There is no shortage of Shalamar product currently on the market as Sanctuary Music continue their re-issue programme of Dick Griffey's Solar label of the 1980's of which the band were the labels biggest commercial success over an eleven year period along with fellow artists The Whispers/Carrie Lucas/Lakeside/Midnight Starr/Klymaxx/The Deele to name a few. Whilst there was no shortage of hits for the label it was Shalamar who reigned supreme.

This double CD package issued to coincide with the groups 25th anniversary contains very little extra that isn't packaged elsewhere and to be honest there are that many titles to choose from in the record stores it is a fair bet you'll have most of the songs on disc one anyway. I was one of the lucky few DJ's at the time who had the opportunity of presenting the group for a PA at the club I hosted back in 1983 and suffice to say they brought the house down. The girls loved Howard, and the guys just stood in amazement as Jeffrey did his body popping and I along with just about every other guy in the room was amazed at the gorgeous Jody Watley.

'Nights To Remember' opens with the hit single of the same name and continues through the groups career from 1977 - 1984. Every one is a classic and they just keep coming and coming. 'There It Is' a Howard led mid tempo hit will be fondly remembered by many as will 'I Can Make You Feel Good' which for me is my all time favourite. Howard Hewett make a massive impact when he joined the group and is evidenced on the hit singles 'Friends' 'Second Time Around' and 'I Owe You One'. On the other hand let's not forget Jody Watley's great vocal delivery on 'Make That Move' 'Take That To The Bank' and the title track of course. Jeffrey Daniel remained the joker of the band and his body popping dance routines were amazing to watch, so much so that Michael Jackson summoned him for assistance on his 'Thriller' project.

Shalamar arrived on the scene back in 1977 when DJ Simon Soussan issued a 12" single on the band entitled 'Uptown Festival' which was a medley of 60's Motown hits. It was a massive hit and Shalamar were born. As the 1980's progressed the sound that they created started to get a little disjointed and too fast for comfort for some people and songs like 'Amnesia' and 'Disappearing Act' whilst being hit singles didn't have the same impact amongst soul fans as the aforementioned singles from the 'Friends' album. Suddenly, the groups sales appeared to dip.

'Over And Over' remains a fabulous mid tempo song to this day and is one of Howard Hewett's finest moments, however it could be argued that after Hewett left the line-up along with Jodie Watley their replacements failed miserably to recapture the glory days of the early eighties, and numerous single releases such as 'Deadline USA' 'Amnesia' failed to excite the record buying public in the same way as they had done under the original line-up. Consequently, record sales and chart placings failed t materialise.

This definitive collection of hits includes on disc 2 a collection of re-mixes from all of their great hit songs and will no doubt keep the DJ's happy. That said of course one has to remember that virtually everything on this double set has been released before and it's a case of choosing which Shalamar set to buy.

A wonderful introduction to the sounds of Solar Records' finest hit making machine. May their influence continue indefinitely.

Rating 9/10