This reissue combines two of ' classic albums, from 1975 and from 1976, on a single 74-minute CD. To be sure, "classic" isn't a word that many purists have used to describe the albums -- when produced them, 's hard-liners were denouncing the -influenced trumpeter as a shameless sellout and insisting that he should have stuck to straight-ahead acoustic . But then, weren't going after purists -- their music was , , and with overtones, and the people who bought their albums were more likely to be into and than or . Unlike didn't get into a lot of heavy sociopolitical messages; their forte was party music, and it is that escapist, feel-good mindset that defines the infectious hits (both from ) as well as memorable album tracks such as the mellow from and the insistently funky . Calling this music escapist isn't saying that it's faceless or mechanical -- far from it. ' party-time lyrics may not have been challenging, but musically, the band was creative, risk-taking, and distinctive. Even though they were primarily a / outfit, came from backgrounds -- and that influence often works to their creative advantage on this excellent reissue. ~ Alex Henderson