My World: The Definitive Collection

Compiling a single-disc set of tracks from 's long career and calling it a "definitive collection" is a bit absurd, since -- as a writer, singer, producer, and arranger -- has had a hand in countless hits over the years, at and elsewhere, and nothing short of an extensive box set could hope to even come close to defining that kind of history. What as a single-disc compilation does do, though, is bring together tracks from all phases of 's tenure, from his 1960s and early-'70s material with through his smooth hits as a solo artist in the later '70s and '80s, and then tops everything off with two brand new songs, making this a collection that spans four decades of elegantly arranged romantic in just over 70 minutes. You can't complain about a lack of quality, since the classic hits are here, including and as well as 's biggest solo hits, like the lush, irresistible from 1979 and his genre-defining which lent its title to a whole new radio format. Still, it will always be a little jarring to hear the earlier material next to the smoother (relatively) solo stuff, even if most of the musical ingredients are the same. The new tracks are lushly and lovingly arranged, and in particular seems to have the stamp of a future classic. Die-hard fans will want the two new songs, but undoubtedly will already have everything else collected here, so devotion will have to be measured. Casual listeners will benefit the most, getting an overview of 's considerable achievements in one package, although that's no excuse for not going back and buying every album in the rack. ~ Steve Leggett