The early buzz holds that Travis’ upcoming new album, produced by American Idol’s Randy Jackson and set for release this summer, will represent a fresh start for the singer. That means now is a good time to take stock of his career to date, and The Very Best of Travis Tritt is an ideal way to do so.

Previous Travis compilations don’t quite cut it—1995’s Greatest Hits: From the Beginning and 2003’s Essentials are now out of date, and the twin 2002 CDs The Rockin’ Side and The Lovin’ Side sacrificed comprehensiveness for thematic unity. The Very Best, on the other hand, is scrupulously inclusive, featuring every Top 10 hit of Travis’ 18-year career except the two most recent (“Love of a Woman” and “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde”). So while we await what will hopefully be a timely reinvention, Very Best offers a chance for newcomers to catch up with a body of work that’s pretty remarkable as it stands.