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The Best of Darlene Love is so close to perfection that it’s a little maddening. The only thing keeping it from being a perfect overview of her career is one song: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” If that song had been included it would have been a five star/A+/perfect ten album. As it stands, it’s a fantastic introduction and summary to one of the greatest voices in all of pop and R&B music.
Darlene Love was blessed with a voice that could be tremendously powerful (“A Fine, Fine Boy”) and very emotional (“Lord, If You’re a Woman”). These teenage-aimed pop songs are surprisingly durable. They sound just as inventive and infectious as they did when they debuted in the early to mid 60s. Love was one of many vocalists that super-producer Phil Spector loved to use again and again and again. It is little wonder why given how beautiful and feisty of a vocalist she is. She is one of my favorite musical artists of all time. I want everyone to hunt down this collection and hear why. Yes, lyrically these songs of teenage love and affection might be a little dated, but a great voice and great music is timeless. DOWNLOAD: “A Fine, Fine Boy,” “He’s a Rebel,” “He’s Sure the Boy I Love”
