Customer Reviews

Me And Mrs. Jones: The Best Of Billy Paul

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a decent sampling of Billy Paul's work with the Sound of Philadelphia and Gamble and Huff, the genius Dexter Wansel, et al, although by no means complete or exhaustive. Naturally the international adultery smash, "Me and Mrs. Jones," anchors this set, and other familiar Paul numbers are here, too, like the sweetly sentimental "Billy's Back Home," matter-of-fact "Be Truthful to Me" and slammin' upbeat "Thanks for Saving My Life," my personal favorite. Paul has a husky, emotional voice which he uses with intelligence and serious jazz flavored style, often employing his gift in order to teach ("Black Wonders of the World") and enlighten (Paul McCartney's "Let 'Em In"). Several standards ("Bluesette," "Your Song") are included here, and Billy sings the hell out of them. As I mentioned, this set is by no means complete, however. Any Billy Paul collection that does not include his take on "Brown Baby" or the rueful "The Whole Town's Talking" can only be an introduction to this great talent.

Rich mellow tones with lots of passion make Billy Paul a peerless singer who is another "Unsung" sadly overlooked legendary icon even with #1 Masterpiece "Me And Mrs. Jones" one of the biggest hits of the seventies and all the rest in this great collection match that classic! Dexter Wansel wrote and the brilliant Bobby Martin arranged the sentimental and moody "Billy's Back Home" plus the engrossing Gamble/Huff "Black Wonders Of The World" which is a mesmerizing musical journey with Billy all over the map with a totally amazing vocal unlike anything I have ever heard in my life and guaranteed you will use the repeat button more than once on this gripping masterpiece! Billy steals "Let 'Em In" from Paul McCartney and makes an anthem for equality while saluting greats of the past making this cooker an unforgettable experience. As this great collection progresses one realizes no male voice quite matches this one with a wonderful loose jazz sense that is winning and unique. "Be Truthful To Me" has a driving rhythm and a great soulful vocal that is amazing being so loose and funky...stunning Elton cover is flowing and engrossing making "Your Song" one to enjoy over and over...so loose and soulful is this incredible singer taking all these great songs making them his own & this fantastic collection is one to enjoy over and over and over as it flows great and what a voice..."Thanks For Saving My Life" is another awesome cooker and every song throughtout this incredible collection will blow away any music lover and must be great seeing this music man live...Bravo Billy!

I have been a Billy Paul fan for many years. I have most of his recorded music. I am really excited to see so many of my favorite songs on one album. Billy is a legendary artist with a unique vocal style that cannot be duplicated by any other singer. I look forward to the time that his new album is released. ALL THE BEST TO YOU BILLY!!!!

billy paul was more than one song.he can sing with emotion&feeling.this set highlights his great talent.a very powerful voice who is very underrated.

I bought this CD for the title sone. Some of the other songs are OK, but the title song is probably the best known Billy Paul song - and it is great!!!

I play this one over and over. Billy Paul at the top of his game.

I must say Billy Paul is one of the most under rated singers in the music Industry.Luther Vandross,Barry White all got the hoopla and Immense Popularity but Billy Paul was always in the background with a fantastic voice,and some classic songs that will live forever,You can imagine my shock when I found out that Billy works out in my Ballys Gym in Deptford NJ.

I've always adored Me and Mrs. Jones since it's release. It is so well done both musically and vocally. Mr. Paul's voice is pure magic. There is no one else that can ever do this song justice. The rest of the CD was as amazing as this song. His heart and soul was in every beat and word. I wish there were more artists in the upcoming singers of today that would stop and learn from such a grand talent as this. There is no need to drown the beautiful words with the instruments. If they are put together correctly you have a masterpiece.

I luv this CD, i keep playing it over, old school is the best school.

Unfortunately, most of Billy Paul's early Philadelphia International LPs have yet to be reissued on CD--which is shameful as they rank among the classiest recordings which the label ever issued. Billy Paul was strongly influenced by such great Jazz crooners as Nat King Cole and Billy Eckstine--not surprisingly, he brought a degree of class and sophistication to the "Philly Sound" that only Lou Rawls would be able to duplicate. This CD offera a very fine (if incomplete) overview of his 1971-76 recordings. NOTE: If anyone from Sony Legacy reads this review I urge you to consider reissuing Billy's "Going East" and "Feeling Good At The Cadillac Club" on CD.