Although the title might be stretching it a bit,
Definitive Collection is nevertheless a solid overview of
Dionne Warwick's storied career. Its greatest strength is that it encompasses the full breadth of the singer's catalog, assembling material not only from her peak-era Scepter tracks but also from her later hits on Arista. The vintage
Burt Bacharach/
Hal David-composed smashes have lost none of their lustre in the passing years, and many -- "Walk on By," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," "Don't Make Me Over" and "Anyone Who Had a Heart" -- are presented here in their definitive readings;
Warwick's subsequent recordings can't help but suffer in comparison, although hits like "I'll Never Love This Way Again" and the
Barry Gibb duet "Heartbreaker" possess a certain charm. ~ Jason Ankeny