Tavares Best Of: Revisited CD - Import

Sometimes when artists from a music genre's classic era try to remake their own best-known sides, it's an embarrassing affair. Either the artist's skills and/or backing accompaniment can't match the passion or expertise of the original recordings or the tracks end up being a misguided exercise in being "current" or "hip" in an effort to bring the artist "back to the top of the charts!" Such is not the case with Tavares' The Best of Tavares Revisited, a 1994 release from Quebec label Unidisc. The brothers bring vitality and authenticity to their reinterpretation of their biggest '70s-era hits. Though the album uses modern musical technology, the emphasis remains on Tavares' time-honed vocal skills. As produced by the group -- Eric Mathew, Daryl Payne, Robert Matichak, Gino Crescenza, Maurizio Nall -- the album is an excellent example of how a remake set should done. The Best of Tavares Revisited makes one want to see the group live. ~ Ed Hogan