Slave was a tight self-contained band with strength in many areas. Stephen Washington could produce, while Starlena Young,
Steve Arrington, and
Curt Jones could blow. Their consortium songs were top shelf, as was their musicianship.
From the Archives contains every track from their
Stone Jam album plus a few of their monster hits to make this an incredibly potent package.
Young shines on "Let's Spend Some Time," a straight diva jam. "Feel My Love" and "Just a Touch of Love" are prime examples of
Slave's bounce beat, with horns hitting spaces, and
Young chirping the chorus behind the lead vocal. Even ballads like "Starting All Over" have a beat (this is a particularly fine duet with either
Arrington or Jones cutting with
Young). Soul Train favorite "Slide" got
Slave off the mark and is as hypnotic as ever; likewise for the
Arrington-led "Watching You" and the soft, flowing "Dreamin'." A sizzling guitar solo accents "Never Get Away" and the partying "Stone Jam."