AMG Review of Gold

Rob Theakston
All Music Guide

Though his reputation for a reckless life may forever overshadow his creative genius in the public eye, Rick James left behind a massive catalog of productions, collaborations, and original compositions few of his funk-soul contemporaries can touch. This compilation was originally issued in 2000 under the simple title of Anthology and contains James' most well-known anthems, as well as various collaborations regarded as hallmarks of his career. While a more thorough investigation into his career would be well-served with a disc of his production work alone, the performances here are top-notch and most likely the only Rick James disc casual listeners will ever need in their collection.