Whether or not this anthology remains true to its title is debatable (especially if you expect "hits" to be synonymous with chart-placing singles), but it is certain that it forms an introduction as ideal as any other
Barbara Acklin
anthology released since the mid-'90s. Released by
Brunswick
in 2002,
20 Greatest Hits
takes care of the basics that everyone should have (
"Am I the Same Girl,"
"Love Makes the Woman,"
"From the Teacher to the Preacher,"
"Show Me the Way to Go,"
"Just Ain't No Love,"
"After You"
) and draws some smart selections from the remainder of
Acklin
's catalog. It's not as in-depth as
The Brunswick Anthology
or
The Complete Barbara Acklin on Brunswick Records
, but newcomers unwilling to take the full plunge will be more than satisfied. ~ Andy Kellman