Designed for lovers, Babies Making Babies is an ideal disc for an evening of bliss with the one you love.  With certified classics by Minnie Riperton, Smokey Robinson and Deniece Williams front-loading the set, the sound of love is definitely in the air.   It's only during the latter stages of the compilation (when presumably you're on the way to making that baby) that Thompson begins pulling out the obscurities.   Little-known gems like Stanley Cowell's "Welcome My Darling" and "Glowing" by the Rationals are introduced to a whole new audience alongside cuts from the Isley Brothers ("Sensuality") and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan ("Magic In His Eyes") that you'd only be familiar with from quiet storm radio broadcasts.

The one shocker among the choices is "Wheels of Life" by soft rock pioneer Gino Vanelli.  He's hardly the type of artist you'd expect to see on a collection featuring New Birth and Earth Wind & Fire, but "Wheels" turns out to be surprisingly soulful, bringing Babies to a satisfying conclusion.  Fans of Rhino's Smooth Grooves series should seek this one out.

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Selected Tracks:

Heatwave - Star of the Story
Earth Wind & Fire - Clover
Gino Vanelli - Wheels of Life
Bill Withers - Can We Pretend
Smokey Robinson - Quiet Storm