Audio Remasterer: Patricia Sullivan.

Photographer: Stuart Watson .

Greatest Hits features all of Joan Armatrading's biggest hits and best-known tracks, including "Love and Affection," "Show Some Emotion," and "Rosie," as well as the previously unreleased live track, "Kissin' and a Huggin'." The disc is a thorough retrospective and functions as an excellent introduction to the introspective singer/songwriter. ~ Thom Owens

Joan Armatrading's GREATEST HITS is a much more satisfying and broad compilation than 1983's TRACK RECORD, which ignored her earliest and most experimental albums. Although both compilations focus on her most commercially and artistically fruitful period, from 1976's JOAN ARMATRADING to 1983's THE KEY, the inclusion of earlier and later material puts Armatrading's long career into better perspective.

The singer-guitarist, born in the West Indies and raised in Birmingham, England, has a clear, expressive voice which is at the center of all of these songs, even those where Steve Lillywhite's showy production fights for prominence. All of her best singles, like "Show Some Emotion," "Me Myself I" and the tricky "I Love It When You Call Me Names" are present, along with a generous sampling of excellent album tracks. This is by far the best introduction to Joan Armatrading available.