The Best of the Classic Years is a compilation album by the Nigerian musician King Sunny Adé.

[3] The album showcases Adé's rawer pre-Island Records sound.

[7] (The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide called the compilation's music "an engrossing dream of interlocked beats, pealing guitars, and sweet voices.

"[8] In his review of the album, Robert Christgau called Adé "a titan, one of the great pop musicians of the 20th century.

[9] AllMusic called it "the perfect place to start" with Adé's work.