Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 09/10/2002
Pure Slow Jams, part of
Universal's genre-specific series of compilations released under its "Pure" brand name (
Pure Funk,
Pure Disco, etc.) contains 18 major
R&B ballad hits of the 1970s. Most of them were drawn from
Universal's vast catalog of acquired record companies (
MCA,
Motown, etc.), although several have been licensed from other companies, notably
Bill Withers'
"Lean on Me" and
Billy Paul's
"Me and Mrs. Jones" from
Sony,
the Delfonics'
"Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" from
BMG,
Al Green's
"Let's Stay Together" from
EMI, and
Aretha Franklin's
"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" from
Warner. Major stars such as
the Commodores,
the Temptations,
the Jackson 5,
Marvin Gaye, and
Gladys Knight & the Pips are represented, along with less-prominent artists such as
Al Wilson and
Lenny Williams. Some of the songs, such as
"Lean on Me" and
"Let's Stay Together," have arguably become
standards in the ensuing quarter-century; others, such as
the Floaters'
"Float On" (in which each bandmember introduces himself, announces his astrological sign, and explains what kind of woman he likes) are dated
novelties. But they were all
R&B (and in most cases
pop) hits, and they all proceed at slow and medium tempos, all the better for close dancing. The album is a bonanza for anyone who grew up listening to
R&B radio in the '70s and favored the softer sounds.
~William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
;)
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