The Best of Howard Jones (CD - 1993)

Audio Mixers: Mike Roarty; Greg Jackman; Hugh Padgham; Kevin Killen; Stephen W. Tayler; Bob Clearmountain.

Recording information: The Shed, Maidenhead, England.

Photographer: Simon Fowler.

Although for fans of unpretentiously catchy commercial pop, all of Howard Jones' albums are worth owning, THE BEST OF HOWARD JONES is both a fine introduction and a worthy sampler of the best work of this underrated artist. Presented as a chirpy one-man electro-pop band on his 1984 debut HUMAN'S LIB (represented here by "New Song," "Pearl in the Shell" and "What Is Love?"), Jones quickly grew into his own. Less annoying than Phil Collins and less full of himself than George Michael, Jones' mid-to-late-'80s string of hit singles--including "Things Can Only Get Better," "You Know I Love You...Don't You?" and the exhilarating "Everlasting Love"--stacks up against them both when it comes to smart hooks, smooth production and general unforgettablility. This 18-track compilation also includes a handful of new tracks, including a terrific and surprising cover of Donald Fagen's post-Steely Dan hit "IGY (What A Beautiful World)." minimize