'80s Soul Classics, Vols. 1–5

The Netherlands' PTG label, as well as its parent, Vinyl Masterpiece, has specialized in '80s R&B through album reissues, as well as compilation series such as Masterpiece, Disco Giants, and Nighttime Lovers. In early 2011, they started yet another series of similar scope -- one with a somewhat misleading title. Even the most fanatical '80s R&B nerd would hesitate to refer to more than a couple of the songs on these two discs as classic; as far as the U.S. is considered, only a few of the selections made significant mainstream or underground impact. Kashif's "Don't Stop My Love," Central Line's "Walking into Sunshine" (not the superior Larry Levan mix here), and El DeBarge's "You Wear It Well," are among the most popular picks. There's a small handful of forgotten singles and deep cuts, including an early A-side from Glenn Jones ("Finesse," produced by Leon Sylvers III), and a hot mellow cut driven by Randy Muller (First Circle's "In the Name of Love"). ~ Andy Kellman