The Very Best of Change

Change | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino Records
• ASIN: B0012PJZPS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,904 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #89 in Music > Dance & DJ > Disco

Track Listings

1. A Lover's Holiday

2. Searching

3. The Glow of Love

4. Paradise

5. Hold Tight

6. The Very Best in You

7. Hard Times (It's Gonna Be Alright)

8. This Is Your Time

9. Don't Wait Another Night

10. Change of Heart

11. You Are My Melody

12. Say You Love Me Again

13. Turn on Your Radio

14. Let's Go Together

Editorial Reviews

The Italian and American dance/funk/Euro-disco outfit Change began itscareer with the 1980 debut LP The Glow Of Love, a Billboard® Top 10R&B/#29 pop album. On stand-outs including the title track and Searching, both featured on this essential 14-cut, career-spanning compilation, the innovative group showcased the vocal talents of Luther Vandross before he went on to solo stardom. Other highlights and more from Change's subsequent albums for Atlantic through 1985 include A Lover's Holiday, Hold Tight, This Is Your Time, and The Very Best In You.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music from heaven!, February 13, 2003

By 

Patrik Andersson (Stockholm Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Very Best of (Audio CD)

As a researcher of the music empire of Jacques Fred Petrus Change was the crown jewel in that empire that also included other great acts like The B. B. & Q. band, High fashion and Peter Jacques band. Let's start with a brief history of the band that could be nice to have before buying this record.

It all started in Italy in 1979 when the Guadeloupe born businessman and (executive) producer Jacques Fred Petrus (1949-1987) and his closest companion, the Italian mastermind musician Mauro Malavasi, decided to launch a new band after working together a couple of years (formed Goody Music Records around 1975). They decided to call their new project Change and released the debut album in 1980. The album became highly successful including five Grammy awards.

Right from the start Change was a merge between Europe and U.S.A. as Petrus and Malavasi used Italian musicians (Mauro Malavasi, Davide Romani and Paulo Gianolio among others) and American vocalists (Luther Vandross, Diva Gray and later James "Crabs" Robinson and Timmy Allen for example). It was the efforts of Luther Vandross on the debut album that made him one of the biggest names in soul music a couple of years later.

From the beginning Change was just a studio concept though, with several "Change" touring around America, but in 82 they got a more solid band structure. A studio concept or not Change made some really strong albums between 1980-1984 but after a poor release in 1985 they split up and Change was history. Jacques Fred Petrus was sadly murdered in 1987 at his home in his native country of Guadeloupe after an argument outside his club in Saint-Anne that got out of hand. Mauro Malavasi however, is today a successful songwriter and producer in Italy that been producing Andrea Bocceli and other great singers.

This lovely and brilliant CD, recorded in a superb and professional way with some generous liner notes, covers a tasteful mix of tracks from all their albums between 1980 and 1985, from the early disco influenced albums to the later much more R&B influenced ones. You can for example hear "A lover's holiday" and "Searching" from 1980, the smooth dance track "Hold tight" and Chic-like "Paradise" from 1981, the slick dance gem "The very best in you" from 1982 and the Jam/Lewis hits of "Change of heart" and "You are my melody" from 1984 (one of the best albums that year by the way).

The only downside is that the three tracks from the 1980 debut album are not full album versions, just single versions. Luckily though the rest of the tracks are full album versions. Despite that mistake this CD gives nonetheless an excellent introduction to Change for the never-heard-of-it persons and a comprehensive collection of their best music for the already convinced ones. But even if you like dance music the slightest little bit, try it out, you wont be disappointed!

Music is a universal language of peace!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great collection of 80's dance-soul!, November 18, 2002

By 

Per Akesson (Malmoe, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Very Best of (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful collection of songs from Change and it's about time they had a "Greatest Hits" released as they certainly did release great hits back in the day. It's easy to take your pick here really as ALL the tracks are that good! From the early days when Luther fronted the group to their later releases featuring James "Crabs" Robinson, Deborah Cooper and Rick Brennan. My favorite track is "Hold Tight" which has a haunting chorus and superbly executed, we're talking high quality music here folks! And I'm also referring to the fact that not only is the singing remarkable but also the music itself speaks volumes of the high musicianship that were always so evident on all their albums. Nuff said, other highlights for me are of course the late chart hit "Change Of Heart" which in a way paved the way for Jam & Lewis. It's also great to see the lesser known tracks such as "Don't Wait Another Night" which did chart back in the Summer of 1983 and the vibrant "You Are My Melody". I don't have anymore to say except, go and BUY IT NOW you won't regret it. On a positive note, it's reassuring to know that the Japanese know quality music when they see it as they released "Miracles", "Sharing Your Love" and "Change Of Heart" on CD back in 2000. However, there is a new US release on its way (November 19) which contains both "Miracles" and "Change Of Heart". It would be nice to see those other 2 that are still missing in CD format, "This Is Your Time" and "Turn On Your Radio" to be finally released on CD as well.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a Chic RIPOFF, June 10, 2000

By 

Reginald D. Garrard "the G-man" (Camilla, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Very Best of (Audio CD)

Many may have considered Change to be a clone of Chic. Granted, there are some similiarities: both featured dynamic bass lines in their music; they were fronted by mostly studio singers; they both had their time in the spotlight during the late 70's and early 80's. However, Change did score on the charts with some significant dance tunes.

"A Lover's Holiday," the group's debut single, is a very danceable tune that fits nicely with the current crop of pop hits. "Searching" and "The Glow of Love" benefit immensely from the vocals of the then-unknown Luther Vandross.

My favorite selections are the dynamic "Paradise," "Change of Heart," and "Turn On Your Radio."

The only regret is that Rhino chose not to include the tune "Stop for Love," a gem that is beautifully sung and orchestrated.