Customer Reviews

DeBarge - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
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these songs sound still hold up and are sampled like crazy today.el debarge is very talented and underrated.it's a musical travesty to me.he can blow many of the people in the biz away with his strong vocals.i like it,all this love are classic slow jams.it's a must have.

There really are no words to describe the superb writer and over all talent of Eldra DeBarge. I have been a fan of his since I first heard him sing....The last project I purchased by El was entitled Gemini,which in my opinion was a masterpiece. I wish I could get my hands on a CD version of this project. I wish there was a way that El DeBarge could be re-introduced to the world. I think that the real musical genius' of today would appreciate what El has to offer. Which is nothing short of superb....Totally unappreciated and underrated as the true star performer that he is.......El I love you....You are the best....

The compilation includes milestone singles such as "Love Me in a Special Way," "Who's Holding Donna Now?," ""Rhythm of the Night"; it would've been nice if the album also included the original version. The group's slightly less-definitive tracks reveal them to be equally adept at lively, upbeat pop like "You Wear It Well," sweet ballads such as "A Dream," and surprisingly funk- and soul-tinged turns like "Stop! Don't Tease Me" and "I Like It."

I did not grow up on DeBarge's music, but many artists of my time sampled their music, so I was indirectly familiar with them. Artists such as Tamia and Notorious BIG have either sampled this group's music or created an entire rendition of their song. I enjoyed Tamia's version of "Love Me in a Special Way", so I decided to listen to DeBarge's greatest hits. This album is a wonderful compilation of music; El and Bunny have nice singing voices and their production is different, yet easy to dance to. Their ballads are great, too.

"Rhythm of the Night", "I Like It", "Who's Holding Donna Now?" and "Love Me in a Special Way" were some of DeBarge's most successful songs, and they are amazing in every way. El's voice truly shines on each song, and the brothers (and sister Bunny) sound really great when they harmonize on the choruses. "Rhythm of the Night" has a very catchy chorus and the beat makes you want to dance the entire 3 minute and 49 second runtime of the song. "Love Me in a Special Way" is lyrically the best song here. So many people try to make advances at others with corny pick up lines, but this song says that it isn't going to be so easy if you want a chance with me. The melody on this song is truly memorable. After one listen, it will probably be instilled in your mind for awhile. "All this Love" is another standout. It's simply a nice love song. El's delivery is great!

Music lovers, add this compilation to your library. DeBarge will have you dancing, laughing, crying, all the while causing much nostalgia! Very impressive.

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "All this Love"
2. "Rhythm of the Night"
3. "I Like It"
4. "Who's Holding Donna Now?"
5. "The Heart is Not So Smart"

huge debarge fan and all of the classics are here and thensome. El Debarge is One of the Most Underrated talents ever. all this Love, time will reveal, I like it, a dream,etc.... captures all of the great songwriting ,but the Harmony and richness of his voice is timeless.

In the mid-70's the Jackson Five's signing onto Epic Records from Motown led to a breach of contract suit. Berry Gordy found a successor group to the one he lost. Bunny DeBarge and her brothers, Randy, Mark, James, and Eldra (later shortened to El) were signed on in 1979. Nice vocals, wholesome, the formula seemed good. One of the tapes I let go without checking to see if the CD had been issued was DeBarge's Rhythm Of The Night, whose title track was featured in The Last Dragon. The calypso-soul beat, El DeBarge's vocals, and a general festive feeling of "dancing the whole night away underneath the electric stars" really made an impression on me.

Fortunately, their greatest hits has most of the better songs from that album, such as the first three songs. The title track was their biggest hit, peaking at #3 in the US, and the festive sounds in the background add to its appeal. Oh, and Diane Warren wrote this song too!

The reflective ballad, "Who's Holding Donna Now," features some nice piano-style keyboards was also a Top Ten hit and with the
Rumour: I heard they are going to redo this song and make it about Britney. The new title--"Who's Kissing Madonna Now"? Just kidding.

The mid-paced "You Wear It Well" has a sound close to Prince's "Uptown", though the lyrics obviously have nothing to do with the sexual identity explored in that song.

"Stop! Don't Tease Me" is typical R&B/funk/pop fare, featuring horns and a bass synth, more upbeat than what's to follow. "I Like It" is their first single and features leisure horn arrangements. Randy shares vocal duties with El, and the falsetto vocals in the chorus definitely aren't bad either.

Two more of their early hits were the leisurely ballad "All This Love", featuring strings and harmony vocals, and "Time Will Reveal", another ballad in the same mold which showcased El's falsetto vocals.

"Love Me In A Special Way" is yet another ballad featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica.

There's a neat form of symmetry, as the last three tracks are also from Rhythm Of The Night. The schmaltzy slow dance strings ballad, laced with strings "Share My World" has El and Bunny on vocals. Bunny's vocals are nice, but I doubt if she would've made it as a solo singer. Most of the time, she and El sing together. The Giorgio Moroder-penned "Single Heart" from the soundtrack to DC Cab (anyone remember that movie with Mr. T and Irene Cara?) is a loneliness ballad reflecting the feelings of Albert in the movie. Also an El and Bunny duet, which moves into a catchy beat in the choruses.

And then, a song whose sage lessons I've painfully learned this year and will now forever heed: "The Heart Is Not So Smart." Diane Warren wrote this, so it's my own fault for not listening. The calypso-like vibes also mark this song. "Everytime your mind wants you to stay away, your heart just looks the other way."

It's safe to say that with El DeBarge's solo career in 1985 and Bunny DeBarge's departure in 1987, that the group's importance faded with the loss of those vital two. And Chico DeBarge's solo single "Talk To Me" and his later arrest didn't help much either. Still, it's good they established something with the songs from Rhythm Of The Night.

This is music that, with the exception of a few songs, did not fit the 80's mold. El Debarge is one of the best writers I can think of, and it's a shame he's not doing anything lately. He is what you call a writer's writer. Just as with other favorite writers of mine, I would sit and listen for hours to songs and pick apart the chords, melodies, and listen for all the little nuances in my favorite songs such as "I Like It" and All This Love". Incidently, I'm looking for the latter, on tape or cd, I have the LP. Bottom line, this is great music.

Musically, Debarge were superb. Their melodies were very intricate and vocally demanding. The arrangements were lush, yet very tastefully understated. El Debarge's vocally mastery is only surpassed by his song writing brilliance (chord progressions, melodic construction, etc, etc).
So what? Most of that was lost on the world. So please, buy this CD for what it is, some of the most beautiful melodies ever created. These songs make today's typical RnB fare sound like folk ditties. My only small criticism is that "My Life Begins With You," and "Queen Of My Heart" are not included. Other than that, Sublime.

Musically, Debarge were superb. Their melodies were very intricate and vocally demanding. The arrangements were lush, yet very tastefully understated. El Debarge's vocally mastery is only surpassed by his song writing brilliance (chord progressions, melodic construction, etc, etc).
So what? Most of that was lost on the world. So please, buy this CD for what it is, some of the most beautiful melodies ever created. These songs make today's typical RnB fare sound like folk ditties. My only small criticism is that "My Life Begins With You," and "Queen Of My Heart" are not included. Other than that, Sublime.

I am only 23, but I can remember my mother playing "Time Will Reveal" over and over again when I was smaller. Now I just had to have it for myself. It reminds me of happier times. I also like "Love Me In A Special Way", "I Like It","You Wear It Well", hell, I love them all!