The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions

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.

Side one

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

Side two

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

Compact disc

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

Side one

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

Side two

 * 1) "Good Year For The Roses" – 3:07
 * 2) "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" – 2:06
 * 3) "Clubland" – 3:41
 * 4) "Beyond Belief" – 2:32
 * 5) "New Amsterdam" (from Get Happy!!, 1980) – 2:12
 * 6) "Green Shirt" (from Armed Forces, 1979) – 2:42
 * 7) "Everyday I Write the Book" – 3:47
 * 8) "I Wanna Be Loved" (Jenkins) – 3:50
 * 9) "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