A smart collection of Clarence Carter's mid-'80s to early '90s regional hits on Ichiban, mostly old-fashioned deep soul songs leavened with the occasional modern production trick. On the basis of several of the tracks here, however, we are forced to declare Mr. Carter the, er, friskiest man in showbiz. On the Southern cult hit "Strokin'," for example, he declares himself in favor of three specific sexual acts, at least two of which qualify as mortal sins in some faiths. Elsewhere, he makes a claim for a "Boogie Nights"-sized appendage, admonishes a potential lover in no uncertain terms ("I'm Not Just Good, I'm the Best," and who would wish to doubt him?), and with the cold breath of mortality on the back of his neck he vows to gather rosebuds while he still may, observing presciently that "Grandpa can't fly his kite because Grandma won't give it no tail."As long as Clarence Carter has been recording first-class soul music, it isn't surprising that more than one compilation is titled The Best of Clarence Carter. This particular compilation spotlights his work for Ichiban Records, a small Atlanta-based label that has also recorded Curtis Mayfield, the Chi-Lites, Eddie Floyd and quite a few other soul veterans. One of Ichiban's best selling artists, Carter has pretty much rejected high-tech urban contemporary sounds and stuck with the type of earthy southern that's been his forte since the 1960s. In fact, this CD underscores the fact that his Ichiban output is almost as strong as his classic Atlantic recordings. The best known track here is Carter's risque hit "Strokin'," but he's equally adept at everything from the smooth "I Was in the Neighborhood" to the good-natured "Kiss You All Over" to the blues smoker "Love Me with a Feeling." Most of Carter's Ichiban discs are well worth hearing, but for those unfamiliar with his work for that label, this collection can serve as an engaging introduction.