Search - Gwen Guthrie :: Ultimate Collection

Greatly Missed ...

Armando M. Mesa | Chandler, AZ | 01/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"She was a very rare and precious talent that won me over as a fan within a month of being able to acquire her self-titled (debut L.P. ?) from 1982 this year (2001). After purchasing this out-of-print treasure on vinyl for a few dollars at a used c.d./l.p. shop I had to get Ultimate Collection right away. The only way to describe it is that it blew me away !I had only previously seen and heard Ms. Guthrie's background vocal credits on some of today's biggest pop and R&B artists' projects;only to wonder what Gwen's vocals would sound like center stage (upfront and solo). Her smooth vocal approach to some of the material along with the moments where she belts out with such strong and powerful and soulful finesse and conviction is a testament as to why she was a highly sought after background session vocalist working with the likes of Madonna, Patti Austin, Quincy Jones, etc.In fact, Guthrie's sweet, yet sassy, voice was very close to style much like Patti Austin's. She never sang over the top (like most R&B wannabe divas in a melo-dramatic sense) nor did she stay hidden behind a background vocal session (she was recognizable)! Much to the world's sadness she is gone but has left behind a treasure for those who still want to get to know her.She is gone, but not forgotten..."

At long last.Excellent compilation but where're the ballads?

Armando M. Mesa | 11/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am BIG fan of Ms. Guthrie and was so sorry to hear of her passing early this year. This CD helps her spirit -thru her music- remain with us forever. I have no doubt that -thru sampling (already Foxy Brown has sampled "Rent") and just retrospection- new generations are going to discover and then rediscover this sadly under-rated "DIVA". Gwen could write, play, produce... and SANG her face off! If anyone out there has "Good To Go Lover" (out of print) on CD, please email me to arrange to get a copy. My favorite Gwen Guthrie tune, "You're Very Special" is on it, and I've been longing to hear that song for, literally, YEARS now. It touched my spirit in such a way that I memorized it in exactly one sitting. To this day, the lyrics are still on the tip of my mind. PLEASE include that one on the Ultimate Collection of Gwen Guthrie, Vol. II. And Gwen, wherever you are, you truly are "very special to me..." Signed, Faithful Fan and Admirer"

Great Anthology

shadygrady0002 | Detroit, MI United States | 10/19/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The late Gwen Guthrie was definatley one of the most under-rated singers of our time. Despite being a featured vocalist on Quincy Jones' 1978 disc "Sounds And Stuff Like That", having a #1 R&B hit with "Ain't Nuthin Goin On But The Rent" in 1986 and a memorable dance hit with "Padlock'd" in 1983, Guthrie's career never really took off. This anthology does a decent job at covering Gwen's career from 1982 thru 1985. Although 3 albums 1982's "Gwen Guthrie", 1983's "Portrait", and her 1986 disc, the excellent "Good To Go Lover" are covered here, fans will be disheartened to only find one track, "Oh Donny No" from her 1985 overlooked disc "Just For You" represented here. Whomever put this disc together would have done well to have instead included the title track from that particular disc on this anthology.



Gwen left Polydor after her success in 1986 and moved to Warner Brothers in 1988. There she would record only 2 discs, the uneven "Lifeline" in 1988 and the superb "Hot Times" in 1990, where she had her last hit single "Sweet Bitter Love", which was a very moderate hit on the R&B charts. "Hot Times" included some of her best work ever, however, neither that disc or "Lifeline" generated much attention and are not represented on this anthology. Sadly, "Hot Times" was Guthrie's swan song at Warner Brothers, as well as her last full-length album before her untimely death in 1999 to cancer.



Although not a complete overview of her career, "The Ultimate Collection" will satisfy most of her fans."