Very Best of Billy Paul

Philadelphia-born vocalist Billy Paul was comfortable with both soul and jazz, and his best-known song, the 1972 hit "Me and Mrs. Jones," borrowed a bit from both styles with its polished arrangement and Paul's thoughtful phrasing conveying a tale of illicit love. While "Me and Mrs. Jones" was far and away Paul's biggest hit, he was a regular visitor to the R&B charts in the '70s, and recorded a series of fine albums for Philadelphia International Records, where he often dealt with political and cultural issues as well as songs best suited for the quiet storm. The Very Best of Billy Paul is a collection that features a baker's dozen songs from the singer's Philadelphia International catalog, and includes romantic numbers like "Me and Mrs. Jones," "Love Buddies," and "When Love Is New" as well as more thoughtful statements like "Brown Baby," "People Power," and "America (We Need the Light)." ~ Mark Deming