27th July 2022

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bestofaltonellisFCD7588whitebestofaltonellisFCD7588orange
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Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree; Jamaica

Original Jamaican issue, in split stereo, with sleeve printed by United Printers Ltd. Note that the letters A and B are later additions to the hand-scribed matrix numbers and appear on the oppositr side of the run-out. The track list on the sleeve is incorrect; Side 2 begins with Sitting In The Park and ends with Jamaica. The labels carry the correct sequence of tracks on Side 2. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

The catalogue number would suggest that The Best Of Alton Ellis was intended to be released as part of the UK series of albums on the blue Coxsone label - following Reggae Time (CSL 8017) issued in 1968, and Swing Easy (CSL 8018) issued in 1969 - but was only released in Jamaica

Thanks to Mathias SoulRebel for information and label pics.

bestofaltonellisFCD7139label
bestofaltonellisFCD7588label
bestofaltonellisCSL8010rosettelabel
bestofaltonellisCSL8010USlabel
bestofaltonellisCSL8010redS1label
bestofaltonellisCSL8010label
bestofaltonellisCD

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard (extended); This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood; Can’t Stop Now*; Remember That Sunday; Baby I Love You*; Jamaica; Sitting In The Park; Set A Better Example; Chatty Chatty*; Cry Tough*; Still Trying; Willow Tree (extended)

Released on Studio One CD in 1995 in mono with extra Treasure Isle* tracks, Can't Stop Now, Remember That Sunday, Baby I Love You, Chatty Chatty and Cry Tough, but omitting La La La. Also includes extended versions of Breaking Up Is Hard and Willow Tree.

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bestofaltonellisStudio1200
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Studio One CSCD 8019 / Studio One SOCD 9017

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS2
Alton Ellis (1995)

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree; Jamaica

Jamaican repress issued in an alternative textured screenprint sleeve. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Jamaica; Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree

The fifth edition, also in mono, featuring extended versions of Breaking Up Is Hard and Willow Tree. The sleeve still carries a credit to Speed-O-Graphics Printers Ltd. with the portrait on the front tinted pink.
((Click sleeve to enlatge.))

This edition was also released on blue vinyl:

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis (1969)

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: -A --FCD 7140 // B - FCD 7139

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: -A --FCD 7140 // B - FCD 7139

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: -A --FCD 7140 // B - FCD 7139

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree; Jamaica

Later represses of the original issue in a slightly different sleeve (with blue lettering instead of black, and the Alton Ellis script in sepia rather than red), printed by Speed-O-Graphic Printers Ltd. This edition was also released on red vinyl. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: FCD 7588 - A FRM // 7588 - B FRM

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Jamaica; Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree

Second Jamaican edition, also in split stereo but with a slightly different mix. In the same Speed-O-Graphics sleeve as above. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: FCD 7588 A FRM // 7588 B FRM

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Jamaica; Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree

Second Jamaican edition in a screenprint sleeve by "Art Craft" and with a different coloured label on each side. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: CSL 8010 A // CSL 8010 B

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Jamaica; Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree

Third Jamaican edition (now also on a Studio 1 label), in conventional stereo, and issued in the Speed-O-Graphics sleeve. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: CSL 8010 A // CSL 8010 B

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Jamaica; Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree

An alternative issue of the third edition in a mock screenprint sleeve. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: CSL 8010 A // CSL 8010 B

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Jamaica; Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree

Yet another version of the third edition. The sleeve still carries a credit to Speed-O-Graphics Printers Ltd., but the portrait on the front is now tinted pink.

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: Jamaica Recording - The Best of Alton Ellis -
matrix: Jamaica Recording - The Best of Alton Ellis - B

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Jamaica; Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree

The fourth edition, now in mono. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.)) Label illustration courtesy of Mike Haley.

THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: CSL- 8010-A- ALTON ELLIS KK Mastering
matrix: CSL- 8010-B- ALTON ELLIS KK Mastering

bestofaltonellis5rosette200
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THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis (mid 1970s)

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: -A --FCD 7140 // B - FCD 7139

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree; Jamaica

Jamaican repress issued in a textured screenprint sleeve. Date unknown. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

Thanks to Steely Roundbeat for information and photographs.

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THE BEST OF ALTON ELLIS1
Alton Ellis (c.1969)

Coxsone CSL 8019
matrix: -A --FCD 7140 // B - FCD 7139

bestofaltonellis1stpresslabel1

Can I Change My Mind; Breaking Up Is Hard; This Feeling Of Love; Land Of Loving; Pearls; Knock On Wood // Sitting In The Park; La La La; Set A Better Example; Still Trying; Willow Tree; Jamaica

Early Jamaican repress in the United Printers sleeve. The track list on the label, as well as the sleeve, is now also incorrect; Side 2 begins with Sitting In The Park and ends with Jamaica. This is the case with the labels on subsequent releases. ((Click sleeve to enlarge.))

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bestofaltonellisFCD7140redvinyl300