The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
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The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions | ||||
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Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | 1985 | |||
Recorded | 1977–1984 | |||
Genre | New wave, punk rock, power pop | |||
Length | 53:07 (LP and cassette) 64:25 (CD) | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Nick Lowe, Geoff Emerick, Roger Bechirian, Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley | |||
Elvis Costello and the Attractions chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | A−[3] |
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions is a compilation album by English musician Elvis Costello and his backing band the Attractions, released in 1985. It was the first of what would be many career-spanning compilation albums of previously released material for Costello.[5]
A UK variation of the album was called The Best of Elvis Costello – The Man and had a markedly different track listing.
Track listing
[edit]All songs written by Elvis Costello except as indicated.
LP and cassette
[edit]Side one
[edit]- "Alison" (from My Aim Is True, 1977) – 3:22
- "Watching the Detectives" (from single, 1978) – 3:41
- "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" (Nick Lowe) (from single, 1979) – 3:31
- "Oliver's Army" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:58
- "Pump It Up" (from This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:17
- "Accidents Will Happen" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 3:00
- "Radio, Radio" (from single, 1978) – 3:06
- "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" (Homer Banks, Allen Jones) (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:06
Side two
[edit]- "Almost Blue" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 2:47
- "Beyond Belief" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 2:32
- "Clubland" (from Trust, 1981) – 3:41
- "Watch Your Step" (from Trust, 1981) – 2:58
- "Shipbuilding" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 4:49
- "I Wanna Be Loved" (Farnell Jenkins) (from Goodbye Cruel World, 1984) – 3:50
- "Everyday I Write the Book" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 3:47
- "The Only Flame in Town" (from Goodbye Cruel World, 1984) – 3:32
Compact disc
[edit]- "Alison" – 3:19
- "Watching the Detectives" – 3:41
- "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" (Lowe) – 3:31
- "Oliver's Army" – 2:57
- "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" (from My Aim Is True, 1977) – 2:45
- "Pump It Up" – 3:16
- "Accidents Will Happen" – 3:01
- "Radio, Radio" – 3:06
- "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" – 2:06
- "A Good Year for the Roses" (Jerry Chesnut) (from Almost Blue, 1981) – 3:07
- "Almost Blue" – 2:46
- "Beyond Belief" – 2:32
- "Man Out of Time" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 5:27
- "Clubland" – 3:42
- "Watch Your Step" – 2:57
- "Shipbuilding" – 4:49
- "I Wanna Be Loved" (Jenkins) – 3:50
- "Everyday I Write the Book" – 3:47
- "The Only Flame in Town" – 3:32
The Best of Elvis Costello – The Man (UK) LP and cassette
[edit]Side one
[edit]- "Watching the Detectives" – 3:41
- "Oliver's Army" – 2:58
- "Alison" – 3:22
- "Accidents Will Happen" – 3:00
- "Pump It Up" – 3:17
- "High Fidelity" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:28
- "Pills and Soap" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 3:43
- "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" (from This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:06
- "New Lace Sleeves" (from Trust, 1981) – 3:45
Side two
[edit]- "Good Year For The Roses" – 3:07
- "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" – 2:06
- "Clubland" – 3:41
- "Beyond Belief" – 2:32
- "New Amsterdam" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:12
- "Green Shirt" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:42
- "Everyday I Write the Book" – 3:47
- "I Wanna Be Loved" (Jenkins) – 3:50
- "Shipbuilding" – 4:49
Personnel
[edit]- Elvis Costello – vocals, guitar
- Steve Nieve – keyboards
- Bruce Thomas – bass
- Pete Thomas – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
[edit]- Caron Wheeler – vocals
- Claudia Fontaine – vocals
- Clover – various instruments
- Chet Baker – trumpet
- Andrew Bodnar – bass
- Steve Goulding – drums
- Daryl Hall – vocals
- Green Gartside – vocals
Charts
[edit]Chart (1985–86) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200[6] | 116 |
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United States (RIAA)[7] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
[edit]- ^ "The Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Elvis Costello, Elvis Costello & the Attractions | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Costello, Elvis". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: elvis costello and the attractions". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (18 June 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Elvis Costello".
- ^ "Elvis Costello Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "American album certifications – Elvis Costello – Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions". Recording Industry Association of America.