Spyro Gyra - The Very Best of (2002)

My but that title is certainly misleading. How can it be the "very best" when it doesn't include the group's more well-known tunes like Shaker Song or the studio version of their Top 40 hit Morning Dance? To be fair, the liner notes truthfully admit "the material here dates from 1988 to 1997, roughly the second decade of Spyro Gyra's recorded history." The group had issued an earlier compilation, titled Collection, in 1991 that covered the first decade, so this compilation makes sense, it's just poorly titled.

Since I already have all the studio releases issued during this time period, why on earth would I plunk down my hard-earned cash on this compilation? Well, I don't have the aforementioned Collection compilation and that disc had two new releases on it which are repeated here as tracks 3 and 10. So I bought this compilation solely for those 2 tracks which should surprise no regular visitors to this blog. Plus, it will be handy on those occasions when I can't decide which SG CD to put it in tray.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. Limelight from Rites Of Summer (1988)
2. Breakfast At Igor's from Dreams Beyond Control (1993)
3. You Can Count On Me from Collection (1991)
4. Para Ti Latino from Fast Forward (1990)
5. Ariana from Love & Other Obsessions (1995)
6. Three Wishes from Three Wishes (1992)
7. Birks Law from Dreams Beyond Control (1993)
8. Pipo's Song from Three Wishes (1992)
9. Heart Of The Night from Heart Of The Night (1996)
10. What Exit from Collection (1991)
11. Yosemite from Rites Of Summer (1988)
12. The Unknown Soldier from Point Of View (1989)
13. Tower Of Babel from Fast Forward (1990)
14. The Unwritten Letter from 20/20 (1997)
15. Westwood Moon from Heart Of The Night (1996)
16. Morning Dance from Road Scholars (1998)

Picking favorites from a "best of" compilation seems like an exercise in futility, but I'm gonna do it anyway: Breakfast At Igor's, You Can Count On Me, Ariana, Pipo's Song, and the live version of Morning Dance that closes things out. The only song I'll skip is Tower of Babel.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but I just realized there are three SG albums I don't yet own, so I've just ordered those. Tsk, tsk. And I've got the nerve to call myself a fan.

Previously revisited for the blog:

A Foreign Affair (2011)	Fast Forward (1990)
Down The Wire (2009)	Point Of View (1989)
Good To Go-Go (2007)	Rites Of Summer (1988)
Wrapped In A Dream (2006)	Stories Without Words (1987)
Original Cinema (2003)	Breakout (1986)
In Modern Times (2001)	Alternating Currents (1985)
Got The Magic (1999)	Access All Areas (1984)
Road Scholars (1998)	City Kids (1983)
20/20 (1997)	Incognito (1982)
Heart Of The Night (1996)	Freetime (1981)
Love & Other Obsessions (1995)	Carnaval (1980)
Dreams Beyond Control (1993)	Catching The Sun (1980)
Three Wishes (1992)	Morning Dance (1979)
	Spyro Gyra (1978)