Customer Reviews

The Very Best of Jackie Wilson

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Prince, Michael Jackson, and even The Godfather of Soul have to take a back seat to the stage presence of this man. My Father years ago told me about a performer who was like none other. Word was that women at his concert performances littered the stage with room keys, notes, and an occasional undergarment (so he MUST have been a Bad Man in the sexually repressed Fifties). It certainly comes through in his music. Wilson was a great performer, like none before him. Not as flamboyant as Little Richard, but better pipes, and more raw emotion that could ever be harnessed. he was. Moves as fluid as a ballet dancer combined with the athleticism of a boxer (which we was), passion, and a voice like an opera singer.

Jackie had a stroke while performing in New Jersey well over two decades ago, and somehow it seemed fitting that his career ended so suddenly on the stage, while giving his all.
I had heard some of these cuts before, but this puts together much of his greatness, maybe lacking only "Danny Boy". What a voice! He covered three octaves when he was rolling, as he did in many of these cuts. Hearing him sing "Doggin' Round" is nothing short of massive. "Baby Workout", "Reet Petite", and "To Be Loved" indeed showcase the great powerful excitement he could generate. Not only could he "Talk That Talk", he sure could walk that walk.

Check it out, and you will sing like he did: "I'll be Satisfied"!

I probably don't need to tell anyone reading this review that the Very Best of Jackie Wilson is a great album. This is probably the most comprehensive compilation available (short of a box set). Ace Records is an outstanding reissue company. But, when you order this through the CDNow Preferred Buyers club you'll receive The Very Best of Jackie Wilson as issued by Rhino Records. This version has about 8 tracks less than the Ace release. CDNow doesn't even carry the Ace version and the $9.99 price is a misprint. Don't get me wrong though, the Ace version is definitely worth the extra five bucks. As of now Amazon hasn't fixed the misprint, so I just wanted to save someone the frustration of ordering the CD waiting, and then having to return it, and re-order it from Amazon.

I'd give this collection five, maybe ten stars, but 'Chain Gang' is missing, which is utterly unforgivable! That being said, I think you'd be buying dynamite: Jackie Wilson was the greatest song-and-dance superstar (however underrated) that ever was! Poor Michael Jackson seems like a hoarse arthritic grandmother compared with this guy; I mean, what a performer! He could do EVERYTHING! Everything, that is, except live a happy life...

You, on the other hand, can. Don't you hear it ...'peaches'? The whisper's getting louder!: Stop lying to yourself, shed no more lonely teardrops, buy this CD right now and start getting the sweetest feelin'!

(Yeah, I know, I sound like a TV commercial. Whaddaya want? There's no pity in the naked city!)

As is typical for the UK Ace label, they were ahead of the curve with this 1987 release, gathering together Wilson's essential sides, and filling out a 24-track menu (62 minutes) with well selected rarities that span Wilson's entire career. Rhino's similarly titled single-disc retrospective checks in with eight fewer cuts, and the revitalized Brunswick's 2002 collection ("20 Greatest Hits") with four less. Masters are a mix of mono (1-3, 7, 9, 11-12, 15-16) and stereo (4-6, 8, 10, 13-14, 17-24). Those who want a more extensive catalog of Wilson's career (including a look at his earliest work with Billy Ward & The Dominoes, and a deeper helping of his early '70s soul sides) should look for a copy of Rhino's out-of-print 3-CD "Mr. Excitement," but most will be perfectly satisfied by this collection. [©2005 hyperbolium dot com]

Any fan of Jackie Wilson's would be proud to own this CD. The hits are his absolute greatest; and a few others are contained which, chances are, you have not heard before. And the songs are all original recordings, some in Mono, some in stereo. All sound magnificent, and to top that off, the price is an excellent value. Thus, if one likes to refer to themselves as a true oldies' fan, this collection of hits by one of the greatest and most versatile rock n'roll singers ever should not be passed up.

I first saw Jackie Wilson on TV in the late 1950's, and he knocked my socks off! He was my very favorite singer and his "Lonely Teardrops" was my favorite song. "Talk That Talk" was another favorite, but then, all of Jackie's songs were special. He had the moves and he could wail and make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I can't say many singers today affect me that way! This CD is the cream of the crop and brings back a lot of old memories. I miss Jackie Wilson, but his music is still available and sounds as good today as it did yesterday. Jackie was the real King of R&B and Soul.

There's no question that Jackie Wilson was truly one of the pioneers of Rock and Roll, but this album really falls short. Some of his best songs (including the irrepressible "Danny Boy") are missing, and substituted are some rare, non-descript, mild hits that miss the marks. When Jackie had a hit, you knew it...when Jackie was trying to fill up an album, then that was what you got. If you are collector of Jackie Wilson records, then this one might be worth having, but if you are looking for the definitive one, you could probably find something more complete.

Jackie Wilson, whose style of music was at the R+B end of the rock'n'roll spectrum, had a long string of hits in America during the fifties and sixties but it was only in the eighties that he made any real impact in Britain (a few years after he died) following the use of one of his songs in a TV commercial.
UK fans will recognize Reet petite (a number one UK hit) and two other major UK hits, I get the sweetest feeling and Your love has lifted me higher and higher (a song that has been covered by many other singers including Dolly Parton and Rita Coolidge). All these songs had been huge American hits for Jackie in the fifties and sixties.

Among Jackie's other American hits, this collection includes Lonely teardrops, That's why I love you so, Night, To be loved, I'll be satisfied, Whispers getting louder and A woman a lover a friend.

It is amazing that Jackie made little impact in the UK during his lifetime but, helped by the Commodores' tribute song (Nightshift) and some TV commercials, he has gained a measure of posthumous recognition.

This collection provides an excellent introduction to Jackie's music including all the tracks that really matter.

Prince, Michael Jackson, and even The Godfather of Soul have to take a back seat to the stage presence of this man. My Father years ago told me about a performer who was like none other. Word was that women at his concert performances littered the stage with room keys, notes, and an occsional undergarment (so he MUST have been a Bad Man in the sexually repressed Fifties). It certainly comes through in his music. Wilson was a great performer, like none before him. Not as flamboyant as Little Richard, but better pipes, and more raw emotion that could ever be harnessed. he was. Moves as fluid as a ballet dancer combined with the athleticism of a boxer (which we was), passion, and a voice like an opera singer.

Jackie had a stroke while performing in New Jersey well over two decades ago, and somehow it seemed fitting that his career ended so suddenly on the stage, while giving his all.

I had heard some of these cuts before, but this puts together much of his greatness, maybe lacking only "Danny Boy". What a voice! He covered three octaves when he was rolling, as he did in many of these cuts. Hearing him sing "Doggin' Round" is nothing short of massive. "Baby Workout", "Reet Petite", and "To Be Loved" indeed showcase the great powerful excitement he could generate. Not only could he "Talk That Talk", he sure could walk that walk.

Check it out, and you will sing like he did: "I'll be Satisfied"!

This CD just does the job: it's an excellent introduction to a great artist. The sound quality is good, the tracks are representative of Jackie's career, and even if some great songs are missing EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE IT!!!