AMG Review of Ultimate Collection

Andy Kellman
All Music Guide

The Ultimate Collection is an exhaustive double-disc anthology that is ideal for those who want all of Level 42's key moments ("The Sun Goes Down," "Lessons in Love," "Starchild," "Something About You," "Love Meeting Love"), in addition to select album material. Released in 2002 by Polydor in the U.K., it boasts digitally remastered sound and sells for the price of a single disc -- so, although it contains more than what most people in search of a good introduction want, it might be preferable to Level Best, the excellent single-disc compilation released over a decade prior. This easily trumps Turn It On, since it features no studio scraps and focuses on the band's best work.