It took quite a while for a definitive compilation to hit the market, but -- part of 's Funk Essentials series -- finally filled the bill in 1995. Boasting a full 20 tracks from 's heyday of 1973-1978, more than half of which made the Top Ten, is easily the most generous single-disc collection on the market. It includes the edited single versions, not the full-length album tracks, which actually makes for a more digestible introduction to 's achievements. Like his forebear , was not just a deep-voiced crooner, but a talented producer and arranger who'd spent years honing his craft behind the scenes in the industry. And like spent a great deal of time setting up moods on his albums, using lush, sweeping orchestrations to build very gradually to climaxes. (Actually, that probably explains a good deal of his effectiveness.) But was not simply a disciple; his swirling productions were less complex than ', but more in tune with the emerging sound, which certainly boosted his popularity. Plus, he took full advantage of 's new lyrical permissiveness in the wake of 's . If his voice was limited, it was also a tremendous asset for the kind of music he recorded -- deep, resonant, caressing, but always suggestively masculine. The total package made an love-man icon not just for the era, but all time. For all but the most dedicated fans, is one-stop shopping. ~ Steve Huey