Comprising highlights from Syd Barrett's two 1970 albums The Madcap Laughs (seven songs),^[1] Barrett (nine songs),^[1] and the 1988 out-takes collection Opel (four songs),^[1] the album was issued to service casual Barrett fans who presumably would only require one disc of his music.

As a bonus to dedicated Barrett followers, The Best of Syd Barrett: Wouldn't You Miss Me? includes "Two of a Kind", from Barrett's John Peel radio show performance in February 1970,^[1] and, courtesy of David Gilmour's personal collection,^[8] Barrett's previously-unreleased "Bob Dylan Blues",^[1] an original recorded a few days after "Two of a Kind",^[8][9] that before this release was a very rare and sought-after song.

All songs by Syd Barrett, except where noted.

^† — Possibly written by Richard Wright (according to David Gilmour), though Barrett insisted it was his own composition.^[10]

• Syd Barrett – producer
• Tim Chacksfield – project coordinator
• David Gilmour – producer
• Peter Jenner – producer
• Malcolm Jones – producer, overdub producer
• Peter Mew – transfers, remastering
• Mark Paytress – liner notes
• Nigel Reeve – project coordinator
• Phil Smee – package design