Sister Sledge We Are Family: Greatest Hits Live CD - Import

This Australian-only release features nine live tracks from the four-sister r&b/disco group Sister Sledge. Tracks include "He's the Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", "Lost in Music", and six more.

One of Sister Sledge's finest achievements came in 1997, when the Philadelphia siblings recorded the overlooked African Eyes. While Sister Sledge had long since passed its commercial peak, this CD made it clear that the group still had a lot to say musically. Reflective and highly spiritual, African Eyes often recalls Earth, Wind & Fire's '70s output and sometimes combines soul and funk with elements of world music. In fact, the uplifting tone of "World Rise & Shine," "The Unraveling" and "Walking in the Light" gives you an idea what Sister Sledge might have sounded like if the sisters had worked with Maurice White in the late '70s instead of various Philadelphia producers and Chic leaders Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. Some of the material, however, isn't EW&F-ish, but instead, offers an unlikely blend of R&B and folk. Folk-ish touches find their way to "Love's Abyss" and "Cry for Soweto," a beautiful reflection on the political evolution of South Africa. But as much as African Eyes has going for it, the album was ignored by mainstream radio and failed to do very much commercially. In fact, it's safe to say that the vast majority of listeners who bought We Are Family and All American Girls didn't even hear about this album's release. ~ Alex Henderson

Australian Exclusive Release Featuring Sister Sledge's Biggest Hits Performed Live In Concert. Tracks: Frankie, Everybody Dance, Love Of The Lord, He's The Greatest Dancer, Thinking Of You, Lost In Music, Brother Brother Stop, True Love, & We Are Family.

Additional personnel includes: Curtis Dowd, Jr. (vocals, keyboards, drum programming); Joe Trujillo (acoustic & electric guitar); Jerry Donato (saxophone); Jesse Maguire (trumpet); Joey Navarro (keyboards, drum programming); Chris Alberts (synthesizer); Zilan Razak, Kevin Mauch, Doug Grisby (bass); Robert Scott (drums); Ashanti Alise Decker, John Herrera (African hand drums); John Sandoval, Rex Decker, Jeannette Woods, Dan Walker (percussion); Flem Brown, Devin Fleena (drum programming); Kim Allen, Carol Coleman, Joanna Brown (background vocals); Incognito.

Producers: Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick, Joni Sledge, Randy Bowland, Flem Brown.

Engineers include: Simon Cotsworth, John Acquilino, Al Alberts, Carl Angstadt, Steve Escallier.

Sister Sledge includes: Joni Sledge (vocals, drum programming); Kim Sledge, Debbie Sledge (vocals).