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The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions

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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]

The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Greatest hits album by
Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Released1985
Recorded1977–1984
GenreNew wave, punk rock, power pop
Length53:07 (LP and cassette)
64:25 (CD)
LabelColumbia
ProducerNick Lowe, Geoff Emerick, Roger Bechirian, Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley
Elvis Costello and the Attractions chronology
Goodbye Cruel World
(1984) 		The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
(1985) 		King of America
(1986)
Singles from The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions
  1. "Green Shirt"
    Released: April 1985
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
Robert ChristgauA−[3]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide[4]

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

Track listing

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All songs written by Elvis Costello except as indicated.

LP and cassette

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Side one

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  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

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  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

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  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

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Side one

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  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

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  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

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Additional personnel

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Charts

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Chart (1985–86) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 116

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[7] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "The Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Elvis Costello, Elvis Costello & the Attractions | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Costello, Elvis". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  3. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: elvis costello and the attractions". www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (18 June 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Elvis Costello".
  6. ^ "Elvis Costello Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "American album certifications – Elvis Costello – Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions". Recording Industry Association of America.
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