First Family of Soul: The Best of [Original recording remastered]

Five Stairsteps | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Buddha
• ASIN: B00005QXCQ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #176,334 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Five Stairsteps comp so far..., December 8, 2001

By 

Zub "Zubenelgenubi" (Forks Twp., PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: First Family of Soul: The Best of (Audio CD)

The reincarnated Buddha label has put together the best five Stairsteps collection yet to be found. Included in this generous 17-track compilation are most of the groups' higher-charting singles anchored by the passionate and uplifting "O-o-h Child". Interestingly, although their output from several labels is represented, the focus is on the earlier Windy C sides rather than their Buddah (original label) period. On the negative side might be the fact that a few Windy C b-sides were included at the expense of some other charting a-sides from the other labels.

But... what makes this collection special (and probably the reason for the emphasis on the Windy C recordings) is that many of the Windy C recordings appear in stereo for the first time. The sonic improvement is substantial and breathes new life into these tracks that have heretofore been available only in somewhat lifeless mono versions. All tracks but one (11) are presented in crystalline stereo. A six-page flopover liner notes booklet provides a musical background of the group along with track info.

On balance, this is, by far, the best Five Stairsteps compilation now available. If you're a fan and already own a Five Stairsteps compilation CD, the sonic improvements alone make this a worthwhile replacement or addition.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical an' timeless; sumpin' for cold, sunny autumn days, October 29, 2003

By 

Nathan "Cawntry-fried Calypso Beach Bum" (Charlotte, N.C. United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First Family of Soul: The Best of (Audio CD)

I jus' bought this album about a week ago an' I can't get enough of it. This group may have eventually been overshadowed by the Jackson Five, but there's sumpin' so vibrant an' alive about them to me. The beautiful harmonies, the vocal stylings of Clarence an' his siblings, everything is jus' so fresh an' inspiring. This entire collection is front to back CLASSICS; all with that laid-back ol' school vocal group quality 'bout it. Fa'real these people could'a been a street corner group from the Bronx the way they be sangin'. I couldn't pick a favorite, but buy this for 'The Touch of You' an' my personal favorite 'Didn't it Look So Easy' where they get guttural an' raw with they soulful cries. Of course the real gem though is naturally 'Ooh Child'; one'a THE mos' inspiring standards ever sung. When he sings that part about "someday we'll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun" I can't help but smile an' wanna cry outta joy an' hope. Hold up! Did I jus' say cry? Too much information.

Anyways, this group deserves more praise than they get. If you never heard of 'em then you prob'ly don' even realize how many'a these songs you've heard before. Fa'real, when I first put it in it was like I was a child again overhearin' my mama's old records cracklin' through our little broken-down apartment. Everyone who likes good, strong soul music should invest their time an' money in these beautiful tunes. I'm out, y'all.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't wait too long..., September 20, 2005

By 

Marc Flanagan "Reading Through Lunch" (Santa Monica, Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: First Family of Soul: The Best of (Audio CD)

This collection is fantastic, The Five Stairsteps were so very talented and this CD has assembled their recordings from their different labels and put them all in one package.
Seventeen cuts and not a clinker in the bunch. "Danger! She's A Stranger", is a personal fave of mine. And then there's, "World of Fantasy" and "O-O-O Child". I recently purchased the Cameo Parkway Collection and they have a few selections from The Stairsteps and I remembered how much I liked them so I, 1 Clicked ,"The First Family of Soul: The Five Stairsteps" and I am very happy I did-hey, they're on my IPod right now!