Crown Heights Affair formed in the early 70’s and were a formidable force on dancefloors in the US and UK for around five years. Although the line up changed over the years, Vernon Britton was responsible for writing many of their tunes and the Reid brothers, who have sadly both now passed away, also were responsible for their dazzling shows. “Dreaming A Dream” is the song that opens this compilation of the same name (and also from their first album US#121) and was one of their biggest American hits, topping the US disco charts whilst making it to #43 pop. Heavily influenced by Isaac Hayes “Shaft”, it is funky as hell and is carried to a further extent on “Dancin”, US pop #42 of their next album, “Do It Your Way” (US #207). “Every Beat of My Heart” is up next and got to US #83 and I have to admit, I find the melody slightly inferior, although I know it has its fans, and it has some nice string work, but it does have some nice organ work and their trademark horns which was very much a Kool and the Gang type affair that permeates most of their 70’s work. “Foxy Lady” is deliciously sleazy and reeks of mid 70’s plush carpet and cadillacs, getting to US #49 and featuring a compelling chant as well as a wah wah inspired break where the guys whisper “ooh you’re foxy, foxy, foxy lady”, whilst contending against a synthesizer which, again, permeated a lot of their work along with instruments seldom heard in today’s music: horns, piano, organ, real kick drums. “Do It The French Way” has some light sexual innuendo, but I find it a rather boring cut that doesn’t really grab me. “Say A Prayer For Two” is growing on me each time I listen to it, it has a cool break down chant and comes from their “Dream World” album of 1978 (US#205, UK#40). It was the flip side of the jazz funk fantasy “Galaxy Of Love” which propelled them to No.24 in Britain, and features some trippy vocals, high pitched vocals, and a melodious affair all round that makes you see why it was so big in Britain. “I Love You” is pleasant, a bit of percussion, the usual horns, a nice break with a contemporary synthesizer and bongos. “Dance Lady Dance” (UK#44), from the album of the same name (US #207) is one of their funkiest efforts. By the time it came out, 1979, disco had many exciting developments, but the market for disco funk was very strong and this song fit perfectly in with that. A slow groover, it has a terrific chant, and it is impossible not to nod your head to it. Stabs of strings are added to make this one of their very best. From the same album, “The Rock Is Hot” is equally terrific: the chants and refrains are possibly even better than the “Dance Lady Dance” cut, and is brilliant for sheer funkiness: in fact it sounds like the group had become fully confident in their sound by this time. Next up is “You Gave Me Love” their biggest ever UK hit at no.10, with it’s infectious chorus of ‘whoo whoo’ and and a great melody. Released in 1980 off their “Sure Shot” lp (US#148), it only reached #102 on the US charts, a fact not surprising when you consider that by that time disco was basically a dirty word. The album ends with the title song from “Sure Shot” a funkyish tune that is only moderately exciting. It’s worth noting that it is the shortest song on this first disc and the compilers have included all of their songs in either in their album or 12” versions which gets a massive tick from me.Cd2 opens up with “Somebody Tell Me What To Do” from their 1982 “Think Positive” album (which didn’t chart) and whilst the sound was in tune with the laid back boogie sound so popular at that time with artists like D-Train, Unlimited Touch etc, the track itself is not really that exciting. It’s back to 1976 for track 2 (I’m not sure why they didn’t go in a chronological order) for the song “Searching For Love” from “Do It Your Way” which is fantastic, some great vocals from the fellas, very mid 70’s and one of my favourites on here. “Music Is The World” follows but it doesn’t really go anywhere, and maybe if you were stoned you could dig it, but with a lack of breaks, it tends to be somewhat ordinary. “Far Out” features some far out synths and reverbs on the vocals and races along at around 125 bpm and is ok without being a classic. “Things Are Going To Get Better” is from their 1978 “Dream World” album and although it features a catchy refrain “I want your touch” is only partially effective as a dance cut, but very pleasant as stay at home and chill music. It is one that I’m still deciding on: I like it, but I think I perhaps haven’t heard it enough to fully assess it. “I’m Gonna Love You Forever” (UK#47), again from “Dream World” is so-so but it’s not hard to see why “Galaxy of Love” was the bigger hit, even though “Forever” does boast some great horns and “I can’t stop” as a chant. “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” is the third cut from “Dance Lady Dance” and is again, a great song, and makes me think that “Dance Lady Dance” may indeed be their best album, laid back and funky, some hot breaks, it would have sounded great in a disco. “You’ve Been Gone” (UK#44) from their “Sure Shot” album is fantastic: exciting, commercial, it should have been every big a hit as “You Gave Me Love” because it stomps along but also features top notch lyrics, falsetto vocals which offset the strong lead by Skip Boardley or Phillip Thomas, I’m not sure, it also boasts a hot break, percussion, and a moody feel: by far one of their very best cuts: BRILLIANT! “Use Your Body And Soul” from the same album is terrific. The flip of “You Gave Me Love”, it incorporates the just happening rap sound before the genre became nasty and all about guns and hos and is as funky as hell. It’s back to 1982 for “Love Rip Off” with it’s deep bass synth and chants, it nevertheless pales in comparison to their earlier work. The title track “Think Positive” follows and unfortunately is rather lackluster. It follows the rap stuff they did on “Use Your Body And Soul” but borrows heavily from Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash, etc who were popular at the time, it’s not bad, but the lyrics weigh it down. “Your Love Makes Me Hot” is from the same album and is again ok, but nothing earth shattering, and to be honest, it could be from any r and b group of the time. Their final album “Struck Gold”, sadly does not live up to the expectations of it’s title, and after failing to chart, the group split. The last two tracks are taken from that album, “Heavy Lovin’” which is so D-Train it hurts, and the final track, “Rock The World” is a little better, but it takes the rapping thing too far and it simply sounds a little forced, although the music is tight, their earlier albums were much stronger.Still, this decent priced 2cd set gets five stars from me for including attractive liner notes, full discographical information, and full, long versions of their best work. Whilst not every cut grabbed me, the ones that do more than make up for it, and if you are a fan of gritty, melodic, funky disco from the mid to late 70’s, this collection from Sanctuary is a must.