Which Album Versions do you listen to?

First- I am new here, and thrilled that this forum exists. I am an elbow-head and am just crazy about this band.

Since all of their albums (save TSSK) have been issued with different tracks, which versions do you all interpret as the 'official' one...?

I'm in the US, I listen to COT with Whisper Grass and Lay Down Your Cross, but all other versions omit these songs... should the UK version be the 'official' one, since that's where the band is from?

I only consider alternatives when the extra songs are NOT just tacked on to the end, as was done with some versions of COT, putting Whisper Grass & Brave New Shave at the end... but when the songs are placed within the album, it seems to demonstrate an intent of the band to 'reshape' the album ...

And for LotFW, it just makes sense to me that mcgreggor would come after picky bugger, rather than as a b-side, because the sounds are linked, like the band wanted that song to come next....

Yes I'm aware of how nerdy this all sounds, but I believe strongly in the idea of an album as a 'whole' work.

First off -- hi and welcome, drewbie!

I am also in the States but I tend to try and buy the import version of Elbow's albums as well as the domestic US release, if the track listings are different. I don't buy all the import singles/EP's, though I wish I could, because I would go broke! But I think either UK or US version is "official", because it seems that they approach both markets with equal intent. You can find bonus tracks on both sides; they don't just save them for UK or US only.

And I agree that it makes a difference if the "extra" songs are placed within the body of the album as opposed to being added on afterwards.

With AITB I always listen to the version with the bonus tracks on it. I'm not so choosey with the others though.

Same as Hoggy with AITB. I just listen to the UK originals of the others, with the bonus tracks as just separate songs- listed in my media player as their corresponding B-sides.

I mostly try to get the versions with the most songs on it. In the case of "Cast of Thousand" I bought the US-version for my mom, because I had the european version yet. And I try to get all B-Sides. So I am curious if the B-Sides Album will be out someday, because much B-Sides I have only as mp3.
Asleep in the Back I have a version where even "Can't stop" is missing!! But I got later the version with "Can't stop" AND "Asleep..."(the track)
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Hah, i'm like this too. I get a bit upset when there's multiple version of an album, coz i like to get my head around it as a whole. I have the version of asleep in the back with the title track as a bonus track (i think that's normal) as it sounds much better with the break between tailfly and newborn. I don't like the bonus at the end of TSSK (even though it's nice) because friend of ours is such a perfect end. I hadn't even heard of McGreggor! :/