"All the classic Gap Band hits from the Mercury years are here (as expected), but this collection includes another half dozen of their Top 40 R&B hits not currently available on CD. The sound is superb, the liner notes enlightening, as expected from Hip-O. With all respect to 'reviewer 2255', the 12" versions of those handful of Gap Band classics are already available on several well done collections, the downside being you can only fit 8-12 songs on a CD when using the long versions. The Ultimate Collection song listing (both here at Amazon, and on the back of the CD) is quite clear that these are the single (hit radio) versions of many of these classic songs. As for me, I'm just thrilled to find the 19 biggest Gap Band hits on 1 disc (this puppy clocks in at 79+ minutes). This is truly influential stuff. Make mine the Ultimate!"
Okay, But...
yygsgsdrassil | Crossroads America | 04/13/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"....to it's credit this collection has a few of Gap's later radio list hits like the theme to "I'm Gonna Get You Sukka". But, with those edits cut for singles, it leaves the listener wanting. Better to find the uncut, full time versions and 12" versions especially for "Burn Rubber On Me" and "You Dropped A Bomb on Me". That, again, is my humble opinion which I feel is from a buyer's standpoint."
Gap on CD!
A. Smith | USA | 03/14/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The ultimate collection is indeed a good CD. This disc covers their early material going all the way back to "Shake", which isfrom 1979. Unfortunately, many of the good earlier songs like"Burn Rubber" and Early in the Morning" are short edited single versons instead of the longer and better album versions. For longtime Gap fans this is somewhat of a disappointment. However, what this CD does offer is some of their newer, later material like "All of my Love", "We can Make it Alright" and"Sweeter than Candy", which for a long time was NOT availableon CD anywhere. The newer songs are the album versions. The disc itself sounds good and you can hear the guitars, drum beats, and synthesizers/keyboards crystal clear. A nice GapBand compilation CD."
"shake, shake, shake your booty while steppin' out"
J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 02/06/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"High steppin', low steppin', rock steppin' and roll steppin' is what the "Gap Band - Ultimate Collection" is about...nineteen of the best from the greatest brothers act - Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson the most aggressive funk-group team recording in the '70s. From this top hit "I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WANT TO GET UP AND DANCE" (Oops, Up Side Your Head), the band had their first gold album (for THE GAP BAND II) and a new reputation as R&B's out-there brothers was born..."EARLY IN THE MORNING", "BURN RUBBER", "YOU DROPPED THE BOMB ON ME", "OUTSTANDING" and "ALL OF MY LOVE", went on to score number one.Compilation once again, under the guidance of Pat Lawrence - assisted by Dana G. Smart and Michele Horie of Hip-O Records, job well done. Good to hear that classic sound for the listeners old and new to enjoy as - THE GAP BAND RIDES AGAIN! Total Time: 79:35 on 19 Tracks...Hip-O Records 314 548 098 2...(2001)"
Good, but I have just a few complaints.
musicfanatic | 12/04/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Gap Band was a great funk/soul group of the 70's-early 80's. While this collection is nice, I personally would have liked to have seen more concentration on their 70's-early 80's songs and a little less of the late 80's-early 90's songs. Also, on those 70's-80's songs, it would have been nice to have gotten the full-length versions, on the ones that were cut short. That aside, overall this is a pretty comprehensive Gap Band compilation and I would still highly recommend it to any funk/urban/soul lover."