Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

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4 star:		(1)
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I grew up listening to soul groups like the Impressions, so I decided to get this CD to add to my collection-and I was not disappointed. This collection follows the Impressions through the late 1950's when Jerry Butler was a member, to the 1960's during the Curtis Mayfield period, to the post-Curtis Mayfield period in the 1970's with "Finally Got Myself Together" and "Same Thing It Took." The love songs like, "For Your Precious Love" and "I'm So Proud" are included as well as the social anthems "Keep On Pushing", "People Get Ready", "We're A Winner", "This Is My Country", and "Choice Of Colors."

There seems to be some confusion among other reviewers as to the members of the Impressions. The original incarnation included Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, and brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks. When Jerry Butler left, Fred Cash joined the lineup. The most memorable lineup of the group-the 1960's incarnation- and the ones pictured on this CD image are left to right: Fred Cash, Curtis Mayfield, and Sam Gooden. Once Curtis Mayfield left to pursue solo ventures, the group included various members but Sam and Fred were the mainstays. As a fact, they both still perform along with Willie Kitchens as the Impressions. The only member of the Impressions that is deceased is the late, great Curtis Mayfield.

This is great music, made more important by the passage of time. I urge you to listen and learn. As usual, Hip-O has done a superb job: great sound, rare photos, and an essay that adds detail and dimension to the legacy of the Impressions. Hear for yourself why this music matters more than ever.

If you don't know the Impressions, you need to check them out. It's hard to understand how a group that was this good and this successful can be so infrequently heard on oldies stations. Honestly, do we really need to hear "My Girl" or "Respect" 30 times a week when there is so much other worthy music out there??? Curtis Mayfield wrote songs that were catchy, fun, and had substance to them. When he, Fred Cash, and Sam Gooden sang in unison, it was like hearing one voice multi-tracked, until they split into their trademark harmonies.

Some of the album's highlights: "It's All Right" - one of the all-time feel-good songs; "Talking About My Baby" - a very upbeat love song; "People Get Ready" - a gorgeous piece of gospel with some of the loveliest vocals you will ever hear; "This Is My Country" - perhaps the best civil rights song ever written.

This is far and away the best single-disc compilation that has been done on the group (Hip-O finally managed to do something right). The only possible complaint might be the absence of "I've Been Trying", a lovely, soulful song that was emulated by Bob Marley on early Wailers tracks, but even that is not a major omission. If you like Motown or 60's soul, you should own this album.

This is an incredible cd I would encourage anyone who likes Contemporary Gospel to buy this cd I mean it is one of the best ultimate collections I have ever purchased and I love the whole cd the whole cd has some good tracks on it I really do enjoy each and everyone of these gentelemen the only one that is living now is Jerry Butler. Brook Benton and the Immaculate Incredible, Multi-talented Curtis Mayfield there is no way to describe this musical geinus he is deceased also..... This cd contains so many good hits that I can't even name them all But I will name my favorite tracks on the album: We are a Winner!!, Amen, People Get Ready, Your Choice of Colors , and Your Precious Love this is a wonderful awesome immaculate cd I love this whole album buy it there will never be another Ice-Man Jerry Butler, Brook Benton, and last but not least Curtis Mayfiled;R. Kelly is good but he cannot touch Curtis Mayfield!!!!

What a great Impression cd. I have alot of their music I just can't get enough of their music. My house was full of their music since I could remember. I knew the words to all their songs before I could write my name. "You've Been Cheating", me and my sister love dancing to. Excellent cd and I will continue on listening to this great music. Gypsy woman is my favorite song too.

If you feel like the world is getting you down, instead of going up on the roof and jumping - sit down and listen to this CD. It's life affirming. You'll instantly feel that if music this good exists then maybe, just maybe, this life is worth the struggle and with this as your soundtrack - baby, its the grease that makes the day glide by.

#13 Man Oh Man is astonishing everytime I listen to it.

By this and you soon will hold a piece of heaven. It's just that simple.

The opening track tells the story and future of this awesome group "FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE", doo wop and soul flows freely within this never-to-be-forgotten tune, setting the standards that would change the way we would be listening to American music.

All twenty tracks are classics, great job from Universal Music taking us back to so many wonderful memories...can only say, listen to one song on this "Ultimate Collection", and you know immediately...YOU'RE HOOKED by your favorite group from the '50s, '60s and '70s the first original sounds of R&B ~ THE IMPRESSIONS!

Total Time: 56:00 on 20 Tracks ~ Universal/Hip-O 314-556-738-2 ~ (2001)

I was at a Cyber Café working on a sequel to my book when the DJ played "We are a winner". It was so mesmerizing; so sweet that I had to put my pen down and see the DJ about who was playing that song? I was told Impression. I then bought the CD on my way home. The rest is history. This is GOLD in romantic music.
Dr. Israel King,Ph.D. Author of How To Keep A Man