Customer Reviews

Very Best of

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

 

 

Motown never gave the fiery voiced Edwin Starr anything resembling a decent retrospective - until now. Even though they have owned Starr's `65-66 Ric Tic label hits ("Agent Double-O-Soul," "Stop Her On Sight," "Headline News," "Back Street") since his contract was acquired in 1967, these soul classics weren't included on the only previous Starr best of (Superstar Series, Volume 3). This collection includes them all, along with a nice surprise: the 1966 R & B top tenner "I'll Love You Forever." Credited to The Holidays (a studio group), this recording anonymously featured Starr at his most mellow.

All of Starr's biggest Motown solo hits are here as well (of course). The ultra-funky "Twenty-Five Miles" was his first hit at the label and probably his best recording ever. It'll have you "ah-ah-ah-ah-ing" for days. The number one hit (pop and R & B) "War" carries a simple, classic message, made all the more urgent by Starr's frenetic delivery. "Stop The War Now" was its less than clever follow-up while "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" (along with the Temptations' "Psychedelic Shack") is `70s Motown at its most dated. Still, since both singles were top 10 R& B hits, they do merit inclusion.

The most significant recording missing here is Starr's 1969 charting duet with the legendary Blinky on his composition "Oh How Happy" (a bigger hit initially in 1966 by The Shades Of Blue). Other minor favorites left off include Starr's original version of "You've Got My Soul On Fire" from 1973 (made into a top 10 R & B hit by the Temptations the following year) and the theme song to the 1974 Blaxpoitation film Hell Up In Harlem. At fourteen tracks and less than 42 minutes in length, there certainly was room for all of them on this collection.

Edwin Starr is an excellent vocalist of the 60s and 70s. The song "War" has amazing Motown-esque ad-libs that will knock you off your feet. "War" is definitely in my top 10 favorite 60s songs of all time. This disc captures the decade in such a perfect manner and follows up the song "War" with the related "Stop the War Now", which is also an amazing vocal performance. "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On" is one of my favorites off this album. The classic "25 Miles" is played everytime I put the disc in and I never get tired of it. If you like the songs "25 Miles" and "War" and aren't sure about buying the entire CD for two songs, I will have you know that you will most certainly get your money's worth after purchasing this CD. Power vocals fill every song. Also, I was worried that the production quality might be bad, however, I was very wrong. This is one of the best-sounding CDs I own. It is a definite must-buy.

if you think you are getting a collection of the original hits by Edwin Starr. These are not the original recordings. And this is not the VERY BEST of Edwin Starr. These are from 1989 sessions of Edwin singing over 1979 drum machine/synthesized bass & string arrangements of his original hits, plus filler like a cover of "Walking in Rhythm." The only thing preventing me from giving this zero stars is the fact that Edwin is in okay voice on these tracks. Caveat emptor baby.

Edwin Starr is noted for the song, "War," and there are others on here that are also very good. Five stars for the popularity back in the day of good old rock n roll.

The version of "25 Miles" is not the one that was a hit and is in fact horrible -- disco-ed up or something. A real disappointment that made me chuck the disc. Where the hell is the great version that I've heard on the radio?

Reviewer: James Bagley (see more about me) from Sanatoga, PA USA
and
Reviewer: Fuamoni (see more about me) from Saginaw, MI USA ...

Why are these reviews posted for this release?? The titles mentioned in the reviews, with one exception ("Twenty-Five Miles"), have nothing to do with this disc (Edwin Starr, "The Very Best").