Best of British October 2018

The Best of Blondie (released in Germany and the Netherlands as Blondie's Hits) is the first compilation album by the band Blondie. Released in October 1981, the album peaked at #4 in the UK, #30 in the US, and became their only #1 album in Australia. The album was issued in several versions with different track inclusion and running order which varied slightly between North American and international editions of The Best of Blondie, highlighting the popularity of particular songs in different countries. The US and Canadian editions included "One Way or Another", which was not issued as a single in Europe. The international version of the album included three songs that were not on the US release: "Denis", "Picture This" and "Union City Blue".

While Slade's early to mid-'70s hit repertoire represents one of the most perfect runs in British rock history and has been amply anthologized accordingly, it is often easy to forget that their career did not end when the number ones did. Slade kept going until the early '90s, enjoying a roller coaster of highs and lows as they did so, and this package delves into most of them. Picking up in 1979, as the band came off a short-lived stint with manager Chas Chandler's Barn label, and fading out with the band's last proper LP, 1987's You Boys Make Big Noize, the package runs through 17 songs, but eschews, peculiarly, the hits for which the period is best remembered.

England's the Cooper Temple Clause were an instant success with music fans and undeniably claimed the unofficial title of British Music Magazine's "Darlings of 2002," earning popularity and respect in equal measures throughout the year. On See This Through and Leave, no less than five singles are collated together with equally impressive album tracks to provide one of the most accomplished debut efforts of any British rock band since Mansun or Muse.

The release of this album marks a poignant moment: the tenth anniversary of the tragic and premature death of Esbjorn Svensson on 14 June 2008. It was recorded at a completely sold-out Barbican Centre in 2005, during a hugely successful and highly popular UK tour. It is e.s.t. at the peak of their creativity touring after the release of their to-date best selling album “Viaticum”.