wˌaɪl ðə kˈʌvɚɹ ˈɑːɹtwɜːk wʌz dɪsmˈɪst baɪ ˈɔːθɚ dˈeɪvɪd bˈʌkli æz "ɐ sˈɪksθfˈɔːɹm kˈʌt ˈɛn pˈeɪst kɑːlˈɑːʒ", ðə kəlˈɛkʃən ɡˈeɪv bˈoʊi hɪz fˈɜːst jˌuːkˈeɪ tʃˈɑːɹttˈɑːpɪŋ ˈælbəm sˈɪns tənˈaɪt ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ.
While the cover artwork was dismissed by author David Buckley as "a sixth-form cut 'n' paste collage", the collection gave Bowie his first UK chart-topping album since Tonight in 1984.