Thelma Houston Best Of CD - Import

This collection spans Houston's career with Motown (1972-1979).

Motown's The Best of Thelma Houston covers her late-'70s/early-'80s output for the label, including her hit cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way." A few other covers, including "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Me and Bobby McGee," hint at Houston's range as an interpreter; originals like "If It's the Last Thing I Do," "I Want to Go Back There Again," and "Stealin' in the Name of the Lord" show her finesse with lush ballads, quintessential Motown, and gospel-inflected pop, respectively. Along with "Don't Leave Me This Way," tracks such as "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning," "Love Machine," and "I'm Here Again" reflect Houston's sophisticated but fiery take on disco. While the Spectrum collection has a slightly grittier edge to it, this compilation does a fine job of showing the breadth and depth of her Motown work. ~ Heather Phares

16 great tracks from the singer who hit it biggest in the disco era with her No. 1 remake of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes' 'Don't Leave Me This Way', which years later is a true, bonafide disco and pop classic. Though she never quite hit that height again, Houston's recording career has been fruitful nonetheless, having the distinction of recording the first direct-to-disc record with the band Pressure Cooker. That record practically started the modern audiophile vinyl craze in the 70's. Spectrum. 2004.

Includes liner notes by David Nathan.

Producers: Hal Davis, Jimmy Webb, Joe Porter, Brian Holland, Mel Larson, Jerry Marcellino, Clayton Ivey, Terry Woodford, Michael Masser, Brenda Sutton, Michael B. Sutton.