KC & the Sunshine Band

In 1999, Rhino celebrated the 25th anniversary of KC & the Sunshine Band's formation with this two-CD anthology. But technically, 1999 was their 26th anniversary -- the soul/funk/disco band was formed in 1973, not 1974. For the casual listener and the budget-minded, a better and more concise choice would be Rhino's 1990 CD The Best of KC & the Sunshine Band, which summarizes their contributions with 16 tracks. But if your interest in KC goes beyond casual, 25th Anniversary Collection isn't a bad release to have. The set contains all of the essential '70s hits offered on The Best of KC & the Sunshine Band, including "Get Down Tonight," "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty," "That's The Way (I Like It)," "I'm Your Boogie Man," and "Keep It Comin' Love," as well as "Wrap Your Arms Around Me," "I Like To Do It," and the ballad "Please Don't Go." But 25th Anniversary Collection also has its share of material that is enjoyable though less than essential -- you need to be a seasoned, diehard KC fanatic to fully appreciate the Spanish-language version of "Please Don't Go" (titled "Por Favor, No Te Vayas"), Tom Moulton's 1994 remix of "Get Down Tonight," or KC and Teri DeSario's 1980 cover of Martha & the Vandellas' "Dancin' in the Streets." And if you're that much of a collector, you'll appreciate Brian Chin's comprehensive, informative liner notes -- the writer has no problem articulating why KC's music was so popular in the '70s and why his classic grooves excited many hip-hop, dance-pop and house enthusiasts in the '90s. Rock critics might have dismissed KC in the '70s, but time has made it clear that KC's admirers -- not the critics who gave him scathing reviews -- were the smart ones. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide