Hi Records: R&B Sessions & Soul Years [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Two disc set featuring Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Ann Peebles, O.V. Wright and others, plus the entire 'Rivertown Blues' album (which is a compilation of blues R&B artists. 57 tracks in all. Double slimline jewel case. 1999 release. The full title is 'Hi Records - River Town Blues + The R'n'B Sessions + The Soul Years'.

Hi Records: R&B Sessions & Soul Years,Various,Hi Records UK,Pop,R&B,Rock/Pop Collections,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues

Tracks:

Dance (Disco Heat) [Remix]
Body Strong
Sell My Soul
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
Can't Stop Dancing
Lovin' Is Really My Game
Do Ya Wanna Funk [Remix]
Don't Stop
Band of Gold
Stars

Tracks:

One Night Only
You Are My Friend
Ooo Baby Baby
Be With You
Take Me to Heaven
Trouble in Paradise
I (Who Have Nothing)
Menergy [Remix]
Rock the Box [Remix]
Do Ya Wanna Funk

Customer Reviews:

So Far The Best Collection, Besides The 12 x 12 Collection.......2007-01-14

For those wanting to buy his complete works, I offer the following information:

1. 1972- "Lights Out San Francisco" - 2 LP set. A compilation of then
current San Francisco up and coming artists. Sylvester sings 2 songs
on this set: 1. "Hey, That's no Way To Say Goodbye" (Leonard Cohen
song) with Neal Schon of the group Journey, on guitar.
And 2. Why Was I Born? (A Sylvester original)- featuring backup by
a new trio of girls calling themselves The Pointer Sisters ( Anita,
Bonnie and June).

2. 1973- "Scratch My Flower" LP. Can Be found on auction websites.
No release on cd yet.

3. 1973- "Bazaar" LP. Can also be found on auction websites.
No release on cd yet.

4. 1977- "Sylvester" and 1978- "Step II" available on a 2-on-1 cd
put out by Ace Record/Southbound Record Label. From the
STEP II album came 2 big hits- "DANCE (DISCO HEAT)" and
"YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL)". Over the years there have
been at least 12 or 13 remixes of Sylvester's version of
"YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL)", as well as at least 5 other
artists covering this song (1989-Jimmy Somerville, 1994-Sandra
Bernhard, 1994-Dream Frequency, 1997-Byron Stingily, and
2000- Djola Branner). Also from the STEP II album is the song
"WAS IT SOMETHING THAT I SAID?" which was sampled in 1997 by
Yvette Michele in her song "I'M NOT FEELING YOU".

5. 1979- "Living Proof" Live 2-LP set, released on 1 cd by
Fantasy Records. Unfortunately, 3 studio tracks that were
recorded for the 2-LP set (taking up all of side 4), were
left off the cd version due to time restraint. The 3 songs
are: 1.CAN'T STOP DANCING (6:22) 2.IN MY FANTASY (I WANT YOU,
I NEED YOU) (6:30) and 3.CAN'T STOP DANCING (REPRISE) (2:56).
IN MY FANTASY is not available on cd, but 2 versions of
CAN'T STOP DANCING are- the 12" single version which runs 7:43
is available on this 2cd set SYLVESTER'S GREATEST HITS.
The 45 single version, which runs 3:31, is available on the cd
called STAR: THE BEST OF SYLVESTER.

6. 1979- "STARS". Although the actual 4-song album has never been
released on cd, the closest you can get to having the complete
set is by getting a cd called- "STAR: The Best Of Sylvester".
It contains all 4 songs- although they differ from the LP.
This cd is also put out by Ace Records/Southbound Records Label.
In 1979, Sylvester appeared as a drag queen doing Diana Ross, in
Bette Midler's movie THE ROSE. He performs "THE FIRE DOWN BELOW"
with Bette, Michael St. Laurent (as Rose), Claude Sacha (as
Barbra Streisand), and Pearl Heart (as Mae West).

7. 1980- "SELL MY SOUL" & 1981- "TOO HOT TO SLEEP" available as
a 2-0n-1 cd, put out by Ace Records/Southbound Records Label.

8. 1981- Herbie Hancock 12" single "MAGIC NUMBER" features
Sylvester on lead vocals. The song is from Herbie's 1981
album "MAGIC WINDOWS" (which is available on cd as a Russian
import).

9. 1982- "ALL I NEED" & 1983- "CALL ME" available as a 2-on-1 cd
put out by Megatone Records Label.

10. 1983- Sarah Dash 12" single "LUCKY TONIGHT" features Sylvester
on backup vocals. This song is available on the "12X12 MEGATONE
CLASSICS VOLUME 2" cd, released in 1990 (the red cover).

11. 1983- "GREATEST HITS: NON-STOP DANCE PARTY"- Sylvester's
last album for Fantasy Records. Not yet available on cd, this is
basically one big megamix of his hits.

12. 1984- Earlene Bentley 12" single "STARGAZING" features Sylvester
on co-lead vocals. This song is available on the cd "BEST OF
EARLENE BENTLEY - LIVING MY OWN LIFE" put out by Record Shack
Records/HOT Productions Inc., in it's 12" version.

13. 1984- "M-1015". This LP is available on cd by Megatone Records,
as well as a different version put out by Unidisc.

14. 1986- "MUTUAL ATTRACTION"- available on cd from Warner Bros./
Megatone Records. This was his last album and his attempt at
going mainstream, with an unforgettable appearance on the
Joan Rivers Show to promote the album. 4 12" singles came from
this album.

15. 1988- "THE 12 X 12 COLLECTION"- a 2-LP set covering the best of his
Megatone material. Available on 1 disc by Megatone records.

16. Sylvester passes away Dec. 16th, 1988 in San Francisco.

17. 1989- "IMMORTAL" is put out by Megatone Records and covers the last
of his unfinished material. In 1992 Unidisc releases an expanded
version of "IMMORTAL" filled with lots of remixes.

18. 2000- Djola Branner releases a tribute album to Sylvester, called:
"MIGHTY REAL: A TRIBUTE TO SYLVESTER" and covers 11 of his songs,
plus a co-written ballad with David Blackburn, called- "YOU WILL BE
THE ONE".

a Shining Star.......2007-01-05

An anomaly in the world of seventies disco, Sylvester was a true artist, in every sense of the word, in an era and in a genre not known for originality and artistry. And this hits collection is about as close to a really useful retrospective as you will find. It's got more true dancefloor classics - real defining moments - than I can mention. While hardly any of the disco era's songs have held up to the test of time, this again is the exception. Sylvester was and always will be a Star.

Dance.......2006-11-13

From the first cut, Dance, which starts with Sylvester saying to one of the tons of fun girls, Martha Wash, "Gotta match?...Look at all the fabulous people. Do you wanna dance? Let's party a little bit" to the concluding classic cut, "Do You Wanna Funk", this is a great collection that immediately transports you back to a fabulous time and gets you up on your feet to DANCE! I wish the original records were available but I'm grateful that there are collections like this. What a singer. What a treat. (If you're a reader, check out Joshua Gamson's "The Fabulous Sylvester" for a great biographical read of this legendary performer.)

The closest thing to a "definitive" or comprehensive Sylvester compilation .......2006-09-01

This is an actual compilation of recordings by Sylvester. Don't let the bizarre inexplicable non-caricature cartoon image cast doubt onto the origins of the recordings. This image is apparently one-half of the cover from Sylvester's "Mutual Attraction" album. This is not a "tribute" album, or re-recordings of Sylvester James's hits. The album is all Sylvester.

GREATEST HITS consists of 20 songs on two discs. While each disc may only contain 10 songs, consider that only two songs in the compilation are less than 5 minutes long. Most are about 7 minutes, and a couple are over 10 minutes. There are no photos of Sylvester, chart information, or song lyrics included; limited song credits are provided. There is a short essay by Megatone Records president Marty Blecman. The songs included were recorded 1978-1985 on Fantasy Records and Megatone Records; they are not in chronological order.

This compilation includes 8 songs also found on "The Original Hits" [1989], a compilation of songs Sylvester recorded on Fantasy Records (The three songs not included here are "Down Down Down", "Cry Me a River", and "I Need You"; the version of "Body Strong" is twenty seconds shorter on "Greatest Hits"). However, that also means there are 12 songs on "Greatest Hits" not included on "The Original Hits", including a disco version of "I (Who Have Nothing)" and a version of Freda Payne's "Band of Gold" that momentarily transitions into "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch".

There are no songs included from Sylvester's first two albums on Blue Thumb Records ("Scratch My Flower" and "Bazaar", both released in 1973), his Fantasy debut (1977's "Sylvester"), or his final Megatone/Warner Bros. album (1987's "Mutual Attraction").

Notes:
- Martha Wash & Izora Rhodes (later Izora Armstead) - known first as Two Tons O' Fun and later as The Weather Girls - are featured on several tracks. Some others feature Martha Wash and/or Jeanie Tracy.
- The song "I (Who Have Nothing)" uses the female pronoun - "She buys U diamonds".
- The track listing lists "Dance (Disco Heat)" as a remix, I find it to be identical to the album version.
- Several typos in track listing, including the song "Ooo Baby Baby" mislabeled "Ohh Baby Baby".
- The two versions of "Do Ya Wanna Funk" are almost indistinguishable (Both share the same instrumentation and sound effects, they are re-edits of the same mix/version).

Disc one:
01. Dance (Disco Heat) [1978] 5:49 (from "Step II")
02. Body Strong [1979] 8:28 (from "Stars")
03. Sell My Soul [1980] 5:51 (from "Sell My Soul")
04. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) [1978] 6:34 (from "Step II")
05. Can't Stop Dancing [1979] 7:43 (from "Living Proof" original LP only [side 4])
06. Lovin' Is Really My Game [1985] 6:40 (from "M-1015")
07. Do Ya Wanna Funk (Remix [re-edit] by Joseph Watt) [1982] 6:47
08. Don't Stop [1983] 6:51 (from "All I Need")
09. Band of Gold [1983] 7:30 (from "Call Me")
10. Stars [1979] 10:31 (from "Stars")

Disc two:
01. One Night Only (ballad from "Dreamgirls") [1983] 4:05 (from "Call Me")
02. You Are My Friend (live performance recording) [1979] 8:08 (from "Living Proof")
03. Ooo Baby Baby [1981] 3:17 (from "Too Hot to Sleep")
04. Be With You (A "Holland" Remix) [1982] 6:38 (song included on "All I Need")
05. Take Me to Heaven [1984] 6:57 (from "M-1015")
06. Trouble in Paradise [1983] 6:33 (from "Call Me")
07. I (Who Have Nothing) (disco rendition) [1979] 11:13 (from "Stars")
08. Menergy (Deep House Remix by David Diebold & Leo Frappier) [1981] 8:04
09. Rock the Box (Master Mix by Steve Masters) [1984] 7:04 (original version from "M-1015")
10. Do Ya Wanna Funk [1982] 6:20 (included on "All I Need")

Sylvester fans may also want to read the biography "The Fabulous Sylvester" [2005] by Joshua Gamson.

How can this be Sylvester's greatest hits without..........2006-07-19

...including classic Sylvester cuts like I NEED YOU, YOU ARE MY FRIEND, OVER AND OVER, etc? Another label trying to exhume the rotting corpse of the late, great drag belter to create a cash cow - beware!

The Best of Ann Peebles: The Hi Records Years

Average customer rating:

A Bit Disappointed
If You've Ever Heard Christina Aguilera Sing "At Last"
Kim "confused"
Ms. Al Green
OUTSTANDING! ANN PEEBLES IS SOUL POWER!

The Best of Ann Peebles: The Hi Records Years
Ann Peebles
Manufacturer: The Right Stuff
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
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Bettye Swann
The Soul of O.V. Wright
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I Believe to My Soul
Snatching It Back

ASIN: B000002UFO
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

Walk Away
Give Me Some Credit
Part Time Love
I Pity The Fool
I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down
I'll Get Along
Slipped, Tripped, And Fell In Love
I Can't Stand The Rain
(I Feel Like) Breaking Up Somebody's Home
Somebody's On Your Case
(You Keep Me) Hangin' On
A Love Vibration
99 Pounds
Do I Need You
Come To Mama
Dr. Love Power
Beware
Fill This World With Love
Old Man With Young Ideas
If This Is Heaven
Didn't Take Your Man

Amazon.com

Take an inspired producer at the peak of his powers, a great team of session players, and an uncommonly subtle and graceful R&B singer, and what do you have? Top-tier Memphis soul. The feminine counterpart to Al Green on producer Willie Mitchell's Hi label, Peebles had a strong run through the '70s during which she put out a string of R&B hits, many of which have since been revived by famed fans of the singer and the Memphis style. This retrospective gathers 21 peak-period Peebles tracks on one vastly entertaining disc. "I Can't Stand the Rain," "(I Feel Like) Breaking Up Somebody's Home," and "Part Time Love" illustrate the ongoing appeal of this multifaceted vocalist, who stepped away from recording in the '80s, then returned to performing in the '90s, her contemplative vocal approach still intact. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

A Bit Disappointed.......2007-01-29

I am new to Ann Peebles, and I have to say that I am a little disappointed in the quality of this CD. Ann herself is great, and the CD has to potential to be great, but I found that on several of the songs, Ann sounds either like she's in a tunnel or I have cotton in my ears. I think that it's a function of poor quality recording and/or remastering. There are plenty of tunes on here, though, and my solution is to copy it to my computer's Media Library and then delete the individual songs that I think have poor sound quality and just not listen to them. Of course, there's always the possibility that the copy I bought last month is defective, but I don't think that's the case, since many of the songs sound just fine. Perhaps you should spend your money on a different Ann Peebles collection. It's worth spending your money on her, just not this particular CD... although it is pretty inexpensive!

If You've Ever Heard Christina Aguilera Sing "At Last".......2006-06-06

...and wondered if 'understated' was still a word, 'The Best of Ann Peebles: The Hi Records Years' is for you. It's guaranteed to restore equilibrium to your musical universe.

Loved by r&b fans and rock musicians alike (Bob Seger covered "Come To Mama", and Graham Parker did likewise with "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down"), Ann Peebles is a master of simmering restraint. What her sublime delivery is able to convey is a thing of beauty--even without the yelping so many female singers think is 'emoting' in these, the days of Patti Labelle, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera and their 'American Idol' clones.

Her signing with Hi Records was an act of celestial confluence, her unadorned delivery a perfect fit for the Hi Records house band's lean, spare chops. "Part Time Love", "I Can't Stand the Rain", "A Love Vibration" and "Come To Mama" are bare-bones, propulsive funk, the sister to recordings by Al Green and Syl Johnson.

Like the broad, flat flood plains of west Tennessee, there's nothing fancy about this music. But like the deceptively relaxed current of the Mississippi, this music will grab you and won't let go.

Take the plunge.

Kim "confused".......2005-12-24

Where is Ann Peebles now? Is she still married to Don? How many children does she actually have. She had spoken about a son, but did not speak of the daughter who is supposedly in her mid-40's. Who is (really) her "baby's daddy"? Was her father actually a, "Minister?" I have an article/obituary dated 6/1/61 that a young man in his 20's was killed by her (Minister) father on 5/31/61 in the Peebles'home. Would you like a copy? Why did Ann really go to Tennessee and who "really" drove her there? Just wanna to keep it real. Here's a little poem, "Ann, if you read this and DISAGREE please reply for everyone to SEE. Signed, "Confused" (tired of the phoniness).

Ms. Al Green.......2005-02-23

Her vocals may be similar to Esther Phillips, but the groove is totally Al Green. These are some nice mid-tempo songs and ballads recorded from 1969 to 1978. So if expecting Etta James or Millie Jackson type soul-stirring booty-shaking funk or powerhouse vocals, then this will disappoint. With that in mind, this is a nice set with some nice cuts including "I Didn't Take Your Man" [You gave him to me], "Somebody's On Your Case", "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" (NOT the Supremes tune), "If This is Heaven" [send me to hell], and "(I Feel Like) Breaking Up Somebody's Home". Booklet includes an essay, minimal track information, and no discography.

Updated review:
The female Al Green - and much more (1969-1978)

Ann Peebles may be most notable for her composition "I Can't Stand the Rain", which was later covered by Tina Turner in 1984 and, more recently, used by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott for her 1997 hit "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)".

THE BEST OF ANN PEEBLES: THE HI RECORDS YEARS consists of 21 songs from 1969-1978; the tracks are in semi-chronological order. Disc packaged in jewel case. Booklet includes an essay by David Nathan, a multitude of photographs and images, release dates and chart info for singles, and recording personnel.

Notable songs include "I Pity the Fool" (a hit for Bobby "Blue" Bland), "Come to Mama", "(You Keep Me) Hangin' On" (the Joe Simon 1968 hit, not the song by the Supremes), and "I Didn't Take Your Man", with a spoken-word one-sided conversation intro not unlike the monologs/raps of Millie Jackson.

The music is fun, funky, and Soulful. She may not have the vocal power of Etta James or Koko Taylor, but Ann Peebles can sing. And here, she sings some great material.

OUTSTANDING! ANN PEEBLES IS SOUL POWER!.......2004-03-28

So some of you thought that Tina Turner said it all ha? Well you're bloody wrong! Because this 21 track single CD by the
legedary Ann Peebles The Best Of The Hi Records Years /Hi Records-The Right Stuff will convince you and prove to you
that this girl is the real stuff that others have sadly taken from her. Hail you Ann! And bless you that Tina realized you when she
recorded "I' Can't Stand The Rain' (the apple don't fall far from the tree , ha?). This collects her years at Hi Records from '69
to '78 and this CD is packed with full liner notes & pixs on this ladies wonderful output, plus all her great gems! A must for any
R & B lover or music lover at heart!

Average customer rating:

defining an era
Sylvester's Tour De Force Album
Sylvester's Best L.P. of the 80's!
Sylvester - All I need 1982
True 80s disco funk! A must for anyone into CLASSIC retro

Do Ya Wanna Funk
Sylvester
Manufacturer: Unidisc Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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Sylvester - Greatest Hits
The Original Hits
Living Proof
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Lime - Greatest Hits

ASIN: B0000074A6
Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

Do Ya Wanna Funk
All I Need
Be With You
Hard Up
Don't Stop
Tell Me [Remix]
Won't You Let Me Love You
Be With You [Remix]
Don't Stop [Remix]
Do Ya Wanna Funk [Remix]
Do Ya Wanna Funk [Radio Edit]

Album Details

The late entertainer's finest artistic achievement was his 1982 LP 'All I Need', originally on Megatone Records. The original no longer exists on CD, but this resequenced disc combines all the tracks of that LP plus extras for an entirely new package. the track "Do You Wanna Funk" is one of the hallmarks of HI-Nrg and was also the final recording by Patrick Cowley, the pioneering electronic musician. Features Three versions of the title track (Original, remix & radio edit) plus much more.

Customer Reviews:

defining an era.......2007-02-05

if i could take one album that could without a doubt hold the energy and excitment of the disco era it is Sylvesters masterpiece work here.this album not only encapsulates the heart and talent of this late artist but what the era was all about. six stars!!!!!!!This album is iconic.

Sylvester's Tour De Force Album.......2005-08-20

This album was orginally released as All I Need, and the title track is a fun post-Disco romp. Do You Wanna Funk is no doubt the song that most would consider the biggest hit off this release, but this track was released months before this album and was already a hit on it's own.

Don't Stop is the standout track here and it is to me one of his greatest Disco tracks ever. This song takes the best of late 70's Disco and reworked it for the 80's, without loosing anything in the translation.

Hard Up is VERY notable for the video made to support it was the first video by a black male artist to be featured on MTV
(sorry Michael Jackson, and just deal with it). Be With You is another great track and the line about being with someone in heaven proved to be an erie foreshawdoing.

Most of what is currently offered of this awesome talent is various greatest hit packages, so it is great to see this studio album being offered on CD.

See also my review of Living Proof.

Sylvester's Best L.P. of the 80's!.......2001-08-11

This cd which is released on the Canadian label Unidisc was originally released (on L.P.) on the Megatone label in 1982. Electronic synthesizer master Patrick Cowley (who died in the early 80's) was an innovator in this hi-nrg electronic sound (as was Giorgio Moroder in the 70's) and both Sylvester and Cowley make the perfect combination. Sylvester with his gospel high searing vocals and Cowley's melodic synthesizers. This cd includes all the hits (Do you wanna Funk, Don't Stop and Be with You) plus the remix versions, some of which were only available as import 12" records from Europe. The sound quality is nothing less than superb. If you enjoyed hi-nrg music from the 80's such as Miquel Brown, Hazel Dean, The Flirtations, Bobby O, Lime, etc. then you'll love this disc. Highly Recommended!

Sylvester - All I need 1982.......2000-02-27

It was Originally released late 1982 under the name "All I need " by the San Francisco dance label "Megatone" which was owned by legendary (revolutionary) Synth dance producer Patrick Cowley. Songs where written and produced by James Tip Wirrick who also performed everything. The song "Do you Wanna Funk" which is written and produced by Cowley was added to the album becuase it had become a hit. In general, in this album you get an energetic yet elegant synth Hi-Nrg backround ...all very well arranged with moog solos...and over it you get an extremely emotional and heart pouring melody song by sylvester in falsetto ..plus a near gospel chant backing vocals apear featering big voices like Martha Wash/ Daryl Coley/ Jeanie Tracie. I think its Sylvester's best album and one of 80's best albums to be ignored by the mass media.

True 80s disco funk! A must for anyone into CLASSIC retro.......1999-10-13

What a great disc. Funky drag-queen Sylvester "funks" with you on almost a dozen tracks, including the smooth "All I Want" and the classic disco anthem "Do Ya Wanna Funk". Add it to your collection!

Average customer rating:

mixed bag of ratings
...for those who know music...
Soulful disco
Where are you know?
rupaul took notes

The Original Hits
Sylvester
Manufacturer: Fantasy Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Disco | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

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Do Ya Wanna Funk
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Sylvester - Greatest Hits
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Mutual Attraction

ASIN: B000000XDD
Release Date: 1989-07-05

Tracks:

Dance (Disco Heat)
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
Down, Down, Down
Stars
Body Strong
I Need You
Sell My Soul
Cry Me A River
Ooo Baby Baby
Can't Stop Dancing
You Are My Friend

Customer Reviews:

mixed bag of ratings.......2007-01-30

good presentation of earlier work. 2 problems; variable sound quality on a few songs and bad edit on Sell My Soul (that was one of my favorite songs by him).It would have been nice to have the 12" version of that.

...for those who know music..........2006-03-05

...this album does contain most of Sylvester's "popular" dance classics, such as "Mighty Real" and "Disco Heat". But what makes this album indispensible are the "club" classiscs "Down,Down,Down" and "I Need You". I've never seen "Down,Down,Down" on any other compilation, and this is as powerful a track as you will ever hear, and may be my favorite Sylvester song. The only "club" classic that is missing is "Over and Over". I love the popular music, but it isn't hard to find. For the true afficianados, they're searching for the tunes that rocked but are hard to find.

Soulful disco.......2004-10-22

This is the most delectable, elegant disco music, better than most of today's House. Sylvester had a strong and expressive falsetto voice that is carried along on the most infectious dance beats. One could say he was the Smokey Robinson of the disco era. In the late 70s he was as popular as Donna Summer and ruled the dance charts with memorable tracks like the atmospheric Dance (Disco Heat), the rousing You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)and the soulful Stars. This album is not complete, as Sylvester had a couple of other hits too, like the brilliant Do You Wanna Funk and his version of the classic I Who Have Nothing. But this is still a satisfying collection of very melodic, hypnotic music that works well for listening and on the dancefloor.

Where are you know?.......2003-02-01

I saw him in concert at the Galleria Design Center on several occasions...Tea Dances, Halloween, New Year's Eve - I saw him sing with Patti LeBelle at the Moscone Center - I even saw him sing at the Van Ness Muni Station when MUNI opened their new subway/underground. Wouldn't you know, we had to go in and have an all night dance party first - MUNI cars end-to-end on both sides of the station as bar cars, coat cars, lounge cars - and the main platform as the dance floor - with Sylvester overhead, singing his heart out for us!!!

This CD, if you ever see him in person, will bring you back. If you never saw him perform, you'll get a hint of what the energy was like.

rupaul took notes.......2003-01-10

sylvester was tight and it's a shame he passed from aids truly forgotten about I wish they included was it something that I said that was my favorite sylvester tune.

Best of Ace Cannon - The Hi Records Years

Average customer rating:

Growly Sax & The Bump and Grind
I like it....

Best of Ace Cannon - The Hi Records Years
Ace Cannon
Manufacturer: The Right Stuff
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Best of Ace Cannon
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ASIN: B00005AVLK
Release Date: 2001-04-10

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Tuff
Sittin' Tight
Looking Back
Kansas City
Empty Arms
The Prisoner's Song
Cottonfields
Sunday Blues
Searchin'
Blues Stay Away From Me
Heartbreak Hotel
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Funny (How Time Slips Away)
Soul For Sale
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Customer Reviews:

Growly Sax & The Bump and Grind.......2005-12-27

Ace Cannon was -- and still is (see acecannon.com) -- the godfather of the saxophone. His funky, gritty style of honking influenced not only generations of similar saxophone stylists but also arguably the whole seamy side of rock 'n roll -- everyone from Questionmark & The Mysterians to George Thorogood (i.e. the anti-Debby Boone orientation).

This compilation sounds a little too clean & stereo (one wonders if it's all re-recordings like the similar Bill Black Combo comp on Hi) but it's still a good budget-priced introduction to a living legend.

I like it...........2004-11-29

....it's a good straight-ahead tenor sax CD. Well notated and pretty good overview of Ace Cannon's career. I like the way he plays melody. Critics have called this "red-neck jazz". I disagree - I listen to it all the time. Love that Memphis - Hi Records sound!

The Complete O.V. Wright on Hi Records, Vol. 1: In the Studio

Average customer rating:

there's only one o.v. wright
What could be better?

The Complete O.V. Wright on Hi Records, Vol. 1: In the Studio
O.V. Wright
Manufacturer: Hi Records UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Complete O.V. Wright on Hi Records, Vol. 2: On Stage
The Soul of O.V. Wright
The Complete Ann Peebles on Hi Records, Vol. 1
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The Complete Don Bryant on Hi Records

ASIN: B00000JWSI
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

Rhymes
Without You
Into Something (Can't Shake Loose)
I Feel Love Growin'
Precious, Precious
Time We Have
You Gotta Have Love
Trying to Live My Life Without You
Medley: God Blessed Our Love/When a Man Loves a Woman/That's How ...
Bottom Line
I Don't Do Windows
That's the Way I Feel About 'Cha
Your Good Thing (Is About to End)
Let's Straighten It Out
I Don't Know Why
No Easy Way to Say Goodbye
Little More Time
Since You Left These Arms of Mine
Long Road

Tracks:

We're Still Together
I Found Peace
It's Cold Without Your Love
Baby Baby Baby
I'm Gonna Stay
Hurt Is On
Today I Sing the Blues
Mirror of My Soul
Sacrifice
Fool Can't See the Light [*]
I'm Gonna Be a Big Man Someday [*]

Album Description

Subtitled 'In The Studio', this double disc set features three entire LPs and four bonus tracks. The record 'We're Still Together' is on CD for the first time. All of the tunes presented in this collection were produced by Willie Mitchell. The albums included are 'Into Something (Can't Shake Loose)', 'The Bottom Line' & 'We're Still Together'. The extra cuts are 'Rhymes', 'Without You', 'A Fool Can't See The Light' & 'I'm Gonna Be A Big Man Someday'. A combined total of 30 tracks. Double slimline jewel case. 1999 release.

Album Details

Remastered Tracks Recorded Between 1976-79 Includes 'into Something I Can't Shake Loose', 'tryiing to Live My Life Without You' and Bonus Track 'fool Can't See the Light'.

Customer Reviews:

there's only one o.v. wright.......2006-07-16

those people who say that his later music recorded on the Hi label is not as good as his earlier output on the Don Robie BACKBEAT label, are wrong. Just listen to the man's voice and interpretation of his material. Besides, how can any music produced by willie Mitchell be bad? Plus, you have backup by the Hi Rhythm Section (the Hodges Brothers plus the great Howard Grimes on drums, with his trademark emphasis on the second and fourth beat), and The Memphis Horns! If you like soul music, then you will love this CD.

What could be better?.......2000-07-11

For those of us obsessed with "Deep Soul" you'll just have to have this because it's all of O.V. Wright's Hi Records cuts. Sure his voice is a little weaker here, and he's clearly under the influence at times, but some of the stuff he belts out are so hauntingly beautiful you'll just have to have it.

Even better, make sure you pick up the 2nd live disc as a companion. Truly wonderful.

Tracks:

Bourgie Bourgie - Ashford & Simpson
It's Music - Damon Harris
At Midnight - T Connection
Put Your Body In It - Stephanie Mills
Dreaming A Dream - Crown Heights Affair
By The Way You Dance - Bunny Sigler
Right In The Socket - Shalamar
Take Me Home - Cher
Pick Me Up I'll Dance - Melba Moore
Funk Train - Munich Machine
Here We Go Again - People's Choice

Tracks:

Here We Go Again - People's Choice [cont.]
Bad Mouthin - Motown Sounds
Let Yourself Go - Supremes
Angel In My Pocket - Change
Smack Dab In The Middles - Janice McClain
Sun...Sun...Sun - Jakki
Trinidad - John Gibbs and the U.S. Steel Band
My First Mistake - Chilites
Erucu - Jermaine Jackson

Album Description

This the newly repackage Larry Levan Live at the Paradise Garage CD. This new package has the same song listings, enhanced with never scene photographs of Larry Levan's childhood and Paradise Garage special moments.

Customer Reviews:

Not what I expected.......2007-01-10

Not what I expected, but not awful. The bonus 2nd disc is a plus

What Am I Missing?.......2006-09-25

I have great respect for Larry Levan, and I wish he would have lived to see the impact he had on dance music, but my feeling is that this was an off night for him, because his mixing is really bad! I've been a DJ since the 70's, and I know that back then with live drums (instead of computers and drum machines keeping a perfect beat) and the equipment we had, it wasn't easy to mix from one song to another flawlessly. But, I listen to this CD and I feel like I'm listening to one of my old tapes, on one of those nights when I had one cocktail too many. I guess you had to be there?!

LARRY LEVAN AT HIS BEST.......2006-09-05

IWORKED AT THE GARAGE AND WHEN I HEARD THIS CD ,IT SHOWED LARRY AT HIS BEST.I'VE PURCHASED OTHER CDS BY LARRY BUT THIS ONE WAS EXCEPTIONAL.TO REALLY APPRECIATE LARRY'S MUSIC ,YOU NEED TO HEAR HIS CONTINUOUS MUSIC MIXES MADE LIVE AT THE GARAGE.I AM WAITING FOR HIS OTHER LIVE CDS TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE .DON" MISS OUT ON THIS CD.YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED.

Pure class!!.......2006-06-27

This is a great album for Larry Levan fans or just those wanting to hear the mixing skills and music taste of one of the most influential deejays of dance music - from disco to garage to house and beyond.
The mixes may not be as 100% beat perfect as you would get on a CD mixed by one of today's' deejays, but remember that this is a live set with the minor flaws adding to the authenticity and charm. No studio software creation of perfect (and sometimes bland) mixes here. To my mind - and unlike the Studio 54 style - Larry never seemed to pick tracks purely on their "mixability" but rather selected his tracks on musical merit and then did a good job mixing them anyway.

I particularly like his very subtle use of two copies of Stephanie Mills "Put Your Body In It" where Larry starts the record not at it's rather cold intro but at much later vibey break and then continually mixes the same break over and over (if you listen at around 54 seconds and 1 minute 10 seconds and 1 minute 30 seconds into this track you can just pick this).
It's easy to see how he was such an influence on the current house style of sampling and repeating key elements of classic disco tracks. Check out the end of Trinidad by John Gibbs and the U.S. Steel Band where Larry first cuts in My First Mistake by The Chilites. Definitely the inspiration for "Needin U" as released by another Paradise Garage stalwart, David Morales!

This is an astounding set, all the more impressive when you realize it was recorded in 1979 and a piece of history well worth owning.
Buy it now and play it loud!

The Blueprint That All Other DJs Follow.......2006-05-06

Anybody who can't see the relevance of this music and ultimately where ALL DJs got their style then you just don't know music. THIS CD IS THE MASTER DJ AT WORK YOU MUST BUY THIS.
WHEN YOU DO YOU WILL KNOW HOW IT WAS DONE AT THE PARADISE GARAGE. If there is any CD you get PLEASE get this one if you love Organic House Music,Dance Music, or Disco then this CD was made for you. I know that I love it you will too. And to all you DJs who want to compare Larry Levan to "today's standards" if it weren't for Larry Levan paving the way by polishing all the rough ends all you "purists" take for granted YOU wouldn't be out there. So if you truly want to keep Levan's spirit alive as DJs learn and REMEMBER what Larry Levan always KNEW: IT AIN'T ABOUT THE MIX IT WAS ABOUT THE MUSIC. You would do well to remember that when you plug into this CD and hear the Man who put his Soul into the Music and became the Music. Just tune in and feel the Love I sure did. Welcome to Paradise.

The Complete Ann Peebles on Hi Records, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

A flesh and blood woman
Not a single bad track...

The Complete Ann Peebles on Hi Records, Vol. 1
Ann Peebles
Manufacturer: Hi Records UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Complete Ann Peebles on Hi Records, Vol. 2
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Candi Staton

ASIN: B000093ON8
Release Date: 2003-05-26

Tracks:

Give Me Some Credit
Crazy About You Baby
Make Me Yours
My Man
Solid Foundation
Chain of Fools
It's Your Thing
Walk Away
Rescue Me
Won't You Try Me
Steal Away
Respect
I Can't Let You Go [*]
Part Time Love
I'll Get Along
I Still Love You
Generation Gap Between Us

Tracks:

Slipped Tripped and Fell in Love
Trouble, Heartaches and Sadness
What You Laid on Me
How Strong Is a Woman?
Somebody's on Your Case
I Feel Like Breaking Up Sombody's Home
I've Been There Before
I Pity the Fool
99 Lbs
I Take What I Want
Heartaches Heartaches [*]
I Can't Stand the Rain
Do I Need You
Until You Came into My Life
(You Keep Me) Hanging On
Run Run Run
If We Can't Trust Each Other
Love Vibration
You Got to Feed the Fire
I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down
One Way Street

Album Description

Full title - The Complete Ann Peebles on Hi Records Vol. 1 - 1969-1973. This 38 track, budget price two CD set rounds up every released recording the soul vocalist recorded for Hi Records between 1969-1973, including her first three albums, as well as six non-LP single sides, plus two bonus tracks, 'I Can't Let You Go' & ' Heartaches Heartaches'. Slipcase. Demon/Westside. 2003.

Album Details

Double CD Set Including the Soul Diva's First Three Albums plus Six Non Album Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

A flesh and blood woman.......2004-01-27

As I write, the great Al Green is in the midst of a comeback, at least as far as his secular music career is concerning. He's working with his brilliant producer Willie Mitchell, and the sound bears a close connection with his great 70s groove.

Well, if you want to pick up on that groove from the distaff side, you must consider getting into Ann Peebles. To most music listeners, there's a distant memory of a hit song called "Can't Stand the Rain," which had one of the most unique arrangements of its time, and was covered by many other singers, including Lowell George on his one solo album. That song is on the disk, along with the entireity of three albums Peebles released from 1969-73, all of them produced by Willie Mitchell, and sounding enough like Al Green to draw you in, but establishing their own specific hold on you.

How is she different? At the risk of sounding sexist, it's the difference between men and women. While Al Green howls and pines, Ann fumes and dwells. The songs are slower burning, in many ways more despairing and rueful, even the upbeat songs like "Slipped, Tripped in Fell in Love" have an overwhelming sense of fatalism to them. One exception (and of course it's hard to generalize about a two disk set that gives you almost 40 songs, so there are many exceptions) is the great "Until You Came Into My Life," which is a full-blooded embodiment of a woman who has found love after a long struggle.

I don't want to make Peebles sound harsh or depressing. She's just very real and vivid--and her music is great.

Not a single bad track..........2003-08-18

How I could grow up listening to Solomon Burke, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Gladys Knight... countless artists on Atlantic and Stax... yet manage to completely miss this fabulous talent is beyond me. I suspect I'm not alone, but this excellent retrospective goes a long way to correcting this oversight.

'Hi' have been very generous with this release. With 38 tracks spread over two discs, authoritative sleeve notes and a slip-case cover over the jewel case, this is an absolute bargain for the price - particularly since I was only looking for the album 'I Can't Stand The Rain' (included here in its entirety) and would gladly have paid the same price for that alone. This is a great addition to anyone's soul collection and, if you're like me, you'll feel you've just unearthed a priceless gem.

Olivia
Average customer rating:

Potty mouth

2.5 stars

Where is she now?

just ordering it

Game is a fag*ot - Game Over!

Olivia
Olivia
Manufacturer: J-Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hey Kandi...

All Money Is Legal

ASIN: B00005B1GD
Release Date: 2001-05-15

Tracks:

Bizounce
Are U Capable
You Got The Damn Thing
Silly Bitch In Love
It's On Again
Woop-T-Woo
Whordie
'Til He Comes Home
Bring Da Roof Down
When 2 Souls Touch
Lower To My Heart
Look Around

Amazon.com

Eyes rimmed with smoky charcoal liner, lips glossed to a porcelain sneer, Olivia--the first artist to be signed to Clive Davis's J Records--fronts like she's hip-hop hard and soul-singer soft on the cover photo of her eponymous debut. Luckily for her, the music biz is all about image these days, since there's not much to back up her posturing on this collection of ho-hum titillaters. The 20-year-old singer/rapper from Queens does her best to exude diva-esque traits--sex-kitten appeal, bling-bling bravado, and a whole lot of 'tude. And these elements come together nicely over the infectiously lowdown groove of "Bizounce," the album's slang-slinging first single (yet another addition to the growing canon of no-scrubs anthems). But Olivia's voice--a delicate, girlish mezzo-soprano à la Mya or Aaliyah--is ill suited to the tough-as-nails swagger she tries to convey with lyrics like "Nigga, you ain't knowing you was f---ing with a star" ("Silly Bitch in Love"), or "I'm in love with America's most dangerous thug" ("Til He Comes Home"). For all of her bluster though, Olivia's more than a pretty face--she's got a knack for delivering R&B melodies with hip-hop flair. And, occasionally, her vocals shine (like on the lilting ballad "It's on Again"), hopefully indicating that she will transcend her current role as a prepackaged pop star. --Sylvia W. Chan

Customer Reviews:

Potty mouth.......2007-07-09

She has a potty mouth for such a sexy woman but it's still a hot album

2.5 stars.......2006-11-25

Clive Davis chose this album to be the first released from his J Records label. I say he couldn't have made a bigger mistake.

He wanted to give Olivia broad appeal by having numerous genres on this album, which all too many record execs make the mistake of doing these days out of the fear of not selling a lot. The ghetto princess persona is so played out, and was even played out then. One second she is queen of the ghetto, the next track she is talking about passionate love making, then she goes back to the hood, talking about how she will hold her man down while he's in the penitentiary. Then we have the standard mindless club "bangers" that fall flat and have zero credibility. And of course a song with new, made-up slang. We even have a stab at bubble gum pop on "You Got The Damn Thing."

To me... the only really good songs on here are "Bizounce" and "Look Around." Maybe buy this used.

Where is she now?.......2006-07-13

Okay, when this album first dropped her lyrical content on her first single 'Bizounce' caused quite a stir. I, for one, loved it, thought she was tight, she was edgy and she could sing, but my friends were less than convinced. I ran out to by the album and was happy I did for the tracks here are tight, ranging from club beats to slow-jams to groove music. She's got a lot of promise packed in her debut. Some of the standouts are of course the aforementioned slow-jam, but tracks like the upbeat 'You Got the Damn Thing', club hits 'Whordie' (one of my favorites) and 'Bring the Roof Down' coupled with the steamy 'Lower to my Heart' make this an all around well rounded album with something for everyone. So this leads me to my question of where the heck did she go. I would have figured, with an album this tight she would have hit us with another one pronto...but she all but dissapeared after this dropped. Lately she's been dropping hits with 50 Cent (why???) so maybe something good will happen and she will release something of her own soon. She can't leave us waiting forever.

just ordering it.......2006-07-07

i discoverd olivia when i her so sexy (from her upcoming album behind closed doors) so i decided to do some reserch on her lol & i ended up downloading bizzounce & when 2 souls touch 7 i was VERY VERY Inpressed im in love wit her voice & cant wait for her next album coming out in the fall her smooth but edgy R&B & raping is awesome i cant wait to hear what 50 did with her since this is amazing her second is gonna blow ur mindz if this already didnt move over mary j olivia is comin thro

Game is a fag*ot - Game Over!.......2006-05-01

Who is that coming online and hating on Olivia? Game is that you out there posting these things? Everyone knows how much Game likes to diss people, but in real life he's a little punk. Game is just a wanna be gangsta and a wanna be basketball player who got kicked out of college for being a dumba**. Game is the biggest wanna-be since Ja. And all of these little Game fans and WhackWall fans are just a bunch of losers who think they're cool just because they go against the majority opinion. Game's next album is going to flop, period.