The title of Columbia/Legacy's 2001 release The Best of Gladys Knight & the Pips is patently untrue. If this was called "The Best of Gladys Knight & the Pips: 1980-1985" it would be truth in advertising, since the first 12 tracks chronicle her and the Pips' minor R&B hits from that time period. Of these songs, only two -- "Landlord" and "Save the Overtime (For Me)" -- made the pop charts, and while that isn't necessary a sign that they're not great, it does show that a pop-oriented soul group couldn't make the pop charts with these recordings. There is some good material here, since they worked with Ashford & Simpson and Leon Sylvers during this time (plus there's the original version of "Wind Beneath My Wings," originally called "Hero"), and this summarizes this era very well (even if the live Motown medley and live versions of "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" feel like tacky tacked-on bonus tracks). Just don't think that this is the best the group did. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide



~ TRACKLISTING ~

01. Landlord
02. Taste of Bitter Love
03. Still Such a Thing
04. Bourgié Bourgié
05. I Will Fight
06. A Friend of Mine
07. Save the Overtime (For Me)
08. You're Number One (In My Book)
09. Hero (A Wind Beneath My Wings)
10. When You're Far Away
11. My Time
12. Keep Givin' Me Love
13. Medley : Every Beat of My Heart/Friendship Train (Live at the Roxy)
14. Midnight Train to Georgia (Live at the Roxy)
15. I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live at the Roxy)