Love Songs [12 Tracks]

by Andy KellmanPart of Motown's 2009 Love Songs series -- issued prior to Valentine's Day with volumes dedicated to several of the label's other major artists, including Smokey Robinson, the Jackson 5, Diana Ross & the Supremes, and Gladys Knight & the Pips -- this disc contains most of the Commodores' best-known ballads and otherwise romantic singles, including the number one R&B hits "Easy," "Just to Be Close to You," "Three Times a Lady," and "Still," as well as some of the group's other essentials -- "Lady (You Bring Me Up)," "Sail On," "Jesus Is Love," and several more. Naturally, this hardly covers all the bases. Only two-disc sets like 2008's Gold approach that, and there's plenty of deserving, thematically-relevant material -- like "Sweet Love" and "Painted Picture" -- not included here. No matter your needs, you'd be settling with this.