Funk on Fire: The Mercury Anthology

by

Ohio Players

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Let's be real here. Those original gatefold sleeves are some of the greatest works of album art in popular music (see especially the CD, HONEY). Too bad Polygram/Universal didn't keep this important aspect in mind when they created this package. Each original album cover should have been reproduced in full-color and on full-page.

What you do get here is some of the greatest funk music, by one of the greatest funk bands in their prime. Two hours of 28 slabs of funk on two CDs, chronicling the years 1974-1978. Included are the great party jams: "Skin Tight," "Jive Turkey," "Fopp," "Sweet Sticky Thing," "More Than Love," "Who'd She Coo," and -of course- the anthems, "Fire" and "Love Rollercoaster."

Sadly missing are some great original album tracks such as, "Smoke," "What The Hell," "Streakin' Cheek To Cheek," or "Running From The Devil." The inclusion of a couple of these gems would have made this an excellent anthology.

Purchase also the compilation, ORGASM: THE WESTBOUND YEARS. This is a great collection of tracks taken from their earlier, harder trilogy of albums they made for Westbound Records through the years 1972-1973: PAIN, PLEASURE, and ECSTASY.

For fans, this double set collects quite a few of their great tracks but it also leaves out quite a few tracks so it's not a very complete anthology.

For newbies or casual fans who want the chart toppers only, the other tracks they included do not include any hidden gems and as mentioned by others, leave out some hidden gems.

So, if you're just looking for the hits, better to get the GH collection, it's a much tighter package ... I'm also going to dock a point for not including the great covers of the original Lp's - of course, it's un-PC but why re-write history ;-)