Classics IV The Very Best of Classics IV

A no-frills CD reissue of what was already a pretty frills-free vinyl anthology from the '70s, The Very Best of the Classics IV is not geared for the obsessive fan of Dennis Yost and crew, even assuming such people exist. The sound is serviceable, the liner notes non-existent, and the skimpy 26-and-a-half-minute running time is just barely on the right side of a gyp. On the other hand, for the casual fan who just wants decent-sounding versions of "Spooky," "Traces," and "Stormy" -- this Atlanta-based group's three mellow blue-eyed soul hits -- this is an inexpensive way to do just that. The other seven tracks contain no hidden gems, but they're perfectly serviceable, even the cover of Bobby Hebb's maudlin "Sunny." ~ Stewart Mason