Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur is a two-disc 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 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...

, released by EMI Records on . Designed as a sampler for casual listeners, and with a greater focus on the band's career highlights rather than their hit singles, it is Blur's second retrospective collection, succeeding 2000's Blur: The Best Of

Blur: The Best of

Blur: The Best Of is a greatest hits compilation album by English Britpop band Blur, first released in late 2000 and is the final Blur album by Food Records. It was released on CD, cassette tape, MiniDisc, double 12" vinyl record, DVD and VHS. The CD album includes 17 of Blur's 23 singles from 1990...

and coincides with the band's 2009 reunion performances.

Background

Spanning the breadth of Blur's recorded history from its inception, Midlife: A Beginner's Guide to Blur features a larger sampling of material from 1993's 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...

(including the single-only "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...

" from the same era) than on Blur: The Best Of, in addition to material from 2003's Think Tank, Blur's most recent studio release.

Track listing

All songs written by Blur, except Out of Time and Good Song

Good Song

"Good Song" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is the fourth track on their 2003 studio album Think Tank. In October 2003, the song was released as the third and final single from that album, peaking at #22 in the UK Singles Chart...

 written by Damon Albarn/Alex James/Dave Rowntree.

Disc one

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) – 5:04
2. "Girls & Boys" (Edit) (from Parklife) – 4:19
3. "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...
   
   ) – 6:00
4. "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...
   
   " (Radio 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"...
   
   ) – 5:19
5. "Out of Time" (from Think Tank) – 3:52
6. "Blue Jeans" (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...
   
   ) – 3:53
7. "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
8. "Bugman
   Bugman (song)
   "Bugman" is a song by Blur, featured as the second track on their sixth album, 13, released 15 March 1999.The song itself has been noted by critics for it's overdriven "noise" section in the middle of the song. It features the sound of a white-noise believed to be either a power drill or possibly a...
   
   " (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"...
   
   ) – 4:51
9. "He Thought of Cars" (from The Great Escape) – 4:16
10. "Death of a Party" (7" Remix) (from Blur) – 4:15
11. "The Universal" (from The Great Escape) – 3:59
12. "Sing" (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...
    
    ) – 6:01
13. "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...
    
    ) – 5:00

Disc two

1. "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"...
   
   ) – 7:42
2. "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...
   
   ) – 3:50
3. "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...
   
   " (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...
   
   ) – 3:53
4. "Good Song
   Good Song
   "Good Song" is a song by English alternative rock band Blur and is the fourth track on their 2003 studio album Think Tank. In October 2003, the song was released as the third and final single from that album, peaking at #22 in the UK Singles Chart...
   
   " (from Think Tank) – 3:06
5. "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
6. "Advert" (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...
   
   ) – 3:44
7. "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...
   
   " (from 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...
   
   single) – 3:15
8. "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...
   
   " (from The Great Escape) – 3:11
9. "Trimm Trabb" (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"...
   
   ) – 5:37
10. "Badhead" (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...
    
    ) – 3:28
11. "Strange News from Another Star
    Strange News from Another Star
    Strange News from Another Star is a collection of eight short stories written by the German author Hermann Hesse between 1913 and 1918. It was first published as Märchen in German in 1919 and was translated to English by Denver Lindley in 1972...
    
    " (from Blur) – 4:03
12. "Battery in Your Leg" (from Think Tank) – 3:20

Musicians

• 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...
  
   – vocals
  Singing
  Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
  
  , keyboards
  Keyboard instrument
  A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
  
  , guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  
• 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...
  
   – Guitar, backing vocals
  Backing vocalist
  A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
  
  , lead vocals on "Coffee & TV" and "Tender".
• 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...
  
   – bass
  Bass guitar
  The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
  
  
• 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...
  
   – drums
  Drum kit
  A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
  
  , percussion
  Percussion instrument
  A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
  
  

Other personnel

• Blur – Producer
• Jack Clark – Mixing Assistant
  Audio mixing (recorded music)
  In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
  
  
• Al Clay – Mixing
• Jason Cox – Engineer
  Engineer
  An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
  
  
• Tom Girling – Assistant Producer
  Record producer
  A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
  
  
• Stephen Hague
  Stephen Hague
  Stephen Hague is an American music producer most active with various British acts in the 1980s. He was an influential figure in the synthpop movement.-Early career:...
  
   – Producer, Engineer
• Ben Hillier
  Ben Hillier
  Ben Hillier is a British songwriter and pop-rock music producer who is part of the creative team 140dB. He has produced such popular and critically acclaimed albums as Playing the Angel and Sounds of the Universe by Depeche Mode, Think Tank by Blur, Some Cities by Doves and Cast of Thousands by...
  
   – Producer, Mixing
• Jeff Knowler – Assistant Engineer
• Damian leGassick – Programming
• Steve Lovell – Producer
• Gerard Navarro – Assistant Engineer
• William Orbit
  William Orbit
  William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
  
   – Producer, Engineer
• James Oliver – Design
• Steve Power
  Steve Power
  Steve Power is an English record producer best known for his work with Robbie Williams. He has produced and mixed a wide variety of artists over the years, including Blur, Busted, Andrea Bocelli, Feeder, Joe Cocker, Diana Ross, Babybird, Babylon Zoo, Stephen Duffy, Black, The Bangels, Billy Ocean,...
  
   – Producer
• Iain Roberton – Assistant Engineer
• Andy Ross
  Andy Ross
  Andy Ross , is an American musician most famous as guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist for the rock band OK Go since 2005. He is also behind a solo project, Secret Dakota Ring, which released albums in 2004 and 2008...
  
   – Engineer
• John Smith – Producer, Engineer
• Sean Spuehler – Programming
• Stephen Street
  Stephen Street
  Stephen Street is an English music producer best known for his work with The Smiths in the 1980s, as well as Blur and The Cranberries in the 1990s. Street also collaborated with Morrissey on some of his most popular work after The Smiths broke up, playing instruments and co-writing songs...
  
  – Producer, Engineer