Some memorable recording artists just didn't make good albums. Larry Blackmon's Cameo was one such example--their domain was the 12- inch and the 45 single. As a result, The Best of Cameo is the place to start and finish w... more »ith one of dance music's most distinctive, and unabashedly fun-loving, ensembles. Slick, funny, and endlessly funky, Cameo's blend of squeaking keyboards, compu-beats, cartoon vocals, and extended jams synthesized a new brand of disco for a post- disco age. This set is the band at its best, with triangle-headed bandleader Blackmon leading his troops through ballroom classics like "Single Life," New Wave-styled wonders such as "Rigor Mortis," and bouncy, Prince-seasoned singles like "Word Up." And it lays light on the ballads--never our heroes' strong point. Trust me--you'll want this as the soundtrack for your upcoming '80s-revival party. --Don Harrison« less
Some memorable recording artists just didn't make good albums. Larry Blackmon's Cameo was one such example--their domain was the 12- inch and the 45 single. As a result, The Best of Cameo is the place to start and finish with one of dance music's most distinctive, and unabashedly fun-loving, ensembles. Slick, funny, and endlessly funky, Cameo's blend of squeaking keyboards, compu-beats, cartoon vocals, and extended jams synthesized a new brand of disco for a post- disco age. This set is the band at its best, with triangle-headed bandleader Blackmon leading his troops through ballroom classics like "Single Life," New Wave-styled wonders such as "Rigor Mortis," and bouncy, Prince-seasoned singles like "Word Up." And it lays light on the ballads--never our heroes' strong point. Trust me--you'll want this as the soundtrack for your upcoming '80s-revival party. --Don Harrison
The title sucks !!! - I'd replace half of these tracks
Master G | UK | 03/25/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Any one who was around at the time when Bands like Cameo, Parliament/Funkadelic, the Barkays, etc, were laying down the funkiest grooves will know that this is a poor representation of the best of Cameo. There are way too many Cameo Anthems missing, such as 'It's serious', 'Post mortem', 'Funk funk', 'Throw it down', etc, as well as killer ballads like 'love you anyway', 'Feel me', etc. If you want an awesome Cameo album (still not 'The best of' - but their nearly all here) get Anthology [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED].
I wasn't gonna post this but I had to step up to this poor editorial review. The guy has totally lost the plot, because Cameo DID make some good albums - 'Feel me', & 'She's strange' immediately spring to mind. And as for 'a new brand of disco for a post- disco age'... come on Amazon, get some creditables in who KNOW about the music!!!!! Only in their later days did Cameo cross-over into the pop/commercial market with 'She's strange'. Cameo's hallmark was their refreshingly raw FUNK sound, which was anything but DISCO."
It doesn't get funkier !
John D. Washington | Los Angeles, CA USA | 05/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you love funk, you have to own this collection. This CD has the funk classics that made Cameo and Blackmon legendary. I like Word Up, but it was the material they did before that that makes this a great CD. I was alittle disappointed with the version of "She's Strange" that they put on here, but can't argue with the overall song selections. Single Life, Flirt, I Just Want To Be, & Attack Me with Your Love are some of the highlights.Oooops, I forgot "Shake Your Pants" and "Sparkle".Did I mention this is a great CD?"
Wonderful Band But Songs Missing
Josephll | CET | 03/07/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Cameo was a Funk band that originally resembled Funkadelic with hard funk and humouristic lyrics, they were not afraid to use horns and other catchy instruments that perfectly suited the 70's music. In the 80's with Hip Hop emerging Cameo switched style a little and istead of using Horns they switched to Synthesizers, Drum Machines and a more pop influenced image, In the mid 80's they also scored some of their biggest hits like "Word Up" "Candy" "Single Life" and "She's Strange" that all were hybrids of the best that market had to offer (pop, funk, rock, hip hop). Thier main singer and leader was Larry Blackmon, but Tomi Jenkins also sang vocals, third key member was Nathan Leftenant. From 1977 when their first album "Cardiac Arrest" was released to the mid 80's they released loads of albums, none of them were bad though, even if many of the Cameo albums came released 6 months inbetween and some are hard to purchase. However, back then in the 70's and 80's many albums just contained the inadequate number of 7-8 songs on a LP. Instead of releasing one with atleast 10-12, it feautures 7-8 and many of those songs were too long. The Album version of "She's Strange" is over 7 minutes for example. That's why it would be better to buy a compilation of Cameo instead of go for a single LP, the problem with "Best Of" albums with Cameo is that they're inadequate and many songs are missing out, there is no remastered version and no bonus tracks either. This particular version is from 1993, (i.e 13 years ago) But it's still better then the other compilations found on Amazon. It seems like each of the compliations feature the top hits but miss out some minor hits each but adds other that weren't feautures on another album.
Missing songs I would have liked to see are: Freaky Dancin', Just Be Yourself, She's Mine, Post Mortem, Keep It Hot, You Make Me Work, Funk Funk, It's Serious, Insane, We're Goin' Out Tonight, Style, I Want It Now.
Overall, Everything is relative, I could live without some of these songs, but this album is not fully complete either and unfortunately there aren't any other that is either. If You're a casual fan or if you just like some of the top hits, go for it but for more devout fans this collection isn't complete."
Essential Cameo
The Groove | Boston, MA | 06/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of course, everybody knows Cameo for its breakthrough hit "Word Up," but fans of the old school will remember this group for its earlier, more soulful hits like "She's Strange" and "Aligator Woman." The hits of Larry Blackmon and Co. get compiled on this solid single-disc collection, and what amazing ride it is. "Candy," "Back and Forth," and a slew of others sound just as fresh as they were released back in the day. Personally, this disc gets bonus points from me for including "Shake Your Pants," which appeared in the 1997 movie "Love Jones." This disc is required, essential listening from one of the more innovative funk acts of the 1980's."
Im a very big cameo fan. I have both lp,s and cd,s.
The Groove | 08/07/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The record label could have done a better job with song selections. cameo was the type of group that if you bought there music you would,nt be upset because there was only one good song on the lp. I just recently bought cameo Live and its good, but it wasnt put together very well."