Aha YankeeDisc, I've just beat you to entering Jean Carn's L.P. which can now be seen here.
I think the clue as to why the tracks were all 7 or 8 years old when this collection was issued is in the title, or to be more specific in the use of the word "Classic". :)
More seriously this compilation seems to have been in the vanguard of U.K. mid 1980s Soul compilations such as this one from 1985 (which also included "If You Wanna Go Back"), not to mention all those "Rare Groove" compilations that came out in the U.K. at the end of the '80s.
To my mind this is a curious compilation in that all but one of the tracks are from Philadelphia International Records. The exception being The Pockets "Come Go With Me" which was a Columbia/CBS release from the same production company as Earth Wind & Fire. So it is "almost" a PIR compilation but not quite.
.....all the tracks from this UK compilation are out of 1976 and 1977, so a 1984 release, what's that all about?
One of Jean's lesser known tracks, except to those in the know, a jazzy little number, and she takes off and soars vocally just on the fade.......some tonsils.
Arranged Bobby Martin, produced by Gamble & Huff.
I'll be posting the album sometime soon, "Jean Carn" PIR PZ 34394 (US).