Not Quite The "Ultimate" Chi-Lites Brunswick Period
07/08/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"That honour belongs to the two volume set from Edsel Records of the U.K., appropriately titled The Complete Chi-Lites On Brunswick, which give you all 29 hit singles they had for that label from 1969 to 1976 along with their B-sides and a number of album cuts. This one from Brunswick comes close, with 22 of those hits to go along with eight uncharted B-sides and several LP cuts and/or failed singles (tracks 4, 11 and 14 on disc 1 and 6, 9, 10 and 12 on disc 2).
The problem is, two of the B-sides - Living In The Footsteps Of Another Man and I Never Had It So Good (And Felt So Bad) - were flips of hit singles (We Need Order - # 13 R&B/# 61 Hot 100 in late 1972/early 1973 and Homely Girl - # 3 R&B/# 54 Hot 100 in early 1974), neither of which is included.
In the otherwise excellent four pages of liner notes in the fold-out insert, David Nathan (aka "The British Ambassador Of Soul") writes "It's appropriate indeed that this excellent two-disc The Ultimate Chi-Lites collection comprises thirty-five powerhouse tracks, for it is thirty-five years since the group's name first graced the R&B charts with the Top 10 R&B single Give It Away." Actually, it made # 10 R&B and # 88 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in March 1969 but, unfortunately, they saw fit not to include it in this release!
Nor, for that matter, are their next three hits, the two-sided Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was (# 15 R&B/# 94 Hot 100) b/w The Twelfth Of Never (# 47 R&B/# 122 Hot 100 "bubble under"), both of which charted in late summer/early fall of 1969, and 24 Hours Of Sadness, a # 30 R&B/# 119 Hot 100 "bubble under" in March 1970. Also missing are My Heart Just Keeps On Breakin' (# 46 R&B/# 92 Hot 100 in June 1973) and It's Time For Love (# 27 R&B/# 94 Hot 100 in fall 1975) which was actually the A-side to Here I Am, which IS here despite finishing at a low # 87 R&B itself.
That sort of takes away from the "ultimate" tag just a bit in my humble opinion, especially since these missing hits do appear in earlier Brunswick releases titled Chi-Lites Greatest Hits and Chi-Lites 20 Greatest Hits.
This is certainly not a bad volume, as it has excellent sound reproduction in addition to the afore-mentioned liner notes and some nice vintage photos of the Chicago-based group (but there's no discography), and if what you're looking for is here, then by all means purchase it. You won't be disappointed. If, however, you want all their Brunswick hits and other sides, then go for those Edsel U.K. releases.
The group consisted initially of Eugene Record, Craedel Jones, Robert Lester and Marshall Thompson, with Jones leaving in 1973 to be replaced by Stanley Anderson and then Willie Kensey who, in turn, was replaced in 1975 by Doc Roberson. In 1978, when Record (who married Barbara Acklin) went solo (he had one hit for Warner in 1977, Laying Beside You, a # 24 R&B), he was replaced by David Scott and new lead Danny Johnson. In 1977 Johnson also went solo, with one minor # 92 R&B hit for First American Records called Future Past.
After leaving Brunswick in 1976 for Mercury, the group, which would never have another in the Billboard Pop Hot 100, would add five more R&B hits at that label in 1976/77, four more from 1980 to 1982 with Chi-Sound (where they would be billed The Chi-Lites Featuring Eugene Record). two in 1983 with Larc Records, two in 1984 for Private I and, in 1997/98 two for Copper Sun. With two exceptions, all were minor chart entries, with the best being the 1982 # 15 Hot On A Thing (Called Love) for Chi-Sound, and the # 7 Bottom's Up in 1983 for Larc.
In any discussion about the best R&B/Soul black male groups to ply their trade in that period, the first names to pop up will invariably be The Temptation, Impressions, Miracles and Jackson 5, with perhaps some mentioning The Dells, O'Jays, Spinners and Commodores. It's rare if anyone recalls The Chi-Lites, and that's too bad because these guys were good with their close harmony."
RIP to the Greatness of Eugene Record
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | usa | 06/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Chi-lites brought that smooth Gritty on time Chicago Soul in there music. lead by multi talented Eugene Record the Chi-Lites always had a cut that touched you. Are you my woman(tell me so) Which Beyonce jacked the Horns for Her "Crazy in Love" back in 03. also the Timeless Smoothness of "Oh Girl"."have you seen her" is still cold. the arrangements&Harmony are always there trademarks. a very versatile group that always stayed on point. a strong collection here that captures on so many themes."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1
