Best Of Joe Simon CD

Containing ten of Joe Simon's biggest hits released during the late 1960s and early '70s ("The Chokin' Kind," "Teenager's Prayer," "My Special Prayer"), The Best of Joe Simon is an all-too-brief compilation that shuts out most of his vibrant '70s material, as well as some of his finest songs released during the years covered. If you want a more thorough summation of this phase of Simon's career (and you really should), seek out 2001's Monument of Soul (released by RPM); and, if you want a taste of some of the hits from later in the '70s, seek out 1997's Music in My Bones: The Best of Joe Simon (released by Rhino). [Note: The contents of this release are identical to that of a disc with the same title released in 1990 by CBS Special Products.] ~ Andy Kellman

Containing ten of Joe Simon's biggest hits released during the late 1960s and early '70s ("The Chokin' Kind," "Teenager's Prayer," "My Special Prayer"), The Best of Joe Simon is an all-too-brief compilation that shuts out most of his vibrant '70s material, as well as some of his finest songs released during the years covered. If you want a more thorough summation of this phase of Simon's career (and you really should), seek out 2001's Monument of Soul (released by RPM); and, if you want a taste of some of the hits from later in the '70s, seek out 1997's Music in My Bones: The Best of Joe Simon (released by Rhino). [Note: The contents of this release are identical to that of a disc with the same title released in 2006 by Collectables.] ~ Andy Kellman

The 17-track collection The EMI Years compiles the highlights from Simone's nine albums for EMI Odeon. While at the label, she made some of her best and most authentic Brazilian records, and by featuring such favorites as "Começar de Novo," "Canoa, Canoa," "Pedaco de Mim," "Face a Face," "Cigarra," "Rainha Morena," "A Sede de Peixe," "Povo de Raca Brasil" and "Diga Lá, Coracäo," it offers an excellent introduction to this fine interpretitive singer. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine