The Greatest of Pleasure (Remastered)

Album Review

In the 1980s and 1990s, Pleasure's die-hard fans were hoping that Fantasy would reissue its entire catalog on CD. Regrettably, that didn't happen, although Fantasy did assemble this generally excellent collection in 1993. The Greatest of Pleasure, as the title indicates, boasts some of the Oregon funksters' most essential work. Naturally, this CD contains "Glide,"which was Pleasure's biggest hit — not only is the original hit version from 1979 included, but Fantasy also provides a remix and an interesting, if less than essential, hip-hop remake featuring rapper Psycho (who was a member of the shocking, over-the-top gangsta rap group Insane Poetry). The tracks that are essential range from the hit single version of "Glide" to other jazz-influenced 1970s funk smokers such as "Dance to the Music," "The Real Thing," "Joyous," and "Let's Dance" (which wasn't a major hit for Pleasure but became better known when the West Street Mob recorded a cover version for Sugar Hill in 1981). Not that everything on this collection is uptempo; the dreamy "Sassafras Girl" is a fine example of Pleasure's mellow quiet storm side. For those who are seeking an introductory overview of Pleasure's exciting but underexposed Fantasy output, The Greatest of Pleasure would be the logical starting point.