Greatest Hits [Evergreen] (CD - 1982)

Includes liner notes by Don Ovens.

Personnel: Betty Everett (vocals).

Liner Note Author: Don Ovens.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Jerry Butler; The Impressions.

This was another greatest hits set that was fine in the early '80s, but now is beside the point and out of print. It contained the Vee Jay and Philadelphia International material. ~ Ron Wynn

Evergreen's Greatest Hits is an 11-track budget-priced collection that features some of Jerry Butler's biggest hits, including "For Your Precious Love," "He Will Break Your Heart," "What's the Use of Breaking Up" and "The Devil in Mrs. Jones." Although this isn't a bad budget-priced disc, there are better collections available, offering more songs, more hits and better sound for not much more money. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

GREATEST HITS collects all the finest singles from Butler's varied and successful career. The epitome of the smooth Philly soulster, Butler's melting baritone and emotive phrasing--especially as heard amid swelling orchestral arrangements on Mancini's "Moon River" and Bacharach's "Make It Easy On Yourself"--prove him a consummate crooner.

Unlike other Butler samplers, this set also has gems from Butler's '70s work with Motown, which feature looser, funkier arrangements, as on "Chalk It Up" and the uncharacteristically hell-raising "The Devil In Mrs. Jones." Sprinkled throughout are Butler's best-known sides: "Hey, Western Union Man," "Only The Strong Survive," the Betty Everett duet "Let It Be Me," "For Your Precious Love" (with the Impressions), and the classic "He Will Break Your Heart." Fans of smooth, '60s Philly soul will find it hard to go wrong with this one.

Evergreen's Greatest Hits is an 11-track budget-priced collection that features some of Jerry Butler's biggest hits, including "For Your Precious Love," "He Will Break Your Heart," "What's the Use of Breaking Up" and "The Devil in Mrs. Jones." Although this isn't a bad budget-priced disc, there are better collections available, offering more songs, more hits and better sound for not much more money. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize