Absolutely The Best

For a short time in the mid-'70s, Helen Reddy stood on top of the pop mountain. She soon tumbled back down, but she left behind some fine singles. Absolutely the Best of Helen Reddy collects 14 of her songs and certainly lives up to its title. The first three tracks are number one singles and classics of adult contemporary pop: the album version of "I Am Woman" (which is also included in its original non-hit version), "Delta Dawn," and "Angie Baby" show off Reddy's clear, sweet vocals and her simple but dramatic delivery. The disc also includes her other hits, like "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress"), which hit number three; "Peaceful," which hit number 12; "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady," which reached number eight; "I Don't Know How to Love Him," which hit number 13; and "You and Me Against the World," which topped out at number nine. That is quite a run of hits. The rest of the disc focuses on album tracks, like the disco-fied version of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "I Can't Hear You No More," a stately version of Gale Garnett's "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" (produced by the notorious Kim Fowley, of all people), and the slinky "Get Off Me Baby," where Reddy stretches her pipes a bit and ends up sounding downright soulful. By stripping away much of her lesser work, Absolutely the Best of Helen Reddy works as a quick and easy entry to her body of work. Someone seeking a deeper look could turn to Razor & Tie's I Am Woman: The Essential Helen Reddy Collection, but for the casual fan, this disc should do the trick. ~ Tim Sendra