Best of Colonel Abrams

As a vocalist whose career began to rise in the mid-'80s, Colonel Abrams, like many other full-bodied vocalists, began to be compared to the booming-voice archetype Teddy Pendergrass. Although the comparisons were justified, Abrams had his own persona. A lightning rod for romantic tumult, The Best of Colonel Abrams has him battling cheating women, interfering parents, and nosy townsfolk, all to great effect. This effort compiles the 11 tracks Abrams recorded for MCA during the post-disco/early-house era. On the best dance tracks, The Best of Colonel Abrams proves that he and co-writer/producer Marston Freeman were rhythm innovators of the highest order. The polyrhythmic "I'm Not Gonna Let You" has the classic '70s Philly beats replicated through a battery of synthesizers. On that track, Abrams sings in his patented halting, percussive style and he's shouting the top of his lungs throughout. "Trapped" has Abrams even more perplexed as he sings, "But I don't want your folks to/Turn me over to the hands of the law." Both tracks and "Speculation" have held extremely well and set the standard for the stylistically similar work that came shortly afterward. Although he is chiefly known for dance tracks, The Best of Colonel Abrams also proves that he is skillful with ballads as well. On the poignant "Table for Two" he only sings for a minute-plus and doesn't hit one false note. The Best of Colonel Abrams put a lot of his essential songs back into print and is a must for his fans.