IF YOU ARE A TRUE STEPHANIE MILLS FAN -I KNOW YOU HAVE THIS COLLECTION-IF YOU ARE NOT, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS SMASH COLLECTION FEATURING EARLY RELEASES FROM THE NOW DEFUNCT 20TH CENTURY FOX RECORDS AND CASABLANCA RECORDS AND FILMWORKS.STEPHANIE WILL TRULY DAZZLE YOU WITH 12 INCH VERSIONS OF THE LUCAS/MTUME PRODUCED "WHATCHA GONNA DO WITH MY LOVIN" FEATURING A BEAUTIFUL VOCAL PERFORMANCE FROM MS.MILLS-DITTO FOR THE HEAVY BASS LOADED "PUT YOUR BODY IN IT" AND DON'T FORGET THE MIDTEMPO GROOVE "SWEET SENSATION" THESE 3 HITS ALONE SET THE TONE FOR THE ALBUM, HOWEVER MILLS IS KNOWN FOR HER LOVE SONGS AND SHE DELIVERS POWERHOUSE PERFORMANCES ON "STILL MINE" "YOU AND I" AND THE SPINE TINGLING "FEEL THE FIRE". THERE ARE OTHER GEMS SUCH AS HAWK WOLINSKI PRODUCED " THE MEDICINE SONG" AMAZING VOCAL PERFORMANCE ON TOP OF HEAVY SYNTHESIZERS ARE SHOWCASED, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT THE 12INCH VERSION BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME WITH A WICKED DUB VERSION TO MATCH, BUT THIS ALBUM VERSION SHINES AS WELL-THE CLASSIC "NEVER KNEW LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE" EARNED MILLS A GRAMMY FOR BEST FEMALE R&B PERFORMANCE. OTHER STANDOUTS "TWO HEARTS" W/TEDDY PENDERGRASS, STARLIGHT, THE PRINCE WRITTEN "HOW COME YOU DON'T CALL ME ANYMORE" COULN'T BE MORE SOULFUL-PUT THIS CD ON ...PRESS PLAY..AND LET IT RIDE!!!! ORDER IT TODAY...WHILE IT LASTS.

After listening to the CD, I realized that most of the greatist hits are never really hits. I always manage to discover a gem on a album or cd. I originally purchased this CD for 'Feel the Fire' and 'Never Knew love like this' although another favorite song 'Learn to respect the power of love' was missing. Well, any I discovered to previously unknown Gems since Ms. Mills was singing way before my time. The first one was apparently very popular, 'Starlight.' A favorite rapper(NAS, 'Black Girl Lost' on the "It was written album" of mine sampled the beat.) so I immediately fell in love with that one. But accidently while trying to find 'Feel the fire' in the dark I discovered track 12, 'You and I.' Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful songs I've ever encountered in my 28 years on earth. It shows the full depth of Stephanie's skills and vocal range plus James Mtume's talents as a producer/arranger are showcased on this and most of the songs on the compilation. This CD is a must buy for any true R&B fan and Stephanie Mills fan

good selection on this cd, but I wished that "You can't run from my love" was included in the 12" version. Oh yeah, for Pierre:

the 12" version of "Medicine Song" is available on various compilation cd's.

As I read through the many R&B reviews by critics,I have notice a very obvious difference in what is considered a "hit" and what is not. Much of the R&B music that was released prior to the major crossover trends of the mid-late eighties was never recognized, appreciated or for that matter geared toward the majority of pop music listeners. There were (unfortunately) very clear, distinct differences in marketing, radio play, and charting. The worlds of pop and R&B music were treated as "separate and equal" in those regards.

This fact, I believe, brings about the apparent differences. The "critic" addresses this compliation of Stephanie Mills works as a poor representation of a talented singer. Well, it is true, most of these songs were not embraced by popular music charts/lovers or played on pop radio. However, R&B radio, charts and lovers thought they were precious.

Mills came on the scene after a successful stint as "Dorothy" in the Broadway classic, "The Wiz," and turned her sights to R&B... and captured it. "I never knew love like this before" and "Whatcha gonna do with my lovin" began her seize of soul music and had people wondering, "who was this child that had the voice woman?"

Each song, whether her duos with the Teddy Pendergrass on "Two Hearts" and "Feel the Fire" or the infectious "Starlight," or her rendention of TAKAP's classic tune, listeners will agree that this attempt was a successful one.

i love the sweet sound of music. i play this C.D. all the time and so will you..... thanks amazon.com

j.green