Why Best-Ofs Are Allowed In Your Top Ten

When Mark and I have minor disagreements, they mainly concern music. For example, he believes that the Beatles Blue Box Set is superior to the Red Box Set (while I maintain that disc two of the Red Box is better, as it features such classic songs as Help, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away, Paperback Writer and Yellow Submarine). A long standing difference of opinion occurs over whether best-of compilations can legitimately be placed on a personal top ten albums list.

More specifically, this debate arose over my inclusion of Recurring Dream by Crowded House in my top ten. For this album, I justified my decision by quoting the music critics in EG who said it was the one best-of everyone should own. I wouldn’t extend this argument to every best-of, but I can still put together a reasonable argument for why you (or I, or anyone) can have a best-of within your top ten album list. Providing, of course, you did not create it yourself using a CD burning program. I am offering Mark a right of reply, although I’m expecting his argument to consist of ‘I’m right and you know I am, that’s all there is to it’, as it did in the case of the Beatles. He also claims Nick Hornby would be with him ‘all the way’ on this. We shall see, however.

Firstly, best-ofs are, like albums, compiled by the artists or bands themselves in most cases. The order of the songs is carefully considered- they are not put together randomly, without thought, nor are they usually presented in chronological order. Therefore there is still a degree of talent involved in creating the most satisfying best-of, featuring the songs that resonate strongly with you and arranged to your satisfaction.

Also, top tens are individual creations so individuals should be allowed to select their own top ten albums, including best-of compilations. Really the composition of your top ten is a matter of individual choice, where you are free to select the top ten albums you have heard or own. Remember the ABC’s My Favourite Album list last year? Who would have thought Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon would appear at the top of that list? You might as well imply that someone can only include music from artists played on Triple J in their top ten, or albums that have won prestigious awards. If you’re going to impose these kinds of rules you might as well exclude multiple albums by the same artist, or other petty and illogical restrictions.

Finally, it is ridiculous to suggest this would lead everyone to make up a top ten consisting entirely of ‘best-ofs’. Most best-of compilations omit certain tracks that you as an individual fan can’t live without, so of course you wouldn’t include every best-of on your list. I’ve often been surprised at best-of or ‘greatest hits’ compilations where particular songs were included. Why would R.E.M put At My Most Beautiful on their best-of album, for example? And why would Beth Orton leave off Couldn’t Cause Me Harm? I wouldn’t include either of these in a top ten list, despite liking the artists.

I think these are fairly compelling arguments, but of course you are entitled to your own opinion on the matter. I eagerly await your responses.