The Greatest Sides – Billy Stewart

Billy Stewart's tragic death in 1970 at the age of 33 was one of the great losses in R&B music. His ability to straddle gospel, soul, cabaret, and jazz terrain with equal power and grace was quite unique. After gigging around his hometown of Washington D.C. in the early '50s, Stewart was discovered by Bo Diddley and soon hit the club circuit. After signing to Chess, Stewart cut his first sides in 1962 and made the R&B charts with "Reap What You Sew." Other smashes like "I Do Love You" and "Summertime" soon followed. This fine collection includes all these career highlights, plus fine originals like "Sitting in the Park" (a favorite of early-reggae vocalists like Slim Smith and Frankie Paul), "Fat Boy," and "Strange Feelings." Adding to this collection's stock, Stewart turns in bravura performances on "Over the Rainbow," "Moon River," and "Secret Love," debunking the assumption that R&B singers don't have what it takes to sing pop standards in the process (many soul stars, including Aretha Franklin, admitted to preferring the standards to many other types of music). Full of Stewart's trademark word doubling, vocal stuttering, and general song transforming ways, this Chess hits collection is a must for all fans of great singing. ~ Stephen Cook, All Music Guide