"the sphinx" features a selection of 42 tracks from lear's ariola-eurodisc catalogue, recorded and released between 1976 and 1983. the set consists of material from her first six albums, which she recorded when she was signed up with the ariola label: "i am a photograph", "sweet revenge", "never trust a pretty face", "diamonds for breakfast", "incognito" and "tam-tam", as well as non-album singles "solomon gundie", "fever" and "love your body". the compilation marked the first time some of the tracks are released on cd. all songs have been remastered.