# The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| Robert Christgau | A− |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
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.
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

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

#### Side two

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

### Compact disc

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

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

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

#### Side two

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

## Charts

| Chart (1985–86) | Peak position |
| US Billboard 200 | 116 |

## Certifications

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