Gwen McCrae - The Best Of - 2004

THE BEST OF GWEN MCCRAE covers 19 of the best singles by the Florida-based soul and disco singer, featuring her 1975 Top 10 hit "Rockin' Chair." Apart from the improved packaging, this 2004 release from EMI U.K. subsidiary Stateside is a mirror version of the same-titled compilation released by Sequel in 1992. It covers McCrae's first four albums, all of which were released during the latter half of the '70s for the Cat label, and incorporates three duets performed with husband George McCrae. It's too bad there wasn't the room -- or means? -- to include 1981's "Funky Sensation," a brilliant dance single helmed by Kenton Nix (see Taana Gardner's classic post-disco hits for West End, like "Heartbeat"). That song, as well as the drop-dead stunning "90 Percent of Me Is You" (which is included), have been sampled dozens upon dozens of times by hip-hop sample fiends. Otherwise, there isn't much to take issue with here. All of the significant chart hits -- "Love Insurance," "Rockin' Chair," "For Your Love," "Cradle of Love" -- are contained, along with some of the better album cuts. ~ Andy Kellman Digitally remastered collection from the wife of singer George McCrae who hit it big with her single "Rockin' Chair". She was brought to the "Motown Of The South" at Henry Stone's Alston Records originally by singer Betty Wright in the 1960's and remained to join in the TK stable through the 70's where both she and her husband enjoyed monumental success. She worked with Wright and Clarence "Blowfly" Reid as well as Willie Clark and both were pivotal to the TK success story.