We Can Make You Dance: The Zapp & Roger Anthology

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineWeighing in at two discs and 29 songs, this is easily too much for the average listener, but for those with the inclination, dedication, or patience, We Can Make You Dance: The Zapp & Roger Anthology is clearly the ideal retrospective on Zapp & Roger. What makes it so successful is that it doesn't stick to recordings released under the name Zapp -- there are solo cuts from Roger, selections from his early recordings with the Human Body, even a cut from H-Town to close the collection. Along the way, all of the hits are present, many in their single versions, and it's all bolstered by a fine, 32-page booklet with notes by Tom Vickers and plenty of photos. Much of this is very, very good funk; some of it is great, but the comprehensiveness of the set and the fact that the majority of the greatest cuts sit nicely on more comprehensive single-disc collections pretty much guarantees that this is just for the serious funkateer -- who will not be disappointed, mind you.