Rick James - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best Of Rick James And Friends, Volume 2 (2005)

This second 20th Century Masters installment devoted to soul-funk pioneer Rick James concentrates on an equally important but mildly overlooked aspect of his career: his moments behind the mixing desk as a producer. True, James' legacy will always reside in his major hits like "Superfreak" and "Mary Jane," but his brilliance didn't stop at the microphone. His productions were equally groundbreaking, and spawned thousands of clones in the process. This 11-song collection features work by such renown James protégées as the Mary Jane Girls ("In My House"), Teena Marie ("I'm a Sucker for Your Love"), and Val Young. But it's the inclusion of extended mixes and his collaboration with the Temptations that are the true treats for fans of James' work. It's an outstanding soundtrack for those late-night summer parties that will keep things going right up until sunrise.