Slow Jams: The Timeless Collection, Vol. 5 is one of my favorites in the series merly because of the heart breaking slow jam Straight From The Heart. The song One of soul music's creamiest ballads barely charted; all Felton Pilate and Nita Wells-Pilate have to show for their creation is a meager number 79 R&B showing in 1981. However, if you polled fans, this will rank as one of Con Funk Shun's most popular numbers, a mainstay of their live shows and a quiet storm radio favorite. Pilate stretches his melodious falsetto like a rubber band on this smooth declaration of love that reminds you of Philadelphia's Blue Magic. Another one of my favorites is Teddy P's You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration which I first heard in the movie The Wood. Volume 5 does offer some other classic songs. The blissful "You're the Best Thing in My Life from the Dramatics is one of their sweeter songs with an ethereal vocal from Ron Banks. The Manhattans' "Let's Start All Over Again" has a customary smooth lead from Gerald Alston as well as a woofer vibrating bass vocal from William "Blue" Lovett. For this volume, the two best tracks have disparate styles and come from two different decades. Natural Four's "Can This Be Real" from 1974 has the great mix of quirky musicianship, committed vocals, and emotive guitar work. 1982's "My First Love" from Rene & Angela, is an intelligent and melancholy track that might put a listener in a trance.