Yet commercial compilation albums are as popular as ever – people are looking to buy their favourite tracks without forking out for an entire album and discovering they only like one song.

However it still seems slightly ambitious to name an album 'The Essential Album' when everyone's granny can make their own individually tailored 'essential' album without breaking a sweat.

Saying that, 'The Essential Album' is an enticing temptation. From unbearably catchy 'Mercy' from Duffy, to the Sterophonics' smooth and seductive huskiness in 'Maybe Tomorrow,' the compliers of this album have perfectly mixed old (Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer') and new; upbeat and mellow to create an ambient collection that's an easy and pleasurable listen.

Refreshingly, when choosing the artists' songs, it isn't always the biggest released hits that have been chosen, meaning the album feels fresh and interesting. It's a technique that means the album hasn't yet garnered the slight datedness these collections usually have within two weeks of release.

Kate Nash's 'Merry Happy' is a prime example – while a popular current release it must have been hard to resist the over-played 'Foundations.' Instead we're given a taste of what else she has to offer as an artist.

Of course this has to be balanced out somehow with tracks that will ensure sales – Stardust theme tune 'Rule the World,' despite being a saccharine sweet nerve grater that doesn't display the 'new' Take That to their full potential – is one of these. But this can be forgiven because the technique of using guaranteed crowd pleasers is also implemented as an excuse to chuck in pleasantly surprising oddballs. You may not expect to find The La's' 'There She Goes' among the Kaiser Chiefs and the Guillemots – but it's there.

It's also nice to hear old island visitors Amy Macdonald and Josh Ritter being identified as 'Essential,' – they may not be from here, but there's still a boastful sense of pride - as though you've watched a child graduate into the big leagues.

Choosing World Party's 'She's the One' over the more popular Robbie Williams cover is a perfect example of 'Essential's' brave choices paying off. While nowhere near as shiny as the Williams' version, it's a stunningly beautiful track that pays dividends.

And sneakily, these choices - the inclusion of Sting's emotive 'Fields of Gold' and Nike Drake's silky 'Northern Skye' - distract from the blatant commercialism that these collections are trying to tap into and give 'The Essential Album' a hauntingly beautiful sense of credibility.

While these days, no compilation can claim to be essential, 'The Essential Album' works hard – and succeeds in many places – to prove that compilations still deserve a strong place in our charts.


This CD is available to buy now at Woolworths.