With the onslaught of greatest-hits compilations available, it's hard to decipher which versions are truly thorough and definitive. However, this
Gold edition is truly something special. It features not only the best of the early years when
Gladys Knight & the Pips were a
doo wop-styled group, it also contains a seamless transition to their tenure at
Motown (where they scored some of their biggest hits), to their years on
Buddah, and all the way through to their highly polished
adult contemporary hits of the '80s. The sequencing and track selection is top-notch (with the
Curtis Mayfield penned
"The Makings of You" being the only glaring omission) and shows not only the group's evolution, but how potent and consistent a singer
Knight has been over the past decades. This is an outstanding compilation which deserves a rightful place in any
soul music collection, be it a die-hard
soul fanatic or casual listener looking for the hits. ~ Rob Theakston
