The Definitive Collection
, though not as thorough as the excellent two-disc set
Gold
(released a year prior), is a handy overview of
the Commodores
' career, beginning with 1974's
"Machine Gun"
and concluding with 1985's
"Nightshift."
The only Top Ten R&B hits not included here are
"Sail On,"
and a couple later ('80s) cuts, so all the big funk jams (
"Too Hot ta Trot,"
"Brick House,"
"Lady [You Bring Me Up]"
) and ballads (
"Zoom,"
"Easy,"
"Three Times a Lady"
) are indeed included. This set also scores a little extra by including one of the band's best album cuts, 1976's
"Girl, I Think the World About You,"
which has been left off at least 90 percent of all
Commodores
comps. ~ Andy Kellman