The Best of Joe Sample is an effective introduction to his popular recordings for Warner Brothers. Since it's designed for a casual fan, the collection contains no surprises -- there aren't any unreleased items, only numbers like "Chain Reaction," "Hippies on a Corner," "Summertime," and "Black and White (As Simple as That)," which will be exactly what anyone purchasing this disc will want to hear. There are no revelations for longtime followers, but it's a satisfying sampler, nonetheless. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine