The Best Of (James album)

The Best Of is the first compilation album by English rock band James, released in 1998. It contains singles from the band's studio albums Gold Mother (1990), Seven (1992), Laid (1993), Whiplash (1997), plus one track from the EP James II (1985) and two new tracks. The compilation reached number one in the UK Albums Chart.[1]

The Best of James
Greatest hits album by
James
Released23 March 1998
Recorded1984–1997
GenreAlternative rock
Length69:19
LabelMercury/Fontana
James chronology
Whiplash
(1997)		 The Best of James
(1998)		 Millionaires
(1999)
Singles from The Best of James
  1. "Destiny Calling"
    Released: 9 March 1998
  2. "Runaground"
    Released: 25 May 1998

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Q[3]

In a review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album four out of five stars, describing it as "An imperfect collection of a frustratingly uneven band" and "a tantalizing missed opportunity", opining that the album's lack of chronological order made it "difficult to listen to [the] songs". Despite this, he went on to say that "no other James album accurately conveys [the band's] eclecticism or their musical strengths".[2]

Awarding the album five out of five stars, Q magazine's John Aizlewood observed that "They're as stubborn (another admirable James trait) as disenfranchised mules; their audience is not growing (Whiplash sold 150,000) and they've influenced precisely nobody, but every track here – including new songs 'Runaground' and 'Destiny Calling, which unveil the mature James: "Tell us when our time is up/Show us how to die well/Show us how to let it all go" – bristles with inspiration."[3]

Track listing

All tracks written by James, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)OriginLength
1."Come Home" (Flood mix; 1991 re-release) Gold Mother3:55
2."Sit Down" (1991 re-release)
Gold Mother4:04
3."She's a Star" Whiplash3:40
4."Laid" Laid2:36
5."Waltzing Along" (single version) Whiplash3:36
6."Say Something" Laid3:25
7."Born of Frustration" Seven4:36
8."Tomorrow"
Whiplash3:41
9."Destiny Calling" previously unreleased3:50
10."Out to Get You" Laid4:26
11."Runaground" previously unreleased4:09
12."Lose Control" (1991 re-release) Gold Mother3:55
13."Sometimes" Laid4:37
14."How Was It for You" Gold Mother2:57
15."Seven" Seven3:19
16."Sound" Seven4:58
17."Ring the Bells" Seven4:43
18."Hymn from a Village"
  • Booth
  • Gott
  • Glennie
  • Whelan
James II2:52


A limited edition version contains a second CD of live material, recorded at Whitfield St Studios in London on 21 January 1998:

  1. "Runaground"
  2. "Ring the Bells"
  3. "Out to Get You"
  4. "Johnny Yen"
  5. "Lose Control"
  6. "Laid"
  7. "Sound"

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7] 3× Platinum 900,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "JAMES songs and albums | full Official Chart history".
  2. "James - The Best of James Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. Q, April 1998
  4. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  5. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  6. "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998". Official Charts. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  7. "British album certifications – James – The Best of". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
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