"Ever since Sinatra's Duets I and II sold big a number of years ago the duets concept is everywhere. A star invites other stars to come and sing duets of his/her own greatest hits. Everyone is doing it. Sometimes it works..usually it doesn't. Pat Boone's is a better concept: he does duets with some of R+Bs greatest performers doing THEIR songs.It works much better. The artists on this cd..The Four Tops, James Brown, Smokey Robinson, KC and the Sunshine Band and more share their greatest hits with Pat Boone who is in terrific voice. The songs are done in the original arrangements and sound great. This is a fun cd and the sound is amazing. Great to hear these great songs recorded using modern equipment. I don't see this cd as a novelty or joke..it has a great sound and will surprise you. I keep going back to it because it was well done. If you think these great artists would let Pat Boone or anyone else make a joke out of their songs your dreaming. This cd is a lot of fun."
Preciously bad
Trudy L. Franzen | 10/21/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I just heard Pat Boone's "We Are Family" with Sister Sledge on National Public Radio. It is so funny, it is almost worth buying the CD. I wish Amazon offered the track to listen to. The three stars are for the laughter that that I so needed today!"
Is this FOR REAL???
R. Carter | 02/17/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased this CD mainly out of curiosity. I read where it had charted in Billboard and had to hear it for myself. I love classic R&B, and also loved Pat's mellow hits from the 50's and 60's, so the CD seemed a natural for me to try. The listening process started on a high. Pat's take on "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag," with the Godfather of Soul chiming in, is actually really good. I was impressed. I was thinking "Wow! I can't beleive this! This is Okay!" Yet, as the CD went on, I starting cringing, at first a little, then a lot. Pat's take on "Get Down Tonight' (with KC) is atrocious, and his version of "I Can't Help Myself" (w/ The Four Tops) is the pitts! Honestly, Pat can no longer sing. The man has NO RANGE WHATSOEVER, and his efforts to sound hip and cool and young are laughable. The longer I listened, the more I kept asking myself "IS THIS FOR REAL? Does this man want people to take this seriously, or is this all a big tongue-in-cheek joke?" If it is the latter, he has succeeded brilliantly. If it is meant to be a really good CD that is taken seriously, Pat has failed miserably. I hate dogging the man, yet IF PAT REALLY THINKS THIS CD IS GOOD, he seriously needs a reality check. The CD has its entertaining moments, yet it is really pretty bad."
THIS IS WAY COOL!
Bill Board | God's Wrath, Ohio | 10/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I will admit, I don't possess the CD yet ("snail mail," you know) But - well I was GOING to say "if this CD is HALF as cool as 'No More Mr. Nice Guy'," but, truth is, I detest "metal," so I cannot be totally objective. In all honesty, I DO so love the way he trashed the material on THAT CD, though. But A) I LOVE "Soul" Music; and B)having been a sort of "performing musician" for more than 35 years now, I can only say that this CD...well, considering that "rock and roll" absolutely BITES right now - this can only be a blessing. I mean, DIG: "We Are Family" with Sister Sledge? "Soul Man" with one of the original "soul men," Sam Moore -and - YIKES!!!!!!!! "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" with Da MAN, himself, James Brown?? I wanna go on record right here: You can babble about how "cool," or how "hip" you are (or pull the ULTIMATE ego-trip, and peddle "Almost Famous" like that blithering child, Cameron Crowe, did) - but Pat Boone's doing a CD, doing duets with James Brown, Sam Moore, Sister Sledge, Earth Wind & Fire... I absolutely DEFY you to get any more "cool" than THAT! I cannot wait...believe me, there will be a sequel to this review! 10/27 - it arrived today, and the only "down," I guess, thing to say about the CD is that all the artists are getting old. The Four Tops are barely audible, as is Smokey, but like I said earlier: Pat & Da Godfather Of Soul's duet on "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" is hilarious, and Joni Sledge's duet on "We Are Family" makes me want to have her folks adopt me. Pat Boone is cool, WAY COOL, and I PROUDLY support his nomination for induction into the "R&R Hall Of Fame." (well...the one in Memphis, anyway...I kind of tend to question the integrity of an 'entity' that'd even acknowledge tripe like "U2" - believe me, I've BEEN there and "Cleveland DOESN'T rock") This CD'd get a HUGE number of chuckles in Memphis, the true Home Of Rock And Roll, but...well, they'd dig it, too. But, hey, YOU buy it - Quit being "coo-wuhl," and enjoy yourself mightily!"