O.C. Smith - Very Best of O.C. Smith (CD)

All Music Guide

The Very Best of O.C. Smith concentrates on the former Count Basie singer's RB years spent with Columbia -- between the late '60s and early '70s -- including "Little Green Apples" (number two pop, 1968), "Baby I Need Your Loving" (number 30 black singles, 1970), "Daddy's Little Man" (number nine black singles, 1969), "Primrose Lane" (number four adult contemporary, 1970), "Help Me Make It Through the Night" (number 38 black singles, 1971), and "Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife" (number 25 black singles, 1969). At 23 tracks, it provides an extensive overview of the period being covered, including significant album cuts. The disc is the best Smith overview available, topping Collectables' Greatest Hits/Help Me Make It Through the Night combo.

- Andy Kellman, All Music Guide