There's a terrific reason why the triple-CD retrospective included six of 's eight tracks -- the material. Indeed, side one of the LP version may be the strongest single side of original tunes that the band ever put together. It opens with 's driving, tense title cut, and flows flawlessly through 's subtly funky 's infectiously finger-popping (a high point in ' groove collection), and 's steamy vehicle for , Even the two tracks that the box set left out -- the galvanic driven by 's clavinet and 's tom-toms, and -- are as funky as you can stand it. And from out of the blue, concludes the album with a lovely, wistful tune that may have become a When the material is this good, everything falls into place from there; the grooves are deeper, the soloing by all five is more melodic and probing, and while provides a few brass and string arrangements, this is just harmless decoration, neither a necessity nor a hindrance. This would be ' high-water mark in the post- years, and it can stand tall with anything they've done. ~ Richard S. Ginell