Best of Thelma Houston

Track Listings

1. Don't Leave Me This Way

2. If It's the Last Thing I Do

3. Saturday Night, Sunday Morning

4. Love's Is Comin' On

5. Midnight Mona

6. I Wanna Be Back in Love Again

7. Can't We Try

8. Jumpin' Jack Flash

9. I'm Here Again

10. It's Just Me Feeling Good

11. Memories

12. I've Got the Devil in Me

13. Cheap Lovin'

14. Am I Expecting Too Much

15. If This Was the Last Song

16. Baby, I Love You Too Much

Best of Thelma Houston,Thelma Houston,Spectrum,Disco,Quiet Storm,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

Tracks:

Don't Leave Me This Way
If It's The Last Thing I
Saturday Night, Sunday Mo
Love's Comin'on
Midnight Mona
I Wanna Be Back In Love A
Can't We Try
Jumpin'jack Flash
I'm Here Again
It's Just Me Feeling Good
Memories
I've Got The Devil In Me
Cheap Lovin'
Am I Expecting Too Much
If This Was The Last Song
Baby, I Love You Too Much

Album Details

16 Great Tracks from the Singer who Hit it Biggest in the Disco Era with her No. One Remake of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' 'don't Leave Me this Way', which Years Later is a True, Bonafide Disco and Pop Classic. Though She Never Quite Hit that Height Again, Houston's Recording Career Has Been Fruitful Nonetheless, Having the Distinction of Recording the First Direct-to-disc Record with the Band Pressure Cooker. That Record Practically Started the Modern Audiophile Vinyl Craze in the 70's.

Customer Reviews:

This one should have been better........2003-06-18

I really wish record companies would stop putting out disco compilations that consist of short versions or radio edits. They just don't get it. True disco fans are after extended or 12 inch versions. Houston's classic "Don't Leave Me This Way" and the house music standard "I'm Here Again" end during the best parts of each song. I was so disappointed that I gave my copy of this cd away for a ride to work.

A major minor talent.......2001-09-22

Thelma Houston is diva who should have been. She has an explosive voice which can also handle the tenderest of ballads.
This album represents Ms Houston doing what she does best and shows, that with better management, she should have shone as a brighter star than she has.
When we will see the release of her first album 'Sunshower' which really shows the promise the this wonderful singer was capable of?

First Class Singer.......2001-01-25

Miss Houston displays her formidable pipes on a varied set of soul, pop and disco tunes. Best known for her 1976 Grammy-winning smash "Don't Leave Me This Way," the talented lady has unfortunately and unfairly been labeled as a disco singer. Thelma Houston is a SOUL singer who came to prominence during the height of disco and any listen to this body of work or others by her will attest to her soulful and gospel-fired handling of even the most mediocre material. This set features some cuts not found on other increasingly hard-to-find compilations, including personal favorites, "Midnight Mona" and "Am I Expecting Too Much." Also included is the 1940's- styled hit "If It's The Last Thing I Do;" as well as a few prime cuts from her "Sunshower" lp produced by the notable Jimmy Webb. Also noteworthy is her version of "Can't We Try" -- a ballad covered more popularly by veteran soul singer Teddy Pendergrass. All in all, a good representation of her work; however, with numerous lps under her belt -- including subsequent work on the RCA and MCA labels, a major career retrospective is long overdue.

Wonderful.......1999-05-03

Miss Houston is a classic disco queen in every sense of the word. She displays such soulful grit on her tunes. Who can forget the classic "Don't Leave Me This Way". You can definetly hear her gospel roots on this cut. But unfortunatly, one of my personel favorites; which was released as a single in the late seventies is the ever groovy "Saturday Night'Sunday Morning". The tune is not on this collection of sure hits. If record companies are going to put together a collection of greatest hits, then I think the public deserves to hear all the greatest hits! Don't you?

I want to know the songs that this album contents.......1999-02-20

I am interested in buying the album that conteins the song named "I've got the music in me", but I'm not sure if this is the right one.

Tracks:

Don't Leave Me This Way [Extended Version]
Love Machine
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning [Extended Version]
Today Will Soon Be Yesterday
Jumpin' Jack Flash
If It's the Last Thing I Do
I Can't Go on Living Without Your Love
Just a Little Piece of You
I Want to Go Back There Again [Extended Version]
Me and Bobby McGee
You've Been Doing Wrong for So Long
Stealin' in the Name of the Lord
No One's Gonna Be a Fool Forever
Piano Man
I'm Just a Part of Yesterday
I'm Here Again [Extended Version]

Customer Reviews:

Always a Pleasure!.......2004-05-28

There is nothing to match the voice of Thelma Houston. A highly overlooked diva, she continuely has an abundance of energy and soul to bring audiences of all ages to standing ovations.

This is a great collection of her early works. Who could forget "Don't Leave Me This Way"! It is Thelma's signature song.

Other fun numbers are "Love Machine", "Stealin' In The Name Of The Lord", "Piano Man" and "I'm Here Again". Great ballads include "Just A Little Piece", "Me and Bobby McGee", and "You've Been Doing Wrong For So Long".

Missing from this "best of" are some of the other (in addition to "Jumpin' Jack Flash") brilliant numbers from "Sunshower" and the songs from the exceptional "Thelma and Jerry" album which features brilliant duets with Jerry Butler.

Thelma always deserves 5 stars for her singing, but because this "best of" is missing some of her VERY best from these other albums, I'll give it 4 stars.

Good overview - could have used more Sunshower however.......2003-04-09

Thelma Houston is an extremely gifted vocalist who was rarely given top material at Motown (usually Diana Ross castoffs). In addition to her Grammy-winning, number one smash "Don't Leave Me This Way," all of her other significant Motown singles are included here, such as "Saturday Night Sunday Morning," "If It's The Last Thing I Do," "You've Been Doing Wrong For So Long" and "I'm Here Again" (the latter two are omitted from the import Houston collection).

Only one recording, "Jumping Jack Flash" is included from her acclaimed debut album "Sunshower," which was produced by Jimmy Webb. It shows Houston at her most vibrant and is worth seeking out. Unfortunately, Sunshower is currently only available on cd as an import and at an inflated price. The import Houston collection has a few more Sunshower tracks on it.

It would also have been nice to have included on this collection her original version of "Do You Know Where You're Going To" which of course Miss Ross later had a major hit with. Ultimately, the Best of Thelma Houston is a good overview of Houston's Motown work, but most of the time it is a frustrating example of mediocre material overcoming a superior talent.

A Must for Anyone that Loves Good Music.......2003-02-26

This compilation covers most of her material (mainly from her debut to her late 70's- early 80's material.) I love all her songs. She posesses earthy, soulful, diva vocals. Although she is mainly a soul singer, Thelma throws it down every time on uptempo numbers like "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning", which proves she is a highly engaging dance diva. Her music stands the test a time well. Hopefully she will be signed to at least a moderate or small record label and record music just for her fans who appreciate it. Any lover of soul and dance music should have this album. I also suggest fans untilize her message board at VH1.com.