The Best of the Art of Noise is the name of a series of compilation albums with songs by the British synthpop and industrial band The Art of Noise. The first version was released on the China Records label in November 1988.
The Best of the Art of Noise was released with at least ten different track listing variations from 1988 to 1997. The first version was on LP format and contained 7" single mixes, while the corresponding compact disc release that year contained the extended or 12" single remixes of all of the tracks. However, LP releases in territories such as Korea and Argentina featured a combination of both tracks listings. A Japanese CD version from 1991 was identical to the standard CD but contained two more mixes of "Kiss" as bonus tracks.
In 1992, China Records reissued The Best of and added "Yebo," "Instruments of Darkness" and "Robinson Crusoe," while omitting the three tracks that were licensed from ZTT Records and included on the 1988 release: "Beatbox," "Moments in Love" and "Close (To the Edit)." Once again, a number of different variations were issued. The United Kingdom and Holland issued a double disc limited edition version with both the standard disc of 7" mixes and a second disc of extended and 12" remixes.
The compilation has also been issued with two different color variations on the cover. All editions prior to 1992 were issued with a blue cover, while most editions afterward had a pink cover. The German and Australian editions as well as the UK/Holland limited edition two disc set all retained the blue cover.
Famous quotes containing the words the best of, the best, the, art and/or noise:
“To be President of the United States, sir, is to act as advocate for a blind, venomous, and ungrateful client; still, one must make the best of the case, for the purposes of Providence.”
—John Updike (b. 1932)
“We are beginning to wonder whether a servant girl hasn’t the best of it after all. She knows how the salad tastes without the dressing, and she knows how life’s lived before it gets to the parlor door.”
—Djuna Barnes (1892–1982)
“Let the trumpet of the day of judgment sound when it will, I shall appear with this book in my hand before the Sovereign Judge, and cry with a loud voice, This is my work, there were my thoughts, and thus was I. I have freely told both the good and the bad, have hid nothing wicked, added nothing good.”
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778)
“London, thou art of townes A per se.
Soveraign of cities, semeliest in sight,
Of high renoun, riches, and royaltie;
Of lordis, barons, and many goodly knyght;
Of most delectable lusty ladies bright;
Of famous prelatis in habitis clericall;
Of merchauntis full of substaunce and myght:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all”
—William Dunbar (c. 1465–c. 1530)
“Sweet bird, that shunn’st the noise of folly,
Most musical, most melancholy!”
—John Milton (1608–1674)