Kirsty MacColl

A rather eccentric compilation, this focuses mostly on MacColl's work for Stiff, adding a few tracks by other artists on which she guested. It includes some of her more notable singles, such as "A New England" and "They Don't Know," as well as B-sides like "Turn My Motor On," "Please Go to Sleep," and "Quietly Alone." Also on board are some selections that aren't exactly proper MacColl performances. She sang backup vocals on Billy Bragg's "Greeting to the New Brunette" from Bragg's Victim of Geography album and Ewan MacColl's "The Manchester Rambler" (from 1983); "Libertango," meanwhile, is taken from Irish accordionist Sharon Shannon's Each Little Thing album. The 12" mixes of "Terry" and "A New England" also count among tracks that might be sought by collectors, but wouldn't be judged by many as among her best work. MacColl's The Essential Collection remains the superior anthology, particularly as that includes her non-Stiff British hit "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop (Swears He's Elvis)." The One and Only is still a collection of above-average (mostly) '80s pop/rock, but would it have been that hard to include specific dates of release for the otherwise well-annotated tracks? ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide