The Complete Scepter Singles 1962-1973 falls into place beside
The Complete Warner Bros. Singles (1972-1977) with a thorough supply of
Dionne Warwick's earliest A-sides and B-sides. (As of 2023, the singer's post-
Warner 1979-1994 singles for
Arista, the third label for which she recorded, had yet to be similarly compiled.) This three-disc anthology was previously issued in 2018 under another title,
The Complete 1960s Singles Plus, as part of a PBS pledge drive that coincided with a
Warwick special. It's without doubt a necessary and long-overdue wider release -- if limited to 3,000 CD copies -- as it offers an exploration of
Warwick's early solo work more satisfying than a straightforward hits anthology. Further, all of the material originally issued in mono mixes are presented as such. Almost all of the A-sides here entered the Hot 100. While none topped the chart, many of them are everlasting pop classics -- "Anyone Who Had a Heart," "Walk On By," "I Say a Little Prayer," and "This Girl's in Love with You" account for some of the Top Ten hits among a total of 20 that went Top 40. Like no other team before or after them,
Warwick and primary collaborators
Burt Bacharach and
Hal David combined masterful pop songcraft with impeccably expressive and understated vocal performances. The trio's advanced creativity spilled over to the B-sides, many of which are well-chosen album cuts such as the eyelash-batting "Any Old Time of Day," the exquisitely crushing "Walk Little Dolly," and the powerful title theme to the
Warwick-starring film
Slaves (written by
Bobby Scott and
Bob Kessler, and produced by
Bacharach/
David). For good measure, this also includes "Only Love Can Break a Heart" and "If I Ruled the World,"
Scepter-era recordings the
Musicor label paired on a 7" in 1977. ~ Andy Kellman