The Fall – 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong (20 Golden Greats) (2xLP)

50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong: 39 Golden Greats is a compilation album by The Fall, released in 2004. It pulls together material from across the band’s sprawling catalogue, covering their output from the late 1970s through to the early 2000s. Singles such as Totally Wired, Victoria and Hit the North sit alongside deeper album cuts, offering a broad overview of the group’s sound under Mark E. Smith’s uncompromising direction. For newcomers, it works as an accessible entry point; for long-time followers, it’s a reminder of the band’s remarkable consistency despite constant line-up changes.

The set highlights The Fall’s trademark qualities: jagged guitars, hypnotic rhythms, sardonic lyrics and Smith’s unmistakable vocal delivery. Across nearly four decades of material, it demonstrates how the band managed to be both abrasive and compelling, shaping the language of alternative rock while never straying far from their outsider ethos. The title cheekily nods to Elvis Presley’s 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong, positioning The Fall as cult heroes whose influence far outweighs their mainstream recognition.

Reviews

“50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong serves as the best introduction to The Fall, an accessible yet still chaotic overview of one of the strangest careers in rock.” — AllMusic

“It’s a reminder that, despite the chaos and the line-up changes, The Fall produced an extraordinary number of great songs.” — The Guardian

“The Fall’s genius lay in their ability to transform repetition into something hypnotic and compelling, and this set captures that perfectly.” — NME

“A thrilling reminder of why The Fall remain one of the most influential post-punk bands of all time.” — Pitchfork

“Essential for anyone curious about The Fall, it distills a massive catalogue into something coherent without sanding down the edges.” — PopMatters