Black butterfly : The Essential Niecy

BBR previously expanded and reissued Williams' first seven solo albums, and they lengthen their reach here by choosing highlights from her duet work with Johnny Mathis and her latter '80s releases. Although it begins with "Free," Williams' stunning solo breakout from 1976, the sequencing emphasizes flow rather than chronology, and presents a narrative that is nonlinear yet easy to follow. For those familiar only with the hits, the eight deep album cuts highlighted by the delightful "The Boy I Left Behind," the sneak-attack outsize ballad "Why Can't We Fall in Love," and gospel phase precursor "God Is Amazing" provide a fuller picture. There's also Williams and Mathis' version of "Without Us," the Family Ties theme. It all does justice to a rich body of work, one that has been undervalued by less serious R&B listeners and rock-oriented music historians, perhaps due in part to the singer's presence on small and big screens. Don't be misled. (Allmusic)

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