Gladys Knight & the Pips: Memories of the Way We Were (Buddah); 20 Golden Greats (Motown)

GLADYS KNIGHT has been turned into the spinster of soul. Her generous face seems to invite desertion. Yet with almost maternal dignity, she translates this loneliness into "Let's talk about the good old days", as if they were worth talking about. Exactly why this image of forbearance has settled on her is hard to see.