Which is more efficient? mysql> EXPLAIN SELECT *, COUNT(id) As count, GROUP_CONCAT(cre_name ORDER BY id) As credits, GROUP_CONCAT(id ORDER BY id) As cawids FROM svr08test LEFT JOIN creator ON (svr08test.creator = creator.cre_id) LEFT JOIN superstar ON (svr08test.name = superstar.sup_id) GROUP BY sup_name; +----+-------------+-----------+--------+---------------+---------+---------+-------------------------------+------+---------------------------------+ | id | select_type | table | type | possible_keys | key | key_len | ref | rows | Extra | +----+-------------+-----------+--------+---------------+---------+---------+-------------------------------+------+---------------------------------+ | 1 | SIMPLE | svr08test | ALL | NULL | NULL | NULL | NULL | 13 | Using temporary; Using filesort | | 1 | SIMPLE | creator | eq_ref | PRIMARY | PRIMARY | 2 | cawsws_caws.svr08test.creator | 1 | | | 1 | SIMPLE | superstar | eq_ref | PRIMARY | PRIMARY | 2 | cawsws_caws.svr08test.name | 1 | | +----+-------------+-----------+--------+---------------+---------+---------+-------------------------------+------+---------------------------------+ 3 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> EXPLAIN SELECT superstar.sup_name, COUNT(svr08test.id) As count, GROUP_CONCAT(creator.cre_name ORDER BY superstar.sup_name) As credits, GROUP_CONCAT(svr08test.id ORDER BY svr08test.id) As id, creator.cre_name As cre_name FROM superstar LEFT JOIN svr08test ON (superstar.sup_id = svr08test.name) LEFT JOIN creator ON (svr08test.creator = creator.cre_id) GROUP BY sup_name; +----+-------------+-----------+--------+---------------+---------+---------+-------------------------------+------+----------------+ | id | select_type | table | type | possible_keys | key | key_len | ref | rows | Extra | +----+-------------+-----------+--------+---------------+---------+---------+-------------------------------+------+----------------+ | 1 | SIMPLE | superstar | ALL | NULL | NULL | NULL | NULL | 8 | Using filesort | | 1 | SIMPLE | svr08test | ref | name | name | 2 | cawsws_caws.superstar.sup_id | 2 | | | 1 | SIMPLE | creator | eq_ref | PRIMARY | PRIMARY | 2 | cawsws_caws.svr08test.creator | 1 | | +----+-------------+-----------+--------+---------------+---------+---------+-------------------------------+------+----------------+ 3 rows in set (0.00 sec)