"Cast of Thousands" is the second studio album by the English rock band Elbow, released on August 18, 2003, in the UK and on January 27, 2004, in the US by V2 Records. The album's title is inspired by the song Grace Under Pressure, which features a refrain recorded live at the Glastonbury Festival in 2002 with the audience singing along. Fans who participated in this recording were invited to register their names on the Elbow website and received a credit on the album sleeve.
The US version of the album includes two additional tracks: Whisper Grass, a B-side from the single Fallen Angel, and Lay Down Your Cross, a B-side from the single Not a Job. The Japanese edition features Whisper Grass along with another B-side, Brave New Shave, from the Fallen Angel single.
To complement the album, a companion film was created, featuring footage set to all 11 tracks from the UK version of the album, as well as the music videos for the singles Fallen Angel and Fugitive Motel. In the UK, this film was released on DVD, while in the US it was included as an enhanced video bonus disc with the album.
