ˈɔːl mjˈuːzɪkz stˈiːvən tˈɑːməs ˈɜːluːˌaɪn ɡˈeɪv ðə kˌɑːmpɪlˈeɪʃən ɐ pˈɑːzᵻtˌɪv ɹᵻvjˈuː, dᵻskɹˈaɪbɪŋ ɪɾ æz mˈoːɹ θˈʌɹoʊ ðɐn ðə bˈɛst ðæt aɪ kʊd dˈuː nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ˈeɪt nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt, bˌʌt kɹˈɪɾɪsˌaɪzd ɪts nˈɑːŋkɹˌɑːnəlˈɑːdʒɪkəl tɹˈæk lˈɪstɪŋ.
AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the compilation a positive review, describing it as more thorough than The Best That I Could Do 1978–1988, but criticized its non-chronological track listing.