Babyface - A Collection of His Greatest Hits
ScrewBarry Manilow--it wasKenneth "Babyface" Edmondswho really wrote the songs the whole world sings. From the late '80s to the mid-'90s, no single artist owned the R&B; and pop charts with a tighter or more fluid grip than Babyface (and his then partners L.A. Reid and Darryl Simmons), and thisGreatest Hitscollection is proof of this singer-songwriter/producer's way with romance and rhythm. The catch is that this CD contains only the smashes Face kept for himself: a definitive collection of the songs he handed to others would constitute a box set. This CD covers his solo efforts, from the tangy "Whip Appeal" to the aching "Every Time I Close My Eyes" and the understated "When Will I See You" (arguably the first R&B; acoustic power ballad). With two new cuts and a live version of the  Grammy-winning "Change the World," these 14 tracks sum up an era in R&B; when wearing one's heart on one's sleeve and reaching for the most nuanced of melodies was an act of creative revolution. Sure, some called his act corny, but, as this CD proves, Babyface made minor classics that sound just as gentle and persuasive today as they did back then.--Amy Linden