Blur: The Best Of is a greatest hits

Greatest hits

A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...

 compilation album

Compilation album

A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...

 by English Britpop

Britpop

Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...

 band Blur

Blur (band)

Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...

, first released in late 2000 and is the final Blur album by Food Records. It was released on CD

Compact Disc

The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...

, cassette tape, MiniDisc

MiniDisc

The disc is permanently housed in a cartridge with a sliding door, similar to the casing of a 3.5" floppy disk. This shutter is opened automatically by a mechanism upon insertion. The audio discs can either be recordable or premastered. Recordable MiniDiscs use a magneto-optical system to record...

, double 12" vinyl record, DVD

DVD

A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....

 and VHS

VHS

The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....

. The CD album includes 17 of Blur's 23 singles

Single (music)

In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...

 from 1990 to 2000, plus new track "Music Is My Radar

Music Is My Radar

"Music Is My Radar" is a song by British band Blur. It was released as a single in support of the band's Best of album, Blur: The Best Of, on which it also appears, reaching Number 10 in the UK. Along with 1992's "Popscene", it is one of two Blur singles never to have been included on a studio album...

". A special edition of the CD version included a live CD. The DVD/VHS version contains the videos

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

 of Blur's first 22 singles. The album, which has had enduring sales, hit #3 in the band's native UK in the autumn of 2000, while denting the US charts at #186. The cover is by artist Julian Opie

Julian Opie

Julian Opie is a visual artist, and one of the New British Sculpture movement.-Life and work:Julian Opie was raised in Oxford, England, where he attended the Dragon School and Magdalen College School. He attended Goldsmith's School of Art in London from 1979-82...

. The painting of this Blur album can be found at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. The album's cover bears some similarity to that of Queen

Queen (band)

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...

's 1982 Hot Space

Hot Space

Hot Space is the tenth studio album by British rock band Queen, released in May 1982. Marking a notable shift in direction from their earlier work, Queen employed many elements of disco, pop music, R&B and dance music on Hot Space, being partially influenced by the success of their 1980 hit...

.

The album received a positive critical response. Of the reviews collected from notable publications by popular review aggregator website Metacritic

Metacritic

Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...

, the album holds an overall approval rating of 88%.

On the chart ending 7 March 2009, it was reported by Music Week

Music Week

Music Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...

that the album passed over one million unit sales in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

.

A proposed title for the album was Best Blur Album in the World Ever, in reference to the compilation album series The Best... Album in the World...Ever!

The Best... Album in the World...Ever!

The Best... Album in the World...Ever! is a compilation album brand from Circa Records...

(which often contained songs by Blur).

Disc one

All tracks written by Damon Albarn

Damon Albarn

Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...

, Graham Coxon

Graham Coxon

Graham Leslie Coxon is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter. He came to prominence as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of rock band Blur, and is also a critically acclaimed solo artist, having recorded seven solo albums...

, Alex James

Alex James (musician)

Professionally known as Alex James is an English musician, songwriter, journalist and cheesemaker. He is best known as the bass player and occasional vocalist of band Blur...

, and Dave Rowntree

Dave Rowntree

David Alexander De Horne Rowntree is an English solicitor, musician, animator, and political activist. He is best known as the drummer of the alternative rock band Blur...

.

1. "Beetlebum
   Beetlebum
   "Beetlebum" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It was released as the lead single for the band's eponymous fifth album, Blur...
   
   " (from Blur) – 5:05
2. "Song 2
   Song 2
   "Song 2" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, the second track on and second single released from their fifth album Blur in April 1997...
   
   " (from Blur) – 2:02
3. "There's No Other Way
   There's No Other Way
   "There's No Other Way" is a song by Blur and was released 15 April 1991 as their second single. The song was the band's first top ten and top 40 hit and was also featured on the band's debut album Leisure. The single was also a minor hit in the United States, reaching number 82 on the Billboard Hot...
   
   " (from Leisure
   Leisure (album)
   Leisure is the debut album by English alternative rock band Blur. The album was released on 26 August 1991 in the United Kingdom via Food Records, and peaked at #7 in the UK Albums Chart. It was released in the US a month later with a different track listing. The album was certified Gold in the...
   
   ) – 3:14
4. "The Universal
   The Universal (song)
   "The Universal" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is featured on their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released 13 November 1995 as the second single from that album, charting at #5 in the UK Singles Chart .In keeping with the song's science fiction theme, the...
   
   " (from The Great Escape) – 4:00
5. "Coffee & TV
   Coffee & TV
   "Coffee & TV" is a song by the British alternative rock band Blur. The verses are sung by the band's guitarist, Graham Coxon, who also wrote the lyrics. The music is credited to Damon Albarn, who also sings the chorus. The song appears on the band's sixth studio album, 13, released in 1999; and...
   
   " (Edit) (from 13
   13 (Blur album)
   13 is the sixth album by English band Blur, released in March 1999. The album reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and number 80 in the US Billboard 200. 13 spawned three hit singles: "Tender", "Coffee & TV" and "No Distance Left to Run"...
   
   ) – 5:18
6. "Parklife
   Parklife (song)
   "Parklife" is the title track from Blur's 1994 album Parklife. When released as the album's third single, "Parklife" reached #10 in the UK singles chart...
   
   " (from Parklife
   Parklife
   Parklife is the third studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released in April 1994 on Food Records. After disappointing sales for their previous album Modern Life Is Rubbish , Parklife returned Blur to prominence in the UK, helped by its four hit singles: "Girls & Boys", "End of a...
   
   ) – 3:07
7. "End of a Century
   End of a Century
   "End of a Century" is a song by Blur. It was the last single to be released from their third album Parklife and reached #19 on the UK Singles Chart in 1994. The video is a live performance recorded at Alexandra Palace....
   
   " (from Parklife
   Parklife
   Parklife is the third studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released in April 1994 on Food Records. After disappointing sales for their previous album Modern Life Is Rubbish , Parklife returned Blur to prominence in the UK, helped by its four hit singles: "Girls & Boys", "End of a...
   
   ) – 2:47
8. "No Distance Left to Run
   No Distance Left to Run
   "No Distance Left to Run" is a song by Blur. It is on their 1999 album 13 and was also released as the third and final single from the album, reaching #14 in the UK Singles Chart...
   
   " (from 13
   13 (Blur album)
   13 is the sixth album by English band Blur, released in March 1999. The album reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and number 80 in the US Billboard 200. 13 spawned three hit singles: "Tender", "Coffee & TV" and "No Distance Left to Run"...
   
   ) – 3:26
9. "Tender
   Tender (song)
   "Tender" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It is the first track on Blur's sixth album 13 and was also released as the lead single before the album's release...
   
   " (from 13
   13 (Blur album)
   13 is the sixth album by English band Blur, released in March 1999. The album reached number one in the UK Albums Chart and number 80 in the US Billboard 200. 13 spawned three hit singles: "Tender", "Coffee & TV" and "No Distance Left to Run"...
   
   ) – 7:41
10. "Girls & Boys" (Edit) (from Parklife
    Parklife
    Parklife is the third studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released in April 1994 on Food Records. After disappointing sales for their previous album Modern Life Is Rubbish , Parklife returned Blur to prominence in the UK, helped by its four hit singles: "Girls & Boys", "End of a...
    
    ) – 4:18
11. "Charmless Man
    Charmless Man
    "Charmless Man" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is the fourth track on their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released on 29 April 1996 as the fourth and final single from that album, charting at #5 in the UK Singles Chart...
    
    " (from The Great Escape) – 3:33
12. "She's So High" (Edit) (from Leisure
    Leisure (album)
    Leisure is the debut album by English alternative rock band Blur. The album was released on 26 August 1991 in the United Kingdom via Food Records, and peaked at #7 in the UK Albums Chart. It was released in the US a month later with a different track listing. The album was certified Gold in the...
    
    ) – 3:49
13. "Country House
    Country House (song)
    "Country House" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It was released as the lead single from the band's fourth album The Great Escape on 14 August 1995...
    
    " (from The Great Escape) – 3:57
14. "To the End" (Edit) (from Parklife
    Parklife
    Parklife is the third studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released in April 1994 on Food Records. After disappointing sales for their previous album Modern Life Is Rubbish , Parklife returned Blur to prominence in the UK, helped by its four hit singles: "Girls & Boys", "End of a...
    
    ) – 3:51
15. "On Your Own
    On Your Own (Blur song)
    "On Your Own" is a song by Blur. It was released as a single on 16 June 1997, and can also be found on the album Blur. It charted at #5 on the UK singles chart . The song is notable for its use of a Roland 606 drum machine, Dave Rowntree also uses one in the promo video...
    
    " (from Blur) – 4:27
16. "This Is a Low
    This Is a Low
    "This Is a Low" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur for their third studio album, Parklife.- Music and lyrics :The song is in the key of E major and is in 4/4 time. In total, the song contains two verses, two choruses, a guitar solo and two further choruses. The music commences with a...
    
    " (From Parklife
    Parklife
    Parklife is the third studio album by the English alternative rock band Blur, released in April 1994 on Food Records. After disappointing sales for their previous album Modern Life Is Rubbish , Parklife returned Blur to prominence in the UK, helped by its four hit singles: "Girls & Boys", "End of a...
    
    ) – 5:02
17. "For Tomorrow
    For Tomorrow
    "For Tomorrow" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It is the lead track to their second album, Modern Life Is Rubbish . Released 19 April 1993 as the first single from the album, "For Tomorrow" charted at number 28 in the UK Singles Chart...
    
    " (Visit To Primrose Hill Extended) (from Modern Life Is Rubbish
    Modern Life Is Rubbish
    Modern Life Is Rubbish is the second album by English alternative rock band Blur, released in May 1993. Although their debut album Leisure had been commercially successful, Blur faced a severe media backlash soon after its release, and fell out of public favour...
    
    ) – 6:02
18. "Music Is My Radar
    Music Is My Radar
    "Music Is My Radar" is a song by British band Blur. It was released as a single in support of the band's Best of album, Blur: The Best Of, on which it also appears, reaching Number 10 in the UK. Along with 1992's "Popscene", it is one of two Blur singles never to have been included on a studio album...
    
    " (album exclusive track) – 5:29

Disc two (Limited Edition)

Recorded live at Wembley Arena

Wembley Arena

Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...

, 11 December 1999.

1. "She's So High" – 5:24
2. "Girls & Boys" – 4:21
3. "To The End" – 4:08
4. "End of a Century
   End of a Century
   "End of a Century" is a song by Blur. It was the last single to be released from their third album Parklife and reached #19 on the UK Singles Chart in 1994. The video is a live performance recorded at Alexandra Palace....
   
   " – 3:00
5. "Stereotypes
   Stereotypes (song)
   "Stereotypes" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is the opening track to their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released on 12 February 1996 as the third single from that album, charting at #7 in the UK Singles Chart...
   
   " – 3:27
6. "Charmless Man
   Charmless Man
   "Charmless Man" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is the fourth track on their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released on 29 April 1996 as the fourth and final single from that album, charting at #5 in the UK Singles Chart...
   
   " – 3:31
7. "Beetlebum
   Beetlebum
   "Beetlebum" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It was released as the lead single for the band's eponymous fifth album, Blur...
   
   " – 6:09
8. "M.O.R.
   M.O.R.
   "M.O.R." is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, from their eponymous album, Blur. "M.O.R." reached number 15 in the UK singles chart on its release as a single in 1997....
   
   " – 3:09
9. "Tender
   Tender (song)
   "Tender" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It is the first track on Blur's sixth album 13 and was also released as the lead single before the album's release...
   
   " – 6:20
10. "No Distance Left to Run
    No Distance Left to Run
    "No Distance Left to Run" is a song by Blur. It is on their 1999 album 13 and was also released as the third and final single from the album, reaching #14 in the UK Singles Chart...
    
    " – 4:09

VHS/DVD

1. "She's So High"
2. "There's No Other Way
   There's No Other Way
   "There's No Other Way" is a song by Blur and was released 15 April 1991 as their second single. The song was the band's first top ten and top 40 hit and was also featured on the band's debut album Leisure. The single was also a minor hit in the United States, reaching number 82 on the Billboard Hot...
   
   "
3. "Bang
   Bang (song)
   "Bang" is a song by Blur and was released 29 July 1991 as their third single. It was also featured on the band's debut album Leisure. It has been all but disowned by the band, who claim it was written in less than fifteen minutes in response to record company demands for another bankable single...
   
   "
4. "Popscene
   Popscene
   "Popscene" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It was released 30 March 1992 as a single. The low chart placing came as a confidence blow for the band, who were struggling financially at the time...
   
   "
5. "For Tomorrow
   For Tomorrow
   "For Tomorrow" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It is the lead track to their second album, Modern Life Is Rubbish . Released 19 April 1993 as the first single from the album, "For Tomorrow" charted at number 28 in the UK Singles Chart...
   
   "
6. "Chemical World
   Chemical World
   "Chemical World" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, featured on their second album Modern Life Is Rubbish . It was released on 28 June 1993 as the second single from that album, equalling their previous release "For Tomorrow" at number 28 in the UK Singles Charts...
   
   "
7. "Sunday Sunday
   Sunday Sunday
   "Sunday Sunday" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, featured on their second album, Modern Life Is Rubbish. It was released 4 October 1993 as the final single from that album, and charted at number 26 in the UK Singles Charts...
   
   "
8. "Girls & Boys"
9. "Parklife
   Parklife (song)
   "Parklife" is the title track from Blur's 1994 album Parklife. When released as the album's third single, "Parklife" reached #10 in the UK singles chart...
   
   "
10. "To the End"
11. "End of a Century
    End of a Century
    "End of a Century" is a song by Blur. It was the last single to be released from their third album Parklife and reached #19 on the UK Singles Chart in 1994. The video is a live performance recorded at Alexandra Palace....
    
    "
12. "Country House
    Country House (song)
    "Country House" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It was released as the lead single from the band's fourth album The Great Escape on 14 August 1995...
    
    "
13. "The Universal
    The Universal (song)
    "The Universal" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is featured on their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released 13 November 1995 as the second single from that album, charting at #5 in the UK Singles Chart .In keeping with the song's science fiction theme, the...
    
    "
14. "Stereotypes
    Stereotypes (song)
    "Stereotypes" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is the opening track to their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released on 12 February 1996 as the third single from that album, charting at #7 in the UK Singles Chart...
    
    "
15. "Charmless Man
    Charmless Man
    "Charmless Man" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is the fourth track on their fourth studio album, The Great Escape. It was released on 29 April 1996 as the fourth and final single from that album, charting at #5 in the UK Singles Chart...
    
    "
16. "Beetlebum
    Beetlebum
    "Beetlebum" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It was released as the lead single for the band's eponymous fifth album, Blur...
    
    "
17. "Song 2
    Song 2
    "Song 2" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, the second track on and second single released from their fifth album Blur in April 1997...
    
    "
18. "On Your Own
    On Your Own (Blur song)
    "On Your Own" is a song by Blur. It was released as a single on 16 June 1997, and can also be found on the album Blur. It charted at #5 on the UK singles chart . The song is notable for its use of a Roland 606 drum machine, Dave Rowntree also uses one in the promo video...
    
    "
19. "M.O.R.
    M.O.R.
    "M.O.R." is a song by English alternative rock band Blur, from their eponymous album, Blur. "M.O.R." reached number 15 in the UK singles chart on its release as a single in 1997....
    
    "
20. "Tender
    Tender (song)
    "Tender" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur. It is the first track on Blur's sixth album 13 and was also released as the lead single before the album's release...
    
    "
21. "Coffee & TV
    Coffee & TV
    "Coffee & TV" is a song by the British alternative rock band Blur. The verses are sung by the band's guitarist, Graham Coxon, who also wrote the lyrics. The music is credited to Damon Albarn, who also sings the chorus. The song appears on the band's sixth studio album, 13, released in 1999; and...
    
    "
22. "No Distance Left to Run
    No Distance Left to Run
    "No Distance Left to Run" is a song by Blur. It is on their 1999 album 13 and was also released as the third and final single from the album, reaching #14 in the UK Singles Chart...
    
    "

Both CDs and the DVD were released as a box set in the United States in November 2007, but this release has since been removed from distribution.

Personnel

• Damon Albarn – Vocals, keyboards, guitar.
• Blur – Producer
• Jack Clark – Mixing Assistant
• Al Clay – Mixing
• Jason Cox – Engineer
• Graham Coxon – Guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on Coffee and TV and Tender.
• Tom Girling – Assistant Producer
• Stephen Hague – Producer, Engineer
• Ben Hillier – Producer, Mixing
• Alex James – Bass
• Jeff Knowler – Assistant Engineer
• Damian LeGassick
  Damian LeGassick
  Damian LeGassick is a British musician and producer. LeGassick trained at York University and has worked professionally in many diverse areas of the music business as a pianist, composer, producer, and lecturer. As a pianist, he specializes in late 20th century solo repertoire and chamber music...
  
  – Programming
• Steve Lovell – Producer
• Gerard Navarro – Assistant Engineer
• William Orbit – Producer, Engineer
• Jeremy Plumb – Art Direction, Design
• Steve Power – Producer
• Iain Roberton – Assistant Engineer
• Andy Ross – Engineer
• Dave Rowntree – Drums
• John Smith – Producer, Engineer
• Sean Spuehler – Programming
• Stephen Street – Producer, Engineer
• Greg Williams – Photography