Belinda Carlisle - Her Greatest Hits (1992)

Initially, I purchased this disc to add the hits "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and "Mad About You" to my collection. Then, as so often happens, I found that the best music on the album lay elsewhere.

Belinda Carlisle possesses an incredibly smooth, powerful voice, equally effective in mainstream rock/pop efforts and more sedate ballads. Probably the best track on this album is the enchanting, hypnotically intricate "Circle in the Sand". However, there are two magnificent ballads, "Summer Rain" and the touching "Vision of You".

Belinda isn't at her best with hard-charging rock but, for those who like that sound, the punchy "Live Your Life Be Free" is included, alongwith "Do You Feel Like I Feel?" and "Gotta Get to You." There is also the catchy, regae-influenced "I Feel Fine."

Any Greatest Hits album is a dicey effort for a record label, but when you combine Belinda Carlisle's beautiful, sensual voice with one terrific track after another, you've got a winner. Belinda Carlisle-Her Greatest Hits takes home the Blue Ribbon.