The Commodores - Very Best of the Commodores (CD)

All Music Guide

For a spell during the ‘80s, it seemed like many forgot that Lionel Richie wasn't always a solo artist, but began as a member of the Commodores. The group of six Alabama college chums would go on to become one of the world's leading funk and R n' B artists of the ‘70s, and their penchant for heart warming ballads only broadened their fanbase. With countless compilations of the group surfacing over the years, for a single disc set that does a fine job of collecting all the hits and a few best known album tracks, 1995's ‘Very Best Of' is a fine choice. Weighing in at a hefty twenty tracks, all facets of the band are covered -- a funk band that could give the big guns a run for their money (“Machine Gun," “Brick House," “The Zoo"), more laid back fare (“Zoom," “Nightshift"), and perhaps what the band would become best known for -- tender ballads that showcased Richie (“Easy," “Sweet Love," “Three Times A Lady," “Oh No"). There are other more extensive Commodores collections on the market ...(2001's Anthology), but for a succinct collection that manages to include all the hits, ‘Very Best Of' is ‘it.' - Greg Prato, All Music Guide Read more Less