Finally! The CD Loleatta Holloway Fans Have Been Waiting For
philphila | Philadelphia, PA United States | 02/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Leave it to the Japanese, who continue to show respect for old-school American soul and disco artists long after their mass appeal fades in the U.S. "The Greatest Performance of My Life" is a terrific, well-balanced compilation of Loleatta Holloway's work, from the disco era right up to the present. You'll get real songs, too--not the tiresome vocal pastiches that largely populated 2001's "Queen of the Night" collection.The obvious tracks are here, of course. Starting with 1976's "Hit And Run" and "Dreamin'," the collection takes you through Loleatta's biggest hits along with some lesser-known Salsoul singles and LP tracks. Highlights include the pretty "Runaway," performed with Salsoul Orchestra, and the shattering ballad "Worn Out Broken Heart." You'll also get Holloway's signature song, "Love Sensation"; a full 6:40 version of Dan Hartman's "Relight My Fire," complete with the incendiary vocal vamp from Loleatta; and another sharp Salsoul Orchestra track, "Seconds," that includes the singer's hysterical rap ("When you get a good man, girl, you better keep him, honey; `cause if you don't, somebody else will, honey!"). Fans know that when it comes to preaching, Loleatta is in a class by herself.None of Loleatta Holloway's sporadic output from the mid-1980s to early `90s, like "Crash Goes Love" or "Strong Enough," is included. However, Loleatta's modern period is very well represented. Starting with 1998's "Shout to the Top" and "(You Got Me) Burnin' Up"--the only song out of the 17 included here that's based on a vocal sample--you're brought right up to the present with last year's super-diva duet with Jocelyn Brown, "A Better World." That track, and the two GTS singles ("Share My Joy" and "What Goes Around Comes Around") feature amazing deep house mixes and not the progressive/tribal versions that hit U.S. dance floors. In other words, no Junior and no Thunderpuss, but real songs instead.If you need only one Loleatta Holloway collection, I say this is the one to get. The tracks, most of which are single edits, are not segued together, making this a perfect CD for the casual listener. There's no essay (unless it's part of the Japanese inserts), but this set does include complete lyrics to all the songs as well as full production credits. Wouldn't it be great if someday we got a compilation that included some of Loleatta's early `70s work for the Aware label along with tracks from the eras represented here? Until that happens--and with all the labels Holloway has recorded for over the years, licensing all the music for such a project would be next to impossible--this CD will do quite nicely. Even better, treat yourself to "The Hotlanta Soul of Loleatta Holloway" along with this CD and you'll get a complete picture of this quintessential dance/disco singer and vastly underrated deep-soul artist."
Best Loleatta's compilation available...
Leonardo Sily | Brazil | 03/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very good cd, covers all Loleatta's fases, it worths the money you'll spend. Unfortunatly, there is something i must share with all of you: I've been with the diva in a small live PA, last august, and she had never got any of the money concerning the sales of this cd, actually she didn't even know about this release at all.
IT is very sad, that A Diva like Loleatta must go through a situation like this, keep working, performing in small gay clubs without the properly payment and all the basics supplies that a true star deserves."
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1