Misleadingly packaged in what has to be an outtake from the All the Fun of the Fair photo session, The David Essex Album is a near flawless hits collection, released at a point in time (1978) when it appeared as though the hits had finally halted. Of course that wasn't the case, but Essex had certainly fared less than brilliantly on the U.K. chart in recent years, a failing that was only exaggerated by the sheer brilliance of the music contained on this collection. "Gonna Make You a Star," "Lamplight," "Hold Me Close," "Rolling Stone," "Rock On," and "Stardust" remain one of the most awe-inspiring runs in British chart history, and if the remainder of the set can barely hold a candle to those numbers, then how many other artists could? Better Essex hits collection would follow this set, rendering The David Essex Album little more than a period curio. At the time, however, it was unbeatable. ~ Dave Thompson|
Rovi