JosA© Feliciano - Absolutely the Best

Jose is still a star.

I am a fan from his debut those days.
When he gave a concert in Nagoya, Japan, I enjoyed this.
"Light My Fire"," Rain ","Hi-Heel Sneakers "is really good music, and arrangement of all songs changes with this album a little before.
But I feel some difficult points about "Feliz Navidad ".
Vikki Carr sings this music in her album, too.
And her song is my preference more.
His voice is still delicate, and it seems to be crystal.
This CD is the best album of the present age of Jose.
September 12, 2007

Another "Rolling Stones" Maligned Artist - But This Is Not A Good Album

In the Rolling Stones Album Guide, free-lance reviewer Paul Evans says "it's hard to forgive this amiable guitarist for his 1968 slaughter of "Light My Fire." Then again, Irwin Stambler doesn't even mention him in his so-called Encylopedia Of Pop, Rock & Soul.

But the ones who count - the buying public - sent his version of The Doors' classic to # 3 Billboard Pop Hot 100 and # 29 R&B for RCA Victor that summer, b/w California Dreamin'. It's interesting to note as well that the original version by The Doors, although a # 1 Hot 100 in 1967, could not crack the R&B charts.

Jose would, of course, have only one other Pop Top 40 hit, Hi-Heel Sneakers, which made it to # 25 Hot 100/# 31 Adult Contemporary (AC)/#44 R&B later in 1968, b/w Hitchcock Railway, which also charted at # 77 Hot 100. Unfortunately, not only is the B-side omitted here, but Hi-Heel Sneakers is NOT the original [that's confirmed when you hear the line "in case Evander Holyfield wants to fight"].

Also left out is his next best effort, in terms of the all-important singles charts. The Star-Spangled Banner, recorded "live" in Detroit at the 5th game of the 1968 World Series, reached # 50 Hot 100 that November b/w And I Love Her (also omitted).

Missing as well are Hey Baby and My World Is Empty Without You, a doubled-sided hit in February 1969, going to # 71 and # 87 Hot 100 respectively, and Marley Purt Drive which, written by The Bee Gees, peaked at # 33 AC/# 70 Hot 100 in May 1969 b/w Old Turkey Buzzard.

His next charter, Rain, is included, a # 19 AC/# 76 Hot 100 in September 1969 b/w She's A Woman [NOT included]. But then Varese leaves off Destiny and Susie-Q which reached # 15 AC/# 83 Hot 100 and # 84 Hot 100 respectively in July 1970 as another double-sided hit.

After that Jose was absent from the charts until 1975 when Chico And The Man, the theme from a popular TV series, just made the charts at # 96 Hot 100, and while that's included, the flipside, Hard Times In El Barrio, is not. Two others overlooked here are Twilight Time (# 45 AC in summer 1975 b/w Stay With Me), and I'm Coming Home Again (# 44 AC in June 1980 b/w Disco Flam).

Following another long chart absence he returned in 1982 on the Motown label with I Wanna Be Where You Are which, b/w Let's Make Love On The Telephone, reached # 63 R&B in January. A year later he again demonstrated his broad appeal when another Motown effort, Let's Find Each Other Tonight, climbed to # 64 on the Country charts b/w Cuidado. None of these are included here either.

The CD does finish off with his last charted single, 1998's Feliz Navidad which peaked at # 19 AC/# 70 Hot 100 over the Holiday season b/w The Little Drummer Boy. Actually recorded back in 1970 and released then on an album, it had been a Christmas classic ever since - and still is, charting again in 2000 at # 12 AC and # 105 Hot 100 "bubble under.".

There is one page of liner notes which, unfortunately, do not explain why the above-mentioned charted songs are missing from an album entitled "Absolutely The Best" while including seven that did not chart and a re-make. Also, it's ludicrous to see a CD released in 2000 with but 12 selections. That's the kind of thing we had thrust at us in the early 90's when CD's were still a novelty. For those reasons I had to reluctantly deduct 4 stars. September 3, 2007

Not Absolutely the Best

I purchased "Absolutely the Best" for my two favorite songs: Light My Fire and Feliz Navidad. I was very disapointed that Feliz Navidad is not the original song, but a "live" recording. Had that been disclosed, I would not have purchased the cd. February 9, 2006

However is Jose

How is write on the precise review of Mr. George O'Leary, this compilation can't be considerated the real best of the great Jose Feliciano: but not because not contains many his hits but because ALL the songs included in this compilation are re-recorded by Jose in 1996 in his personal studio with his tour band, and anyway are differents by the originals, more modern in sounds but with less orchestrals arrangement (brass, strings, flutes etc) and not so typical 60s how before, (those originals are now perfects for the recents chillout lounge hit compilations)
Anyway in these recents Jose is ever great, his voice in some ways is better and his guitar ever the same: incredible. Songs must have.
About "Rolling Stone and maligned artist", is true, is hard to believe but so many Magazines and reviewers not have ever all loved Jose, probably many of these was too "linked" by originals versions and bands (and perhaps... labels...) of the covers redoin by Jose for understand the incredible and unique work then there was behind any song , hard to find other musicians capable to rewrite completly a song like Jose in all world. Perhaps for fault of these magazines and writers (and surely managers and record companies) the world has missed in years true and rare talents like Jose Feliciano. October 9, 2002

a must have

Jose Feliciano is a Great talent.the man has a touch on Guitar.His songs are still tight to this day.his cover of the Doors "Light My Fire" is right on time.also i have always dug the theme song to "Chico&The Man".i enjoy his playing he puts alot of heart&soul into it. December 30, 2000

More reviews at Amazon.com ...