The Anthology (1968-1990) (CD) by Dave Edmunds

CD. A double-disc set covering Dave Edmunds' entire career, the 41-song Anthology (1968-1990) does a fine job of capturing his musical evolution, even if it is not without its faults. To a certain extent, Anthology is a definitive compilation, since it begins with Love Sculpture's infamous "Sabre Dance" and runs through his early solo recordings ("I Hear You Knocking"), before hitting Rockpile ("Trouble Boys," "Deborah," "Girls Talk," "Crawling from the Wreckage," "Queen of Hearts") and Edmunds' overly synthesized recordings with Jeff Lynne, adding a couple of rarities like the excellent Carlene Carter duet "Baby Ride Easy" along the way. However, the track selection is uneven, including far too many Love Sculpture songs and Lynne collaborations, which tends to dilute the spirit of Edmunds' best music. Still, Anthology is the best overview of Edmunds' entire career, even if the single-disc The Best of Dave Edmunds may be a better, more consistent introduction for many listeners. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

The Anthology (1968-1990) (CD) by Dave Edmunds