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The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions is a 1985 compilation album by English musician Elvis Costello and his backing band the Attractions, 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
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
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
"Green Shirt" Released: April 1985

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]
Robert Christgau	A−[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

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" – 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" (from single, 1978) – 3:41
2. "Oliver's Army" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:58
3. "Alison" (from My Aim Is True, 1977) – 3:22
4. "Accidents Will Happen" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 3:00
5. "Pump It Up" (from This Year's Model, 1978) – 3:17
6. "High Fidelity"
7. "Pills And Soap"
8. "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea"
9. "New Lace Sleeves"

Side two

1. "Good Year For The Roses"
2. "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" (Homer Banks, Allen Jones) (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:06
3. "Clubland" (from Trust, 1981) – 3:41
4. "Beyond Belief" (from Imperial Bedroom, 1982) – 2:32
5. New Amsterdam"
6. Green Shirt"
7. "Everyday I Write the Book" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 3:47
8. "I Wanna Be Loved" (Farnell Jenkins) (from Goodbye Cruel World, 1984) – 3:50
9. "Shipbuilding" (from Punch the Clock, 1983) – 4:49

Personnel

1. Elvis Costello – vocals, guitar
2. Steve Nieve – keyboards
3. Bruce Thomas – bass
4. Pete Thomas – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

1. Caron Wheeler – vocals
2. Claudia Fontaine – vocals
3. Clover – various instruments
4. Chet Baker – trumpet
5. Andrew Bodnar – bass
6. Steve Goulding – drums
7. Daryl Hall – vocals
8. Green Gartside – vocals

Charts

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

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[7]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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