Cliff Richard

Not quite the whole story, but with over 100 U.K. hit singles to choose from, no mere two-CD package could ever hope to tell that tale. Across 46 tracks, however, The Whole Story does hit every necessary highlight and, if Cliff Richard's career can be summed up by his Top Five hits alone, then this set is a more practical lesson than any of the anthologies that likewise claim to document his five decades of success. From "Move It" to "The Millennium Prayer," all of Richard's most memorable numbers are included here, in sharp chronological order and so smoothly arranged that, although the 1960s do take the lion's share of the track listing, the decades that followed get a fair look in as well. There are no surprises here, and no inclusions (or omissions) that you can really argue with. Quite simply, it's the perfect one-stop for anybody who wants a solid selection of Richard's biggest smashes -- and, if you find yourself needing more, then the six-CD Singles box is the only thing that tells the same story better. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide