Please disregard the last reviewer who complains this compilation does not include hits from the 80's and 90's. It's very obvious he does not know anything Natalie's career. This great CD represents when we(her core audience) discovered her as a soulful sister putting it down. It is obvious he did not bother to read this CD is a compliation of material from CAPITOL records 1975-1981, not from the late 80's(EMI) or 90's(Elektra)when she recorded "Pink Cadillac" etc.. Check it out for yourself if you want to hear where Natalie began. A stark and exciting contrast from the dinner music that would become her.

There are often times where a actual greatest hits album can deliver, or miss out upon an artists' highs and lows from their musical career. That hasn't happened with many performers in the industry. Although there have been some good artists like Natalie Cole who've really strided into the light, from where everybody thought the career was in oblivion. Her career in the late 80's and 90's was realy something that still stands as definitive as it also was back in the 70's, despit her problems with vices like drugs and other incidents. Arguably, her greatest hits haven't been definitive at all, and this one hits that same theory.

Natalie Cole Anthology is a double album retrospective of Natalie's voice from her era with Capitol Records in the 70's and 80's. The songs here are showcased fairly well with each tone of her elequent voice from tracks like I've Got Love On My Mind, the definitive classic This Will Be (Everlasting Love) her rendition of The Beatles classic Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and so many others. Although the compilation does showcase a diva at one of her hey days. the album definitely overlooks a lot from Natalie Cole during her 80's and 90's periods. The collection really overlooks tracks like Pink Cadillac, I Live For Your Love, and especially Unforgettable, her definitive recording with her father, the legendary Nat King Cole.

All in all, the Natalie Cole Anthology does miss out on so much, and does deliver partily some of her great career. Instead, I absolutely suggest you purchase the Natalie Cole single disc Greatest Hits Volume 1 instead. It is a much more definitive collection than this one. This is just forgettable.

Album Cover: B

Songs: C 1/2-

Price: C

Remastering: B-

Overall: C

Natalie Cole's career on Capitol Records is thoroughly covered on "Anthology." All 16 of her solo R & B chart hits from 1975 to 1981 are here (two duets with Peabo Bryson are on his entry in this series).

I thought about a 4-star rating because it seems 16 songs could have fit on one cheaper disc. But too many fans would correctly point out the superiority of some album cuts to some of the songs actually released as singles, so this earns the highest rating by being generous on both counts.

Her big hits deserve more play on "oldies" radio: the sassy "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)" and the pretty ballads "I've Got Love On My Mind" and "Our Love." But this is not a hits CD to use the skip button on. Especially on Disc 1, all the songs are excellent.

If your interest is more casual, the cheaper "Collection" has the key hits and a couple of album tracks. To me, "Greatest Hits Vol. I" fails by using who-asked-for-'em live versions of "Mr. Melody" and "Our Love" while inevitably leaving off too much. Rather than a "Vol. II" I would rather see Hip-O or Rhino do an equally thorough comp of the second part of Natalie's chart career. If you can, I recommend springing for this over "Collection."

All Natalie's key big hit for Capitol are
included and the abundance of strong album
tracks from 1975-81 era. Her whole "Natalie
Live" album is a treat and it's great to hear
3 tracks were added to this anthology. Every
one probably has there favorites that weren't
added. Missing are "Still In Love" and at least
one great duet with Peabo like "Gimme Some Time"
or their stunning re-make of Natalie's self-penned
"Your Lonely Heart." Kudos to the compiler
for adding gems like the soulful "Hold On" and
the plaintive "I'm Sorry."

A much better collection than the Greatest Hits cd of a few years ago, but wish some key tracks were included, as well as later material. Missing are "Heaven Is With You, "Touch Me" and "Keep Smiling" from Natalie, "I Can't Breakaway" from Unpredictable, and pretty much everything from Thankful. I am very pleased with the inclusion of "Peaceful Living" from Unpredictable. I've always felt that was one of Ms. Cole's strongest recordings.
All in all, a welcome addition, but the Diva deserves more! Almost thirty years in the business demands more respect!