Customer Reviews

Best of

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Although there are several Best of / Greatest Hits, type of collections out there, this compilation probably (in my opinion) has the best selection of the hard core Funk that set Brothers Johnson apart from the pack of the day. These songs are full of hard Bass driven funky jazz cuts that were at once incredible music to drive, dance, or romance to. If you didn't hang with the kind of crowd that listened to The Brothers Johnson, Parlement, The Ohio players, or The Isley Brothers, chances are you never heard many of these songs. You should do yourself a favor. Unless, you are going to buy the entire catalogue of Brothers Johnson studio albums, this is the collection that you should own.

The recording quality of the CD was excellent. Still sounds as the original LP I had many years ago

I totally agree with earlier reviewers; this is a great retrospective from one of the best funk groups of the 70s and 80s. This compilation has their greatest hits from their best-selling albums with producer and mentor Quincy Jones, and a handful from albums they later released without him. Although it's clear (especially from "The Real Thing", their first non-Q produced single) that they learnt a lot from Jones, especially with regards to production, vocal, horn and string arrangement, some of the magic was clearly missing.

Most of the hits are here, notably the international 1980 hit "Stomp", "Strawberry Letter 23" with that barnstorming guitar solo from Lee Ritenour and "Q", their tribute to Quincy Jones, which earned them a Grammy for best instrumental in 1977. Also noteworthy is the fact that Jones later remade three of the hits here (written or co-written by the brothers) on his own albums: "I'll Be Good To You", with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan, "Tomorrow" with Tevin Campbell & The Children's Choir and "Stomp", with Mr X, Melle Mel, Coolio, Yo-Yo, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, Shaquille O'Neal, Luniz and the cast of "Stomp", the Broadway musical.

My only gripes are that "Ride-O-Rocket", the Ashford & Simpson penned hit from the album "Blam!" Is not on here and at least three of the singles as far as I can tell - "Strawberry Letter 23", "Ain't We Funkin' Now" and "Stomp", are edited or radio versions. The full-length album versions would've been much better, thank you very much.

Brothers Johnson CDs have been difficult to come by in recent years and with "Blam!" (their only album still missing from my CD collection) currently selling on here from $59.99, this was the next best bet. At least I can play the title tune off that album, one of my favourites, in my car until the powers that be decide to re-release the album - hopefully a remastered version. I can also now hear all these hits on one CD, which is also great.

All said and done, this is big value for money.

Mr. Husband and I have been boogying like old times! Brothers Johnson's and the baddest Lead and Bass guitar players in the world! All I can say is WOW!! you will LOVE this album!

The Brothers Johnson are very Unique Brothers.they have a Style that Hasn't been Duplicated Since.a Great Mixture of Many,Many different Styles.The Playing is Incredible.Louis Johnson Thumps On Bass Like Nobodys Business.Finally a Set with kick it to the Curb.that was a Jam Back in 87.These Songs are Timeless.Strong Music&Production.Very Soulful&full of Quality.A Must Have.