Gladys Knight & the Pips' early years compilations

[carlo]

I was wondering if there is a definitive compilation of all of Gladys Knight and the Pips' output on VeeJay, Fury and Maxx records? There seem to be countless CD's out there with different tracklistings across each. I have one called "The Early Years", which seems to focus on the Fury recordings. The "In the Beginning" album seems to focus on some of the Maxx recordings, omitted from other comps. Then there is a 28 track CD from 2000 that I don't have...again, a handful of different tracks on it. It's enough to make one's head spin.

[mysterysinger]

The album you refer to, "The Very Best Of The Early Years" does have 28 tracks but seems to ignore the MAXX stuff.

9488

Track Listing
1 Letter Full of Tears
2 You Broke Your Promise
3 Every Beat of My Heart
4 Bless the One
5 Guess Who?
6 Operator
7 I'll Trust in You
8 Come See About Me
9 Darling
10 I Can't Stand By
11 Love Me Again
12 Morning, Noon and Night
13 I Want That Kind of Love
14 Room in Your Heart
15 Walking Around in Circles
16 Happiness
17 Love Call
18 One More Lonely Night
19 What Shall I Do?
20 Love Like Mine
21 Jungle Love
22 It Hurts So Bad
23 Linda
24 How Do You Say Goodbye
25 Stop Running Around
26 What Will Become of Me?
27 Queen of Tears
28 Waiting for My Phone to Ring

The Soul Aces release only has 16 tracks but covers much of the MAXX stuff....
Track Listing:
1 Every Beat of My Heart
2 If I Ever Should Fall in Love
3 Either Way I Lose
4 Letter Full of Tears
5 Why Don't You Love Me
6 Maybe, Maybe Baby
7 Who Knows [[I Just Can't Trust You No More)
8 Giving Up
9 Queen of Tears
10 Stop and Get a Hold of Myself
11 [[There Will Never Be) Another Love
12 Lovers Always Forgive
13 Operator
14 Guess Who?
15 How Do You Say Goodbye
16 Come See About Me

Might need to buy one of each unless a better offer comes along here...

[Bluebrock]

Here in the UK there are a baffling amount of compilations. I have bought a couple of them but as you rightly say there does not appear to be a single one of them that contain all the essential early tracks. If anyone can find one please let me know.

[reese]

A while back, there was a two-disc collection called [[I believe) LETTER FULL OF TEARS. It contained all of the group's pre-Motown material, with the exception of their Brunswick single WHISTLE MY LOVE.

[motown01]

I second the 'Letter Full of Tears' compilation. Link to it here:

http://www.discogs.com/Gladys-Knight-And-The-Pips-Letter-Full-Of-Tears/release/5391284

It's fairly comprehensive and sound quality is decent. For the best mastering of these songs [[that I've heard) - there's also the 'In The Beginning' reissue by Funkytowngrooves here:

http://www.funkytowngrooves.com/MIXED-GROUPS/107/Gladys-Knight-And-The-Pips-In-The-Beginning-[[Expanded-Edition)/3479

Not as many tracks, but this has really good sound quality.

[carlo]

Thanks so much guys!

[mysterysinger]

You can get a used copy of the 2 disc "Letter Full Of Tears" from estocks for £1.18 after a further 20% discount currently being applied.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gladys-Knight-the-Pips-Gladys-Knight-the-Pips-Letter-Full-of-CD-/381281356544?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item58c623cb00

[mysterysinger]

Thanks to you guys I dug deep and shelled out my £1.18 on a used copy from estocks. The CD case is not perfect, but the rest is great. Well worth the money for the 24 page booklet alone and some rare tracks on the 2 CDs which are replicas of the Fury and Maxx labels. Some tracks I've never previously heard. This is a good set.