The Greatest Bits: B-Sides & Rarities is the second compilation album released by the British pop rock band
McFly. The album was released on 3 December 2007,[1] and despite being only available at
Woolworths stores in the UK, it peaked at No. 83 on the
UK Albums Chart.[2] The album has a range of B-sides and covers from the group's singles, as well as a new recording of "
Santa Claus is Coming to Town". Physical copies of the album have become quite sought after since the collapse of Woolworths in 2008 although it has since been released on downloads. The cover version of "
Pinball Wizard" is a new live version, previously released only as a studio version and a music video.
Song information
"
Mr. Brightside" is a song covered from "The Killers", originally taken from the band's performance in the Radio 1 Live Lounge studio. Dougie Poynter also takes lead vocals. This originally was on the "
I Wanna Hold You" single.
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" was recorded after the band performed it on The Paul O'Grady Show in 2007. Poynter sings.[3]
"The Guy Who Turned Her Down" was a B-Side on the enhanced CD2 single of "
5 Colours in Her Hair".
"
Umbrella" is a
Rihanna cover which McFly first performed on their Greatest Hits Tour and then a recorded version was placed on "
The Heart Never Lies" single, produced by Danny Jones.
"Pinball Wizard" is a cover of a song by
The Who, McFly having collaborated with
Roger Daltrey in 2005 on the charity single "My Generation". A studio version appeared on the "I'll Be OK" single, but here the song is performed live.[4]
"Deck the Halls" was a B-side for the "Room on the 3rd Floor" single, with Fletcher, Poynter and Jones on lead vocals.
"Fight for Your Right" is a
Beastie Boys song which McFly performed first on the Motion in the Ocean Tour, and then the live recording of "Fight for Your Right" was a "Transylvania" B-side. This version is used here.
