Chi-Lites - 20 Greatest Hits (2001)

Besides being one of the most dynamic acts on the soul circuit of the late '60s and early '70s, the Chi-Lites also had an enviable range, which took them from intelligent protest firestorms like "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People" and "We Are Neighbors" to the velvet-smooth ballads "I Want to Pay You Back" and "Have You Seen Her." (Even more impressive then, that each of those four excellent songs first appeared on the same album, 1971's [For God's Sake] Give More Power to the People.) Largely self-contained as a group (frontman Eugene Record penned and produced much of their material), the Chi-Lites hit with some of the greatest soul tracks of the '70s, and they've never sounded better than they do on 20 Greatest Hits. Though Brunswick's design and packaging leave much to desire (the cover makes it look like this compilation dates from the medieval ages of the CD medium), everything that really counts is done perfectly. All of the hits, and a few solid album tracks, are presented in chronological order, while the sound quality is the best yet. There's always room for one quibble, though; the version of "The Coldest Days of My Life" heard here isn't the full version, as on Brunswick's previous Greatest Hits.