Fueled by highly sought fusion musicians of the era (Harvey Mason and Ron Carter are among the many who make appearances) and brilliant production, Marlena Shaw gracefully fuses modern-day funk and soul with her jazz background. Shaw's unique vocal delivery and ability to glue all of these elements together helped to further Blue Note's status into mainstream R&B territory. Nowhere is this more prevalent than her rendition of Marvin Gaye's classic "Save the Children." Calling this compilation The Best of Marlena Shaw is somewhat inaccurate, as it's culled from her tenure at Blue Note records from the early '70s and has many of her early Cadet recordings notably absent. However, this should not deter new listeners from giving this a spin, as the performances are predominately top-notch. ~ Rob Theakston, All Music Guide
Bob Olson (Dialogue), Benard Ighner (Arranger), Phil Bodner (String Section), George Butcher (Keyboards), Phil Bodner (Piccolo), Paul Griffin (Piano (Electric)), Larry Nash (Synthesizer), Marlena Shaw (Arranger), Michael Lang (Piano), Jimmy Young (Drums), Dave Carey (Percussion), Ron McMaster (Mastering), Bert de Coteaux (Keyboards), Gene Bertoncini (Guitar), Marlena Shaw (Vocals), Johnny Pacheco (Conga), Jay Berliner (Guitar), Chuck Stewart (Photography), Derek Smith Quartet (Piano), Derek Smith (Piano (Electric)), Johnny Pacheco (Drums), Byron Olson (Arranger), Cornell Dupree (Guitar), Carlos Martin (Conga), Bob Babbitt (Bass (Electric)), Hugh McCracken (Guitar), Gordon Edwards (Bass (Electric)), Benard Ighner (Producer), Johnny Pacheco (Bongos), Omar Clay (Percussion), Harvey Mason, Sr. (Chimes), Ricky Williams (Keyboards), Larry Carlton (Guitar), Herb Lovelle (Drums), Marlena Shaw (Dialogue), Derek Smith Quartet (Piano (Electric)), Wade Marcus (String Arrangements), Harvey Mason, Sr. (Wind Chimes), Grady Tate (Drums), Jimmy Johnson, Jr. (Drums), Mike Lang (Piano), King Errisson (Conga), Marlena Shaw (Piano), Phil Bodner (Drums), Wade Marcus (Horn Arrangements), Richard Davis (Bass), Larry Nash (Piano (Electric)), Harvey Mason, Sr. (Drums), Derek Smith (?), Larry Nash (Piano), Todd Sommer (Percussion), George Butcher (Piano), Jerry Friedman (Guitar), Bert de Coteaux (Producer), Wade Marcus (Arranger), Jeff Mironov (Guitar), Chuck Rainey (Bass (Electric)), Franko Caligiuri (Package Design), David T. Walker (Guitar), Tony Silvester (Producer), Dr. George Butler (Piano), Vincent Bell (Guitar), Bert de Coteaux (Arranger), Paul Griffin (Piano), Lance Quinn (Guitar), Tony Silvester (Percussion), Marlena Shaw (Adaptation), Dr. George Butler (Producer), Michael Cuscuna (Compilation Producer), Dale Oehler (Arranger), Dennis Budimir (Guitar), Franko Caligiuri (Design), Ron Carter (Bass), Chuck Stewart (Cover Photo), Derek Smith (Piano)
