Gilbert O'Sullivan's lengthy but erratic career is nicely summarized on this well-assembled 20-track retrospective. Best remembered in the U.S. for the coy,
McCartney-esque pop of hits like "Alone Again (Naturally)" and "Clair,"
O'Sullivan was actually a major star in his native Britain, notching a series of smashes which also included "Nothing Rhymed," "Underneath the Blanket Go," and "What's in a Kiss"; although at times his material can be insufferably cute, at its peak the music also possesses an undeniable charm as well as a playfulness that makes even the most saccharine moments tough to actively dislike.
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Jason Ankeny, Rovi