"Every HOWARD HEWITT fan will be pleased with this greatest hits package. HEWITT has long been one of the most underrated soul singers of the last 25 years (El DeBarge,Jeffery Osborne,and James Ingram are others). With this package,the listener gets EVERY hit that HOWARD HEWITT has had as a solo artist with the exeption of a few. From his first solo hit "I'M FOR REAL" to more recent hits like "SHOW ME" and "WHEN WILL IT BE"(feat. ANITA BAKER), the listener is taken back to a time when MALE singers put a little bit of thought and feeling into their lyrics and music. For the exception of a few, (MAXWELL, KENNY LATTIMORE, BRIAN MCKNIGHT, etc.) there aren't many male singers that sing with as much feeling AND have a unique voice the way that HOWARD HEWITT does. When you hear the old school bump and grind slow jam vibe of "ONCE,TWICE,THREE TIMES" from his second solo album "FOREVER AND EVER" you'll know what I mean. There are also some bonuses on this cd. The rare and hard to find cover of THE EAGLES "I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY" (Which was featured on the ELEKTRA 40th anniversary album "RUBAIYAT" which is out of print), and two hits from his SHALAMAR days "THIS IS FOR THE LOVER IN YOU" and "SOMEWHERE THERE'S A LOVE". The only disappointment is that his cover of AVERAGE WHITE BAND's "A LOVE OF YOUR OWN" and two other minor hits from his last cd (1994's "IT'S TIME")like "THIS LOVE IS FOREVER" and "I WANNA KNOW YOU" aren't included in this greatest hits package. People that appreciate smooth,thought-out, love songs will love this album. All HOWARD HEWITT fans should rejoice."
Excellent, Excellent
L. K. Allen | New York | 08/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent, Excellent, what can I possible say about Howard Hewett!"""""""" I love this man, and his music, unbelieveable, heaven sent. God knew exactly what he was doing when he created Howard. If you are a true Howard Hewett fan, or if you would like to be, purchase this CD and his others for yourself. Listen to it, the music speaks for itself."
My Favorite Balladeer of All Time
The CD Jazz Man of STL | Saint Louis, MO United States | 05/12/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been following Howard and a fan of whatever he has brought to album or CD since his arrival on the music scene with Shalamar on the album Big Fun. Just as the other reviewers stated, double H is one of the most underrated male soul singers of all time. I would have loved for them to add Your Body Needs Healing to this compilation from his CD It's Time or a cut he done with the Rippingtons called Heaven. So much for the nitpicking for one thing about it, compilations will never have everything everyone wants. With that in mind, it was nice to see that the alluring song Somewhere There's A Love (Just for Me) from Shalamar's Three for Love album, one of the most overlooked ballads ever. The problem with the song was that it was on the same album as the all-time classic This Is For the Lover in You. One thing all buyers of the CD should do is read the liner notes to get an insight into what made HH who he was. Some of the interesting information from the liner notes include HH and his sisters in a gospel choir whose chief rivals was another group from Ohio led by James Ingram, whose brother Phillip, sang with Switch (I Call Your Name, There'll Never Be) and led their song I Wanna Be Closer. I am so much a fan of HH that with all of the albums I bought back in the day and have made a total switch to CD, I still have all my Shalamar albums with HH singing with the group. By the way, he did release a live compilation album recently called Intimate. Voices like HH comes once in a lifetime and I am glad I am old enough to know good music. With all of this said, GO GET THE CD!!!!"
One album that I'd never even consider buying (see below)
Noompsey | Norfolk, Va | 08/11/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Howard Hewett belongs in the same class as Patrice Rushen, Deneice Williams, Miki Howard, or Stacy Lattisaw. These are all artists who got a little bit of glory, but not nearly what their immense talent deserves. While Hewitt deserves props for including songs like I'm For Real, Strange Relationship, and especially When Will It Be, look at what's left out. I happen to have the Forever and Ever CD, which I've heard is very rare. After hearing a track called 'This Time' I couldn't help but wonder how such an alluring song could be excluded from a compilation album. I also have the self-titled album from which the song 'If I Could only have that day back.' The song after it, 'Let Me Show You how to Fall in Love' is in my humble opinion, five times better than some of the songs that were inculded. The last song on the track, Jesus, is one that I think is more powerful than its 1986 contemporary, Say Amen. I could think of about seven songs he excluded that I liked better than the ones that do appear on the Best of Howard Hewett. However, if I can't get your hands on these wonderful albums, get the Best Of. You won't be disappointed."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1