The Ultimate Collection

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Customer reviews

review by: Bishbaby date: 2007-05-09 rating:
Emotion without sentiment
Some soul artists had one big British hit that still gets played over and over , like Otis Redding's 'Dock Of The Bay' and Candi Staton's 'Young Hearts Run Free'. These were not their best songs, they are just the catchy, poppy ones that got on to radio playlists. The complaicancy or even contempt that comes from the over familiarity of these songs can make you overlook the wealth of great music that these artists recorded. br / br /Another case in point is 'Lovely Day' from Bill Withers. We get a fine weather forecast, and no DJ in the world can resist playing it! It's a good song, but the repetition in the chorus can grate a bit when you hear it over and over. br / br /It is a wicked waste to judge Bill Withers from that song alone. 'Lean On Me' is a far better guide to his talent and his facility. He could write and sing a song and make it tender and emotional, but also avoid cheap sentiment, and keep it real. He is a man's man. br / br /Songs like 'Grandma's Hands' and 'Aint No Sunshine' are quite simple yet very effective. They just blow me away. Another less well known favorite of mine is 'I Wish You Well'. br / br /There are other Bill Withers compilations around, but this one is a double and has 35 tracks. I believe that a double is justified to cover the number of great songs that he recorded. br / br /Get over 'Lovely Day' and treat yourself to some wonderful music from an often overlooked talent.

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review by: date: 2006-12-30 rating:
Hello, Like Before - yet better for the years
Funny thing, memory; always loved those Bill Withers songs, played over and over way back when. Then over the years, hearing just the same few on the radio, ('Lovely Day', anyone?), though enjoyable as ever, I guess I gradually forgot just how great a songwriter and interpreter this man is. Discovering this wonderful album, in response to a request from my beautiful, musical daughter, it immediately came home to me just how well observed many of these songs, these slices of life, really are. In 8 short but active musical years, Withers gave us not only 'Ain't No Sunshine', 'Use Me' and 'Grandma's Hands', but also the relentless 'Who Is He (And What Is He To You), the respectful, tender 'Hello Like Before', and that anthemic gospel of brotherly love, 'Lean On Me'. br /This one man, in so short a time, made a remarkable contribution to popular song; so much so that, for decades, he was able to stand back as a performer while major artists queued up to record his songs. His real achievement, however, is in the simplicity of his songs. Typically understated, like the man himself, they say so much with so few words, words that sound fresh even today. Subtle, imaginative rhyme stuctures convey meaningful messages; reflection, tenderness, longing and more effortlessly flow from track after track. This is not to say that every song here is an all time classic, but with thirty five cuts on two CD's, it's impossible to believe that anyone reading this would fail to be touched by the grace and elegance of this highly articulate master of simplicity. Buy the album, as I did, and renew your acquaintance with your better side. Highly recommended.

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review by: date: 2001-06-28 rating:
A Fantastic Repeat on Random album!!
I took a gamble buying this album because I hadn't really heard much stuff by Bill Withers. But this album really is superb! If you enjoy a good bass line and groovy rythm this album is a must.


review by: date: 2001-05-08 rating:
What can i say? This is absolutely brilliant!
The man is a genius, he really is! This album is better than any other i have heard. Every track is good (no duff ones in this collection) and the majority of them are absolutely brilliant. You have all the classics on there such as Lovely Day, Ain't no Sunshine, Lean on Me and Harlem as well as the more obscure tracks like Grandma's hands and Just The Two Of Us. There are also remixes of Lovely Day, Ain't no Sunshine and Harlem which are a treat in themselves! If you like music which is both chilled and soulful then this is a must buy for you. ENJOY!

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