Having already released the Little Fictions album back in February, Elbow have just recently released their second album this year, a Best Of collection.
It’s a time honoured tradition and singer Guy Garvey has noted that “Best Ofs are a good way of introducing new fans to a big back catalogue.” I have to wonder though who exactly it is that they’re hoping to introduce to their catalogue through The Best OF Elbow. Other than completists, longtime fans surely have pretty much everything already and as for new fans, well, they’ve all got the internet and all of the streaming services and/or illegal means to obtain said recordings available at their fingertips. So who is this for? Considering that the main draw on this release is the band’s version of The Beatles’ “Golden Slumbers,” newly recorded for UK department store chain John Lewis’ latest Christmas ad, it’s likely that they’re making a play for the stocking stuffer set with this one. And the completists.
While I may question the need for Best Of/Greatest Hits style collections in today’s music market, there’s no question that Elbow have done the Fab Four justice with their take on the Abbey Road classic. The band have just released a video to accompany the song featuring footage from the Michel Gondry-directed ad along with some behind the scenes stuff. Check it out:
“The Best Of” tracklist:
Standard Version:
Grounds for Divorce
Magnificent (She Says)
Lippy Kids
One Day Like This
The Bones of You
My Sad Captains
Leaders of the Free World
Mirrorball
Fugitive Motel
New York Morning
Great Expectations
The Birds
Scattered Black and Whites
bonus track
Golden Slumbers
Deluxe Version (bonus tracks):
Any Day Now
Fly Boy Blue / Lunette
Weather to Fly
Station Approach
Switching Off
Little Fictions
This Blue World
Kindling (Fickle Flame) featuring John Grant
Newborn
Puncture Repair
The Night Will Always Win
Starlings
The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver
Dear Friends