Customer Reviews

Best of

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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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.

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.

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.

Thelma Houston is one of those skilled, hard working, talented singer-songwriters whose career did not contiously fly into the skyline. Why is that? Despite consistantly releasing good songs with even better vocal performances, her music seemed to lack a team of supporters to support and push her songs to radio even if they at first refused to play it. I agree with some people who consider her to be on the finest Soul singers of modern times. She truly is. While many of these songs did not became Top 10's or #1 hits, the certainly sound as those they are. Much of her output has aged very well! From her Motown song, "I Wanna Go Back There Again", the Pop/Soul classics "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Me and Bobby McGee" to the hit jazzy ballad, "If It's The Last Thing I Do", Thelma firely, exburant, emotive vocals bring these songs to live. Her rendition of The Miracles hit song, "Love Machine" has a different vibe. It turns out to be funkier, even catchier than the original. She really made the song her own. The compilation concludes with the Soul/Disco gem, "I'm Here Again." This song should have repeated the success of "Don't Leave Me This Way" because in every way, it is even better! The pianos, strings, bass, lyrics and vocals are moving! Best of all, all of the songs on this compilation album are featured in their original length or extended mix versions. I highly recommend this album if you want to exprience more songs from this thrilling, soulful singer!

No compilation of great disco hits would be complete without Houston's classic DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY. Understandably, the song reached #1 and won a Grammy. That song leads off this 16 track collection, a mixture of her disco output and earlier R&B offerings. Sadly, none of the other material can match DON'Ts infectious excellence--not even the too similar I'M HERE AGAIN.
Houston's gospel roots are clearly evident on many of the tracks and she does good covers of the Stones' JUMPIN JACK FLASH and Joplin's ME AND BOBBY MCGEE. Other songs are by-the-book soul tunes, performed well but not particularly remarkable.
Houston has a good strong voice and contributed a great disco treasure in DON'T LEAVE ME THIS WAY.