Compilations producers: Gary Stewart, David McLees.
Includes liner notes by Paul Grein.
Soul Hits of the 70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind, Vol. 15 was the final volume in the initial run of the series (the inferior volumes 16 through 20 appeared several years later and concentrated on the latter half of the '70s, which wasn't nearly as rich with great material as the first). It's not a bad way for the series to end by any means, yet it's hardly triumphant. Most of the songs on the album are disco songs, but they're not as strong as the disco that dominated Vol. 14. Similarly, the ballads aren't as strong -- Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You" is primarily of interest becuase of her freakishly high voice -- yet there are still enough good singles (Rufus' "Once You Get Started," AWB's "Cut the Cake," the Jimmy Castor Bunch's "Bertha Butt Boogie, Pt. 1," Tavares' "It Only Takes a Minute," Major Harris' "Love Won't Let Me Wait," the Staple Singers' "Let's Do It Again") to make it a worthwhile purchase for listeners who have followed the series this long. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Along with the pop-soul and smooth soul that has been the foundation of the Soul Hits of the 70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind series, Vol. 12 captures the first singles that hinted at disco. The heavy beats of Kool & the Gang's "Jungle Boogie," Manu Dibango's "Soul Makossa," Eddie Kendricks' "Boogie Down" and MFSB's "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" all point directly toward disco. These cuts are balanced by a number of smooth soul singles -- Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' "The Love I Lost, Pt. 1," the Chi-Lites' "Stoned Out of My Mind," Bobby Womack's "Lookin' for a Love," the Main Ingredient's "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely," Al Wilson's "Show and Tell" -- plus the Mainstreeters' funky "Theme from Cleopatra Jones" and the O'Jays' classic "Love Train," all make Vol. 12 another terrific entry in this wonderful series. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Soul Hits of the 70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind, Vol. 14 is the last great disc in the multi-volume series. All 12 songs on the collection were recorded just before soul fractured into disco and quiet storm -- in other words, there's still some genuine soul on this record. Many of the songs are essentially disco -- the Tymes' 'You Little Trustmaker," the Miracles' "Do It Baby," Gloria Gaynor's 'Never Can Say Goodbye," AWB's "Pick up the Pieces," Carol Douglas' "Doctor's Orders," B.T. Express' "Express" and Shirley & Company's underrated "Shame, Shame, Shame" -- but all of them are excellent examples of economical, melodic groove-based songwriting. They're balanced by terrific funk -- LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade" is as gritty as New Orleans R&B, while the O'Jays' "For the Love of Money" equals "Back Stabbers" in terms of paranoia and has a far funkier bass riff -- and great ballads (Latimore's "Let's Straighten It Out," the Three Degrees' "When Will I See You Again"). Essentially, this captures soul's last great singles era at the end of its run, and while some of the production styles are dated, the music itself remains fresh, vital and essential. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Soul Hits of the 70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind, Vol. 13 isn't necessarily one of the strongest volumes in the series, but it has a handful of great singles -- B.T. Express' "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)," Carl Carlton's "Everlasting Love," George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby," the Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat" -- which make it a worthwhile acquistion for fans who already have the remaining volumes. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize