Mercury/Chronicles' 2005 double-disc set Gold expands and rejiggers the previous best Rod Stewart double-disc set, 1992's Mercury Anthology. This 35-track compilation contains all but five of the songs from that 32-track comp -- the live cuts with the Faces have been cut out -- in nearly the same sequencing. So, anybody who already has that set, or already has the great 2002 triple-disc set Reason to Believe: The Complete Mercury Recordings, doesn't need to get this, since there's nothing new here. However, anybody who wants an enormously entertaining, comprehensive overview of Stewart at his solo peak should get this, since it has all of the very greatest moments from his first four albums -- in fact, all of Every Picture Tells a Story is here, although the second side of the LP concludes the first disc here, with the first side of the LP opening the second disc -- at a very reasonable price. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Elton John (Piano), Elton John (Vocals), The London Symphony Orchestra (?), Rod Stewart (Guitar (Acoustic)), Rod Stewart (Guitar), Rod Stewart (Arranger), Rod Stewart (Vocals), Rod Stewart (Producer), Ruby Turner (Vocals), Ron Wood (Guitar (Acoustic)), Ron Wood (Bass), Ron Wood (Guitar), Ron Wood (Pedal Steel), Ron Wood (Guitar (Electric)), Pete Sears (Organ), Pete Sears (Bass), Pete Sears (Piano), Dave Ellis (Photography), Keith Emerson (Organ), Rick Grech (Violin), Jimmy Horowitz (Arranger), Ray Jackson (Mandolin), Ian McLagan (Organ), Ian McLagan (Piano), The Memphis Horns (Brass), Sam Mitchell (Arranger), Sam Mitchell (Slide Guitar), Dick Powell (Violin), Mike Bobak (Engineer), Mike Bobak (Consultant), Doreen Chanter (Vocals), Irene Chanter (Vocals), Ray Cooper (Percussion), Michael d'Abo (Piano), Michael d'Abo (Arranger), William Gaff (Whistle (Human)), Glyn Johns (Engineer), Keith Grant (Engineer), Harry (Vocals), Spike Heatley (Bass (Upright)), Gordon Huntley (Guitar (Steel)), Ronnie Lane (Bass), Ronnie Lane (Vocals), Bill Levenson (Compilation Producer), Anton Matthews (Assistant Engineer), Stanley Matthews (Mandolin), David Measham (Conductor), David Measham (Choir Director), David Measham (Choir Conductor), David Measham (Orchestra Director), Andy Newmark (Drums), Alan O'Duffy (Engineer), Dennis O'Flynn (Violin (Bass)), Bob Potter (Assistant Engineer), Martin Pugh (Guitar), Andy Pyle (Bass), Martin Quittenton (Guitar (Acoustic)), Lou Reizner (Producer), Tropic Isles Steel Band (Drums (Steel)), Mickey Waller (Drums), Willie Weeks (Bass), Ian Dickson (Photography), Danny Thompson (Bass), Will Malone (Arranger), Vartan (Art Direction), Suha Gur (Mastering), David Gahr (Photography), Scott Schinder (Liner Notes), Jak Kilby (Photography), Michael Putland (Photography), Emily Cagan (Product Manager), James Sullivan (Arranger), Ute Friesleben (Production Coordination), Ryan Null (Photo Coordination), Kenny Jones (Drums), Neemoi "Speedy" Aquaye (Conga), Mike Babok (Assistant Engineer)
