Best Of Joe Sample CD

The Best of Joe Sample is an effective introduction to his popular recordings for Warner Brothers. Since it's designed for a casual fan, the collection contains no surprises -- there aren't any unreleased items, only numbers like "Chain Reaction," "Hippies on a Corner," "Summertime," and "Black and White (As Simple as That)," which will be exactly what anyone purchasing this disc will want to hear. There are no revelations for longtime followers, but it's a satisfying sampler, nonetheless. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Personnel: Joe Sample (keyboards); Dean Parks (guitar, electric guitar); St. Paul, Michael Landau, Arthur Adams (guitar); Larry Williams (flute, saxophone, synthesizer, programming); Joel Peskin (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Oscar Brashear (trumpet); Jason Miles, Joe Mardin, Ricky Peterson (synthesizer, programming); Robbie Buchanan (synthesizer); Cecil McBee (upright bass); Omar Hakim, Ralph Penland, Steve Gadd , Victor Lewis (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Jim Gilstrap, Lori Perry, Lynn Davis (background vocals).

Photographer: Hans Neleman.

Arranger: Joe Sample.

Personnel: Joe Sample (keyboards); Larry Williams (saxophone, flute, synthesizer); Joel Peskin (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hey (flugelhorn, trumpet); Oscar Brashear (trumpet); Ricky Peterson (synthesizer); Arthur Adams, Michael Landau, Dean Parks, St. Paul (guitar); Cecil McBee (upright acoustic bass); Freddie Washington, Marcus Miller, Jay Anderson (bass); Steve Gadd, Ralph Penland, Omar Hakim, Victor Lewis (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion).

Compilation producer: Matt Pierson.