The Collection

So I picked this up thinking it would be a great way to get to know the musical output of James, considering it to be a greatest hits album (certainly with a name like "The Collection"). Sadly it is not that at all, released on Universal's budget dumping ground label, Spectrum, this 18 track romp covers a very small selection of their biggest hits (Sit Down, Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) and Laid) but is then padded out with well, B-Sides, remixes and rare cover performances.

Why this album wasn't titled "B-Sides" or something else along those lines is a question for the ages, certainly that would be a better fit. For the longstanding James fan this album might have a decent amount of value in their collection, but for someone just starting it doesn't showcase their best work - for that you are best aquiring 1998's "The Best of James".