THIS is Gray's the Greatest Hits That Never Were or his best work before the breakthrough CD, White Ladder.
Fans will be familiar with many of the 15 tracks on this compilation, which come from Gray's first three albums and are favourites on his live sets.
Gray's earlier songs are rawer and rougher than those on the more polished and gentler White Ladder.
The arrangements are more acoustic and his voice is a howl rather than a hush. He sounds more Celtic, which might explain his large Irish fan base.
Best of the bunch is the Sixties-sounding sing-a-long Faster, Sooner, Now, and the enjoyably catchy Wisdom and Late Night Radio.
Gray shows his angry young man credentials to the max on Coming Down, and demonstrates his passion in Sell, Sell, Sell, where a verse of Irish lament gives way to a rock chorus and hints of the greater things to come.
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