The Best of What's Around Vol. 1
| The Best of What's Around Vol. 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | November 7, 2006 | |||
| Recorded | 1994–2006 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 127:42 | |||
| Label | RCA Bama Rags | |||
| Producer | John Alagía, Steve Lillywhite, Glen Ballard, Stephen Harris, Mark Batson | |||
| Dave Matthews Band chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Best of What's Around Vol. 1 is a compilation album by Dave Matthews Band. It was released on November 7, 2006 through RCA Records. It is the second greatest hits album by the band. The first disc consists of tracks from the band's first six studio albums, while the second disc consists of previously unreleased live recordings. The album sold 65,000 copies in its first week, earning the number 10 spot on the Billboard 200. It was certified Gold on February 1, 2007.[1]
Background
In July 2006, an email was sent out to members of the Dave Matthews Band's mailing list, informing fans that a compilation was to be released in September, and they were asked to choose 10 of their favorite live songs (and their specific dates). The 10 most popular live songs were to be featured on the second disc of the compilation; however, only eight tracks are featured on disc two. With the rising popularity of the band's latest live release, Live Trax Vol. 6, the compilation's release date was pushed back to November 7, 2006. Inside the CD case of Live Trax Vol. 6 an advertisement for The Best of What's Around Vol. 1 was featured, incorrectly claiming that "Where Are You Going" was to be among the studio tracks appearing on disc one, and that the album was to be released on November 6, not November 7. Sony BMG Music Entertainment released an advanced billing of the album, also incorrectly claiming that it was to feature a live version of "The Dreaming Tree."[2] A third disc (entitled the "Encore CD") featuring four additional live performances was made available to fans who pre-ordered the album, and later received a wider release for an additional cost.
Cover art
The album's cover art, designed to look like a concert ticket, features several hidden references:
- 1241998 – reference to December 4, 1998, the date the Warehouse Fan Association began
- Saturday, April 20, 1991 – the date of the band's first ever show, performed at the Earth Day festival in Charlottesville, Virginia
- Section 34, Row 36, Seat 41 – reference to three of the band's "numbered" songs:
- "#34" (from Under the Table and Dreaming)
- "#36" (from Live at Red Rocks, Listener Supported, and Live Trax Vol. 12)
- "#41" (from Crash)
- the barcode printed on the ticket is the UPC code of the album
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[5] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [6] |
| Slant Magazine | [7] |
Thom Jurek stated in his review of the album that it is "actually a stellar introduction" to the band, while noting that "Those uninitiated who are wondering what all the fuss has been about for the past decade get a real opportunity here to check out the very best of what's been recorded, and get a small taste of the band live as well."[3]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Best of What's Around" | Dave Matthews | Under the Table and Dreaming, 1994 | 4:16 |
| 2. | "What Would You Say" | Matthews | Under the Table and Dreaming | 3:42 |
| 3. | "Crash into Me" | Matthews | Crash, 1996 | 5:16 |
| 4. | "Too Much" | Crash | 4:22 | |
| 5. | "Rapunzel" |
| Before These Crowded Streets, 1998 | 6:00 |
| 6. | "Crush" | Matthews | Before These Crowded Streets | 8:09 |
| 7. | "So Right" |
| Everyday, 2001 | 4:40 |
| 8. | "The Space Between" |
| Everyday | 4:03 |
| 9. | "Grey Street" |
| Busted Stuff, 2002 | 5:07 |
| 10. | "Grace Is Gone" |
| Busted Stuff | 4:38 |
| 11. | "Hunger for the Great Light" |
| Stand Up, 2005 | 4:21 |
| 12. | "American Baby" |
| Stand Up | 4:35 |
| Total length: | 59:09 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date and venue | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Don't Drink the Water" | Matthews | July 16, 2005 – Sound Advice Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, FL | 6:31 |
| 2. | "Warehouse" (with Rashawn Ross) | Matthews | July 2, 2006 – Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI | 10:57 |
| 3. | "Say Goodbye" | Matthews | July 5, 2000 – Comerica Park, Detroit, MI | 9:26 |
| 4. | "Stay (Wasting Time)" |
| July 19, 2003 – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Selma, TX | 6:23 |
| 5. | "Everyday" (with Vusi Mahlasela and Rashawn Ross) |
| June 17, 2006 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY | 10:27 |
| 6. | "Louisiana Bayou" (with Robert Randolph) |
| June 26, 2005 – Nissan Pavilion, Bristow, VA | 7:24 |
| 7. | "Ants Marching" | Matthews | March 26, 2005 – State Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | 7:36 |
| 8. | "Two Step" | Matthews | June 11, 2001 – Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | 9:50 |
| Total length: | 68:34 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording date and venue | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Minarets" | Matthews | August 31, 1995 – Great Woods, Mansfield, MA | 8:29 |
| 2. | "#41" (with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones) |
| April 20, 2002 – Corel Centre, Ottawa, ON | 32:10 |
| 3. | "What You Are" (with Rashawn Ross) |
| June 16, 2006 – Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY | 9:08 |
| 4. | "The Last Stop" |
| June 20, 2003 – Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, Darien, NY | 10:33 |
| Total length: | 60:20 | |||
Notes:
- All tracks on disc two and the Encore CD (except "Minarets") feature Butch Taylor.
- "What You Are" and "The Last Stop" are featured as bonus tracks on the iTunes Store release of the album.
Charts
| Chart (2006) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Albums (Nielsen Soundscan)[8] | 42 |
| US Billboard 200[9] | 10 |
| US Top Catalog Albums (Billboard)[10] | 33 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[11] | 1 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[12] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ Gundersen, Edna (2006-11-16), "'NOW 23' opens at No. 1", USA Today, volume and issue unknown:01d
- ^ Dave Matthews Band – Antsmarching.org – downloads forum setlists tour dates trading database shn download artwork Archived 2006-10-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "The Best of What's Around, Vol. 1 Review by Thom Jurek". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). London: Omnibus Publishing. p. 294. ISBN 978-0857125958.
- ^ Joseph, Mike. "Dave Matthews Band: The Best Of Whats Around Vol. 1". PopMatters. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
- ^ "Dave Matthews Band: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
- ^ Jones, Preston. "Review: Dave Matthews Band, The Best of What's Around, Vol. 1". Slant Magazine. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
- ^ "ALBUMS : Top 100".
- ^ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
- ^ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
- ^ "Dave Matthews Band Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
- ^ "American album certifications – Dave Matthews Band – The Best of What_s Around Vol. 1". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 20, 2025.
