{^20th Century Masters} compiles a dozen highlights from a pair of albums {$Asleep at the Wheel} recorded for {@MCA}. Most of the inclusions come from {^Asleep at the Wheel}, a fine 1985 album, with the others coming from the lesser {^Framed}, from 1980. One key highlight is {&"This Is the Way We Make a Broken Heart,"} a {$John Hiatt} song popularized by {$Rosanne Cash} in the mid-'80s. Each album sounds of its time, which differentiates this material from {$Asleep at the Wheel}'s early- to mid-'70s prime, when the band employed a rootsier, less-produced sound. Most fans prefer that '70s sound to this '80s one. Still, even if {$Asleep at the Wheel} were mostly inactive during the early '80s, releasing nothing between 1980 and 1985, it's good to have the highlights of that era compiled in a package like this with modern mastering standards and some annotation. In any event, you'll want to start with {$Asleep at the Wheel}'s prime recordings before moving on to this latter-day collection, as these '80s-era recordings are less than essential and of secondary interest. If you're fan making your way through the band's catalog, however, you'll find {^20th Century Masters} to be a convenient and well-assembled sampler of a minor stage in the evolution of {$Asleep at the Wheel}. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide