The Best Of (James album)

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
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Q

The Best Of is the first of four compilation albums by British band James (the second album is B-Sides Ultra).

Track listing

1. "Come Home" (Flood mix) from Gold Mother
2. "Sit Down" (June 1989) from Gold Mother (1991 Re-release)
3. "She's a Star" (1997) from Whiplash
4. "Laid" (October 1993) from Laid
5. "Waltzing Along" (single version) from Whiplash
6. "Say Something" from Laid
7. "Born of Frustration" from Seven
8. "Tomorrow" from Whiplash
9. "Destiny Calling" Previously unreleased
10. "Out to Get You" from Laid
11. "Runaground" Previously unreleased
12. "Lose Control" Non-album single
13. "Sometimes" from Laid
14. "How Was It for You?" from Gold Mother
15. "Seven" from Seven
16. "Sound" from Seven
17. "Ring the Bells" from Seven
18. "Hymn from a Village" from James II

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

1. "Runaground" (live/bonus track)
2. "Ring the Bells" (live/bonus track)
3. "Out to Get You" (live/bonus track)
4. "Johnny Yen" (live/bonus track)
5. "Lose Control" (live/bonus track)
6. "Laid" (live/bonus track)
7. "Sound" (live/bonus track)

Reception

"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," observed Q's John Aizlewood, "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."