Sharon Redd

Along with Musique, Inner Life, and D Train, the late Sharon Redd was a valuable part of the Prelude roster, one of the label's most prolific and successful. Her voice couldn't quite be called husky, and it remained powerful without resorting to full-blown wailing or any other form of, "Hey, check my vocal skills" showmanship. She always put the song first, and for that, there are several singles she released during the early '80s that helped define the crack of time that can be referred to as both post-disco and pre-house. This installment of Castle offshoot Deep Beats' Essential Dancefloor Artists series collects all the significant slices from Redd's discography and thankfully avoids radio edits. All the club favorites -- "Can You Handle It," "Never Give You Up," "Love How You Feel," "Beat the Street," "Liar on the Wire" -- are here, as are choice album tracks like "Try My Love on for Size" and her best ballad, "Leaving You Is Easier Said Than Done." This set also doubles as a key compilation for those who are attempting to acquire François Kevorkian's finest mixing jobs without buying all of the original vinyl. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide