The third volume of
PTG's
'80s Soul Classics series is another two-disc compilation of mostly forgotten A-sides and album cuts. The series goes so deep that the
Bobby Nunn inclusion isn't the oft-compiled "She's Just a Groupie," or even the goofy "Hangin' Out at the Mall," but "Sexy Sassy" -- a single that failed to chart. Compared to the first two volumes, these selections are more obscure, with a higher quantity of rare independent releases, major-label one-offs that failed to gain traction, and second- and third-tier A-sides from well-known artists (such as
Lamont Dozier,
Lonnie Liston Smith, and
the Blackbyrds). The biggest hit here is
Kool & the Gang's "Let's Go Dancin' (Ooh, La, La, La)," a lightweight Top Ten R&B single. The plush
52nd Street ballad "I Can't Let You Go," produced by the unsung
Nick Martinelli, is a pleasant surprise. Its quality level is similar to that of
Martinelli's contemporary output with
Loose Ends and
Phyllis Hyman. ~ Andy Kellman
![Easy Rider [Music from the Soundtrack]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0008811915322_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Easy Rider [Music from the Soundtrack]")
