Me and Mrs. Jones: The Best of Billy Paul

Billy Paul

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 6, 1999)
• Original Release Date: April 6, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000IIWW
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,813 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > R&B > Soul > Philly Soul

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Billy Paul might've been just an archetypal '70s Philly-soul love man with a slightly over-formal jazz-trained voice, melodramatic arrangements, and one great cheating song (the title track), but there was a side of him that was a revolutionary dressed as a Casanova: some of his best crooning was in the service of black power. Curtis Mayfield's early solo work is the obvious template for epics such as "Black Wonders of the World," but recasting Paul McCartney's "Let 'Em In" as a civil rights anthem is a stroke of genius only a populist like Billy Paul could've had. The lighter, more apolitical songs here sometimes stagger under their Gamble-Huff production, but when Paul gets a chance to cut loose and jazz up a Dylan tune with a piano trio, it's a treat. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the best songs Billy has recorded, April 9, 1999

By A Customer

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!!!!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent Billy Paul Sampler, October 4, 2000

By	James A. Allio "aheyheynow" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TOTALLY AWESOME PHILLY CLASSICS~BRAVO BILLY PAUL!!!, May 29, 2004

By	Bradly Briggs (TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Rich and mellow tones and lots of passion make Billy Paul a peerless singer who is sadly overlooked even with the #1 Masterpiece "Me And Mrs. Jones" which was one of the biggest hits of the 70's and all the rest in this great collection match this classic!!! Dexter Wansel wrote and the brilliant Bobby Martin arranged the sentimental and moody "Billy's Back Home" plus the incredible Gamble/Huff "Black Wonders Of The World" which is a mesmerizing musical journey with Billy all over the map with a total engrossing vocal that is 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 athem for equality while saluting greats of the past making this a cooker that is totally unforgettable. As this great collection progresses you will realize that no male voice quite matches this one as it is incredibly great with a wonderful loose jazz sense to it that is winning and unusual. "Be Truthful To Me" has a driving rhythm and a great soulful vocal that is amazing and so loose and funky!!! Never had anyone done an Elton John cover that matches Billy's engaging take on "Your Song" and does it ever cook and I always use the repeat button on this awesome stunner!!! So loose and so soulful is this incredible singer that I cannot get enough of this guy as he is incomparable and makes all these great songs his own and the definitive versions!!! Just get this collection and by the time you get this far you will realize that you have made a rare musical discovery that is going to give you years of pleasure from here on out!!! "Thanks For Saving My Life" is another awesome cooker and every song throughtout this incredible collection will blow you away-guaranteed!!! Bravo Billy!!!! You are awesome and I wish you the best of everything life can give as you deserve it...