Back to the Story

Back to the Story is a 2CD compilation set by Sixties/Seventies band The Idle Race released in 1996 on EMI's short-lived "Premier" series. It contains all three official studio albums, non-album singles and B-sides. The original edition's 2nd CD included the earliest known tracks featuring Jeff Lynne in The Nightriders. In 2007, the set was re-released on EMI's newly reconstituted "Zonophone" label minus the Nightriders tracks. In 2013 the compilation was once again re-released - this time on Warner Music Group's "Parlophone" label, also without the Nightriders tracks

Tracks
(The Birthday Party) (Idle Race) Alternative Versions
 * CD One
 * 1) The Skeleton And The Roundabout
 * 2) Happy Birthday
 * 3) The Birthday
 * 4) I Like My Toys
 * 5) Morning Sunshine
 * 6) Follow Me Follow
 * 7) Sitting In My Tree (mono)
 * 8) On With The Show
 * 9) Lucky Man
 * 10) (Don't Put Your Boys In The Army) Mrs. Ward
 * 11) Pie In The Sky
 * 12) The Lady who Said She Could Fly
 * 13) End Of The Road
 * 1) Come With Me (rechanneled to simulate stereo)
 * 2) Sea Of Dreams
 * 3) Going Home
 * 4) Reminds Me Of You
 * 5) Mr. Crow and Sir Norman
 * 6) Please No More Sad Songs
 * 7) Girl At The Window
 * 8) Big Chief Woolley Bosher
 * 9) Someone Knocking
 * 10) A Better Life (The Weather Man Knows)
 * 11) Hurry Up John
 * 1) Lucky Man (mono)
 * 2) Follow Me Follow (mono)
 * 3) Days Of Broken Arrows (mono)

(Non-album Tracks) (Time Is)
 * CD Two
 * 1) (Here We Go 'Round) The Lemon Tree (mono)
 * 2) My Father's Son (mono)
 * 3) Imposters Of Life's Magazine (mono)
 * 4) Knocking Nails Into My House (mono)
 * 5) Days Of The Broken Arrows (mono)
 * 6) Worn Red Carpet (mono)
 * 7) In The Summertime
 * 8) Told You Twice
 * 9) Neanderthal Man (rechanneled to simulate stereo)
 * 10) Victim Of Circumstance (rechanneled to simulate stereo)
 * 1) Dancing Flower
 * 2) Sad O'Sad
 * 3) The Clock
 * 4) I Will See You
 * 5) By The Sun
 * 6) Alcatraz
 * 7) And The Rain
 * 8) She Sang Hymns Out Of Tune
 * 9) Bitter Green
 * 10) We Want It All


 * 21. It's Only the Dog (mono)
 * 22. Your Friend  (mono)
 * These last two tracks by The Nightriders appear only on the original 1996 release