memphis. And yet, in an ancient movie theater in South Memphis, black and white musicians made some of the most inspired music we'll ever hear.

Let Motown own the slicker-than-snail-snot "commercial" franchise of urban black music.

And nine bows to Atlantic, with 18 singles on the Billboard Hot One Hundred Charts in the late Spring of 1967 --- ranging from Aretha Franklin doing the unofficial black national anthem ("Respect") to the white Long Island band, the Young Rascals. The only other competition Stax had in this rarified interracial zone in the late `60s: Sly & the Family Stone.

At Stax, something wonderful flourished, and it's in the grooves for all to hear --- starting with an interracial house band backing up such megawatt soul signers as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Rufus Thomas and Eddie Floyd. Their influences were various: rock, pop, country, blues. Mixed together, they produced music that was at once familiar and not --- music that jarred the ear just enough that you had to listen to it.

But "produced" isn't quite the right word. At Stax, they mostly recorded "live." Even when they didn't, the theater's acoustics made music sound "live." As a result, you heard an excitement --- a vibrancy --- in these records that was available nowhere else in American popular music. Just listen to one of the 50 songs on the Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration when the horns --- horns! --- kick in and you'll remember how exciting music could be.

There was so much talent on the label it was able to survive the December '67 plane crash that killed Otis Redding and two-thirds of his backup band. The reason: Stax had the Staples Singers coming on strong. And Stax had Issac Hayes.

You remember "Shaft" --- "can you dig it?" But Hayes also self-produced "Hot Buttered Soul", a record that featured an unlikely 18-minute version of "By the Time I Got to Phoenix." This was as radically different from `60s pop music as Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On."

This two-CD boxed set has hits galore: "Green Onions", "I've Been Loving You Too Long", "Knock on Wood", "Born Under a Bad Sign" and "Respect Yourself." It also has songs you don't know, oddities that sure sound like hits.

The through-line: men and women singing one love song after another. The music can be raw --- loss makes for even better songs than happiness --- but I don't think I'm making it up when I say the primary ingredient of that music is love. First, of course, love of music, pure and simple. But more, love of the historical moment, love of the knowledge that when we're creating together, there's no reason we can't get along.

This Stax set is testimony to a grand idea, now honored too often only with empty words. It's also great fun, music that holds its own with the best pop this country has ever produced --- music so enjoyable you can forget the moral it contains.

5 out of 5 stars Great mucic with great package.......2007-05-21

This is terrific music. These 50 songs will be among the best you will own in your life. No fillers.

4 out of 5 stars Stax & back to my youth........2007-05-20

I am one of the original English fans from the 60's era & the music really took me back to my teenage years. Very good double cd & very speedy delivery service.
I Am
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A breath of fresh air for a failing music industry.
  • A Warm Welcome to Ms. Chrisette Michele!
  • THIS IS IT!
  • What a breath of fresh air!
  • One Of the Best Albums of 2007
 I Am
Chrisette Michele
Manufacturer: Def Jam
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000Q364KG
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Tracks:

  1. Like A Dream
  2. Work It Out
  3. Best Of Me
  4. Your Joy
  5. Good Girl
  6. Be Ok feat. will.i.am
  7. If I Have My Way
  8. Mr. Radio
  9. Golden
  10. Let's Rock
  11. Love Is You
  12. In This For You
  13. Is This The Way Love Feels

Amazon.com

If you didn't get to know Chrisette Michele by way of Jay-Z (she was the one singing sparkling hooks on "Lost Ones") or Nas (she channeled Billie Holiday on "Can't Forget About You"), stop wasting valuable seconds. Though the hype on this pure-voiced, raunch-resistant songstress has her resuscitating a classic jazz sound that rarely infiltrates R&B--comparisons to Lady Day, Nina Simone, and Ella Fitzgerald are mounting--she's more her generation's answer to Erykah Badu: any notes she wraps her lips around come out fresh-sounding, and she adds to the effect with a built-in elegance that's irresistible to R&B and non-R&B fans alike. Hip-hoppers get a custom dose of Michele's magic on "Be O.K.," featuring the flabbergastingly prolific yet still likable Will.i.am, jazz sentimentalists will instantly succumb to "Like a Dream," and anybody with ears on his or her head will warm to the slinky slow jam that is "If I Have My Way." Michele's is a rare talent; count on this outstanding debut propelling her to stratospheric heights. --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

I Am, her soulful debut album, is an artistic exploration that fuses 24-year old Chrisette Michele's diverse musical interests into a wonderland. "I realize that I'm new to the music world, but I've been preparing for this moment for long time," says the Long Island native. Even before signing a recording contract, Michele had performed on concert bills with more established artists like Kem, India.Arie, Angie Stone, and Lionel Richie. "India saw me singing at the Village Underground in New York City. She came backstage that first night and graciously offered me a gig as her opening act," says Michele. Working hard in the studio writing songs and recording demos, Michele finished an album's worth of material before even trying to get signed. "I've been creating songs since I was 12, so I knew I needed the right musical blend in order to stand out from the many other performers trying to get a deal." Though already a fan of gospel and classical, it wasn't until Michele was 17 that she also developed a passion for jazz. "When I was still in high school a teacher introduced me to jazz singer Astrud Gilberto, and afterwards my life was all about jazz," she remembers. With the release of I Am, Chrisette Michele will soon be sharing those musical dreams with the rest of the world.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A breath of fresh air for a failing music industry........2007-08-04

This girl is truly a musical virtuoso, she encompasses all genres of music in her first release and that is really rare in the music industry these days.

4 out of 5 stars A Warm Welcome to Ms. Chrisette Michele!.......2007-08-03

Just got it last night -- great debut! Yes, her sound & style is much like Jill Scott & Erykah Badu, yet I think a more accurate description is a female version of John Legend. Again, a great debut!

PS: I look forward to more jazz genre selections in the future!

5 out of 5 stars THIS IS IT!.......2007-08-02

THIS IS WHAT REAL SOUL MUSIC IS! Don't get me wrong, I like the Beyonces of the world, but I AM is what it is, a true testament to what soul music is! She is on par with Ms. Jill, Ms. Erykah, and Ms. Angie!

I truly value her passion and love for soul music. IF you have ANY taste in music this is the cd to get!

My FAVS: Is this the way love feels
Let's Rock
Good Girl
If I have my way
Best of Me

Shoot, all of them are my favs, forget that!

5 out of 5 stars What a breath of fresh air!.......2007-08-02

This is quite simply the best album I've purchased all year. Just to give you some kind of idea of what you get in this album, just add quarter cup of Jill Scott, Eryka Badu, India Arie, and Billie Holliday, and that should pretty much sum it up. This is truely a rare gem. I love myself some Jill Scott, but Chrisette Michele comes in a close second.

5 out of 5 stars One Of the Best Albums of 2007.......2007-07-31

This is what happens when you put Classic R&B, Urban, and Smooth Jazz together in one set. Chrisette has a vocal maturity, that you don't find in artist twice her age. Her voice is controlled, never overburdened, and always pleasant. My favorite songs on the album are, If I have My Way, Best Of Me, Your Joy, Good Girl, Golden, Love Is You, Is This The Way Love Feels, and the last song which is not listed on the cover, I Am One....Add this album to your collection today.......
Once Again
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Once Again - John Legend
  • Once Again - John Legend
  • Legend does it - "Once Again"
  • this is a big downstep
  • "Old School" Yeah Right
 Once Again
John Legend
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000HCPWZO
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Tracks:

  1. Save Room
  2. Heaven
  3. Stereo
  4. Show Me
  5. Each Day Gets Better
  6. P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)
  7. Slow Dance
  8. Again
  9. Maxine
  10. Where Did My Baby Go
  11. Maxine's Interlude
  12. Another Again
  13. Coming Home

Amazon.com

It takes guts, if not outright egomania, to abandon your given surname and adopt a loaded one like Legend, but the former John Stephens must have sensed that loftiness would one day be his calling card: Once Again, the follow-up to the Grammy-gobbling, platinum pile-on that was Get Lifted, surpasses expectations. Not that it bears much relation to its predecessor. Again again trots out a stable of talented, modern-minded producers--Raphael Saadiq, Legend comrade Kanye West, and the unsinkable will.i.am--but it's nowhere near as self-conscious about embracing the old-school as the knowing, R&B edge-skimming Lifted. Don't expect a derivative mash of smudgy, nostalgia-filching sounds, though, because despite its retro leanings, what's in store somehow crackles with currency. Call it neo-retro if you must, but never call it unimaginative: first single "Save Room" coasts, drifts, and floats along a ponderous path spiked by a cool keyboard-y crescendo; second single "Heaven" busts out a big, busy beat over a slow seduction; and a couple of selections--"Each Day Gets Better" and "PDA"--are so bright and twirly they seem custom-made for dizzy love scenes or jaunty, sunny-day skips through the park. Maybe the most unusual track is "Show Me," a rock song that pilfers elements of Hendrix and finds Legend climbing a few octaves to sound, weirdly, like Jeff Buckley, but it works: so slippery is its beat and so affecting are its hope-laced lyrics that, oddness aside, it's among the disc's best. Sandwiched as it is among 14 songs that all sound like future classics, that's saying something. --Tammy La Gorce

More Legendary Music


Get Lifted


Get Lifted/Live at the House of Blues (CD/DVD)


Live at the House of Blues (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Once Again - John Legend.......2007-07-16

This is one of the sexiest albums I have heard in awhile. It is pure romance and very old school. I love the way he phrases his lyrics and the "old" vibe he has. This is a great album. I love the whole thing. Even the non-romantic ballads pull you in. He is definitely one of the hottest male singers today.

4 out of 5 stars Once Again - John Legend.......2007-07-08

The title song is teriffic and one you will want to hear over & over & over again.

5 out of 5 stars Legend does it - "Once Again".......2007-07-07

Calll it what you will - jazz, crossover, blues fusion - the cuts work and work well. His "Save Room" in particular adds a quiet energy to his body of work and the rest of the album is just as strong. There is depth here, there is thought here, there is music here.

1 out of 5 stars this is a big downstep.......2007-06-24

john legend dissappointed me....this is a not a good album compared to the first one.....maybe 2 tracks are worth buying it...

1 out of 5 stars "Old School" Yeah Right.......2007-06-22

John legend first cd "Get lifted" was a joy to listen to. His second cd "Once again" is "Once is enough already"!. He sounds straned and annoying. The lyrics are not well written, more like very immature. He tries way to hard and you can hear it in his voice. These R&B acts are losing a lot of fans by making stupid music like this and expect us to "Like this crap". All they care about is getting paid. If you want to hear real R&B with raw lyrics listen to Amy winehouse or Corinne Bailey Rae. The difference between R&B Brits and american fake R&B, they sing with emotion, write meaningful lyrics and have great Vocals. American R&B is only in it for our cash and make awful music with no substance. As long as we keep buying music like this. They will continue to make trashy music like this.
Breakfast in Bed
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Brerakfast in Bed
  • You can't go wrong.
  • News from VT
  • Exactly as advertised
  • Joan O. has got it
 Breakfast in Bed
Joan Osborne
Manufacturer: Time Life Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Pretty Little Stranger
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ASIN: B000O78KZG
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

  1. I've Got To Use My Imagination
  2. Ain't No Sunshine
  3. Midnight Train To Georgia
  4. Baby Is A Butterfly
  5. Breakfast In Bed
  6. Cream Dream
  7. Natural High
  8. Heart Of Stone
  9. Sara Smile
  10. Eliminate The Night
  11. Break Up To Make Up
  12. I Know What's Goin' On
  13. Alone With You
  14. Kiss And Say Goodbye
  15. Heat Wave
  16. What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted

Amazon.com

On Breakfast in Bed, her first release on Time Life Records (yes, that Time Life) Joan Osborne tackles a crop of hand-picked soul and R&B favorites with equal parts sass and sensitivity. Long an underappreciated artist, Osborne is a performer with the wisdom to exercise vocal restraint for an effect that's more Dusty Springfield than Christina Aguilera. Her fine previous outing interpreting soul standards was aptly titled How Sweet It Is, and witness her contribution to the terrific 2002 film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, where Osborne's astute readings of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Heatwave" outshone performers like Ben Harper and Gerald Levert (happily, both songs are included here). The title track and Hall and Oates' "Sara Smile" are both canny choices that play to her strengths in delivering credible blue-eyed soul, and six new Osborne-penned songs fit neatly into the record. If her compositions pale a bit next to the classics she covers (with the sultry and slithery exception of the excellent "Eliminate the Night"), give Osborne credit for bravely placing herself side-by-side with songwriting luminaries like Holland-Dozier-Holland and Bill Withers. Breakfast in Bed makes for a leisurely listen on a sunny Sunday morning, so put up your feet and stay awhile. --Ben Heege

Album Description

Joan Osbourne's recently recorded album pays homage to the great Soul and R&B songs of the late '60s and early '70s. The album features a unique combination of unforgettable interpretations of timeless R&B classics. Her first single to radio will be "I've Got to Use My Imagination."

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Brerakfast in Bed.......2007-07-27

Okay if you like love songs with kind of an R&B rhythm. (which the entire cd is) I love Joan Osborn's other work, but this is not one of them . . . Excellent artist ~ poor song selection.

4 out of 5 stars You can't go wrong........2007-07-25

This intriguing mix cover songs and originals make this a very enjoyable collection, although the covers are not as varied as say Annie Lennox's Medusa but still engaging all the same. The tracks seem to pull you in more and more with each listen. "Baby is a Butterfly", "Sarah Smile" and "Cream Dream" were all particularly absorbing the first time through. The production is very good and clean. Her voice is as mesmerizing and sensual as always. You can't go wrong.

4 out of 5 stars News from VT.......2007-07-24

Since I first heard Spiderweb on the radio before Relish was widely released I knew I was going to like this woman's work. Over the years I've collected pretty much all Joan's recordings including trades of several soundboard live recordings. With Breakfast in Bed Joan delivers again. She's always doing a change up from release to release.
Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers is the only cover ever I've heard that even rates. My sister and I wore Bill's 45 out 2 or 3 times when we were kids. The originals powerful bass line is absent here but Joan's production showcasing drums and of course, her voice makes my memory of Bill's version fade. Joan redefines it without overshadowing it. This is true for many of the covers. The title track I could do without though. Breakfast in Bed was a walk through. A strong cup of coffee....and. Eliminate The Night would work for me as a title tune and an opener. I've Got to Use My Imagination, Midnight Train to Georgia and Sara Smile are renewed and fresh. Heat Wave and What Becomes of the Brokenhearted are repeated from Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Take note of this CD with other Motown covers by Ben Harper, Chaka Khan and Bootsy Collins among others.
Originals Baby Is a Butterfly, Eliminate the Night & I Know What's Goin' On are ones I've heard live before and they have matured.
I'd like to hear a raw & nasty version of Eliminate the Night live. She's playing Concord New Hampshire's Capitol Center for the Arts this November. It's a small venue that's perfect for Joan to showcase her work. Think about getting her Early Recordings CD before you go. If you haven't seen her headline a show in the past and live in New England then take the trek, you won't be disappointed.
I hope she hasn't let Andrew Carrillo get away. Her guitar player on much of her past work has appeared in recent live shows but he's missing here. He joined his brother Frank Carillo & The Bandoleros on their 2005 release Bad Out There. Well worth a listen.
Breakfast in Bed doesn't suffer any though I wonder what's up. He gets my vote for the title "Master of the Telecaster", given to greats Roy Buchanan, Keith Richards, Albert "The Iceman" Collins, Danny Gatton and few others. The "Tele" was the first solid body electric guitar mass produced and while it's design has been copied and modified over the years the standard set-up used by Andrew defined much of Joan's earlier work.
When I hear Joan's new CDs one or two tunes demand notice. Further listens and the whole work becomes seamless.
Joan takes her time between releases. There could be two CDs here. A few more originals could be made into to one CD and the covers working separately as another disc. I don't know if it's production advice, recording contracts or a lack of confidence by Joan on about her own writing but a real Joan Osborne collection hasn't been released since Righteous Love. Relish and Righteous Love mixed in covers but little enough that Joan's own songs made a greater statement. I'm going to make compilations of all her work when I figure out how to use my Ipod.
I have to admit a big bias here. I see Joan Osborne music or concert listings and shell out cash. It's a shame that when I mention Joan I am met with blank looks. Who? Mention What If God Was One Of Us people take note. Really the least important of her work it now sounds like weak pop to me. It may sound as familiar as Stairway to Heaven to many who don't even recognize her name. That song seems to pop up everywhere. If you love this CD and haven't heard others check out her collection. Start with Early Recordings, Relish Righteous Love, or How Sweet It Is.
I do look forward to seeing some more raw, throaty and hard driving music by Joan. But, in 1975 I was listening equally to Carly Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd. My friends thought I was nuts!
Don't miss Breakfast in Bed but, take care of it or buy two you might wear this CD out and end up asking yourself what happened to Bill Withers?

3 out of 5 stars Exactly as advertised.......2007-07-22

As one reviewer noted, this release is somewhat monotone. Still, it's a relaxing and quality release from Joan that my wife really likes. Getting "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" is a bonus.

A couple of the originals are really excellent, stay in your head tunes. I'd say if your having Breakfast in Bed, it works. But it's not an all occasions, "hey check this out" kind of release.

5 out of 5 stars Joan O. has got it.......2007-07-19

I'm becoming a bigger fan of Joan every day. I loved her last album, Pretty Little Stranger, even though it was a bit country for her, and I'm not a country music fan. I'm interested in checking out this collection of her covering pop hits. She does covers well, and her voice is so obviously hers, that even though it might be a song you have heard enough times already in your life, hearing the "Joan" version is always a treat. I'm sorry this is not a review of this album in particular, I do plan to get it soon. I'll let you know then! I'm giving 5 stars based on the Amazon video and audio samples. What I can say is that her previous albums are all great, and her live shows are awesome, especially if you can be lucky enough to see her in a smaller venue.

The first time I saw her was pretty much by accident. I wound up crossing through the front of a very large crowd between acts at a Woodstock reunion in Bethel, NY (not Pepsistock in Saugeraties), in the late 90's. Then Joan and her band came on and I'm front and center and she blew me away with St. Teressa or something like that. I've been a fan ever since.
Because Of You
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Quite Impressive!
  • Love This CD
  • "say it"
  • Great Sophomore Album!
  • Best
 Because Of You
Ne-Yo
Manufacturer: Def Jam
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NVL4EW
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Tracks:

  1. Because Of You
  2. Crazy (feat. JAY-Z)
  3. Can We Chill
  4. Do You
  5. Addicted
  6. Leaving Tonight (feat. Jennifer Hudson)
  7. Ain't Thinking About You
  8. Sex With My Ex
  9. Angel
  10. Make It Work
  11. Say It
  12. Go On Girl

Amazon.com

Kelly Clarkson, kindly step aside: the title "Because of You" now belongs to Ne-Yo, who has done things with it no one with a pair of hands to clap will soon forget. And not just on the phenomenally appealing first single. Throughout Because of You, the sophomore disc by the songwriter responsible for such monster hits as Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" and Rihanna's "Unfaithful," a flutter-voiced fluidity--the kind seldom heard since Michael Jackson's Off the Wall days--reigns. Jay-Z makes room to let it rip on "Crazy," and Jennifer Hudson wraps herself around it with restraint on "Leaving Tonight," a lovers' quarrel that could hold its own against anything Marilyn McCoo & Billy David Jr. cared to toss off in their heyday. If it's MJ who's lingered in Ne-Yo's ear longest, Prince hasn't gone silent, either: echoes poke up on the far-out "Sex with My Ex." Elsewhere, shades of contemporaries such as Nelly and Diddy show through. Overall, though, Ne-Yo's flammable hooks, flirty vibe, and flawless vocals reveal an R&B genius in the making. If the talent bar for up-and-comers is set impossibly high in the coming years, chances are it will be all because of him. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Quite Impressive!.......2007-07-12

I'm just saying you should check out what other reviews have been written from a reviewer before you let it pursued you for or against a release because it may influence how much credit you give their review.
This sophomore release by Neo shows maturity, growth and solidifies his presence in the R & B genre. Because of You, Crazy minus J-Z intro., Do You, Leaving Tonight, Aint Thinking About You, Make it Work, Tell Me, are most noteable. Which is quite a number of tracks, practically the whole CD. Each track flows into the next, you can really just press play and relax, let the music work it's magic.
BET Awards Show said it "Best R&B Male" enough said.

4 out of 5 stars Love This CD.......2007-07-12

Simply put, this is a great CD! My favorite songs are:
2. Crazy f/ Jay-Z
4. Do You
6. Leaving Tonight
11. Say It

I recommend this CD to listeners who prefer a CD that isn't filled with featured rappers!

5 out of 5 stars "say it".......2007-07-10

if "say it" were the ONLY song on the album, i still would've gotten my money's worth. i also love "do you", "because of you", and "can we chill". all in all i like about the same amount of songs on this album as i did on the other one.

5 out of 5 stars Great Sophomore Album!.......2007-07-07

I am always wary of sophomore efforts from singers, but I really loved Ne-Yo's first CD, and I love the fact that he's a songwriter -- his songs usually make sense -- so I went ahead and picked it up even though I had only heard snippets of "Because of You" (the title track) and no other song. I'm glad I did. I really love this CD from start to finish -- the tracks are smooth and you can definitely see the influence from different artists on the CD. It's a "chill on a Saturday afternoon" CD (and that's exactly what I am doing right now), and I like it better than his first CD.

My favorite songs on the album: "Crazy" (featuring Jay-Z, it's well written and a really smooth entry on the CD); "Can We Chill" (smooth dance track about being in a club, which I usually hate, but this one is pretty well written as well and I love the beat and melody), "Addicted" (the premise is funny, and if you can laugh good-naturedly at Ne-Yo's grandstanding in the CD -- it's a great song), "Leaving Tonight" (I love Jennifer Hudson, she sounds like a goddess on this CD, American Idol shouldn't have cut her and I hope she comes out with a CD ASAP!) and "Sex With My Ex" (Prince fans should flock to this one, it sounds like something The Artist would've sung.)

5 out of 5 stars Best.......2007-07-06

Neyo has come with his sophomore album STRONG. This is a play right through CD. All of the songs are HOT!
Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Album
  • All Time Favorite Album Right Now!
  • OUTSTANDING !!!!
  • Inspiring
  • Great CD
 Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship
India.Arie
Manufacturer: Motown
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NA2866
Release Date: 2007-02-08

Tracks:

  1. Intro: Loving
  2. These Eyes
  3. Heart of the Matter
  4. Good Mourning
  5. Private Party
  6. There's Hope
  7. Living (Interlude)
  8. India' Song
  9. Wings of Forgiveness
  10. Summer - India.Arie, , , Victor Wooten
  11. I Am Not My Hair
  12. Great Grandmother
  13. Better People
  14. Outro: Learning
  15. I Choose

Amazon.com

Log onto an India.Arie lyrics page and you won't come away expecting an easy-breezy listen--here's an artist, remember, who made a name for herself by declaring her disdain for silicone and Cristal on her 2001 debut. What's consistently a revelation for new recruits to the Arie camp, then, is how good the music makes you feel. No matter how heavy the subject matter (and it still gets heavy--God surfaces in the first verse of "Intro," the prayerful opening song), she delivers it in such a way that it ends up feeling like homespun wisdom--accessible, cloudless, and heartening. Testimony, no minor R&B/soul achievement, is full of such earth-mother moments: "The Heart of the Matter," a cover of the Don Henley song, is what a hug might sound like if it were music; "There's Hope" reminds tunefully that you don't have to pay to smile ("You better thank God for that"); "Private Party" points up the benefits of getting naked before a mirror and liking what you see (impossible as that sounds, it'll seem less so after listening); and "I Am Not My Hair," a sexy thumper featuring Akon, celebrates not the hair, not the skin, but "the soul that lives within." Musically, "Testament" is a testament to the benefits of branching out; in addition to gospel and hip-hop, you'll also find country and pure pop forays here. All of it works, and works wondrously. Arie may be the Oprah of the music world: she's spiritual, she's got her head screwed on straight, and whatever she touches turns to gold. Or at least it ought to. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great Album.......2007-07-20

I can't lie, I am more of a hip-hop head than a R&B guy, but I can't front this is a great album. I heard a song from this album playing in someone else's car one day when I was coming from work and had to get it just to see how it was and I love it. This is great chill music. India.Arie is a great artist and deserves alot more acclaim than she already gets from the poetry, jazz club, type of crowd that she normally receives it from. Great overall album.

5 out of 5 stars All Time Favorite Album Right Now!.......2007-07-17

India's lyrics really speak from her soul without any sugar coating or whining. On top of that she is rhythmically and melodically talented. She keeps it real and I love her for that. Very inspirational! I recommend this album to anyone who loves r & b and has been craving some r & b with inspirational, moving lyrics that you can identify with.

5 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING !!!!.......2007-07-16

I saw this product on Oprah and I took a chance and purchased it. I was not disappointed. Has a great sound and wonderful message for all.

5 out of 5 stars Inspiring.......2007-07-13

This is an awesome CD. Every song is inspirational and uplifting. Whenever I need a lift in spirits, I put it on and it puts me in a good mood.

5 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2007-07-03

Love this CD. It is fun,happy,energizing. Her voice is beautiful. I'm tired of all the new artists sounding alike so it's great to hear some diversity in style and sound. Buy this CD.
Stevie Wonder - The Definitive Collection
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • no idea what this is
  • Essential Stevie
  • How high can we rate an artist?
  • Excellent Purchase
  • Great
 Stevie Wonder - The Definitive Collection
Stevie Wonder
Manufacturer: Motown
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006JSS8
Release Date: 2002-10-29

Tracks:

  1. Fingertips (Part 2)
  2. Uptight
  3. Hey Love
  4. I Was Made To Love Her
  5. For Once In My Life
  6. My Cherie Amour
  7. Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
  8. Superstition
  9. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
  10. Higher Ground
  11. Living For The City
  12. You Haven't Done Nothing
  13. Boogie On Reggae Woman
  14. I Wish
  15. Sir Duke
  16. Masterblaster (Jammin')
  17. That Girl
  18. Do I Do
  19. I Just Called To Say I Love You
  20. Part-Time Lover
  21. Overjoyed

Amazon.com

Like the Beatles' The Beatles 1, this rundown of Stevie Wonder chestnuts is merciless in cutting a huge list of classic tracks down to a single disc's worth of the most recognizable. Anyone who's treasured even one or two of these songs and yet never bought a Wonder record will be more than pleased with the acquisition of The Definitive Collection. These records continue to ring with importance and history, but more important, all except two or three remain fresh and capable of surprising even veteran fans. Those listeners may note, though, that Wonder is among the few performers who could release a retrospective containing 15 No. 1 R&B hits and still invite the complaint that the album felt incomplete--not least in explaining how the man transformed himself from a multitalented teenage hitmaker into the funk-pop visionary of Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of Life. --Rickey Wright

Album Details

Compact Selection of Great Early Hits from the Former Boy Wonder of the Keyboard and Resident Genius of Berry Gordy's Motown Records.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars no idea what this is.......2007-07-16

some of the songs I had not heard. But my favorite song was on this cd so I purchased it.

5 out of 5 stars Essential Stevie.......2007-07-09

This is the essential collection of Stevie Wonder. This CD provides a great cross section of the many talents of Stevie Wonder from his early days to his experiments with funk and jazz. Nearly every song sounds different in style and form because of the breadth and depth of SW's career. Great addition to the CD collection of you're a Stevie fan and you want a single representation of his fantastic career.

5 out of 5 stars How high can we rate an artist?.......2007-07-01

You know, with Mr. Wonder we reach for superlatives and we slap them down on paper and looking back on it we realize that the meaning of our impression is deeper yet. Listening to this retrospective of his best hits I was dazzled at how many there were, how many I remembered, how many years ago it all started and how the purity just carries on. While there is a substantial pool of anger, resentment and rage amongst African Americans and many choose to vent their spleen in their music, Stevie Wonder chose a different path. Perhaps it is just a reflection of the love in his being, but his music always keeps pointed to a positive message, even when he is lamenting the scourge of ghetto life.

This master musician, singer, songwriter and story teller has no peer who eclipses his place. He has given us funk so hot you just have to get up and gyrate on the floor lest you fall off your chair. He has given us love songs so tender that dozens of other singers have sung them to great acclaim for their own careers. It is not an exaggeration to say that with this genius, his reach has never extended beyond his abilities. They go hand in hand, his ability to manifest his deepest creativity is unimpeded. A person cannot be without this compilation and say that they have surrounded themselves with the best of American Afro funk, jazz and pop. It only remains for us to wait for more music to fill up the already substantial opus that he has created. A greater joy in music is hard to come by. Essential.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent Purchase.......2007-06-27

This CD is good sample of the great Stevie Wonder. The CD worth the amount paid and remind me some nice songs. If you like Steve Wonder buy it!

5 out of 5 stars Great.......2007-06-12

I loved the whole cd ,and think it is worth every penny. I run a dj service and get all kinds of comments on my music. At the last wedding I was told that they had not heard some of the songs in a long time and they loved it. Big D
The Very Best of Otis Redding
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • the very best of otis redding vol 1
  • One of the greats of soul
  • CAN'T BE BEAT!!
  • If you like Otis, you'll love this!
  • Otis at his best
 The Very Best of Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000032XY
Release Date: 1992-11-10

Tracks:

  1. These Arms Of Mine
  2. Pain In My Heart
  3. That's How Strong My Love Is
  4. Mr. Pitiful
  5. I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
  6. Respect
  7. I Can't Turn You Loose
  8. Satisfaction
  9. My Lover's Prayer
  10. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)
  11. Try A Little Tenderness
  12. Shake
  13. The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)
  14. Tramp
  15. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
  16. I've Got Dreams To Remember

Amazon.com

No other Otis compilation quite satisfies the way the old double-LP best-of does, but never mind: any way you hear Redding's many great moments is a good one. The Very Best splits ballads and up-tempo stuff half-and-half, letting you hear the great one's humanity in every mood--the pile-driving rock of "Respect," the preaching fervor of "Try a Little Tenderness," the nascent reflection of "Dock of the Bay." A record collection with no Otis is a poor thing: here's yours. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars the very best of otis redding vol 1.......2007-05-12

The material brought me back to the late sixties 1968, with memories of his death, December of that year and the coming out of the Beatles White album that same month. It has been a long time since a performer was of his ilk.

5 out of 5 stars One of the greats of soul .......2007-03-21

Otis Redding was one of the greats of soul. He was taken early at the age of twenty- six in a plane crash just three days after recording the song which would be his first number one on the charts, 'Sittin on the Dock of the Bay' That tremendous song is here. It has so much both in its lyric quality and the gripping power of its music. These are its lyrics" I heard it first many years ago and it has been playing in my mind ever since.

Sittin' in the morning sun
I'll be sittin' when the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I watch 'em roll away again, yeah
I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco bay
'Cos I've had nothing to live for
And look like nothing's gonna come my way
So I'm just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time
[...]

Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, listen

Sittin' here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, listen
2000 miles I've roamed
Just to make this dock my home
Now I'm just gonna sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh wee, I'm sittin' on the dock of the bay wastin' time

There are also other outstanding works here. Redding reportedly did not want to do 'Try a Little Tenderness' but his version is an original and strong one.
The grainy coarseness of his voice was nonetheless lyrical, catching and upbeat in its way.
This is 'Soul Music ' at its best.

5 out of 5 stars CAN'T BE BEAT!!.......2007-01-10

Otis Redding is another of the "great voices" of the past!! His music is unforgettable!! And it's "superb"!! You can't go wrong with this CD...I'll bring you alot of joy & relaxation!! Try it...you'll like it - Guaranteed!!

5 out of 5 stars If you like Otis, you'll love this!.......2007-01-10

So many times I see movies and love the music; only to find out it is Otis Redding. This cd has his best, and you will recognize virtually every song. I love it.

5 out of 5 stars Otis at his best.......2006-11-05

I have always liked Otis Redding. When I listened to the sample tracks on Amazon, I knew that I had to have this CD. It is timeless and I can listen to it and Al Green, over and over. Buy it.

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