Album Review:
The Sweetest Soul
- Release Date: 2001
- Genre: Rhythm & Blues
- Label: RPM
- Artist: Jerry Butler
- Flags: Compilation (best of)
- Type: Compilation
- Rating:
- Styles: Chicago Soul, Uptown Soul, Northern Soul
Review
This is a very good British anthology covering Butler's Vee-Jay era, the 26 tracks including all of his major solo hits with the label in the first half of the 1960s: "He Will Break Your Heart," "Moon River," "Find Another Girl," "I'm a Telling You," "Make It Easy on Yourself," and "Need to Belong." There's also the bonus of his big 1958 hit with the Impressions, "For Your Precious Love," although his huge 1964 duet smash with Betty Everett, "Let It Be Me," is absent. It's not just a recycling of the material found on the most comprehensive U.S. retrospective of Butler's Vee-Jay period, The Iceman; almost half of these songs are not found on the American counterpart. That's an important distinction, since some of the cuts only on The Sweetest Soul are notable, such as the fine 1964 ballad "Giving Up on Love," and a few songs that Curtis Mayfield wrote or co-wrote. Unfortunately the original release dates are not given for all of the songs in the track listings and liner notes, and some of the non-hit tracks are much less memorable than Butler's best efforts for Vee-Jay. But these are the only small reservations that apply to this quality early soul disc. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | iTunes | Composers | Performers | Time |
| He Will Break Your Heart |  |
Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Calvin Carter | Jerry Butler | (2:45) |
| Thanks to You | Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:39) | |
| Find Another Girl | Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:45) | |
| When Trouble Calls | Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:38) | |
| I'm a Telling You | Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:20) | |
| I See a Fool | Jerry Butler | (2:44) | ||
| For Your Precious Love | |
Jerry Butler, Arthur Brooks, Richard Brooks | Jerry Butler, The Impressions | (2:41) |
| Sweet Was the Wine | Jerry Butler | Jerry Butler | (2:06) | |
| Moon River | Jerry Butler | (2:35) | ||
| Aware of Love | Jerry Butler, Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:13) | |
| Make It Easy on Yourself | Burt Bacharach, Hal David | Jerry Butler | (2:36) | |
| It's Too Late | Jerry Butler, Kevin Jones | Jerry Butler | (2:35) | |
| You Can Run (But You Can't Hide) | Jerry Butler | (2:34) | ||
| I'm the One (Who Loves You | Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:09) | |
| Where's the Girl | Mike Stoller | Jerry Butler | (2:54) | |
| How Beautifully You Lie | Van McCoy | Jerry Butler | (2:44) | |
| Woman With Soul | Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:11) | |
| Need to Belong | Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:52) | |
| Give Me Your Love | B. Feldman | Jerry Butler | (2:36) | |
| I've Been Trying | Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:58) | |
| Giving up on Love | B. Feldman | Jerry Butler | (2:37) | |
| I Stand Accused | Billy Butler | Jerry Butler | (2:57) | |
| Good Times | Ted Daryll | Jerry Butler | (2:13) | |
| Believe in Me | Curtis Mayfield | Jerry Butler | (2:11) | |
| Just for You | Jerry Butler | (2:33) | ||
| Give It Up | Jerry Butler | (2:35) | ||
| For Your Precious Love | |
Jerry Butler, Arthur Brooks | Jerry Butler | (2:44) |
