The Definitive Collection, issued by Motown/Universal in 2008, is a truncated version of 1997's The Ultimate Collection with different artwork and not-as-thorough liner notes (at least when it comes to musician credits, release dates, and chart information). As with The Ultimate Collection, you get all of
Gladys Knight & the Pips' principal hits from 1967's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" through 1973's "All I Need Is Time," but four cuts get are axed: "Every Little Bit Hurts," "Here I Am Again," "Between Her Goodbye and My Hello," and "It's Time to Go Now." (Granted, all but one of the four charted.) And, for whatever reason, the single edit of "All I Need Is Time" is replaced with the longer album version (a plus). Even with its shortcomings, casual fans of this period in
Knight's career won't need more. ~ Andy Kellman