5 comments about Greatest Hits of the 80's.

1. There are some very obscure and unfamiliar songs included on these 8 cds. Not sure where they were "hits" because I never heard them before. Maybe they were top 40 in places like the middle east or europe in the 80s - I don't know. I didn't like most of them. I think after reviewing all the disks I liked perhaps 15 songs in the entire collection. There is nothing wrong with the disks or the music. The Quality is good. Just be sure that you review the song list before purchasing.



2. I only reconized 12 of the songs on these cd's. most of them were wimpy dippy songs I hated. Where are the real hits? there were numerous hits by The Police, Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, Duran Duran and others which would hve been far better that the junk on this set. What a disappointment!



3. Being a BIG fan of 1980s era music, finding this 8 CD box set was really a treasure. Sure, I have a lot of the songs available on the discs in my huge 80s MP3 song collection (16 discs worth so far and still growing), but there are so many others included that I would never have known about or heard since they only aired in the UK. Of course, there are a few other excellent European music artists that do not show up in the set. People like Shakin' Stevens, Don McLean, English Beat and Madness; but they can be mostly found in other collected sets (with the exception of Shakin' Stevens, which is a shame, because his rock n' roll music is excellent). My only complaint about this box collection is the lack of information in concerns to the album each song was taken from and the confusion I have about the two numbers after each title (for example: Adrian Gurvitz: Classic 3,39). Does this mean track 3, Billboard rating 39? I don't know. Other than this minor issue, I highly recommend this CD set for any fan of the 80s music era. You won't be disappointed at the selection and quality.



4. This box set has something for everyone, especially if you want an idea of what was popular in Europe during the Eighties, i.e. names like Sandra, Kajagoogoo, Mel & Kim, Duran Duran, Ultravox... Many, many big hits and a bunch of unknown gems for those who want to explore.



5. In a few words, I can explain why I think this collection fails as a "greatest hits of the 80's" album. There is an absence of: Eurythmics, George Michael, Corey Hart, Wham, and just take a look at the track list, because mine goes on. I guess for the bargain price, expectations can't be set that high. You get what you pay for.

2 comments about Love Luther.

1. I purchase the CD for a friend of mine and bought one for myself. I'm so glad I did, I have played it everyday since I bought it. It's a wonderful box set, anyone that like Luther music should purchase this box set. I can't forget this, also what a price, great music and a great price. I just want to say thanks. I have been telling all my family and friends about this CD.



2. When it comes to making great R&B music these days, we really don't seem to have the feeling that true soul & its essence carried over the years. For acts like Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, they've all made really good records, but the music industry and fans seemed to be more eager into rap & hip hop acts like 50 Cent and Jay-Z. For a definitive crooner like Luther Vandross, his music seems to keep lovers everywhere wishing they had more from him. It has been 2 years since his devistating death, and many people who've been in the hearts of sensual soul are still listening to his sexy voice, and that can be said well in his first ever career-spanning box set.
   
   Love Luther, is the 2007 box set showcasing Luther Vandross through his delightful 3 decades of true sensual soul. The collection includes great tracks that were remastered well and true to what his voice carried over a lifetime. The collection includes great tracks as classic Luther standards like Any Love, the somber and mellow Dance With My Father, Take You Out, Stop To Love, Power Of Love/Love Power, to his classicly conjured duets with Mariah Carey on Endless Love, Destiny's Child lead singer Beyonce' with The Closer I get To You, and legends like Dionne Warwick with How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye. The collection also includes live rendiditions of A House Is Not A Home, Searching, and the Lady Is A Tramp with the legendary Frank Sinatra.
   
   Although the box set spans very well, there are a few disadvantages to this collection. The first one is that the collection doesn't keep the tracks in chronological order, which might confuse new listeners, as well as die hard fans. the other problem is that the album does overlook a few great songs that could've been displayed here like Going In Circles, Think About You from Dancing With My Father, and other great tracks.
   
   All in all, Love, Luther still remains a remarkable box set that is worth the heart and the soul from a legendary crooner. While the collection could've been fixed up a little, it still remains a shining box set that is worth the money for anyone who needs a little love from a late angel. Luther Vandross was. and always will be one of a kind, and I really recommend Love, Luther. It is a great buy.
   
   Album Cover: B+
   
   Songs: B+
   
   Price: B
   
   Remastering: A-
   
   Overall: B 1/2+

5 comments about Forever Diana: Musical Memoirs.

1. This compilation of music from The Supremes, to Diana Ross's solo career is a Magnificent Masterpiece, and a treasure to have in your music collection. I love each one of the CDs. The Supremes and Diana's Ross's voices are all beautiful. I don't think that you can ask for anything better than this.



2. I bought this in 1993 upon its release. At the time it was disappointing for its lack of creativity (compared to Barbra Streisand's Just for the Record... box set which I rate as the best way to do a "musical memoir"). Diana has so many wonderful songs to select from, that by choosing just the top 40 hits (and even leaving some of them out such as "All Of Me","So Close", "Pieces of Ice"), Motown lost an opportunity to truly showcase how wonderful of an artist she is.
   
   Yes, there are some unexpected treats like "99 1/2" from her 1987 TV special and "Family" from her 1983 Central Park concert, but they are too few for a box set of "memoirs" where special, unique gems should be placed. Just look at how great the The Supremes box set, released in 2000, turned out to be!! Now that there are various "best of the supremes" CDs with exactly the same songs on Disc 1, why not REWORK this Ross box set? Get rid of Disc 1, and start the collection with 1970's Reach Out And Touch, and the FULL 6 minute version of Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Add some live songs from Caesar's Palace or Evening with Diana Ross, and songs performed for her TV shows (from Diana! or diana, and my favorite--the duet she sings with Billy Dee Williams in her 1987 "Red Hot Rhythm and Blues" special "Baby, You Got What It Takes.") Include a few choice album tracks from Surrender, Everything is Everything, Last Time I Saw Him ("When Will I Come Home to You" and "Love Me"), Ross 78 ("Never Say I Don't Love You" and "Where Did We Go Wrong") and so on. Update the collection so it includes some of her 90s work from Take Me Higher and Every Day is a New Day, and hard to find material due to alternate international releases (such as "Promise Me You'll Try"--a dance effort before J-Lo released her ballad version of the same song, "You Are Not Alone" and "Free (I'm Gone)"--one of my favorites that took me a long time to track down.) GET RID OF the last six songs on Disc 4 which were sheer filler and apart from Best Years of My Life, easily forgettable compared to much better and more important work she has recorded. And since it is 2008, it would be easy enough to include a DVD of some interviews from the 70s through the 2000s as well as meaningful live performances (for example, when she sang "Over the Rainbow" at the Academy Awards in 1990). THIS would be a true "musical memoir" of Diana Ross, to nicely complement the Supremes Box Set from 2000.
   
   In the meantime, for an intro to Diana, get The Definitive Collection. When you want to explore her early solo years start with Diana Ross, Touch Me in the Morning, then Diana & Marvin. Quintessential disco Diana: The Boss and Diana. Recently important, her brilliant "Lady Sings the Blues"-inspired discovery Blue. And for the 80s RCA years, although the songs were not entirely well-chosen, Diana Ross - Greatest Hits: The RCA Years showcases how her music away from Motown had a different sound and feel. Every Day Is a New Day was her last attempt at a contemporary album--and it was very good but didn't get the exposure or airplay it deserved. But the non-Motown 2007 I Love You did respectably well, indicating we may be hearing more soon from Diana. In summary, a Diana Ross box set SHOULD be so much better than the 1993 release, but if you are a die-hard fan, you know you have to own this in spite of its shortcomings. As fans, we should petition Motown/Universal for an updated version.



3. Incredible as it seems, I was 17 years old when this box set came out. Untill now, I've been unable to buy it anywhere in either San Antonio or even online, but last month, all of that has changed. Disc 1 showcases all of the Supremes' hits with one notable exception...the song "Stone Love" was completely left out; however, it doesn't matter. As I continued with the other 3 CDs, I noticed there were some songs that nowadays rarely get airplay, such as: MUSCLES, THE BOSS, THEME FROM MAHOGANY, MISSING YOU, ENDLESS LOVE, SWEPT AWAY & WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME.
   Even though the box set looked nearly new when I received it in the mail, it turns out the CDs themselves are in mint condition. Good God, the former Supreme is still at it after all this time.



4. When I started looking for a cd of Diana's greatest hits I found that there were hundreds to choose from.
   If I had to buy the cd's with the songs i liked I would have to buy 10 greatest hits cd's, but with 'Forever Diana' I got all the songs i really loved and a great book in a great box.
   I'm not a die hard fan but with this box collection, it does it for me.
   It has all the songs I know and love and the quality is good.
   Sometimes its a hit or miss when a record company releases something like this but I think they did good.
   Its Diana all the way from the Supremes to solo, and for a simple fan like me I am happy with the result.
   Diana is cool and this box collection is great.



5. I never received this item and i was refunded my money. I am please with your items so this was a BIG disappointment.

5 comments about The Complete Stax-Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971.

1. More than 30 years after Stax-Volt last published, at last I have my hands on all three volumes of 'The Complete...'. The individual volumes have some great music, not all of which found its way around the world. Hearing great music for the first time long after the label's demise is a mixture of elation tinged with regret. Yet the breadth of the three volumes is astonishing and encompasses a range of talent, unique yet all related through the label (of course) and mostly through the session/backing musicians. If you can, buy all three volumes of this amazing collection and then turn the music up. And see how quickly your smile turns to a broad and happy grin. Enjoy.



2. I heard this set before I was exposed to the legendary 1959-1968 Stax/Volt volume one box set. With the exception of Otis Redding, I am more impressed with music here than in volume one. The loss of Otis Redding and the fallout of the distribution deal with Atlantic clearly sent the label into a tail spin. However this forced (or allowed) other talents to rise up, like Isaac Hayes, and the label sought acts like the Staple Singers, who found their sound in Memphis. This is also when the black power/black consciousness movement starts to influence the music. There's more message music -- some of the best and funkiest message music recorded -- and apart from a few tracks, you're not really beat over the head with it. (One exception may be John KeSandra's "(What's Under) The Natural Do," ... it's a bit cheesy with 30 years of history from the time it was recorded, but it's a song with a sense of humor that also makes a statement.) The volume 1 set chronicles a label trying to find its sound and put together a string of hits. That music can't be denied in any way, shape or form. But this set is when the hits start coming fast and furious ... yes, they're largely hits on the R&B chart, they're hits none the less. And plenty of artists crossed over into the pop chart as well, the detailed track listings make that clear.
   
   For what it's worth, this is when Albert King put together a string of hits, and they're all represented ... a bit odd for a straight-up blues guitar player to find a home at Stax, but that's the beauty of this label, they made it all work.
   
   Of course, you've really got to be into soul music, and this era of R&B, in particular, to invest in a set like this. If you've already paid for any of the Motown "complete" sets or some of the philly soul compilations, then I would highly recommend this (and volume 1) without reservation.



3. In May of 1968, Stax was in a dilemma. The distribution deal with Atlantic Records ceased to be since Stax opted out of the Atlantic/Warner
   merger. Thus, they lost the lion's share of their back catalogue to Atlantic plus Sam & Dave, who were merely loaned to Stax and were initially Atlantic artists, not to mention Otis Redding from the December '67 plane crash that took his life. A prominent figure in the Civil Rights movement had also been brought down: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and it was in the Memphis area. With so much on their plate, it could have been the end of the line for Stax.
   
   However, with the mighty audacity and go-power of Al Bell, Stax was going to start from scratch and rebuild their catalogue under their new distributors, Gulf+Western. Their first record on the new label with the finger-snap logo (replacing the stack-of-records) was provided by none other than Booker T. and the MG's; it was a Caribbean-influenced number called "Soul Limbo." It was a hit right off the bat. With more hit singles following, Stax was off to a promising rebirth.
   
   Much of the earlier part of this 9-disc set that chronicles 1968-1971 sounds like a direct continuation of the first set. Though, it isn't long when the Stax sound begins to change gradually with the influences of Stax's new order of business and mass production including more outside production from the North and in places like Muscle Shoals. The changing times also affect the tone of the music as it becomes more funkier but somehow loses its down-home grit that was omnipresent in the first set. With new producers at hand and the aim for assembly-line production, the sound on this set begins to become permeated with polish and gloss. The new artists that came during this period like the Emotions and the Dramatics were saddled with this ordeal and lyrics to many songs were gravitating more towards social and domestic awareness.
   
   Nonetheless, the Stax veterans, namely Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, William Bell, Johnnie Taylor and Booker T. & the MG's still managed to keep Stax's primal grittiness intact. The Bar-Kays were reformed by the two surviving members and as a result they increased their level of funkiness. Isaac Hayes goes from Stax session musician and principal song writer and rises to stardom as one of Stax's most successful artists ("I Stand Accused" is his best work, period. The sound clip provided here on this page is awesome). The Staple Singers provide moments of inspiration and renewed hope. With the absence of Otis Redding and Sam & Dave, that initial high-power energy is sorely missing and it wasn't long when Booker T. & the MG's were drifting away from Stax. That's the gap that these swarms of new artists like the Soul Children, Margie Joseph and Ernie Hines were aiming to fill, and do great jobs in their own respect, but you'll know something is still noticably missing.
   
   At 216 tracks among 9 CD's, each containing more than 70 minutes of music and showcased in crisp, meaty stereo sound, Vol. 2 is definitely worth the listen. Though, I found that on the first box I could categorize all the songs into those that I loved/really liked and those that I could at least appreciate. On the second box, it's about the same, however there were about six tracks that I just didn't care for such as The Nightingales "I Don't Want to Be Like My Daddy", and Jeanne & the Darlings' "It's Time to Pay for the Fun", and Calvin Scott's "Shame on the Family Name." So, 6 out of 216 isn't bad, now is it?
   
   Still, being an avid Stax fan, there was much to enjoy on this second set.
   It's R&B; it isn't afraid to express itself and the lyrics are still down-to-earth and didn't have to be created from hard, exasperating efforts.
   Everything from Booker T. & the MG's, the Staple Singers, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Albert King, the Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes and Johnnie Taylor and many of the Soul Children's material were my favorite tracks and obviously there are too many to mention. I also enjoyed songs from renowned artists who had brief stints with Stax like John Lee Hooker, Barbara Lewis, The TSU Toronadoes, Darrell Banke, Jimmy Hughes and even Delaney & Bonnie of "Never Ending Song of Love" fame. On disc three, you'll hear MG guitarist Steve Cropper sing(!) on "Water" as he plays guitar alongside Pops Staples and Albert King. The first three discs and the last one on their own were the strongest in the set; everything spread out in between those mentioned still contained a lot of great songs and rare gems but in the midst were some weaker and uninspired numbers.
   
   Granted, Stax was in the swing of things during this time and the sound became funkier and yet still glossy making the first set (particularly the earlier parts of it) sound primitive. The new beginning was an opportunity to use the new recording equipment acquired and here that is quite relevant. Chart success, in comparison, was about the same with less than half the singles presented being able to make the charts with everything else failing to even make a dent despite the arrival of subsidiary labels like Enterprise (mainly a jazz division), Respect and We Produce.
   
   The next chapter in Stax's golden history awaits you; R&B music was in its last golden years before disco took over. The end of those magic times came with the close of Stax records. Meanwhile, all involved in R&B and particularly southern soul was riding high at this point. So, if the first Stax set left you starving for more, this second set should satisfy you plenty if not overwhelm you.



4. So you probably already own the first box if you're looking at the second box. You're thinking that you already have the majority of the hits , and you do. You're thinking that you want this , but you aren't quite sure. Look , you picked up the first box , you probably LOVED it...pick up the second (and the third). You will hear songs that you never heard before , but that is what makes this box so enjoyable. It's like finding a new radio station circa 1968-1971 , playing songs that could have made the top 10...but didn't. You will not regret putting it in your shopping cart.



5. It's amazing how many hidden gems are mixed in amongst the more well-known songs in this fantastic 9 disc box set. From Darrell Banks' "Just Because Your Love is Gone" to the Newcomers' "Open Up Your Heart (and Let Me In), this is simply a treasure-trove of soul / r&b delights. If you like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, the Dramatics, etc, you will love this set....good for dancin', good for romancin'!

2 comments about Soul Hits of the '70s.

1. THIS IS A GOOD CD IF YOU LIKE OLD SCHOOL MUSIC



2. First of all, let me assure you that these are the Original Recordings with the exception of a live version of "Midnight Train to Georgia" which actually sounds nice & fresh after having the original played to death on the radio.
   
   If you are a Soul Freak, you will probably own some of these songs, but there are many, many overlooked gems such as:
   
   "Say You Love Me" a wonderful track by Patti Austin
   
   "Love Brought Me Back" This is a gospel like mid-tempo number by D.J. Rogers (who did a great duet with Patrice Rushen which is not included here). Why was this song not a hit?
   
   "Your Love" by Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis - a marvelous, happy love song between this married couple. You also get the massive hit, "You Don't Have to Be A Star"
   
   "Am I Black Enough For You" Billy Paul - the "Mrs. Jones" crooner goes kind of funky on us with this affirming anthem of racial pride
   
   "In the Mood" Tyrone Davis - T. Davis is the man! You should check out a Greatest Hits collection. This is a nice Quiet Storm ballad
   
   "Where Do We Go From Here" Trammps - The Disco Inferno Guys mellow it out here (kind of Barry White meets the Temptations)
   
   I can't recall the name of the Manhattans tune included here, but it is nice - a good sample of what you will find on a Greatest Hits Collection
   
   "Reach For It" is a light hearted funk number from Soul-Jazz Man, George Duke.
   
   
   Anyway, this is an absolute steal at its $6.99 price. Remember this is a 3 CD / 40 song set. A must for any Soul Collection. A good mix of Quiet Storm ballads & uptempo steppers. Put in on at your next party & enjoy!
   
   If you are still reading this pitiful review - stop right now & order this CD or check out your local Circuit City or Best Buy store which may carry this at a decent price.
   
   A special thanks to my buddy who knowing what a soul freak I am gave this to me as a Christmas gift a few years ago. Thanks my man!!!!!!

5 comments about Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones.

1. Beautiful music. This is lovely bio-discography. Jazz, movie, pop, funk .... for all kind of music, he is #1 . Fans of Q, u have to buy it !



2. I had no idea who Quincy Jones really was until I watched a PBS special the other night called American Masters. I am a big fan of his album "Big Band Bossa Nova" and I was amazed to see that he did a great deal of big-band styled music. This box set encompasses so many different aspects of his career. Big band music, movie & television scores, to producing some of pop music's greatest stars. I am extremely pleased with this purchase. There are so many great songs on these 4 discs they will be in heavy rotation on my MP3 player for quite some time.



3. This collection runs the gamut of pop and jazz musical styles. When songs differed between the single and album version, the single version is used. For a Rhino box set, this title has excellent remastering. Instead of the usually over-bright presentation, Bernie Grundman is the remastering engineer here -- and he treats these tracks with a slight hand, allowing the original musicality of the master tapes shine through. You probably don't have these tracks sounding this good elsewhere in your collection (unless you own the Grundman remastered Michael Jackson albums).



4. The wide array of music in this collection is amazing - I've always enjoyed his later albums (The Dude, Back on The Block) but this collection opened up the depth of his earlier work to me. I had originally ordered this from Amazon, but cancelled it after I found it at a discount club (Costco)...



5. Jones's musical biography is a history of American music. The variety and depth of the music compiled on these CDs is amazing.

5 comments about Simply Dusty.

1. This is an incredible book and the CD's are awesome! Dusty chronology as far as songs, when, where & why is noted page by page, as well as photographs throughout her career. It has early songs almost impossible to find as well as hits. 95 in all. A tribute to a great great singer and an interesting catalogue of the music and the times. Thoughts by other artists about Dusty's contribution throughout. Worth the price tag.



2. I ordered this & received the full size 11x11 book, not the 6x10 book like the description says. Great book & CD selections!



3. A wonderful collection for any Dusty fan or for someone looking to be introduced in a more sophisticatd way than to just buy her 'best of' albums. She is here in all her glory. A must for the Dusty devotee.



4. I have plenty of boxed sets, but none of them compare to this. The packaging is remarkable as well as the photos and the music. Dusty could make choking noises sound beautiful.



5. This set went out of print shortly after it's release for a redesign of the package; the result is amazing. I've never seen a boxed set design quite like this one, it's called an "ear book." It's "11 x 11" and fits on a bookshelf, the pages filled with photos, essays and extensive liner notes describing each song. The cd's are filled to capacity and while I wish the extended mix of "In Private" was here, there isn't enough room for the extra three minutes and the bulk of the material makes up for any shortcomings. The songs mentioned in the liner notes but missing such as the duets with Cilla Black, Spencer Davis, BJ Thomas, and the extended version of the Donna Summer co-penned "Sometimes Like Butterflies" can be found on the release "Heart & Soul" on the Varese Sarabande label. This boxed set should serve as a prototype for any collection attempting to be comprehensive as it contains all the hits and every album, including the abandoned projects, is represented. The closing track and Dusty's final recording "Someone To Watch Over Me" is stark and beautiful, it's the way any standard should be sung. Overall, for lack of a better term, I'd say this set is a masterpiece.

5 comments about Original Musiquarium I - 2 disc set.

1. Believe it or not guys, it was Mariah Carey who turned me on to this double album. I think it was sometime in 2002 when I read an interview on her official website. When asked about her favourite album, she replied: "Stevie Wonder's Musiquarium."

   Gathering all the highlights from the super-successful 1970's and adding four classy new songs, "The Original Musiquarium I" (1982) works as a greatest hits album as well a concept long-player -- something that few entertainers ever could afford. So high was the quality of Wonder's albums between 1972-1980!

   This is probably the best-possible introduction to Stevie's prolific discography and maybe the best choice if you want to own one album of this artist. All tracks are just top and even if I decided to pick highlights, I would get pretty close to naming all songs here. But let's try... "Living For The City", "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "Ribbon In The Sky", "Higher Ground", "That Girl", "Do I Do" (one of the best jams I've ever heard) -- and more!

   If there will ever be another "musiquarium", I doubt it will be this good...




2. If you love the "8th Wonder of the World" Mr. Stevie Wonder, then you will love this Greatest Hits Set. All those songs you love to sing along with are right here. Isn't she lovely, Sir Duke and my #1 all time favorite DO I DO!!! Yes this is the one to get if Stevie Wonder is your favorite artist like he is mine.



3. Despite the inclusion of a couple of overlong, pedestrian ballads ("Ribbon in the Sky" and the abominable "Superwoman"), this is one of the finest hits collections ever assembled by any artist. Three of Stevie's four new songs ("That Girl," "Do I Do" and the searing "Front Line") are first rate, while the fourth (the aforementioned "Ribbon") is one of those sugary, saccharine Stevie ballads that everyone but his most devoted fans can't abide. However, from "Living for the City" to "Master Blaster (Jammin')," these are some of the most innovative, original, fully realized pop/soul songs ever recorded. I cannot recommend this collection highly enough.



4. Few performers in any genre compiled their own work as cohesively and beautifully as Stevie Wonder on this essential 1982 hits album.

   It testifies to the seamlessness of the classic 70s albums which comprise this set that no song feels any better on the originals than here. That's easy enough to do with Wonder's sensitive, moving love songs ("Superwoman," "You Are The Sunshine of My Life,".) But it also goes for "Superstition," "You Haven't Done Nothin'," "Living For The City," and the then-new anti-war song "Front Line," which are of a piece musically and in message. The same is again true for 1974's propulsive "Boogie On Reggae Woman," rubbing up against 1980's "Master Blaster."

   The net effect is that "Original Musiquarium" is essential even for those owning all of Stevie's 70s work (and that should be everybody). And how many performers can you say that about?




5. I've had this Set for many Years.and It Reflects his Grand Genius.So Many Great Songs From A Mind that never stopped Clicking.As Writer,Arranger,Producer,Instrumentalist,Vocalist Stevie Wonder Has Inspired a WHole Generation&a half with his Quality Work.he has had time periods.his 60's stuff was hit&Miss.in the 70's UNSTOPPABLE.80's Hit,Miss&Close.90's So-So at best.but Look at how many Decades He has been Around and The Many Lives His Music has Touched?He will always be Special to me.

5 comments about Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959).

1. Rhino exhausted the Atlantic vaults of its Ray Charles catalogue, added a smart hardcover book, threw in an obscure concert on DVD and packaged everything in a magnificent carry case that resembles a vintage 45-record player. The result is the ultimate tribute to one of the giants of modern music, and raises the bar in box sets.
   
   I don't see how anyone can improve on PURE GENIUS. The 6 CDs (each averaging 78 minutes) of Ray's released music are a sheer pleasure to listen to over and over. Credit Ray but also the sequencing.
   
   Instead of arranging the tracks by album release date (i.e. The Velvet Underground and Cream boxes), Rhino gambles by sequencing according to *recording* date. Remember that until 1967's Sgt. Pepper, pop albums were hodge-podges of songs gathered from various sessions. With Ray's albums, songs spanned entire years. Rhino's approach allows the listener to enjoy each phase of Ray's recording career, from his soul breakthrough on disc one to the big band of disc six.
   
   Another consideration is that Ray recorded in so many genres at once: gospel-tinged soul one week, straight jazz the next and back. Rhino's sequencing highlights Ray's versatility and virtuosity, which you cannot find on any other compilation and certainly not a greatest hits package which compiles only songs. I was expecting soul vocals with the Raelettes, but was blown away by Ray's instrumental jazz, which his big hits have unjustly overshadowed.
   
   Disc seven--of outtakes and sessions (a fire destroyed all other session tapes)--provides a glimpse of an early recording session as well as part of a later one. The disc demonstrates Ray's growing confidence in the studio. However, this disc is for Ray's hardcore fans rather than casual listeners. And for the hardcore, it's a gem.
   
   Another bonus is disc 8: the DVD of Ray's ultra-rare 1960 concert at the Newport Jazz Festival. It's a stationery camera shooting grainy black-and-white footage, but Ray's performance is assured through nine numbers. A 20-minute interview by Taylor Hackford of Ahmet Ertegun (who signed Ray to Atlantic) is another gem.
   
   Liner notes in the hardcover book avoid empty hype and offer insight into Ray's brilliant career at Atlantic (written by biographer David Ritz). A detailed discography is another plus.
   
   Now, what can I say about the packaging? I own several box sets and this one takes the prize for originality. It resembles a 45-turntable. Lift the "turntable" and the book and discs rest beneath. And the handle makes it portable.
   
   A caveat: this box ain't cheap, and it's intended for hardcore Ray fans. More casual admirers should pick up the 3-CD BIRTH OF SOUL or a greatest hits package, but those don't include Ray's magnificent jazz sides.
   
   Obviously, PURE GENIUS was a labour of love by the folks at Rhino. Some box sets are a formulaic mix of greatest hits, a few unreleased tracks, and some live tracks. This goes one further: it places the artist's music in its proper context which makes you appreciate his overall career even more.
   
   If you find this box, get it. I did and it's worth every penny I paid and then some. I love PURE GENIUS.



2. The Atlantic Period was Ray Charles at his best. This is all his recordings in great sound quality. The extra disc reveals Brother Ray's creative process. The DVD shows the reaction by the beatniks to Ray's music at the Newport Jazz Festival. All in all a very worthwhile purchase for all levels of Ray's fans.



3. This collection solves one common problem with Ray Charles compilations. Usually , you only get the best of the VOCAL Ray Charles. Sure , the vocal Ray is the Ray most know and love best; but that only tells part of the story. The vast majority of Ray's instrumental works were also terrific recordings. With this package , you get everything Ray did with Atlantic for seven glorious years. Pure genius indeed.



4. This is a beautifully presented collection of Ray Charles, excellent value, does however contain some songs which could stand better edit techniques to bring out a better spread in the spectrum of the sound quality, however if one takes into account the improvement in technology since that time it probably gives a more accurate indication of the simpoler recording process of the time. Again an excellent collection which may well disappear of the shelves in years to come I do not believe any dedicated follower of Ray Charles over the years could afford to miss this collection



5. For my taste, there seems to be three phases of Ray Charles' career... 1. His early Swing Time days (when he sounded more like Nat King Cole than Ray Charles) 2. The Atlantic Years (where the sound was raw, cutting edge, and powerful) 3. The ABC Years & Later (where the craft was more refined, instrumentally and vocally). What I had longed for was a compilation or box set that focused on those Atlantic days and drilled down past the standard Ray songs that are on just about EVERY Ray Charles CD you can find. For that, this set is unmatched. In addition to some of the more popular "live" cuts, there are a good 50 songs on here that I had never heard (I'm talking beyond the songs on "Anthology" or the movie soundtrack) that are fantastic and are every bit as much a part of my Ray Charles i-pod rotation as "I Got a Woman" or "Mess Around".
   
   The real treat (in my opinion), is the 30 or so outtakes and rehearsal cuts. Here, you get to hear what it was like in the recording studio with Ray Charles... there is actually an 8 minute track that covers the recording of "Night Time is the Right Time", which allows you to experience how particular Ray was with the sound HE wanted. Knowing from past readings that multiple takes on a song were a pet peeve of his, one can actually hear his tone change with the band and the guys in the booth as the takes begin to add up... great stuff for any Ray fan who has wondered (as I often have), "How in the world does he do that?"
   
   The only reason this set gets 4 stars from me instead of 5 is that there are many (as in 25 or so) instrumental tracks. Don't get me wrong, they are all solid jazz tunes (as good as any other jazz CD I own) but I would have preferred more of Ray's vocals. Still, my rating may very well not be fair. Afterall, it is the COMPLETE Atlantic Recordings.
   
   It's quite a bit of money to put down and I pondered it for quite some time, but well worth it if you're looking for more than what you can find on a Greatest Hits compilation.

5 comments about Hitsville USA, Vol. 2: The Motown Singles Collection 1972-1992.

1. After the first flawless Motown box set finished up with 1971, it was inevitable that there was going to be a drop in quality on the second volume. When Stevie Wonder's contribution to disc two is the masterful "Sir Duke" and just one disc later we're hit with the wretched-without-bounds "I Just Called to Say I Love You," it's virtually impossible to wonder where it all went wrong. Closing out the set with the hilariously mawkish "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men is the sadly appropriate death knell for a once proud label that lost its way. It's hard to connect most of this music to the label that once released 'Innervisions' or 'What's Going On' or 'Cloud Nine'.



2. I have loved the Motown sound ever since I was a little kid. So many of those songs have added pleasure to my life. A few years ago I bought the first box set and voraciously consumed it. Every song there was a classic. I only wished it included a lot more music.
   
   I recently saw that there was a second installment to Hitsville USA. I bought it immediately, and I was encouraged by the generally good reviews here on Amazon. But, wow, I regretfully must report to you that this set does not have the Motown Sound that I know and love. Perhaps a quarter of these songs are very good, but the other three-quarters I do not like at all. They are campy, disco-like atrocities which in my mind are the antithesis of the earthy, passionate, natural sound of real Motown. I do like soul music outside of Motown, but these songs do not come close to even good, authentic soul music. Most of these are bad disco songs which have the second-generation Motown label affixed for prestige. Please don't get this expecting the classic Motown sound, because you won't find it here. Even the small percentage of good songs here don't sound like Motown; I'm not sure exactly how you would categorize them.
   
   The remaining 75% of the music on these discs is of that category of "Music that I Affirmatively Try to Avoid." If Motown was one of the pinnacles of modern music, many of these songs are the valleys. Real Motown was silk; this is a plastic tarp. Again, I emphasize the synthetic, synthesizer-intensive foundation, with the pre-pubescent, screechy, annoying vocals. Motown is all about a thumping, plodding deep bass, with a great guitar groove, and supernaturally beatiful lyrics and voices. Even most of Smokey's stuff here doesn't do much for me, and I love Smokey. The amazing documentary film "In the Shadow of Motown" might have discussed this period in Motown's history, if it did, I'm sure it is characterized as the (steep, almost vertical) decline. The folks who were the subject matter of that film were REAL MUSICIANS, the best musicians the world has ever known; they weren't a bunch of beeping, buzzing computers and polyester-wearing prancing disco-dancers.
   
   I will never listen to these discs straight-through again. I'll just skip over to the few good tracks. The preponderance of these songs were downright painful, they represent the worst of the 70's and 80's. I wish they had merely augmented the collection of real Motown, rather than used the songs which rode on the coat-tails of the real (and legendary) Motown.



3. In the past years I have ordered from individuals via Amazon as opposed to Amazon.com directly. This time, this particular item was offered through Amazon at basically the same cost and I received the item faster than I ever had before. From now on if Amazon offers any item I wish to purchase, I'll order it through Amazon directly.



4. Not quite as strong as the first Motown boxed set but then again I'm partial to the earlier songs during the illustrious Motown of the '60s. 4.5 stars.



5. ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOU LIKE THE MOTOWN SOUND THEN YOU WOULD LIKE THIS CD. I LIKE IT AND ENJOY IT AND I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND ANYONE WHO LIKES THE MOTOWN SOUND OF YESTERYEAR TO BUY THIS ALBUM BECAUSE YOU WOULD DEFINITELY ENJOY IT.