It mostly contains the group's hit singles from the 1980s, but also mixes in some live staples, as well as a re-recording of the 1987 B-side "Sweetest Thing".

In the United States, the double-disc version of the album (The Best of 1980-1990/The B-Sides) debuted and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 during the week of 21 November 1998, with 237,500 copies sold.

[7] This set a new record for the best-selling opening week for a greatest hits collection by a group in the SoundScan era.

[14] The single-disc edition was certified quintuple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, denoting shipments of 1.5 million units, on 8 November 2002.

[15] In Canada, the double-disc version release had a numbered, limited edition of 175,000 units pressed.

[20] In Ireland, the album debuted with the highest single-week sales since 1993, when IRMA started keeping records.