Carry on Up the Charts: The Best of the Beautiful South [UK]

Personnel: Briana Corrigan, Dave Hemmingway, Jacqui Abbott , Paul Heaton (vocals); David Rotheray (guitar); Damon Butcher (keyboards); David Stead (drums).
Audio Remixers: John Brough; Jon Kelly .
Editors: John Brough; Jon Kelly .
Unknown Contributor Roles: Kevin Brown ; Martin Ditcham; Tony Robinson .
Arrangers: David Stead; Sean Welch; Damon Butcher; David Rotheray; Dave Hemmingway; Jacqui Abbott ; Paul Heaton; The Beautiful South.
CARRY ON UP THE CHARTS is a noteworthy milestone in The Beautiful South's career. Upon its release, this best-of collection became one of the top selling albums of all time in England. With tracks drawn fairly evenly from their first four albums, plus one new song ("One Last Love Song") released to promote the collection, it presents most of their best work, but shies away from their more vitriolic numbers. The US edition adds one more new track, a cover of "Dream a Little Dream of Me."
Highlights include the swing-influenced, horn and string-driven "My Book," "We Are Each Other," a peppy but claustrophobic love song propelled by a meaty bass line, and "36D," an ambiguous tract on prostitution which starts on a quiet but vicious note before exploding into a snarling rocker during the choruses. Collectors should note that some editions of the CD contain a 14 or 16 (depending on which one) track bonus disc assembled from the band's vast back catalogue of B-sides, including the brilliantly titled "Danielle Steele (The Enemy Within)."