Best of Blue
2004 compilation album by Blue
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Best of Blue is the first greatest hits compilation album released by English boy band Blue. The album was released in the United Kingdom on 15 November 2004, by Innocent Records. It was due to be supported by a European tour of the same name, but this was cancelled in February 2005.[3]
| Best of Blue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 15 November 2004 | |||
| Recorded | 2000–2004 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 53:04 | |||
| Label | Innocent | |||
| Blue chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Special limited fans edition cover | ||||
| Singles from Best of Blue | ||||
| ||||
Singles
- "Curtain Falls" — The debut single, released in November 2004. The single peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 3 on the Australian Top 40, at No. 1 in New Zealand and No. 5 in Ireland. The song has received a Silver sales status certification for sales of over 200,000 copies in the UK. It was the only song from the album released as an official single in the UK.
- "Get Down on It" — The second single, released in January 2005. The song was released across Europe, except in the UK for unknown reasons. The song is a cover version of Kool & the Gang's number one hit and features instruments by Kool & The Gang, as well as vocals from Lil' Kim. The single peaked at No. 5 on the Australian and No. 1 in New Zealand.
- "Only Words I Know" — The third single, released in June 2005 only in Germany and Italy. The song wasn't released in the United Kingdom or other countries. The single was used to promote the release of the group's second greatest hits compilation, 4Ever Blue.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Guardian |   [4] |
| Yahoo! Music UK | 6/10[5] |
Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian found that the "compilation attests to the fact that they were a cut above the average pec-flexing hunks. They produced some decent boy-pop, and one indisputable classic, the 2001 debut "All Rise." [...] Having hit on a distinctive minor-chord sound, they stuck with it for most of their dozen hits, which are arranged chronologically. But if they never strayed far from their signature layered vocals, neither did they cheat with endless cover versions or pad things out with ballads."[4] BBC Music editor Roger Kerrison wrote: "As a commemoration of their short career this collection of hits sounds similar to many other artists who have superseded them. So perhaps it is prudent that they are calling it a day and heading for the great yonder." He found that the "stand out songs include "Signed, Sealed Delivered, I'm Yours" and "Get Down On It". Both will no doubt be floor fillers at weddings for years to come. Unfortunately there is little else on the Best of Blue which will stand the test of time: even "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word," recorded with the ultra credible Sir Elton fails to light the touch paper. And the more upbeat "Bubblin'", which is one of their better self-penned tracks, there is a feeling that the production lacks that extra little spark."[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "All Rise" (from All Rise) | Stargate | 3:43 | |
| 2. | "Too Close" (from All Rise) |
| Ray Ruffin | 3:45 |
| 3. | "If You Come Back" (from All Rise) |
| Ruffin | 3:27 |
| 4. | "Fly by II" (from All Rise) |
| Stargate | 3:46 |
| 5. | "One Love" (from One Love) |
| Stargate | 3:33 |
| 6. | "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (featuring Elton John) (from One Love) |
| Stargate | 3:41 |
| 7. | "U Make Me Wanna" (from One Love) |
| Stargate | 3:38 |
| 8. | "Guilty" (from Guilty) |
|
| 3:45 |
| 9. | "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (featuring Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone) (from Guilty) |
| 3:33 | |
| 10. | "Breathe Easy" (from Guilty) |
| Deekay | 4:36 |
| 11. | "Bubblin'" (from Guilty) |
| Deekay | 3:05 |
| 12. | "Curtain Falls" |
| StarGate | 4:02 |
| 13. | "Get Down on It" (featuring Kool & The Gang and Lil'Kim) |
| 3:54 | |
| 14. | "Love at First Sight" | 3:58 | ||
| 15. | "Best in Me" (2004 Version) (from All Rise) |
| 3:13 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Only Words I Know" (Italian version) |
| Stargate | 3:36 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "The Gift" | Noriyuki Makihara | Deekay | 4:55 |
| 17. | "It's Alright" |
| Deekay | 3:33 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18. | "One Love: The Sequel" |
|
| 3:46 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "If It Takes All Night" | 3:26 | ||
| 2. | "After the Show" | 3:31 | ||
| 3. | "Only Words I Know" |
| Stargate | 3:38 |
| 4. | "Long Time" (Smooth Mix) |
| Ray Ruffin | 4:37 |
| 5. | "When Summer's Gone" (Live from Riverside) (Video) |
| Stargate | 4:11 |
| 6. | "The Blue Journey" (Documentary) | |||
| 7. | "If You Come Back" (8 Jam Street Mix) |
|
| 3:27 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a remix producer
Tour
| Date | City | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best of Blue Tour: | |||
| 25 June 2005 | Sheffield | England | Hallam FM Arena |
| 26 June 2005 | Manchester | Manchester Evening News Arena | |
| 27 June 2005 | |||
| 29 June 2005 | Nottingham | Nottingham Arena | |
| 30 June 2005 | Birmingham | NEC Arena | |
| 1 July 2005 | |||
| 3 July 2005 | Glasgow | Scotland | Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre |
| 4 July 2005 | |||
| 5 July 2005 | Newcastle | England | Metro Radio Arena |
| 7 July 2005 | London | Wembley Arena | |
| 8 July 2005 | |||
| 9 July 2005 | |||
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications and sales
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[31] | Gold | 20,000^ |
| Germany (BVMI)[32] | Gold | 100,000^ |
| Italy (FIMI)[33] | 4× Platinum | 400,000* |
| Portugal (AFP)[34] | 2× Platinum | 80,000^ |
| South Korea (RIAK) | — | 6,118[35] |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[36] | Gold | 20,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[37] | 2× Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| Summaries | ||
| Europe (IFPI)[38] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||