When
Deniece Williams released "Free," a sparkling ballad of independence and appropriately the artist's hard-earned Top 40 breakthrough as a singer and songwriter, it began a prolific 13-year run with
Columbia Records. That affiliation is compiled in thorough and loving style by
SoulMusic Records with
Free: The Columbia/ARC Recordings 1976-1988. Although most of the 11 studio albums that form the basis of the set were individually reissued in the 2010s, and the two-disc
Black Butterfly: The Essential Niecy served as an ideal summation, this set puts it all together and goes beyond for a bargain. What's more, an extra disc is filled to capacity with 7" edits and 12" extended versions, and the accompanying booklet is up to
SoulMusic's high standard with comprehensive information and analysis that incorporates quotes from
Williams and many of her musical partners. Although
Williams hit the Top 40 only three more times with the chart-topping
Johnny Mathis duet "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late," "It's Gonna Take a Miracle," and second number one "Let's Hear It for the Boy," the four-octave soprano was a constant presence on Black radio, with each one of her LPs a source of up to three charting singles. Despite additional radio staples like "What Two Can Do," "Silly," and "Do What You Feel,"
Williams still wasn't fully appreciated by Stateside programmers; it's most confounding that the rapturous original version of "That's What Friends Are For," off the spectacular debut produced by
Charles Stepney and
Earth, Wind & Fire's
Maurice White, did not catch on (while it became
Williams' second big hit in the U.K.). Furthermore,
Williams' albums -- the first few especially -- are almost as generous with deep gems as they are with hits. Among these are the irresistible "How'd I Know That Love Would Slip Away," the two brilliant numbers that start second LP
Song Bird, and the lively
David Foster collaboration "When Love Comes Calling," along with numerous glowing faith-themed songs that led to
Williams' first Grammy-winning gospel recordings for the
Sparrow label, which occurred toward the end of this period. In more than one way, this eight-disc box complements another
SoulMusic release,
the Emotions'
Don't Ask My Neighbors: The Columbia/ARC Recordings 1976-1981.
Williams co-wrote "You're a Special Part of Me" for
the Emotions'
Flowers, another 1976
Stepney/
White production, and
Williams' labelmates subsequently covered "How'd I Know That Love Would Slip Away." ~ Andy Kellman
![Yours Truly [Tenth Anniversary Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0602537480821_p0_v3_s90x140.jpg "Yours Truly [Tenth Anniversary Edition]")
![Purple Rain [Deluxe Edition]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0093624930433_p0_v3_s90x140.jpg "Purple Rain [Deluxe Edition]")
