The Essential Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Harold Melvin

Overview

There has been no shortage of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes compilations over the years, and the most recent prior to 2004's The Essential Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes was 2001's Ultimate Blue Notes, which was very good indeed, but it wasn't part of Sony/Legacy's Essential series, which was the label's flagship for hits collections. So, three years after Ultimate, they reconfigured the collection into Essential so it could be part of their successful series. Essential contains 14 of the 15 tracks from Ultimate -- the substitution is "Ebony Woman" for "Be for Real," a move most listeners wouldn't notice, since all the other big hits are here, including "The Love I Lost," "Don't Leave Me This Way," and "If You Don't Know Me By Now." The track sequencing may be different, but the collections are nearly identical in terms of tracks chosen, so they're nearly interchangeable for all practical purposes. Both are excellent overviews of one of the great Philly soul groups. If you already have Ultimate, there's no need to seek Essential out, and if you don't have either, either will suit your needs very well. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	08/31/2004
Label:	Legacy / Epic/Legacy
UPC:	0827969062722
Rank:	25333

Tracks

1. Wake Up Everybody
2. Don't Leave Me This Way
3. The Love I Lost
4. You Know How to Make Me Feel So Good
5. If You Don't Know Me By Now
6. Bad Luck
7. Where Are All My Friends
8. I'm Weak for You
9. Hope That We Can Be Together Soon
10. I Miss You
11. Ebony Woman
12. Yesterday I Had the Blues
13. Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)
14. Tell the World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby
15. Keep on Lovin' You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes   Primary Artist
Harold Melvin   Primary Artist
Sharon Paige   Primary Artist,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Harold Melvin   Audio Production,Producer
Leon Huff   Audio Production,Composer,Producer,Original Recording Producer
Kenny Gamble   Audio Production,Original Recording Producer,Producer,Composer
John Whitehead   Composer
Leo Sacks   Compilation Producer
Don Hunstein   Photography
Norman Harris   Arranger
Howard Fritzson   Art Direction
Bobby Martin   Arranger
Megan Foley   Design
Rashod D. Ollison   Liner Notes
Cary Gilbert   Composer
Victor Carstarphen   Composer
Gene McFadden   Composer
Joseph M. Palmaccio   Mastering