Ramsey Lewis recorded a great body of infectious jazz for Leonard and Phil Chess on the Chess, Cadet and Argo labels. Much of the music is soul-jazz without the lengthy impovisations often found on jazz albums. This music had mass appeal and resulted in a fair number of hit records. e.g. A Hard Day's Night (Beatles hit), Hang on Sloopy (McCoy's hit), Wade in the Water, and The In Crowd (Dobie Gray hit). It would, however, be a mistake to view Ramsey Lewis as simply a soul-jazz player. He has an abundance of talent and creativity and can play quite effectively in more than one style.This collection represents an excellent value. Almost all of the hits are here at a very reasonable price. It's a great introduction to his music. Definitely worth five stars. I also recommend, among his many other releases, Maiden Voyage, written by Herbie Hancock. The title track has an ethereal quality and Ramsey Lewis' interpretation showcases his versatility.