Customer Reviews

Dionne Warwick - Greatest Hits (1979-1990)

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Since signing with Arista Records in the late 70's,Dionne Warwick scored with a handful of hits. The three tracks I like best are LOVE POWER with Jeffrey Osborne,from 1987's RESERVATIONS FOR TWO,THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR from 1985's FRIENDS and HEARTBREAKER,the Bee Gees composition from the album of the same title released in 1982. Warwick was credited in some sources as Dionne & Friends for TWFAF. The three friends who joined her on that song are Gladys Knight,Stevie Wonder and Elton John. I like DEJA VU also(a hit from '79). All the other songs are good.

Dionne Warwick's greatest hits from 1979-1990 are covered in this well done retrospective. Personally, I find Warwick's mid to late 60's career much more appealing in terms of material and vocal production, but there are several stand outs on this CD nevertheless.

Aside from the obvious "That's What Friends Are For" with Gladys, Elton, and Stevie, this CD contains many mini-gems like a rousing Bee-Gees backed "Heartbreaker", a poignant love farewell ballad with "I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again" and a powerful pop "No Night So Long". All three of these songs were top 40 hits, not surprisingly, since they are meticulously written and produced to fit Dionne's smokey vocals.

Of the 3 duets included, the only one that strikes any chords is "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" and not because of the song itself, but because Luther Vandross and Dionne Warwick sing together with so much emotion. By listening to! this track it's easy to see that Warwick was perhaps Vandross's biggest influence, as he himself has acknowledged many a time. One can't help but feel as if the baton is being passed to a younger generation.

Most notably perhaps, this CD has the distinction of containing Dionne's last "quality" vocals. Her 90's work has been somewhat hindered by her innability to produce the sound she used to in the 60's and 70's. Although not as flexible as it was in that period, her voice thru the 80's, was still a force to be reckoned with.

Buy it if for no other reason than to hear the final perfect oeuvres of a once great vocalist who has recently lost most of her range.

Many folks have negative things to say about others. No matter what u say about Dionne, you must know that the girl can ssssssiiiiiinnnnggg!

Althought the tracks selected were ok, the one complaint I have is that the album "Finder of Lost Loves" was totally ignored. How could u have a complilation of Warwick's Arista years and not include "Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore" or "Finder of Lost Loves".....(even if album sales were poor..its about quality..thats why its called "The Best of ...." or "The Greatest...")Anyway, I liked this album and loved "Walk Away"! Go ahead, buy it!

Albums entitled "Best of" and "Greatest Hits" can never hope to please everyone. This compilation of songs from 1979-1990 is a good example. While it is a pleasant sellection of tunes there are glaring omissions. But based on the content alone, the album is a joy to listen to. A more mature and versatile Dionne shines here. A must for any Dionne Warwick fan.

This collection captures Dionne Warwick at the top of her game. Her music from the sixties is certainly classic and timeless, but this music captures Warwick in full bloom. Her voice had matured and deepened from when she was in her twenties, and her technical skills (phrasing, interpreting, stretching those notes!) improved as well. The result: a confident, highly-able singer who gets the most out of every song she sings. I can't say enough good things about this gifted artist. However, since the eighties, the quality of her voice has declined, although her most recent project - "Dionne Sings Dionne" - is a lovely reprieve.

Despite Warwick's fine performance throughout, I do question some of the song selection on this set. Why on earth would songs like "Walk Away" and "I Don't Need Another Love" be included on a greatest hits package, while songs like "Reservations for Two","After You", and more cuts off of the Heartbreaker album were not? You can't fool her fans who know what Ms Warwick's hits were back then! Also, this set ignores the Finder of Lost Loves album, which is one that I really like. But, besides those minor complaints, this is a good buy for the serious collector or the novice.

As mentioned by others, the title of this compilation CD is deceiving as only eight of the songs included were among her hits during the years specified. In fact, several were not even released as singles!

The UK version of this collection had a slightly different tracklisting, which added a few more gems but omitted the gorgeous "No Night So Long" and the lovely "Friends In Love" with Johnny Mathis, and was as follows:

1. That's What Friends Are For
2. Heartbreaker
3. Love Power (duet with Jeffrey Osborne)
4. I'll Never Love This Way Again
5. How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (duet with Luther Vandross)
6. Deja Vu
7. Walk Away
8. Take Good Care Of You And Me (duet with Jeffrey Osborne)
9. All The Love In The World
10. Run To Me (duet with Barry Manilow)
11. Yours
12. So Amazing
13. True Love
14. I Don't Need Another Love (duet with The Spinners)

Both versions of this CD come up short in terms of tracks. As another review noted, "Take The Short Way Home" was an unfortunate oversight. Other tracks, like "Easy Love" and "We Never Said Goodbye" (from No Night So Long), the single version of "Got A Date" (LP version appeared on How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye), and "Finder Of Lost Loves" (from Finder of Lost Loves, issued in some territories as Without Your Love) would have resulted in a more well-rounded tracklisting. Although these songs had modest chart placings, they are memorable moments from her Arista years.

Despite the shortcomings, this CD isn't a total waste. There are some classic vocal performances to be found here, like "Heartbreaker", the grammy-winning "I'll Never Love This Way Again", and the epic "No Night So Long", which would make this CD a decent introduction to Dionne for a more casual or new fan. However, long-time and passionate Dionne fans would be far better served with European 3CD set Dionne Warwick: Legends which includes just about all her singles from this period along with key album cuts and all five studio side tracks from her triumphant 1981 masterpiece Hot! Live And Otherwise. I still wish that concert had been filmed and the video released...the audio itself is energy-filled magic!

Anyhow, hopefully one day BMG will reissue her Arista albums on CD, remastered with bonus tracks (bsides and single versions), even if only in limited-edition pressings like the Rhino Handmade reissues of her Scepter albums.

I love this album--I think that a greatest hits package should include 1-2 new songs not found on other recordings ("I Don't Need Another Love" and "Walk Away"). But where is "Finder of Lost Loves" and "Run To Me", her superb duet with Barry Manilow? It's time for box set!!!!!

Dionne Warwick has one of the most beautiful voices and the I also like the duets they have included on this CD!!!!!!!

What a voice! What music! I had forgotten some of these songs although I cannot imagine why. This was a lovely reintroduction to Ms. Warwick. The clarity of her voice, her range, diction! There aren't many vocalists today with that combination of qualities. No wonder we keep going back to these "ole time" greats!

It's difficult to believe the first review of this album above. Dionne's voice has a feeling which places it above so many 'pure' singers. That wonderful throaty quality which made me begin to buy her albums in the 60's. Her voice has a beautiful emotional feeling that I find lacking in so many singers. Buy and listen! Believe me! It was no accident that she became literally the first lady of Bacharach-David compositions. I'm sure that if Dusty Springfield were alive she would be the first to acknowlege her debt to Dionne. Long live the Queen!