Gladys Knight

The Gladys Knight volume in the Legacy/BMG Beautiful Ballads series is primarily post-Motown, and covers the years 1971-1983. This should not be a letdown to anyone who followed Knight & the Pips' career during those years, simply because these were some of her greatest during the era and include 1973's "Midnight Train to Georgia," from Imagination. "Neither One of Us" is also here, licensed from Motown, from the album of the same name issued in 1973. The Curtis Mayfield penned "The Making of You," is also here, as are a couple of stellar tuners written by Ashford & Simpson including "Still Such a Thing," off 1980s About Love. The bottom line is that Knight's voice is in top form, as is the backing of the Pips. All of the soul and the slow burn of passion, regret, love and loss is embodied beautifully in these 14 cuts. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide