Customer Reviews

First Family of Soul: The Best of

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

I AM A THIRTY ONE YEAR OLD WOMAN THAT WAS INTRODUCED TO THIS ALBUM OVER TWENTY YEARS AGO. AND AS GOD AS MY WITNESS I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE SUPERB SPLENDOR OF THIS CD. MY MOTHER GREW UP ON THIS CD WHEN SHE DATED MY DAD. EVERY SONG ON THIS CD IS HOT TO DEF. I AM IN AWE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S VOICES ON THIS ALBUM. THIS ALBUM IS UP THERE WITH MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER . AND YES I AM DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT THAT.

THIS ALBUM IS A MASTER PIECE.

If you own the other 5 Stairteps CD's mentioned here, this is good basically for the inclusion of "Behind Curtains," "The Girl I Love," and "You Don't Love Me." All the other good stuff is here except the pseudogospel "Didn't It Look So Easy," which is apparently a followup to the obiquitous (but lovely) "Ooh Child." But either way, get this if you don't have the other 5 Stairsteps CDs.

Wow! It's marvelous to be able to still get these great songs that I grew up with! I had every single 45 and LP that the Stairsteps ever made. Somehow lost a few of them over the years to people who borrowed them, etc. I am an absolute 5 Stairsteps fanatic! I remember being in love with Aloha when they were all kids, as she and I are the same age. Their songs have truly stood the test of time, and sound just as good to me today as they ever did. Amazingly, I have NEVER stopped playing them in my car or at home, over the years. I have LP's and 45's by all of the old Soul and DOO WOP groups, and I definitely am pleased with this one. I have everything except "THE GIRL I LOVE", which was so hard to find, so I'm very pleased it's on this CD. That's my favorite song by them, EVER! In any event, this compilation of songs by the Stairsteps is every collector's dream! I'll truly enjoy it.

this is long overdue.the Five Stairsteps were a Strong-Self-Contained Unit.there own Instrumentation&SoulFul Sounds.Many Other Family Acts get Props&RightFully so but the Five StairSteps Deserve to Be Mentioned with the Other whose Who of Family Acts.once you here there SoulFul Vibe&Grooves then you will know why.

THE GREATEST OF THE"FIVE SIBLING GROUPS" WHO NEVER GOT THEIR "PROPS" AFTER THAT OTHER ONE APPEARED....THINK.."WACKO" AND WARDROBE MALFUNCTIONS" JUST KIDDING FOLKS THE WORLD WAS BIG ENOUGH FOR THE BOTH OF THEM SADLY THE 5 STAIRSTEPS FADED INTO OBLIVION.....BUT THIS CD HAS ALL THEIR MUSIC YIPPY HIP HIP HORAY!!!!

Someone decided to destroy the drum break in the beginning of "Don't Change Your Love". Don't bother buying it, if you're looking for the drum break. It's obvious that this edit was done out of greed and not out of the preservation of good music. To whoever edited this song... You should have left the drum break!!! I'd give zero stars if I could- just out of frustration.

The samples sounds so digital electronic with modern echo I wonder if it really sounds this way? I am a big stereo fan and not a fan of making such classics songs of Curtis sound this way. The original album posted on here sounds right. These new mixes are so maximized with all this digital artifacts. Maybe its just the samples posted. Any info would be appreciated.