Wikipedia

Best of Blue

Best of Blue
Compilation album by
Blue
Released15 November 2004
Recorded2000–2004
GenrePop
Length53:04
LabelInnocent
Blue chronology
Remixes - Japan Tour Mini Album
(2004) 		Best of Blue
(2004) 		4Ever Blue
(2005)
Alternative cover
Special limited fans edition cover
Singles from Best of Blue
  1. "Curtain Falls"
    Released: 8 November 2004[1]
  2. "Get Down on It"
    Released: 2 February 2005[2]
  3. "Only Words I Know"
    Released: 13 June 2005

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]

Singles

[edit]
  • "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

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The GuardianStarStarStar[4]

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."[5]

Track listing

[edit]
Best of Blue track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."All Rise" (from All Rise)
Stargate3:43
2."Too Close" (from All Rise)
Ray Ruffin3:45
3."If You Come Back" (from All Rise)
Ruffin3:27
4."Fly by II" (from All Rise)
  • Webbe
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Rustan
Stargate3:46
5."One Love" (from One Love)
Stargate3:33
6."Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" (featuring Elton John) (from One Love)
Stargate3:41
7."U Make Me Wanna" (from One Love)
Stargate3:38
8."Guilty" (from Guilty)
3:45
9."Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (featuring Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone) (from Guilty)
  • Harrington
  • Howes
3:33
10."Breathe Easy" (from Guilty)
Deekay4:36
11."Bubblin'" (from Guilty)
Deekay3:05
12."Curtain Falls"
  • Costa
  • James
  • Ryan
  • Webbe
  • Hermansen
  • DJ Wonder
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Rustan
StarGate4:02
13."Get Down on It" (featuring Kool & The Gang and Lil'Kim)
  • Bayyan
  • Guest
  • Damien Egan
  • Deekay[a]
3:54
14."Love at First Sight"  3:58
15."Best in Me" (2004 Version) (from All Rise)
  • Godfrey
  • Padley
3:13
Italian Alternative Track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Only Words I Know" (Italian version)
  • Costa
  • James
  • Ryan
  • Webbe
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Rustan
Stargate3:36
Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."The Gift"Noriyuki MakiharaDeekay4:55
17."It's Alright"
  • Costa
  • Ryan
  • Jensen
  • Tennant
Deekay3:33
Taiwanese bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
18."One Love: The Sequel"
  • Costa
  • James
  • Ryan
  • Webbe
  • Hermansen
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Rustan
  • Stargate
  • Ian Widgery
3:46
Limited edition fans' edition bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."If It Takes All Night"  3:26
2."After the Show"  3:31
3."Only Words I Know"
  • Costa
  • James
  • Ryan
  • Webbe
  • Hermansen
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Rustan
Stargate3:38
4."Long Time" (Smooth Mix)
  • Costa
  • Webbe
  • Formescu
  • Ruffin
  • Hope
Ray Ruffin4:37
5."When Summer's Gone" (Live from Riverside) (Video)
  • Costa
  • James
  • Ryan
  • Webbe
  • Hermansen
  • Eriksen
  • Hermansen
  • Rustan
Stargate4:11
6."The Blue Journey" (Documentary)   
7."If You Come Back" (8 Jam Street Mix)
  • Ruffin
  • Pete Craigie
3:27

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a remix producer

Tour

[edit]
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

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications of Best of Blue, with sales where available
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[30] Gold 20,000^
Germany (BVMI)[31] Gold 100,000^
Italy (FIMI)[32] 4× Platinum 400,000*
Portugal (AFP)[33] 2× Platinum 80,000^
South Korea (RIAK) — 6,118[34]
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[35] Gold 20,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] 2× Platinum 600,000‡
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[37] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 6 November 2004. p. 25.
  2. ^ "Get Down on It featuring Kool & the Gang and Lil' Kim" (in Japanese). Toshiba-EMI. Archived from the original on 13 February 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Boy band Blue scrap farewell tour". BBC News.
  4. ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (17 December 2004). "Blue, Best of Blue". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  5. ^ Kerrison, Roger (2004). "Blue – Best of Blue, Review". BBC Music. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Blue – Best of Blue" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Ultratop.be – Blue – Best of Blue" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Ultratop.be – Blue – Best of Blue" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Blue – Best of Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Blue – Best of Blue" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurochart Hot 100". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 8 January 2005. p. 51. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  12. ^ "Lescharts.com – Blue – Best of Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Blue – Best of Blue" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  14. ^ Billboard. 5 February 2005.
  15. ^ "Blue Irish Discography". irishcharts.com. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  16. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Blue – Best of Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  17. ^ "ブルーのアルバム売上ランキング". ORICON STYLE.
  18. ^ "Google Translate".
  19. ^ "Charts.nz – Blue – Best of Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Blue – Best of Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Blue – Best of Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  23. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  24. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Blue – Best of Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  25. ^ "Western Weekly Top 20, Week 48, 2004" (in Chinese). G-Music.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  26. ^ "Blue | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  27. ^ "The Official UK Albums Chart 2004" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  28. ^ "Year End European Top 100 Albums Chart 2005 01 - 2005 52" (PDF). Billboard. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  29. ^ "Jahreshitparade 2005" (in German). swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  30. ^ "Danish album certifications – Blue – Best of Blue". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 20 February 2018. Scroll through the page-list below to obtain certification.
  31. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Blue; 'Best of Blue')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  32. ^ "Italian album certifications – Blue – Best of Blue" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  33. ^ "Portuguese album certifications – Blue – Best of Blue" (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  34. ^ "Fan Of Music - South Korea Database".
  35. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Best of Blue')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  36. ^ "British album certifications – Blue – Best of Blue". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  37. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2004". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.