20 Original Winners - Vol. 2
View on Discogs
Album Summary
A treasure chest of soul and rhythm-and-blues gold, '20 Original Winners - Vol. 2' by Various Artists arrived as part of a beloved compilation series designed to bring together some of the finest recordings the genre had to offer. Released on a budget-friendly label format that was common in the era, the album served as a curated anthology pulling from an array of artists and sessions rather than a single studio production, making it a patchwork quilt of Black musical brilliance stitched together for the ears of fans who wanted the real thing without hunting down a dozen different records.
Reception
- As a budget compilation rather than a high-profile studio release, the album did not chart prominently on its own but found a loyal audience through record stores and word-of-mouth among dedicated R&B enthusiasts.
- Critical attention at the time of release was minimal, as compilation albums of this nature were treated more as consumer conveniences than artistic statements, though the quality of the source material spoke for itself.
- The album earned quiet but enduring appreciation among collectors who recognized it as a reliable gateway into the rich catalog of mid-century and classic-era R&B recordings.
Significance
- Compilations like this one played a vital democratizing role in music culture, making classic R&B and soul accessible to working-class listeners who couldn't afford to build an extensive single-artist collection.
- The album stands as a document of the curatorial instincts of its era, reflecting which artists and sounds were considered essential enough to be preserved and packaged as definitive winners of the genre.
- By gathering multiple artists under one roof, the album helped listeners trace the stylistic threads connecting different corners of the R&B world, functioning as both entertainment and informal education in Black musical heritage.
Tracklist
-
A1 Why Do Fools Fall In Love —
2:16
-
A2 Altar Of Love —
2:05
-
A3 Funny —
2:19
-
A4 Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight —
2:42
-
A5 Stay —
1:38
-
A6 Tears On My Pillow —
2:16
-
A7 To The Aisle —
2:41
-
A8 Walkin' With Mr. Lee —
2:20
-
A9 Barbara Ann —
2:15
-
A10 Charlie Brown —
2:19
-
A11 All In My Mind —
2:30
-
B1 Don't Play That Song (I Lied) —
2:51
-
B2 For Your Precious Love —
2:54
-
B3 I Only Have Eyes For You —
3:14
-
B4 Snap Your Fingers —
2:58
-
B5 So Fine —
2:20
-
B6 Ten Commandments Of Love —
3:56
-
B7 When You Dance —
2:50
-
B8 Zoom —
2:15
-
B9 Book Of Love —
2:15
Artist Details
Here's the thing about Various, baby — this artist burst onto the 1980s rock scene like a force of nature, blending raw energy with a sound that was somehow both timeless and perfectly of its era. Various carved out a reputation for delivering tracks that hit you right in the chest, the kind of music that made you pull over your car just to let the song breathe. With a catalog that speaks for itself, Various remains one of the most compelling figures to come out of that decade of big hair, bigger riffs, and even bigger feelings.