The Very Best Of Oleta Adams is a compilation album by the American vocalist, pianist and songwriter Oleta Adams

Oleta Adams

Oleta Adams is an American soul, jazz, and gospel singer and pianist.-Biography:Adams was born the daughter of a preacher and was raised with gospel music. In her youth her family moved to Yakima, Washington, which is sometimes shown as her place of birth.Before gaining her opportunity to perform,...

 and was released in 1996.

History

Released at the end of 1996 in Europe, this album served to finish Adams' contract with Mercury Records

Mercury Records

Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...

. It includes singles and album highlights of her albums Circle of One

Circle of One

Circle of One is the third album by the American vocalist, pianist and songwriter Oleta Adams and was released in 1990. Circle of One is often considered as Adams' first album, since her two earlier albums were self-financed and only received local distribution.- History :After a successful...

, Evolution

Evolution (Oleta Adams album)

Evolution is the fourth album by the American vocalist, pianist and songwriter Oleta Adams and was released in 1993.-History:...

and Moving On

Moving On (Oleta Adams album)

Moving On is an album by the American vocalist, pianist and songwriter Oleta Adams and was released in 1995.-History:Moving On saw Adams move to a more straightforward R&B sound. Working with established R&B producers Vassal Benford or Michael J...

. Also included is Adams' very first single release, the duet with Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...

 "Woman in Chains

Woman in Chains

"Woman in Chains" is a hit song by the British band Tears for Fears, released as the second single from their 1989 album The Seeds of Love....

", as well as her 1991 cover of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" is the first single from British musician Elton John's 1974 album Caribou; it was released that year during the latter half of May in the United Kingdom, and on 10 June in the United States.-Lyrics and music:...

" for the Two Rooms album, neither of which had been included on her albums.

USA version

This first edition of the compilation was never released in the USA. Instead, Mercury Records released a compilation with the same title two years later, in 1998, with a slightly different track listing. It included two rare 1994 non-album songs: the cover of "Embraceable You

Embraceable You

"Embraceable You" is a popular song, with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. The song was originally written in 1928 for an unpublished operetta named East is West. It was eventually published in 1930 and included in the Broadway musical Girl Crazy. where it was performed by...

" recorded for a George Gershwin

George Gershwin

George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...

 tribute album, and the cover of the song "Many Rivers to Cross

Many Rivers to Cross

- Song information :This is one of the few Cliff tracks to use an organ, which helps to supplement the gospel feel provided by the backing vocalists. Cliff released the song, with production work by Leslie Kong, on his 1969 album, Jimmy Cliff. It was also released on the 1972 soundtrack album for...

", recorded for the soundtrack of the film Jason's Lyric

Jason's Lyric

Jason's Lyric is a 1994 romantic drama film, written by Bobby Smith, Jr., and directed by Doug McHenry. The film marks the directorial debut of McHenry, who co-produced the film with George Jackson...

.

Track listing

European 1996 CD

1. "Rhythm Of Life" - 4:22
2. "Get Here" - 4:34
3. "Window Of Hope" - 4:22
4. "I've Got To Sing My Song" - 4:04
5. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" - 5:55
6. "Never Knew Love" - 3:23
7. "We Will Meet Again" - 4:46
8. "Hold Me For A While" - 5:11
9. "Circle Of One" - 3:53
10. "When Love Comes To The Rescue" - 5:15
11. "I Knew You When" - 4:20
12. "Lover's Holiday" - 4:12
13. "I Just Had To Hear Your Voice" - 3:43
14. "My Heart Won't Lie" - 4:44
15. "Woman In Chains" (with Tears For Fears) - 6:31
16. "Life Keeps Moving On" - 5:31

USA 1998 CD

1. "Rhythm Of Life" - 4:19
2. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" - 5:54
3. "Never Knew Love" - 3:21
4. "Get Here" - 4:35
5. "Hold Me For A While" - 5:10
6. "Many Rivers To Cross" - 4:05
7. "Circle Of One" - 3:52
8. "My Heart Won't Lie" - 4:42
9. "Lover's Holiday" - 4:10
10. "Embraceable You" - 3:52
11. "We Will Meet Again" - 4:46
12. "Love Begins At Home" - 4:51
13. "I Just Had To Hear Your Voice" - 3:38
14. "Woman In Chains" (with Tears For Fears) - 6:29
15. "I Knew You When" - 4:20
16. "Window Of Hope" - 4:24

Charts

Chart (1996)	Position
Dutch album chart	#46