| The Essential Collection | |
| Type: | Compilation album |
| Artist: | Kirsty MacColl |
| Cover: | Kirsty MacColl The Essential Collection 1993 album cover.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Released: | 1993 |
| Length: | 52:54 |
| Label: | Stiff Records |
| Prev Title: | Electric Landlady |
| Prev Year: | 1991 |
| Next Title: | Titanic Days |
| Next Year: | 1993 |
The Essential Collection is a compilation album by British singer-songwriter Kirsty MacColl, released by Stiff Records in 1993. It contains seventeen tracks covering MacColl's early recording career for Stiff and includes those released as singles and B-sides, as well as selections from her debut album Desperate Character (1981). The last three tracks are included as bonus tracks.[1]
Chris Woodstra of AllMusic described the compilation as a "fine collection", with "some of the best singles [MacColl] ever [wrote]". He added: "She wrote melodic pop singles that managed to recast the classic girl-group sound of the '60s into a style that was contemporary and timeless."