Sucessful or not, Xtc's output of singles between 1977 and 1992 were most impressive. Unlike lots of bands from the 70's and 80's, Xtc grew with each successive album carving a unique musical niche for themselves. Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding also helped relaunch a return to great songwriting.

The selection is based solely around what was released as a single in the UK and rarely does the album include more than 3 tracks from each album. Partidge's and Moulding's songwriting styles mesh amazing well on this 2 CD set.

So what's different about this import vs. Upsy Daisy Assortment (the US single disc counterpart)and Waxworks? The booklet includes all the song lyrics (and they're almost legible!). This set also includes about 14 more songs than the Geffen version. The sequencing is better here (based on date of release for both album and single) as well.

The sound quality blows away the previously issued best of collections (Waxworks and Compact Xtc)and for many of the tracks (particularly those from Mummer and Skylarking) sound better than those released on the original CDs (they don't match the sound quality on the MFS Gold discs that are currently out of print though).

All in all a great package with only one flaw--at around 106 minutes this could have been rounded up to include a couple of b sides as well (such as Down a Peg or The Good Things) that appeared on the band's CD singles. This would have given a further incentive for the fan to purchase this fine collection. A couple of unreleased tracks (like the live tracks on the Japanese only Ultimate Collection CD) would also have sweetened the deal. Regardless of these shortcomings, this is a terrific disc and a great place to become acquainted with the band.

I was glad to find this album by chance at a local music store in NJ. I was planning a day trip to NYC at the time and needed to hear "Statue of Liberty" before I went. After listening to the whole thing, it struck me as a really good intro to XTC's work--much better than the one-disc "Greatest Hits" package available in the US. Although it lacks many of my favorate songs (like their rendition of "All Along The Watchtower" and "Roads Girdle the Globe"), I don't own a lot of the middle albums so I was glad to get the "best" stuff from them for my collection.

In short, pick this up if you can afford it. It's got a wide enough range of material to please just about everyone.

Let’s face it â€" guitars are here to stay, and guitar pop is showing no signs of going quietly into that good night. So fans being raised on Strokes, Travis, Coldplay etc. are hereby advised to check out Britain’s best guitarpop ever, with perhaps the exception of the Smiths. This is as good a place to start as any. With the singles. A peach every one.

I really wish more people would give XTC a try. Fans of Britpop Elvis Costello, Squeeze, etc. will find plenty to cheer about. XTC have always been considered just a bit too quirky for mainstream consumption, hence their relative anonymity. But let’s face it, no one does â€~quirky’ quite like the English, and no English band does quirky quite as well as XTC.

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What have we got here then? let me tell you, 31 tracks of imaginative, energetic, addictive poprock with intelligent lyrics, that's what.

The first CD I've bought for three years. And the wait was worth it, by a group that wasn't well known here, nor in the US. Shame, but life's like that sometime.

The first song that made me sit up and notice them was "Making Plans for Nigel"(1979), that one got quite a bit of airplay over here.

Their highest chart success was "Senses Working Overtime", which reached number 10 in the UK charts.

A group that has had more then it's fair share of bad luck.

(Andy Partridge's stage fright at one point, didn't help matters.)

But a group that's always worth a listen!

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Every fan of XTC will have their own favourites, but for me standout tracks are:~

Life begins at the Hop

Making Plans for Nigel

Generals and Majors(originally a double A side with "Don't lose your Temper", that track is absent from this release)

Towers of London

Sgt.Rock(Is going to help me)

Senses working Overtime

Ball and Chain

Great Fire

Love on a Farmboys Wages

Dear God

The Disappointed

The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead

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If your fed-up listening to the same old stuff in your collection, try this one.

Life begins at the hop.. Boys and Girls.

(Noteworthy XTC albums, English Settlement, Skylarking.)

All I can say is the purchase of this compilation will save you a hundred dollars and and with few (notable) exceptions give you all of the best from a 15 year run of incredible music. Consider yourself lucky to have this opportunity to score this set. I have all the discs and relish them frequently. The song writing and rhythyms are supreme. Too bad...stage fright (or something) kept them from touring or they could have been REM. Along with the Stranglers...they are the best kept mainstream secret from this era.