Rhino
's 2002 release
The Very Best of Ashford & Simpson
comes very close to being a complete greatest hits, but it stumbles on a major point -- it only contains two songs from the group's
Capitol
recordings from the early '80s, including the hit
"Solid."
The rest is devoted to the duo's
Warner
recordings of the '70s. This isn't a bad thing, actually, since
Ashford & Simpson
were at their creative peak then, and this collection also touches on their superb writing gig at
Motown
with an opening live medley. So, this hits nearly all the bases -- but misses just enough to stop it from being definitive. Still, it's arguably the best
collection assembled, and it will satisfy many listeners looking for a collection like this. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine