Soul Hits of the 70s: Didn't It Blow Your Mind, Vol. 14 is the last great disc in the multi-volume series. All 12 songs on the collection were recorded just before soul fractured into disco and quiet storm -- in other words, there's still some genuine soul on this record. Many of the songs are essentially disco -- the Tymes' 'You Little Trustmaker," the Miracles' "Do It Baby," Gloria Gaynor's 'Never Can Say Goodbye," AWB's "Pick up the Pieces," Carol Douglas' "Doctor's Orders," B.T. Express' "Express" and Shirley & Company's underrated "Shame, Shame, Shame" -- but all of them are excellent examples of economical, melodic groove-based songwriting. They're balanced by terrific funk -- LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade" is as gritty as New Orleans R&B, while the O'Jays' "For the Love of Money" equals "Back Stabbers" in terms of paranoia and has a far funkier bass riff -- and great ballads (Latimore's "Let's Straighten It Out," the Three Degrees' "When Will I See You Again"). Essentially, this captures soul's last great singles era at the end of its run, and while some of the production styles are dated, the music itself remains fresh, vital and essential. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide