If there's a downside to the proliferation of box sets and greatest-hits packages, it's that artists are often reduced to little more than their smash singles and memorable B-sides. As a chance to hear James Brown as a full-album artist, Say It Loud: I'm Black and I'm Proud is well worth owning. Recorded in 1969, at the height of Brown's powers, this does contain several known songs, chief among them the fierce title track and the sexy "Licking Stick." But listen to Brown tear into the mournful "I Guess I'll Have to Cry, Cry, Cry" or the bluesy "Let Them Talk" and you will get a true sense of the breadth of Brown's many talents. --Amy Linden

Arranger: Fabrizio Palma.Within weeks of winning first place on the television show Amici di Maria de Filippi, Alessandra Amoroso unveiled her solo debut EP, Stupida, which is partly comprised of familiar material. Three of the tracks were previously released on the Amici di Maria de Filippi various-artists compilation Scialla (2009), and the title track had been debuted by Amoroso live on the show's season finale episode on March 25, 2009. Though it's brief at only seven tracks, and several of the songs are familiar, Stupida is chock-full of highlights and makes for an impressive debut release by the 22-year-old singer. The three previously released songs from the Amici di Maria de Filippi compilation are all impressive. "Find a Way," originally sung in English, is sung in Italian here... Less

Full title: Impressed: 24 Groups Inspired By The Impressions & Curtis Mayfield. Performers include: The Expressions, Voice Masters, The Falcons, The Poets, The Climates, The Larks, The Marvellos, The Saints, Four Puzzles, The Mad Lads, The Brilliants, The Dontells, Detroit Emeralds, The Notations, The Sonics, The Manhattans, The Enjoyables.Liner Note Author: Ady Croasdell. Arrangers: Floyd Morris; Lincoln Mayorga; Miles Grayson; Rene Hall; Artie Butler; Sonny Sanders; Willie Mitchell; Riley Hampton.Stars inspire imitation, and you don't have to be a musicologist to be familiar with a lot of songs and artists that have imitated singers and genres like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Motown, Bob Dylan, and so forth. It's not always remembered, though, that some smaller-scale stars also inspired... Less

Personnel: Smokey Robinson (vocals); The Miracles (vocals); Timothy Bloom (various instruments, background vocals); Daryl Holley Sr. (guitar); Hiroshi Upshur (keyboards); Larry Ball (bass instrument). Liner Note Author: Steven Ivory.Few artists have had as much impact on soul music as William "Smokey" Robinson. During his decades-spanning career, Robinson has penned and/or performed some of the greatest songs to ever grace Motown Records. Smokey's voice is instantly recognizable and alluring, a tenor so beguiling it even caused British New Romantic act ABC to write "When Smokey Sings." MY WORLD: THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION surveys Robinson's monumental recording history, and offers up two new songs.MY WORLD opens with the title track, a soothing ballad, while "Fallin'" is a slice of... Less

After landing a hip-hop dream job, lending her voice to Mystikal's club jam "Danger (Been So Long)," Nivea followed up with a notable self-titled debut, marching down the rap-meets-soul trail that was first prominently blazed by Mary J. Blige in the 1990s. While Nivea's 2005 sophomore effort, COMPLICATED, features up-to-the-minute beats, high-profile guest artists (R.Kelly, the ubiquitous Lil Jon), and attitude to spare, there is something extra that sets her apart. Perhaps it's the sincerity of songs penned with her husband (Terius Nash), particularly the '80s-era title-track ballad (complete with expansive guitar solo) or maybe it's the retro nature of many tunes here, exemplified by the Stylistics- sampling hook of the engagingly sweet "I Can't Mess with You."Nivea's voice naturally... Less

Master P, the king of do-it-yourself hip-hop business, calls in a stack of favors to build the soundtrack to his new movie I Got the Hook-Up! The Master's two tracks (a title song and "Hook It Up") are surprisingly lithe performances surrounded by top-flight cuts Ice Cube, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Grammy favorite Ol' Dirty Bastard, Jay-Z, and others. The result is an overview of current commercial hip-hop styles ranging from the unrepentant G-grams of Cube and Snoop--the latter boasts of his two felony convictions, an interesting stance from an artist who recently left Death Row Records due to his fear of the company's criminal element--to Montell Jordan and Mary Brown's midtempo romantic jam "Down with You." So the inside cover photo is blurry; the music's not. --Rickey Wright

Hip-hop's hardcore tends to take a very dim view of commercialism in rap. As many hardcore rappers see it, Middle America already made a mockery of rock, blues, and jazz and has equally dishonorable intentions where rap is concerned. So when an artist as commercial and mainstream as Paula Abdul served as an executive producer on this pop-rap effort, rap's hardcore responded with anger and resentment. But instead of condemning The Adventures of MC Skat Kat because it isn't a Public Enemy or 2Pac Shakur album, it's best to take it for what it is: a cute, often amusing novelty item. The tunes are delivered from the perspective of the animated feline rapper known as MC Skat Kat, whose amusing song titles include "I Ain't No Kitty," "No Dogs Allowed," and "New Kat Swing." This is rap that's... Less

Grammy® - nominated entertainer Omarion makes his long awaited return to the scene with his third studio album, Ollusion Throughout each record on the forthcoming release, Omarion showcases his growth as an artist and entertainer. Omarion is back with an updated sound and truly consistent album that proves he has grown up, as his fans have. The triple threat known for his vocal, dancing and acting abilities, penned and co-produced all of the songs on Ollusion. Producers who collaborated on the album include Tank, King, Detail and 253, among others; along with guest appearances by Gucci Mane and Fabolous. The premiere single, "I Get It In," has Omarion reuniting with producer Tank (responsible for title track and first single "O" on the last album). The song is an up-tempo banger... Less

Luther Vandross had so many hits throughout the 1980s and '90s, and--more importantly--was such an influential R&B stylist, that any attempt to sum him up on a single-disc compilation is somewhat futile. Still, 2006's ULTIMATE LUTHER VANDROSS, which modified the track list of the 2001 collection of the same name, does an admirable job of capturing the artist's achievement. Naturally, the set includes the singer's biggest hits, including "Here and Now," "The Power of Love/Love Power," and "Don't Want to Be a Fool," among many others, but this version of ULTIMATE has the jump on the earlier version with its inclusion of songs from Vandross's highly successful 2003 release DANCE WITH MY FATHER, including the dramatically moving title track and his duet with Beyonce on "The Closer I Get to... Less

Luther Vandross had so many hits throughout the 1980s and '90s, and--more importantly--was such an influential R&B stylist, that any attempt to sum him up on a single-disc compilation is somewhat futile. Still, 2006's ULTIMATE LUTHER VANDROSS, which modified the track list of the 2001 collection of the same name, does an admirable job of capturing the artist's achievement. Naturally, the set includes the singer's biggest hits, including "Here and Now," "The Power of Love/Love Power," and "Don't Want to Be a Fool," among many others, but this version of ULTIMATE has the jump on the earlier version with its inclusion of songs from Vandross's highly successful 2003 release DANCE WITH MY FATHER, including the dramatically moving title track and his duet with Beyonce on "The Closer I Get to... Less

Red Cloud is a Christian rapper. This must be mentioned first, not because of the clutch of proselytizing numbers found on this set, but for the far more subtle impact religion seems to have had on both this album and its artist. Drawn to hip-hop from childhood, the former gang-banger was born again, and invariably decided to evangelize through rap. Red Cloud was already juggling dual ethnic identities -- Native American and Mexican, with the Anglo world he resided in -- but Christianity seems to have widened his perspective, opening the door to other cultures and musical styles. Thus Is This Thing On? is a wild ride, with the album's sermonizing leavened by plenty of humor. "When Kenpo Strikes" is a brilliant case in point, re-imagining Carl Douglas' paean to "King Fu Fighting" flicks as... Less

It's one thing to recycle popular songs that have been compiled on dozens of other discs, but it's another thing entirely when inferior versions appear instead of the originals. Below the track listing on each volume of St. Clair's Gold Collection series, the consumer is informed -- in very small lettering -- that the songs are not the original versions. Instead, they are either live takes or "new stereo recordings." These comps should be hard to give away, let alone sell. Gold Collection: Soul Classics follows suit, with undesirable versions of Ray Charles' "I'm Moving On," Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "For the Love of Money," the Commodores' "Baby This Is Forever," Johnny Otis' "Willie and the Hand Jive," and Percy Sledge's "You're All Around Me." ~ Andy Kellman

Each Essential Limited Edition 3.0 expanded 3-CD set features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from superstar artists, including material not previously available in an Essential package. Definitive, career-spanning and comprehensive, The Essential 3.0 series features all of the must-have selections from the biggest names in music history--now with a 3rd disc! Now available for the first time in eco-friendly cardboard packaging. The Essential Series has sold more than 18 million units worldwide across 60+ titles!

Grammy® - nominated entertainer Omarion makes his long awaited return to the scene with his third studio album, Ollusion Throughout each record on the forthcoming release, Omarion showcases his growth as an artist and entertainer. Omarion is back with an updated sound and truly consistent album that proves he has grown up, as his fans have. The triple threat known for his vocal, dancing and acting abilities, penned and co-produced all of the songs on Ollusion. Producers who collaborated on the album include Tank, King, Detail and 253, among others; along with guest appearances by Gucci Mane and Fabolous. The premiere single, "I Get It In," has Omarion reuniting with producer Tank (responsible for title track and first single "O" on the last album). The song is an up-tempo banger... Less

Classic Soul Love Songs collects ten romantic tracks culled mainly from the '60s and early '70s that appeared on the pop and soul charts of that era. Some of the highlights from this budget-priced collection include "Rainy Night in Georgia" (Brook Benton), "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" (Sam & Dave), "Rock Your Baby" (George McCrae), "Let It Be Me" (Betty Everett and Jerry Butler), and "Oh Girl" (the Chi-Lites). ~ Al Campbell

Though critically acclaimed, like many of the artists picked up by the Mush brethren, Baltimore MC Omar Akbar has remained something of an undiscovered hero. Mush seeks to rectify this crime by collating the pick of the material from eight albums that spanned 1993 through 2000 on his own Ankh Ba Records. The timelessness of these tracks is nothing if not a testament to their quality, with backroom Professor Max Mineblo keeping his production low key, utilizing a number of simple loops that allow Lab's schizophrenic flow the freedom to flourish. Spiritual musings as well as day-to-day chitchat are kept interesting through skips of tempo occurring as often as changes in delivery. ~ Kingsley Marshall

Though critically acclaimed, like many of the artists picked up by the Mush brethren, Baltimore MC Omar Akbar has remained something of an undiscovered hero. Mush seeks to rectify this crime by collating the pick of the material from eight albums that spanned 1993 through 2000 on his own Ankh Ba Records. The timelessness of these tracks is nothing if not a testament to their quality, with backroom Professor Max Mineblo keeping his production low key, utilizing a number of simple loops that allow Lab's schizophrenic flow the freedom to flourish. Spiritual musings as well as day-to-day chitchat are kept interesting through skips of tempo occurring as often as changes in delivery. ~ Kingsley Marshall

Personnel: Benjamin Zephaniah (vocals); Trevor Morais (vocals, drums, programming, background vocals); De'borah Asher (rap vocals); Alvin Lee (guitar); Phil Palmer (acoustic guitar); Jamie West Oram (electric guitar); Rick Smith (strings); Rupert Heaven (saxophone, alto saxophone); Jean Alain Roussel, Howard Mumford Jones (keyboards); Aref Durvesh (tabla).Audio Mixer: Ruadhri Cushnan. Arranger: Trevor Morais.Benjamin Zephaniah is better known in the English-speaking world for his books of poetry and children's fiction, but his latest musical release, Naked, should help in bringing his immense ability as a spoken word artist greater appreciation and recognition. Naked is a profoundly moving work, with Zephaniah's intense, provocative poems set over dub-inspired trip-hop beats. Zephaniah... Less

Each Essential Limited Edition 3.0 expanded 3-CD set features the biggest hits and best-loved songs from superstar artists, including material not previously available in an Essential package. Definitive, career-spanning and comprehensive, The Essential 3.0 series features all of the must-have selections from the biggest names in music history--now with a 3rd disc! Now available for the first time in eco-friendly cardboard packaging. The Essential Series has sold more than 18 million units worldwide across 60+ titles!

Japanese only SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Universal. 2009.

Japanese only SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Universal. 2009.

1. Thong Song (Karaoke Version) - Sisqo - Artist Name for Song Reference Only2. I Got a Man (Karaoke Version) - Positive K - Artist Name for Song Reference Only3. Rump Shaker (Karaoke Version) - Wreckx N Effect - Artist Name for Song Reference Only4. Baby's Got Back (Karaoke Version) - Sir Mix-A-Lot - Artist Name for Song Reference Only5. Who Let the Dogs Out (Karaoke Version) - Baha-Men - Artist Name for Song Reference Only6. Thong Song (Vocal Version) - Sisqo - Artist Name for Song Reference Only7. I Got a Man (Vocal Version) - Positive K - Artist Name for Song Reference Only8. Rump Shaker (Vocal Version) - Wreckx N Effect - Artist Name for Song Reference Only9. Baby's Got Back (Vocal Version) - Sir Mix-A-Lot - Artist Name for Song Reference Only10. Who Let the Dogs Out (Vocal Version)... Less

Personnel includes: Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5.Producers include: Bobby Taylor, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino, Hal Davis, Brian Holland. Compilation producers: Harry Weinger, Anthony Ellis.Recorded between 1969 and 1975. Includes liner notes by Brian Chin.All tracks have been digitally remastered.Liner Note Author: Brian Chin .Recording information: 02/1970. Arrangers: James Anthony Carmichael; David Blumberg; Fonce Mizell; Gene Page; David Van De Pitte; John Bahler; Bob West .Released in January of 2002, Motown's Love Songs contains 14 love songs and ballads Michael Jackson recorded, either by himself or with the Jackson 5, during his time on Motown in the early '70s. There are a few familiar songs here, such as "Who's Lovin' You," but the Love Songs series prides itself on mood, not... Less

1. Dancing in the Street (Karaoke Version) - Martha and the Vandellas - Artist Name for Song Reference Only2. Baby I Need Your Lovin' (Karaoke Version) - Four Tops - Artist Name for Song Reference Only3. Baby Love (Karaoke Version) - Diana Ross and the Supremes - Artist Name for Song Reference Only4. The Way You Do the Things You Do (Karaoke Version) - Temptations The - Artist Name for Song Reference Only5. I'll Be Doggone (Karaoke Version) - Marvin Gaye - Artist Name for Song Reference Only6. Dancing in the Street (Vocal Version) - Martha and the Vandellas - Artist Name for Song Reference Only7. Baby I Need Your Lovin' (Vocal Version) - Four Tops - Artist Name for Song Reference Only8. Baby Love (Vocal Version) - Diana Ross and the Supremes - Artist Name for Song Reference Only9. The... Less

"ResiNation is a noun and a verb, profound and disturbed, dope sounds have emerged" t.E.C.K! and K-Cromozone have shared the stage with the likes of Atmosphere, the Beatnuts and Murs (Living Legends) among others. K-cromozone has alot of versatility when it comes to song-writing. The ResiNation LP has a slew of stories on it, a few songs that address politics, and a few songs where he play lingyistic misfit and just throws together syllables over some t.E.C.K! bangers. Along with making an appearance on every Educated Consumers release to date, K-Crome has been in many emcee battles including the Brainstrorm battle (Seattle, Wash), although he's never advanced past the semi-finals in a battle, K's claim to fame is never being eliminated in the first round of a battle. He has been known... Less

The cross-dressing artist- provocateur Alexis Gideon's debut solo album veers wildly from the eccentric hip-hop of "Triumvirate," to the off-kilter electronica of "Liophant," to the 1980s synth-pop recreations of "Casio Elation." The one common denominator is his antsy eclecticism, which thankfully hits more often than it misses.

Personnel includes: Babyface, LL Cool J.Producers: Babyface, L.A. Reid, Daryl Simmons, Gerald Baillergeau, L.L. Cool J.Compilation producer: Leo Sacks.Digitally remastered by Joseph M. Palmaccio (Sony Music Studios, New York, New York).Personnel: Michael Hart Thompson (guitar); Kenny G (saxophone); Gerald Albright (tenor saxophone); Ray Brown (trumpet); Reggie C. Young (trombone); Greg Phillinganes, Kenneth Crouch (piano); Gerald Baillergeau (keyboards, drum programming); L.A. Reid (drums, percussion); Sheila E. (percussion); Bryce Wilson (drum programming); Kenny Terry, Jr., Howard Hewett, Jeffrey Daniels, Jody Watley, Mariah Carey, Shanice, Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris (background vocals).Unknown Contributor Role: Kayo.Arranger: Mariah Carey.This set, released in 2001, contains 75... Less

Best Of Earth Wind & Fire CD 1 1. Boogie Wonderland 2. Fantasy 3. Got to Get You Into My Life 4. After the Love Has Gone 5. Let's Groove 6. Saturday Night 7. September 8. Can't Let You Go 9. Magic Mind 10. Star CD 2 1. Fall in Love With Me 2. Happy Feeling 3. I'll Write a Song For You 4. Runnin' 5. You and I 6. Let Your Feelings Show - (Albume Version) 7. Rock That! 8. Serpentine Fire 9. Wait 10. In the Stone Format: 2x CD, Schuber Label: Mastercuts Gold Firma/Company: Apace Music Bestell-Nr./Catalo g#: MCUTGCD01 VÖ/Released: 2. Februar 2007 Land/Country: UK Interpret/Artist: Earth Wind & Fire Titel/Title: Best Of Genre: Funk EAN/UPC: 876492001630

During the early R&B and doo wop era artists often toured in packages, taking the stage for a quick set of four or five songs, then clearing out of the way for the next act to do its four or five songs, and in some ways that's what this "meets" series from Collectables feels like, which combines two complementary acts -- five songs apiece. This one combines the vocal groups Lee Williams & the Cymbals with the Pretenders, and the pairing works pretty well, although the whole disc is over in 20 minutes. You're going to hear a song or two or three you like, though, and the series is budget priced, so it's a tradeoff. Call it the briefest of introductions to each artist -- just like those old package concert tours. ~ Steve Leggett

During the early R&B and doo wop era artists often toured in packages, taking the stage for a quick set of four or five songs, then clearing out of the way for the next act to do its four or five songs, and in some ways that's what this "meets" series from Collectables feels like, which combines two complementary acts -- five songs apiece. This one combines the vocal groups Lee Williams & the Cymbals with the Pretenders, and the pairing works pretty well, although the whole disc is over in 20 minutes. You're going to hear a song or two or three you like, though, and the series is budget priced, so it's a tradeoff. Call it the briefest of introductions to each artist -- just like those old package concert tours. ~ Steve Leggett