The track listing of this 3 disc set reads like a list of some of Dame Shirley's biggest commercial hits and anthems with the bonus of some lesser known but stunning "album tracks". Whether you consider such tracks as "Something", "As long As He Needs Me", "Goldfinger", "Big Spender", "Diamonds Are Forever", "Kiss Me Honey Honey Kiss Me" and "I (Who Have Nothing" as hits or anthems depends on your opinion and experience of Dame Shirley, although for a lot of people to see them performed live is probably the catalyst which elevates the mere hit song to the status of anthem!
What intrigued me about this compilation is that it is essentially the earlier "Four Decades of Song" re-issued with artwork much more in line with the contemporary Dame and with the welcome addition of six songs (of note "Diamonds...", "Big Spender" and "I (Who Have Nothing)") Other additional tracks: "You'll Never Know", "What Kind Of Fool Am I?" and "I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)". However the magic of this collection is in the lesser known standards and covers given the Bassey treatment. The emotional, intense "Born To Lose" is well worth buying the collection for alone, along with "Don't Rain On My Parade" which gives Streisand a run for her money, a fabulously biting "Cry Me A River", and "As If We Never Said Goodbye" a glimpse of what Bassey could do with the role of Norma Desmond (why not?).
Disc 2 is the most low-key of the three discs, a softer side of Bassey (apart from early concert favourite "I'll Be Your Audience") and although not without its high-points ("Breakfast In Bed", "I'll Be Your Audience", an unconventional "The Look of Love", lyrical "Run On And On") overall it is the most dated of the three discs (this is the reason I've given 4, not 5 stars), however discs 1 and 3 more than make up for this lull.
Tracks I would probably skip: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and "The Greatest Love Of All", as there are better represenations of Bassey's softer side on this compilation, like "Secret Love", "Emotion", "Imagination", "One Less Bell To Answer" and "Feelings".
What's missing? "This Is My Life", "I Am What I Am", "What Now My Love", "Never Never Never", "If You Go Away", "As I Love You"... But, for the price and overall content I was delighted with this. Recommended.