Arrangers: Paul Williams ; Glen Spreen; Pete Dino; Mike Leech; Burt Bacharach.
The "Very Best" in the title of this 17-track collection is somewhat debatable on a number of accounts. There are still more hits that could have been crammed into this package, as six of the entries are non-chart (usually) album tracks. The non-inclusion of "Billy and Sue," "Mama," and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" seems almost criminal, even though the album tracks are interesting and show B.J. Thomas' vocal prowess to great effect. But when a compilation trumpets itself as containing "The Very Best," the album cuts could perhaps be saved for a rarities package somewhere down the reissue road. Still, what's here is generally fine material. ~ Cub Koda
