GOLD STARS

1. Everybody Loves Me But You
2. My Sister
3. Spin The Bottle
4. Universal Heart-beat
5. Fleur De Lys
6. Mountains Of Love †
7. Fade Away †
8. Sellout
9. Live It Up
10. Sneaking Around
11. Somebody Is Waiting For Me
12. Cry in the Dark
13. Houseboy
14. My Protégée
15. Every Breath You Take
16. Only Love Can Break Your Heart †
17. Don't Walk Away †
18. Your Eyes †
19. We Will Rise Again †
20. Table For One †

†previously unreleased

A solo career retrospective, rather than a greatest hits. A chronological run through from Hey Babe to Total System Failure including two previously unreleased tracks (Mountains of Love and Fade Away) from the ‘lost’ album God’s Foot.

A satisfactory selection of songs from the different periods and if the God’s Foot selections weren’t enough to enitce die hard fans, the album adds another 4 brand new Juliana compositions and a cover of Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart. (The other cover, Every Breath You Take, is an utter treat, a guitar layered reworking of The Police standard).

Of the new songs, Your Eyes is a highlight, rewarded through repeat plays.

“your eyes made it seem like everything would be ok / like your eyes would never close”.

We Will Rise Again adds to Juliana’s canon of optimistic, uplifting tracks. It wasn't originally intended for release but included on this compilation in light of the post 9/11 mood.

The closer, Table For One, is quite naturally a return to Juliana, the outsider.

Fans will argue over the omissions on here which prevent it being a true ‘best of’. The failure to include I Got No Idols, Live On Tomorrow and Make It Home is a minor crime, but as a ‘collection’ this is a success.

The sleevenotes contain this:

“Just remember:

Cultivate and trust your own genius. You are it. Everyone else’s genius is just as precious. Act accordingly. If what you are taught makes no sense, you are beginning to learn. Be suspicious of whatever society says you must do. The social order is necessary, but often not in your best interests. Follow your nose wherever it may lead. Use your eyes, ears, mind and heart well. They are all you have."

• Philip Mitchell Hatfield 1939-2001