The Ultimate Collection
A definitive survey of the DeBarge family's velvet-smooth 80s R&B, defined by El’s soaring falsetto and shimmering, synth-heavy Motown production.
March 17, 1997 · PolyGram
A definitive survey of the DeBarge family's velvet-smooth 80s R&B, defined by El’s soaring falsetto and shimmering, synth-heavy Motown production.
March 17, 1997 · PolyGram
The Ultimate Collection is the sonic equivalent of a slow-motion drive through a neon-drenched metropolis. It captures a specific moment in the mid-1980s when Motown Records successfully updated its legendary soul pedigree for the digital age, trading live horn sections for shimmering synthesizers and crisp drum machines. The heart of this sound is the DeBarge family's vocal chemistry: a lush, multi-layered tapestry of harmonies that feels both weightless and deeply emotional. El DeBarge’s falsetto remains the star attraction, possessing a crystalline purity that few in R&B history have ever matched.
How does The Ultimate Collection sound next to the rest of DeBarge's catalogue?
This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.
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