A Collection this comprehensive is generally defined by what it leaves out, but first let's look at what you get:

1-Working Class Dog (1981): complete

and the LONG out of print

6-Rock of Life (1988): all but one song (making this collection well worth the price of admission were it devoid of everything else)

Strange that the folks who released this CD decided to leave off "American Girl" from SHSMY which was featured in movies and on T.V. a lot around the time of it's release. Perhaps it's because the "Legendary" series is put out by BMG Australia who feel that Australian folks don't need an ode to "American" girls on their Springfield comps (?). I don't however, think it's a completely bad thing that only half of TAO made the cut because what's here should peak the un-initiated's interest. TAO is a VERY good album but it's still widely available and generally quite cheap. The inclusion of all but Rick's cover of The Small Faces "Groovy" from RoL is where you really get your money's worth. RoL is perhaps his smoothest and most substantive record ever. Where BMG really missed the boat was not including more songs from the "Hard to Hold" Soundtrack. This album is selling for stupidly high fundage at online auctions and the like. Criminally missing from HtH is "Don't Walk Away" which was a charted hit in several countries around the world. Still, BMG is to be commended for getting liscense to include early hits "Speak to the Sky" and "Take a Hand," although the latter is bizarrely way out of chronological order.

You should note that even though this collection is relatively new on the scene, it is not digitally remastered. The source material is mastered to itself which makes for an dynamically consistant listen but there are other collections out there with much cleaner and brighter sound.

Overall, a very affordable way to get a tremendous amount of Rick's, until only recently, frustratingly underrated musical output. Only loses a star because BMG clearly had the authority (and the time remaining on the discs) to make this a truly complete anthology, but for some reason didn't.

This is an excellent collection which includes all of his Working Class Hero album. My only complaint is Don't Walk Away is missing from this collection. Other than that it is a well rounded set and a great addition to your collection.

AS A HUGE RICK SPRINGFIELD FAN, I LOVE THIS CD SET...I GIVE IT A 10+ RATING OFF THE CHART...GLAD IT GOT TO ME AS QUICK AS IT DID, TOO...

This must be the only collection that can be really called "the best".Along with the well known hits other songs that should be on a collection like this ("cant stop hurting you","one reason"to name a few).Still its a shame that "writen in rock" from "tao" is missing.Since the cd shows deep knowledge on Ricks material the absence of this great song is a real mystery!!

Overall a good effort!