by John Bush
There probably wasn't a legion of fans crying out for a dedicated Patience and Prudence anthology; the pair of sisters recorded only two charting hits, and most of their material was reliant upon the same formula that produced their biggest hit, "Tonight You Belong to Me." Nevertheless, Collectors' Choice brought out The Best of Patience and Prudence, which isn't a compilation per se anyway; this disc isn't a selection of material but one with everything released by the duo and ranks as their first ever release beyond the limits of a 45-rpm single. For those interested in the pair due to their inclusion in the movies Election or Ghost World, there are two or three additional tracks on the same level as "A Smile and a Ribbon" or "Gonna Get Along Without You," but a little Patience and Prudence goes a very long way. Their father picked more chestnuts for the pair to sing ("All I Do Is Dream of You" was a very good selection), but his own songs -- often written with Ross Bagdasarian of "The Witch Doctor" and "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" fame -- were hardly adequate. Far better to seek out one of the many '50s hits collections that included "Tonight You Belong to Me."