The Best of M People is the first greatest hits album by English dance music band M People, released in 1998. The album contains seventeen tracks, including ten UK top 10 hits and three new songs: "Testify", "Dreaming" (which both reached the UK top 20)[2] and a cover version of The Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes". A limited edition was released, including a bonus live album with eight tracks recorded at the Later... with Jools Holland M People special, plus enhanced content. The album is now available in the United States through iTunes.

The Best of M People
Greatest hits album by
Released2 November 1998
RecordedJanuary 1993 – August 1998
GenreDance-pop, house, soul
LabelM People Records
ProducerM People
M People chronology
Fresco
(1997)
The Best of M People
(1998)
Testify
(1999)
Singles from The Best of M People
  1. "Testify"
    Released: 26 October 1998
  2. "Dreaming"
    Released: 1 February 1999
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

There was also an advanced sampler called Classic and a promotional version containing the same content as the bonus live disc but with more sound excerpts and full videos.

Track listing

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Original version

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No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Testify"Mike Pickering, Paul Heard, Heather SmallPreviously unreleased3:57
2."Search for the Hero"Pickering, HeardBizarre Fruit4:09
3."Moving On Up"Pickering, HeardElegant Slumming3:35
4."Angel St"Pickering, Heard, SmallFresco4:10
5."One Night in Heaven"Pickering, HeardElegant Slumming4:23
6."Itchycoo Park"Steve Marriott, Ronnie LaneBizarre Fruit II3:56
7."Sight for Sore Eyes"Pickering, Heard, SmallBizarre Fruit3:56
8."Just for You"Pickering, Heard, SmallFresco4:00
9."Colour My Life"PickeringNorthern Soul3:40
10."How Can I Love You More?" (Remix)Pickering, HeardNorthern Soul4:42
11."Dreaming"Pickering, Heard, SmallPreviously unreleased4:41
12."Open Your Heart"Pickering, Heard, SmallBizarre Fruit3:38
13."Don't Look Any Further"Franne Golde, Dennis Lambert, Duane HitchingsElegant Slumming3:50
14."Someday"Marshall JeffersonNorthern Soul3:43
15."Renaissance"Pickering, HeardElegant Slumming3:51
16."Fantasy Island"Pickering, Heard, SmallFresco4:12
17."What a Fool Believes"Michael McDonald, Kenny LogginsPreviously unreleased4:36
Limited Edition bonus live disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Search for the Hero" (Live)Pickering, Heard5:40
2."Moving On Up" (Live)Pickering, Heard5:53
3."One Night in Heaven" (Live)Pickering, Heard6:39
4."Sight for Sore Eyes" (Live)Pickering, Heard, Small7:17
5."Just for You" (Live)Pickering, Heard, Small5:53
6."Colour My Life" (Live)Pickering3:30
7."Open Your Heart" (Live)Pickering, Heard, Small3:41
8."Someday" (Live)Jefferson4:50

Classic version

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No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."One Night in Heaven"Pickering, HeardElegant Slumming4:23
2."Angel St"Pickering, Heard, SmallFresco4:10
3."Sight for Sore Eyes"Pickering, Heard, SmallBizarre Fruit3:56
4."Search for the Hero"Pickering, HeardBizarre Fruit4:09
5."Colour My Life"PickeringNorthern Soul3:40
6."Moving On Up"Pickering, HeardElegant Slumming3:35
7."How Can I Love You More?"Pickering, HeardNorthern Soul4:42
8."Itchycoo Park"Marriott, LaneBizarre Fruit II5:38
9."Open Your Heart"Pickering, Heard, SmallBizarre Fruit3:38
10."Just for You"Pickering, Heard, SmallFresco4:00
11."Don't Look Any Further"Golde, Lambert, HitchingsElegant Slumming3:50
12."Excited"Pickering, HeardNorthern Soul3:43
13."Someday"JeffersonNorthern Soul3:43
14."Fantasy Island"Pickering, Heard, SmallFresco4:12
15."Renaissance"Pickering, HeardElegant Slumming3:51
16."Love Rendezvous"Pickering, HeardBizarre Fruit3:48

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] 3× Platinum 900,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[15] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "The Best Of M People - M People - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  2. ^ "M PEOPLE - full Official Chart History - Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Austriancharts.at – M People – The Best of M People" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Ultratop.be – M People – The Best of M People" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  5. ^ "M People: The Best of M People" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – M People – The Best of M People" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Charts.nz – M People – The Best of M People". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – M People – The Best of M People". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Swisscharts.com – M People – The Best of M People". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  12. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  13. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1999". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  14. ^ "British album certifications – M People – The Best Of M People". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  15. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1999". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 April 2020.