Sleeve: Red-lit portrait of boxer in gym, echoing days when Dexys did earnest training drill in Birmingham.

Sleevenotes: Four pages of intense enthusiasm from writer Paul Gorman.

Content: Eighteen soulful tracks, best known first (Geno, Come On Eileen), then chronological.

High point: BBC concert versions of Let's Make This Precious and Until I Believe In My Soul from Dexys' live peak in 1981.

Low point: No comment piece from usually- opinionated front man, Kevin Rowland.

Glaring omissions: Debut single and mission statement Dance Stance; Liars A To E; Old

Anything new?: First Dexys' recordings since 1986, the vulnerable Manhood and autobiographical My Life In England (Part One), recorded in May.

Excuse for release?: Rowland's 50th birthday; first tour and recordings in 17 years; still-burning back catalogue.

Where might this end up? With Dexys back in the studio for more spiritual revivalism from revitalised Rowland.

Updated: 08:55 Thursday, October 30, 2003