The Very Best of Jackie Wilson [Ace] (CD - 1993)

Similar to the U.S. greatest-hits collection of the same name (on Rhino), but with substantially more tracks. This 24-song anthology has all the familiar big singles on the Rhino compilation, but goes into his late-'60s-early-'70s material in greater depth. His best stuff was recorded before that, though, so you're not much (if at all) worse off by sticking to the cheaper, more easily available domestic collection. ~ Richie Unterberger

A fine alternative to Rhino's compilation of the same name, British label Ace's THE VERY BEST OF JACKIE WILSON is true to its title, from the swinging, post-doo wop exuberance of 1957's "Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want to Meet)" to the orchestrated deep soul of 1971's "Love is Funny That Way." All of Wilson's best-known cuts are here, including the string-sweetened ballad "Night," the driving, dance floor summons "Baby Workout," and Wilson's excellent 1967 version of Gary Jackson's "Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher."

Here too, of course, is Wilson's signature song "Lonely Teardrops," an impassioned, yearning slice of pop perfection (ironically, Wilson suffered a heart attack while performing the song on Dick Clark's Oldies show in 1975). Wilson's particular skill was blending an R&B edge with pop accessibility, and his supple, soaring tenor was well suited to ballads, mid-tempo shuffles, and sweaty, high-octane rave-ups alike. At 24 tracks, Ace's compilation gives fine samples of each, and differs from the Rhino set only in its inclusion of more cuts from Wilson's later career. It makes a convincing case for Wilson as one of the most dynamic, talented, and memorable performers of the era. minimize