Best Before... 1984

Best Before 1984 is a compilation of Crass' singles and other tracks, released in 1986, including lyrics and a booklet ("...In Which Crass Voluntarily 'Blow Their Own'") which details the history of the band in their own words. The album was named in reference to the notion that 1984 was the band's "'sell by date", the year that they had often publicly stated that they would split up. Indeed, the band ceased gigging and recording in that year. According to a blog on the Southern Records website, there are plans to release an expanded edition of Best Before 1984, which will include currently unavailable material (such as the "Merry Crassmas" and "Whodunnit?" singles) and rarities, in the same vein as the 'Crassical Collection' editions of the band's albums. The Southern Records forum has announced that the reissue of the album will most likely not be released until 2014, due to financial issues as a result of the money spent on releasing the 'Crassical Collection' CDs.