release date: Nov. 1, 1994
format: digital (2 cd)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Richard Gottehrer / Mike Chapman / Alan Betrock
label: Chrysalis Records - nationality: USA
47 track 2 disc compilation album by Blondie. This is the one: The Ultimate, The Essential, and The Platinum best of Blondie album. There are so many compilations out there with this band, but most of them don't really contain enough great tracks to be what they are promoted as. This one hold what it promises. Of course 47 tracks is a lot, and hits and misses, they should be able to embrace the essential compositions. Aside from containing great tracks this is fine in more than one respect: it reflects a chronological order of the band's single releases, so one is able to sense the progression in sound and style, and then it contains all US and UK singles - both A- and B-sides from 1976 to 1982, which is the band's artistic period. If you don't want to collect all albums, and shuffle through more than 200 compositions of varied quality, this is more than a good alternative. The only downside to it is the decision to include a number of mediocre songs from the later period, but this is not just a best of collection, although, it may be judged as such. It's primary goal is to include all singles from the 7-year period, and naturally, they can't all be great - luckily (except "Once I Had A Love") the least interesting songs fall as the last 10 tracks. Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]
