Edwin Starr was at the height of his creative powers in the 1960s and early to mid-1970s, when he did much of his best work for Motown. Released in late 1998, this CD spans 1965-1974 and boasts many of his essential Motown hits. Starr was very much a product of Northern soul, and yet, he sometimes showed an awareness of the sweaty, rough-and-tumble soul that Stax Records was recording down in Memphis. “If My Heart Could Tell the Story,” “Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.),” and “I’m Still a Struggling Man” are pure Detroit; the sweetness and honey-coated harmonies that defined a lot of Motor City and Northern R&B are very much a part of these classics. But Starr’s tougher side asserts itself on “25 Miles” and the angry protest song “War,” both of which demonstrate that when he wanted, Starr could be every bit as gritty as Memphis shouters like Otis Redding and Sam Moore. If you’re seeking an introduction to Starr’s talents, this disc would be the best choice by far. – Alex Henderson
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