Odyssey - The Very Best (1999)

Review by Andrew Hamilton
The cover depicts two singers, but Odyssey was mostly a trio consisting of Tony Reynolds and sisters Lillian and Louise Lopez; Bill McEachern, at some point, replaced one of the Lopez sisters. While an OK career overview, it shows the problems producers encountered trying to give them a definitive sound. "Native New Yorker," a monster record, has no relatives here; its composers, Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, never created another song for Odyssey as good. A few ballads are exquisite, and some up-tempo numbers, especially Lamont Dozier's "Going Back to My Roots," are dancefloor gems. The 16 songs encompass almost as many styles, including Caribbean and Southern soul ("Shades of Blue"). Devoted Odyssey fans' won't quibble, but casual fans and curiosity seekers will want a more engaging compilation of these talented singers' tracks.