The Emotions - Blessed The Emotions Anthology 1969-1985 (2016)

Although their biggest hit came eight years later with the blissful 'Best of My Love', sisters Sheila, Wanda and Jeanette Hutchison emerged as The Emotions with the quiet but urgent 'So I Can Love You' in 1969 on Stax's Volt subsidiary followed by further hits 'Stealing Love', 'My Honey and Me', 'From Toys To Boys', 'Show Me How' and the classic B-Side, 'Blind Alley', many of which had been produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. The switch to Columbia with 1976's FLOWERS would mark the beginning of a successful collaboration with Charles Stepney of Chess records before his untimely death, and Maurice White (Earth. Wind and Fire) who revitalized the band. The title track and first single returned them to the R&B top twenty. The single's B-side however, 'I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love', proved to be a bigger chart success that leans more into funk and is an effective signpost for their next single release and chart success in the #1 'Best of My Love'. 1977's REJOICE catapulted the band into platinum sales and spun off 'Don't Ask My Neighbors' and featured a version of the Deniece Williams penned 'Slip Away'. The band would continue their revitalized identity as well as regularity of musical output with 1978's SUNBEAM delivered another top ten hit with 'Smile'.