Consumer Guide Album

Michael Jackson: The Original Soul of Michael Jackson [Motown, 1987]
Once you get past the slipshod cynicism of Motown's catalogue exploitation, you have to admit that this mostly remixed, sometimes synthed-up mishmash has its charms and even uses--that in fact it's superior to the "real" 1975 best-of the label long ago deleted. I love the previously unreleased "Twenty-Five Miles" and the preteen-sings-the-blues "Doggin' Around," could live without the two J5 nonhits, and will no doubt pull this down when I want to remember "Dancing Machine" and "Rockin' Robin." B+