Mickey & Sylvia Love Is Strange: A Golden Classics Edition CD

Mostly remembered for their prescient 1957 hit "Love Is Strange," there was far more to Mickey Baker and Sylvia Robinson than met the eye. For starters, Baker was a brilliant guitar player (Robinson was a fair guitarist, as well), and the duo's calypso-tinged R&B style left plenty of room for his startling lead lines. With a casually light, but still sassy and sexy vocal style, Mickey & Sylvia managed to sound both innocent and not so innocent, and somehow all at once, on songs like "Mommy out de Light" and the mock indictment "Love Will Make You Fail in School." All of these songs are included in this brief ten-track set, which will get you started, but once you see what Mickey & Sylvia bring to the table, you'll probably want more. ~ Steve Leggett

Although the packaging and sound are a little below par, Golden Classics Edition contains 18 tracks from Mickey & Sylvia's prime period -- not just "Love Is Strange," but a wealth of strong, lesser-known singles -- making it a good overview of the underrated R&B duo. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Liner Note Author: Mark Marymont.

Mickey & Sylvia: Mickey Baker (vocals, guitar); Sylvia Robinson (vocals).

Personnel: Mickey Baker (vocals, guitar).