Album Description
Full title – Complete Chi-Lites On Brunswick Records Vol. 1. 2004 compilation featuring 41 tracks including 1 bonus track, ‘I Want To Pay You Back’ (Single Version), all of the band’s first four albums, ‘Give It Away’, ‘I Like Your Lovin’ (Do You Like Me)’, ‘(For God’s Sake) Give More Power To The People’, & ‘A Lonely Man’, along with side one of their fifth, ‘A Letter To Myself’, & five non-LP early single sides for the legendary Chicago-based label. Slipcase. . . . More >>
Vol. 1-Complete Chi-Lites on Brunswick Records
I love this CD!!!!! Eugene was such an amazing talent and so underated, I Love the Chi-lites. . . . . . . . . I’m so thankful to have known him, His passing is beyond sad.
Rating: 5 / 5
Its comps like these that allow younger generations (like mine) to hear true RnB music the way it was, and the comps make the music much more accesible. This comp, part one, spans from the first singles in 1968 through the first half of 1973′s Letter to Myself (The second half is on Part II. The Chi-Lites are one of my favorite soul groups. Here we have the 1968 singles: “Love Me” is a groovy uptempo Motown style swinger. “Love is Gone” is one of my favorite Chi-Lites songs. Listen to Eugene Records’s pain in the song, and the awesome strings and funky subtle guitar riffs. This song reminds me more of the Philly soul style that was about to explode on the scene. “(Um, Um) My Baby Loves Me” is a cool upbeat funky jam to cruise to, and “Price of Love” has a throwback to the early-mid 60′s sound with the doo-wop influenced horns, and Motown uptempo style reminiscent of the Four Tops. “Baby it’s Time” reminds me of early 60′s doo wop with the harmony, but also with the upbeat tempo. That wraps up the 1968 singles. Then we have 1969′s Give it Away, a classic album with some rock and psychedelic influences balanced with soft-soul (shows their well-rounded style!!). “What Do I Wish For” has thoise multi-layered strings and sweet guitar riffs. 1970′s I Like Your Lovin’ (Do You Like Mine?) has a harder edge to it with more rock and psychedelic influences: the title trach is a fun song with that harder-hitting edge, another perfect cruisin jam! I love how the bass and falsettos offset eachother here. 1971′s (For God’s Sake) Give More Power to the People has the perennial classic ballad “Have You Seen Her,” and the uptempo, funky, socially aware title track. Then there is 1972′s classic album: A Lonely Man, with the ballad laden title track recalling the magic of “Have You Seen Her,” and the other famous groove, “Oh Girl;” this album relies more on soft-soul than uptempo funk of the predecessors. Then the first half of A Letter to Myself ends the comp. Record’s falsetto shines really strong on “Someone Else’s Arms,” and he reaches some high notes on the soft and sad mid tempo joint. I thank Brunswick records for delivering the classics so a younger guy likeme can have access to the music when music was music. Vol 2 is also highly recommended, covering A Letter to Myself (side B), through 1975′s Half a Love and 1975-1976 singles to round off the collection.
Rating: 5 / 5
Great selection of Old School tunes from one of Chicagos favorite vocal groups. I have recently purchased Vol. 2 as well. Great packaging, terrific liners notes and pristine sound quality.
Rating: 4 / 5
The CD was in excellent condition, a good addition to my collection.
Rating: 5 / 5