The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions explained

The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Type:	greatest
Artist:	Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Cover:	elvis_costello_best_1985.jpg
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
Prev Title:	Goodbye Cruel World
Prev Year:	1984
Next Title:	King of America
Next Year:	1986

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.^[1]

A UK variation of the album was called The Best of Elvis Costello – The Man and had a markedly different track listing.

Track listing

All songs written by Elvis Costello except as indicated.

LP and cassette

Side one

1. "Alison" (from My Aim Is True, 1977) – 3:22
2. "Watching the Detectives" (from single, 1978) – 3:41
3. "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" (Nick Lowe) (from single, 1979) – 3:31
4. "Oliver's Army" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:58
5. "Pump It Up" (from This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:17
6. "Accidents Will Happen" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 3:00
7. "Radio, Radio" (from single, 1978) – 3:06
8. "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" (Homer Banks, Allen Jones) (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:06

Side two

1. "Almost Blue" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 2:47
2. "Beyond Belief" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 2:32
3. "Clubland" (from Trust, 1981) – 3:41
4. "Watch Your Step" (from Trust, 1981) – 2:58
5. "Shipbuilding" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 4:49
6. "I Wanna Be Loved" (Farnell Jenkins) (from Goodbye Cruel World, 1984) – 3:50
7. "Everyday I Write the Book" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 3:47
8. "The Only Flame in Town" (from Goodbye Cruel World, 1984) – 3:32

Compact disc

1. "Alison" – 3:19
2. "Watching the Detectives" – 3:41
3. "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" (Lowe) – 3:31
4. "Oliver's Army" – 2:57
5. "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" (from My Aim Is True, 1977) – 2:45
6. "Pump It Up" – 3:16
7. "Accidents Will Happen" – 3:01
8. "Radio, Radio" – 3:06
9. "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" – 2:06
10. "A Good Year for the Roses" (Jerry Chesnut) (from Almost Blue, 1981) – 3:07
11. "Almost Blue" – 2:46
12. "Beyond Belief" – 2:32
13. "Man Out of Time" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 5:27
14. "Clubland" – 3:42
15. "Watch Your Step" – 2:57
16. "Shipbuilding" – 4:49
17. "I Wanna Be Loved" (Jenkins) – 3:50
18. "Everyday I Write the Book" – 3:47
19. "The Only Flame in Town" – 3:32

The Best of Elvis Costello – The Man (UK) LP and cassette

Side one

1. "Watching the Detectives" – 3:41
2. "Oliver's Army" – 2:58
3. "Alison" – 3:22
4. "Accidents Will Happen" – 3:00
5. "Pump It Up" – 3:17
6. "High Fidelity" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:28
7. "Pills and Soap" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 3:43
8. "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" (from This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:06
9. "New Lace Sleeves" (from Trust, 1981) – 3:45

Side two

1. "Good Year For The Roses" – 3:07
2. "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" – 2:06
3. "Clubland" – 3:41
4. "Beyond Belief" – 2:32
5. "New Amsterdam" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:12
6. "Green Shirt" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:42
7. "Everyday I Write the Book" – 3:47
8. "I Wanna Be Loved" (Jenkins) – 3:50
9. "Shipbuilding" – 4:49

Personnel

• Elvis Costello – vocals, guitar
• Steve Nieve – keyboards
• Bruce Thomas – bass
• Pete Thomas – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Caron Wheeler – vocals
• Claudia Fontaine – vocals
• Clover – various instruments
• Chet Baker – trumpet
• Andrew Bodnar – bass
• Steve Goulding – drums
• Daryl Hall – vocals
• Green Gartside – vocals

Notes and References

1. Web site: Elvis Costello.