Hits Remixes & Rarities: The Warner Brothers Years [Original recording remastered]

Ashford & Simpson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B00108YG1A
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,251 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Two CD Compilation Boasts Lush, Soulful Originals, Impossible To Find 12" Versions And Sensational Contemporary Remixes Of Signature Tracks From R&B's Most Enduring Duo! Rhino's compilation featuring unforgettable originals and 12" versions on Disc 1 followed by inspired contemporary remixes on Disc 2. As songwriters, Ashford & Simpson gave the world classics including "I'm Every Woman" and "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing." As performers they deliver sonic ecstasy, celebrated to the max on this innovative set.The phenomenal R&B performing and songwriting partnership made their Warner Bros. recording debut with 1973's Billboardr Top 20 LP Gimme Something Real.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRIED, TESTED, AND FOUND TRUE TO SATISFY!, February 27, 2008

By 

Patrick Frierson - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hits Remixes & Rarities: The Warner Brothers Years (Audio CD)

Soul music's Romeo and Juliet timeless contributions to music cannot be explained anymore than it already has but, this collection is more than essential. Ashford and simpson brings togther their best and hard to find tracks and remixes on this bangin two disc set. It's great to have their best dance tracks readily avialiable again - since these tracks will put a hurtin' on your pockets if you ever try to collect the original 12" singles.

ORIGINALS ;

"Over and Over" and "Stay Free" (you won't find a better song about freelance romanacing than this!) are back on CD after being out of print for a few years. "Tried, Tested, and found true" and "One more try" are tough and smooth slices of proto disco. You can't do no wrong with their flagship disco anthem "Found a Cure". "Bourgie Bourgie" is avliable on other anthologies but, it blends in smooth with the rest of the tracks. "Nobody Knows" is a tight fusion of blues & soul with a discofied production style. The originals is classic material all the way.

REMIXES;

I Thought I wasn't gonna like this disc because much of the time, remixes never matches the quality of the originals. I was dead wrong because Tom Moulton, Joey Negro, M&M, Joe Clausell were dead on point with their remixes. I loved how they maintained all of the key musical elements of the originals while bringing a fresh ear and sound into the mix "without compromising the integrity of the originals" as stated by Valarie Simpson herself in the liner notes. Tom Moulton Mix of "Found a Cure" is bound to go down as one of many line of his classic remixes but, all of the remixes sound great and worth repeated plays.

I like how Nick and Val took time to acknowledge the remixers for seeing their songs from a different light. Props also go to Johnny D Demairo for organizing this whole project and handpicking the right remixers who understood and respected Nick and Val's material. For the casual fan, this may be a bit much since the high emphasis on dance material doesn't give listeners a well rounded scope of Ashford and Simpson's talent. You may want to try their "very best of collection (Rhino)" before you come around to this. If you're a serious fan, pick up both and you got Ashford and Simpson covered.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 20 STARS!!!!, February 27, 2008

By 

K. Frazier "Calimusicman" (NJ United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hits Remixes & Rarities: The Warner Brothers Years (Audio CD)

Just when I thought i had the best Remix/OG CD SET! If you want to know what a remix should be, get this ASAP. I can not stop playing it 'over & over'. I play this more than the new CD's I have. Every song is GREAT. Give them a Grammy for Remixers!! This is better than Verve Remix! Glad they have some 12'inch of some classic stuff as well. My favorites in order are: REMIX... 1. Bourgie Bourgie 2. Over and Over Regular Version...1. It Seems To Hang On (12" Disco Mix) 2. Don't Cost You Nothing (12" Disco Mix)... but the whole project is GREAT.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Found the cure: buy this collection!, March 8, 2008

By 

Tom (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hits Remixes & Rarities: The Warner Brothers Years (Audio CD)

I have to agree with the previous reviewers -- this collection is simply fantastic. It's a retrospective of the R&B duo's '70s dance-oriented material on Warner Bros. The first CD features original album versions and 12" mixes of classics such "Found a Cure", "It Seems to Hang On" and "Over and Over". Then there is the second disc, which is the deal-closer. It includes outstanding new mixes of a few of the classics heard on disc one.

This CD is everything a compilation should be: crisp remastering, informative and well-written liner notes, and superb packaging. Ashford & Simpson are probably best known for their stellar songwriting, but their own music is just as good. And this collection is proof of that. Highly recommended.