Greatest Hits, The Best Of …, The Very Best Of …, The Collection, The Ultimate Collection … and other titles suggesting an indispensable collection of “stuff”.
But does it always match up to expectations?
A Greatest Hits album was often put out as a contract filler, at a time when artists were moving labels, or when they had split.
And if you’re going to call an album “Greatest Hits”, it’s a good idea to actually have some.
cue Dave Gorman’s riff on Scouting For Girls Greatest Hits
The formula was simple – collect everything together and bung it on album as a sort of “Thank You and Goodbye!”
Recently, and increasingly often, a Greatest Hits package is thrown out containing a couple of new tracks, exclusive re-mixes, alternate versions, or other chuff meaning even if you’ve got everything you have to buy it for the new things
(note: you don’t HAVE to buy it, but if you have that completist gene, you probably will)
And anyway, Greatest Hits album aren’t real albums are they, it’s not like they are an essential part of an artists canon.
Maybe not, but they do offer a first route in to the unfamiliar, act as a simple route to revisiting a favourite band, and/or in the case of some performers, a Best Of is all you need.
(that last statement may cause some debate)
But, which are The Greatest of The Greatest Hits, Best Of The Best Ofs, The Ultimate of The Ultimates?
Dave Gorman discussing Scouting For Girls Greatest Hits, and whether the content meets the criteria suggested by the album title:
Some suggestions:
The Jam – Snap!
All the singles plus choice album tracks, and the demo version of That’s Entertainment
Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady
Unimpeachable – came just too soon for the inclusion of I Believe which would’ve made it even more unimpeachable
Squeeze – 45s And Under
The later Very Best Of Squeeze also worth a mention as it adds post-82 stuff, and you get the B-Sides
The Clash – The Story Of The Clash Volume 1
What happened to Volume 2? And setting the template for future Clash compilations, Cut The Crap is expunged from the story
David Bowie – Best Of Bowie
Changes (ChangesOne as it became retitled, when the welcome but not as essential ChangesTwo hit the shelves) may actually be the most revered, but this 2002 release covers more of the good stuff
Blondie – Best Of
The 1981 release is the first and best Blondie Best Of of the many available. 2002s Greatest Hits covers the same ground (as it would) and adds Island of Lost Souls and Maria if you’re looking for anything else
New Order – Substance
Despite the differences in track listing and/or track version across the various formats, the is still the prime NO compilation to get your mits on
Who – Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy
All the 60s singles gathered together – Who-tastic. If you want the 70s and later stuff, The Ultimate Collection is the one to go for
Beatles – Red/Blue
You knew these would be on the list … but I always feel there is something missing with these 2 (particularly the absence of Rain). Even with the recent expansion/update, they still feel somehow flawed. Add Past Masters Vol 1 & 2 for the perfect Fab compilation
Rolling Stones – Rolled Gold+
Many say Hot Rocks, I say ahh .. but with Rolled Gold+ you’re getting an extra 18 months (from Come On to Little Red Rooster), and then the content of Hot Rocks – Win-Win in my mind. For post-1971, Jumpback is the package to have. For “everything in one place” go for Forty Licks.
Beach Boys – 20 Golden Greats
My parents had this when I was a kid – it’s now on my shelf, has been upgraded to the CD version and gets at least one play every summer.
Leonard Cohen – Best Of
Best Of was indeed the best Len you could get in one sitting. It got better though when Halleluljah was tacked onto it.
Pink Floyd – Echoes
Admit it, it’s not always easy to sit through an entire Pink Floyd album, and Echoes makes that chore a pleasure. It almost makes you want to re-visit A Momentary Lapse Of Reason (I did say “almost”). Plus I like to think it annoys Roger Waters that the tracks are split up from their original album sequencing.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits
It’s not like their albums were left wanting, but the singles output is the best way to consume Creedence. Classic after classic tunes, plus an 11 minute version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Neil Young – Decade
Compiled by the man himself to round up his past 10 years. Those first 10 years were pretty much bulletproof with a wealth of stuff to choose from. Not convinced that the years since have been quite so consistent though.
(If he’d continued compiling past decades, 2027 would mark the release of Decade Volume 7).
REM – Eponymous / In Time (1988 – 2003)
Eponymous covers IRS Years, In Time rounds up the Warners output. Both do what every good compilation should do – have you scrabbling around to get all the albums together.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Gold & Platinum
If a 14 minute live version of Freebird is not enough, then stick around there is plenty more southern boogie stuff to enjoy.
There is a compilation available titled The Very Best Of Lynyrd Skynyrd which does not include Freebird … how is that possible?
Beautiful South – Carry On Up The Charts
Rounding up their first five years, and every track is a winner – perfect pop. And by some way, their biggest selling album.
And taking of big sellers …
Eagles – Very Best Of The Eagles / Complete Greatest Hits
The original Best Of The Eagles 1971-75 has sold 42 million+.
With this 2002 set, you get all of that album plus the best moments to a time when hell froze over
Queen – Greatest Hits
Yes, just about every home has a copy, and indeed it has outsold every Queen album at a ratio of probably 10:1m, but there is no flab here. “Who is this Queen band?” … play this.
I’m convinced I have seen a version of this with Under Pressure on it, but Discogs says my brain has mis-remembered
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Legend
A mainstay of the Britannia Record Club introductory offer, and with good reason. A perfect title for a damn near perfect collection
Abba – Gold
Whilst I have never knowingly played this album, I know every flipping word and (begrudgingly) admit that them Swedes knew a thing or two about making Pop Music, and here it is collected together.
Past Masters are not great compilations, just rounding up missing tracks not on original UK albums (and MMT). Red album is light on Revolver and too much Rubber Soul, Blue is light on White Album and should have included Abbey Road medley (at least the end of it)
Most of the others you mention are good but Changes does not include Life on Mars so that is a big issue.
Would add Complete Madness to your list
Complete Madness – absolutely should be on the list.
And I am a fool for forgetting it.
And an obvious one for anybody who knows me Wilco – What’s your 20. But you really need all their albums at least up to that point.
If nobody else has mentioned it The Who – Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy
Under Pressure was on the US, Canada & Japan QGH. So your brain is not totally addled. Not yet, anyhow.
And on UK vol 2 I think
Yep, I have volumes 1 & 2 on half-speed mastered 2LP sets and they sound fab (unlike my 1980s vintage QGH which squeezes 30 minutes onto each side and sounds like a flexi-disc).
There’s a definite drop off in quality on QGH2, with an entire side of Miracle/Innuendo tracks, which remains ‘played once’.
There’s also a volume 3, which includes the sound of a barrel being scraped. Guest rap from Wyclef Jean? No thanks.
With the exception of Headlong, I like the Innuendo singles: the title track, I’m Going Slightly Mad, The Show Must Go On and These Are the Days of Our Lives. The last one in particular is a very good song.
The Miracle singles on the other hand are best not mentioned.
Both albums came out during my time at university and both were purchased by my room neighbours. File under: I never need to hear again.
Dance music lends itself to great greatest hits:
Earth, Wind & Fire
Madonna Immaculate Collection (a remix compilation realy)
Parliament Tear The Roof Off
Ohio Players Gold
AWB Let’s go Round Again.
I’ve never found a satisfying Chic Greatest
As for The Beatles Red/Blue, Klein did choose the singles and the most commercial of album tracks. Red could have a lot more tracks, expanded only in 2023, but Rain was never going to feature, despite its excellence.
Alternative vinlys to Rolled Gold (if you can find them) are the first two Stones compilations “(Big Hits) High Tide and Green Grass” from 1966 and “Through The Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2)” from 1969.
Big Hits is brilliant, the sequencing, the photos, everything.
Point of order: “ChangesoneBowie” was the title on release, certainly in the Uk, allowing for Changestwo etc.
And didn’t include Starman nor Life on Mars. Baffling
RE Floyd, Echoes. For many years, the only way to hear the Syd Barrett songs “Candy and a Currant Bun” and “Apples and Oranges” was on a really slapdash, imported, “Masters of Rock” greatest hits thing (as they were inexplicably left off “Relics”)
There was a very nice 40th anniversary set of Piper…, with mono version on one CD and stereo version on a second. They also issued a limited version with a third CD containing all the contemporaneous singles – including those two. It’s a very nice set if you can find one these days…
Even so, I still prefer Relics
Madonna – The Immaculate Collection
No filler, every track a massive hit and a fine introduction to an impressive body of work.
Yes
The thing about The Immaculate Collection is that it’s a rare example of a Greatest Hits compilation where the two new songs hold their own with the older hits. In fact, Justify My Love does more than that, it’s a big hitter.
The two new songs also point to where she was going in the future, making it an even rarer example of a collection that looks forward as well as back.
But some of the best compilations are in fact not greatest hits at all. For example the Doors’ Weird Scenes inside the Goldmine.
Thumbs up. That was more of a deep dive collection wasn’t it? ( i loved my copy of that in the 80s)
Van Morrison Philosopher’s Stone Vol I
The best of VTM’s best unreleased song
Yes, just to back up some great compilations already mentioned – Madness, The Jam, Squeeze, New Order’s Substance, Madonna and The Beautiful South.
Although out of favour now, UB40’s compilation released in 1987 (Best of Vol 1) captures their early work and the hugely popular covers from Labour of Love. At the time of its release, Sing our own Song was one of the most recent and sat well alongside the hits. I liked the self-awareness of the title and that it was a decent tune too.
Another one I enjoyed was the Midge-era Ultravox compilation which covered 1980-1984. Not a moment wasted. “Interestingly” a song like Vienna – which due to over-familiarity I never need to hear again – feels OK and is more enjoyable in this context. This is also true of UB40’s Red Red Wine.
Another artist I liked but couldn’t commit to album-wise is Jean-Michel Jarre. The 1985 compilation “Essential” is one I listen to regularly. I already had the excellent live platter of the concerts in China, but the Essential package was a step up.
In context – same applies with Come On Eileen as part of Too Rye Ay.
Madness was an obvious choice – the Best of I have is called Divine Madness. A friend of mine had a version with all the videos on a DVD too. Better again!
The Undertones deserve inclusion. I’ll go for the True Confessions (A and B sides) compilation every one a winner. It has the advantage over All Wrapped Up of not having one of the worst covers ever. Google it!
Thr Very Best of Sly and the Family Stone is a great collection and a feelgood staple Chez Bamber. N’er a dud on it.
I really rate Supergrass is 10 as a great collection of varied but consistently strong tracks.
Last but not least and in all seriousness 20 Wombling Greats was a great album. One of my first purchases. I could sing them all now if challenged.
Yes I remember that Undertones cover art. Baffling. I remember having a similar compilation called “Cher O’Bowlies” which was I believe a Derry-fied version of the saying “Bowl of Cherries”..
Cher O’Bowlies was the first Undertones comp. Released on the EMI budget Fame label. Long since out of circulation and replaced by aforesaid True Confessions
I have Cher’O’Bowlies somewhere too. It doesn’t feature the B sides does it? There are so many gems that any compilation without them is incomplete as far as. I’m concerned.
I had All Wrapped Up well before Cher O’Bowlies. I think it was out first.
I also think All Wrapped Up came first, it was the immediate post-split compilation. Still have it somewhere
I’m a proud owner of All Wrapped Up. As, I assume, is Stefani Germanotta from New York.
Same here – one of my rasher purchases…
🐽🥓
I’m pretty sure True Confessions has the album version of Julie Ocean on there. I’ve still got the Cher O’Bowlies from when I was teenager which has the lush and swooning re-recorded single version (still one of the best things they ever did).
Divine Madness was a UK singles only combination of Complete Madness and Utter Madness.
There are a few other Madness comps about, but the box set A Guided Tour is I think the best set to have
The Undertones. Why oh why hasn’t Mars Bars been used to advertise, erm, Mars Bars?
Substance stands out as it has versions not available elsewhere at the time so you got something new.
Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side is a satisfying listen. There’s a difference with original contemporary best ofs that work as LPs in themselves and later compilations where odds and sods are added.
Substance not only has a couple of inferior 87 re-recorded versions but there are some slight edits on there too
Van Halen by Van Halen is all you need by them…plus Jump as an add on in a late 1980s re-issue.
And Asia’s debut album. All you need by them.
One could argue The Best Of Asia IS their debut album
That is what I meant.
Prince – The Hits/The B-Sides is the gold-standard P compilation, although 4Ever is very good also.
Roxy Music & Bryan Ferry have a dizzying number of collections, both separately and lumped together. The Best Of Roxy Music is the go-to for pure Roxy, More Than This is a pretty fine hybrid, and the recent Retrospective opus is a fab summary of Wor Bryan’s solo career.
As I’m sure you’ll all be aware, Kylie has a plethora of hits albums. My favourite one is still Ultimate Kylie, although the more recent Step Back In Time is more comprehensive.
I had the Street Life double album which included Ferry and Roxy singles. All great tracks but missing Both Ends Burning
Oh, and if you’re at all interested in Depeche Mode but can’t be bothered with the albums, I’d go for the 2006 Best Of compilation. It has a flower on the front. They’ve weeded out the weaker singles and it’s a good collection.
Personally, I am a fan of the 12” remix collections. Two double LPs spanning 1981 to 2004 but you’d have to be a devotee already to really enjoy those ones.
I have found that some artists are better represented by live albums rather than Best of/Greatest Hits comps. For example, Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon is a good career spanning compilation but I’d always point the curious to Learning to Flinch, the 1993 live acoustic album. Similarly, Strangers in the Night knocks the socks off The Best of UFO.
Kraftwerk’s Minimum:Maximum is a live album and also services as a compilation. You do hear occasional crowd noise at the end of songs, but because it’s Kratfwerk you’re not going to get spontaneous jam sessions or bass players getting stuck in pods.
And has a banging version of Dentaku, the Japanese language version of Pocket Calculator
The Mix is a greatest hits remixed. A bit like Madonna
“You do hear occasional crowd noise at the end of songs”. Not recorded in America then. I have so many live recordings that you can barely hear the artists for the sound of imbeciles squealing and hooting.
I’m the opposite, I like live recordings where the audience makes a racket. My favourite Queen bootlegs are audience recordings from Japan, especially the ones in the mid 70s. Pandemonium.
The Pretenders Singles – ever track a belter except for the cover with UB40. It’s the last track so easy to skip.
The Specials Singles from 1991. You’ll still need the two albums but this does has all the hits in the singles versions and few of them weren’t on albums at all
I was coming hear to mention that Pretenders comp. Every one a banger.
Yes I was scrolling down to see if The Pretenders were here.
Love this one “like….Brigitte Bardot!”
A total classic
A Life of Surprises – Prefab Sprout. Steve McQueen and Jordan are still essential purchases but this a great single CD for a long car journey. It’s also got a couple of tracks which didn’t appear on albums
Discography – Pet Shop Boys. All the singles up to 1991 and in the single versions. A fantastic listen from beginning to end without a single duff track
Songs to Learn & Sing – Echo & The Bunnymen. A fine collection. I have never knowingly listened to any of their other albums, as this is enough for me.
Similarly, The Collection – Ultravox
I tire of completeness, it’s kinda dull.
Yesterday I bought, for £1, a 14-track Dusty compilation – Blue For You – and it really is all over the place, although mercifully stops long before disco and the pet shop boys.
But, like the occasionally brilliant Mojo CDs – including the Beat Surrender one in the shops now – it’s often the best way to listen to this stuff… LP tracks, hit 45s, flop 45s, EP tracks, US-only b-sides!
That said, my favourite hits comp. is a Dusty one – ironically enough called “Complete As and Bs, 1963-70”.
Great choice, DD. Someone mentioned Al Green’s Greatest Hits, but there’s a Complete Hi Records A and B sides compilation that’s even better..
Death to the Pixies – every track a winner!
Up!
The two singles compilations by The Cure – Standing by the Sea and Galore are both pretty good.
Someone mentioned Prefab Sprout – I’d go with the 38 Carat Collection over Life of Surprises.
Others worthy of mention..
Crowded House – Recurring Dream
Microdisney – From Daunt Square to Elsewhere
The Jayhawks – Music from the North Country
I’m surprised it took until now for Recurring Dream to get a mention, advertised with the tagline “You know more Crowded House than you think”, it certainly was true for many people.
Status Quo – 12 Gold Bars
References the ‘genre’ in the title. Absolutely covers their imperial phase.
Status Quo – 12 Gold Bars
References the ‘genre’ in the title. Absolutely covers their imperial phase.
And 12 Gold Bars Volume 2 covers the ” not so imperial, but not bad” phase before the desent to a cabaret act
Al Green – Greatest Hits. Just lovely, it may not be the only Al Green album you should own but it’s a damn good starting point.
George Michael – Ladies and Gentlemen. Even if you turned your nose up at Wham, only a cloth-eared fool could possibly resist this. Has all his essential solo stuff.
Up!
Ladies and Gentlemen is great. As is The Final by Wham.
Al Green what a wonderful album
I always say that if you have a copy of Wingspan: Hits & History plus a copy of Band On The Run then you have all the post-Beatle Macca you’ll ever bother yo listen to.
And I would agree with this assertion
And you would both be wrong
Many are the Greatest Hits by artists of whom I never purchased or felt the need to purchase anything else. I will confine myself to only the ones that might rile the heated passions of the AW:
Steely Dan (Then and Now)
Lou Reed (N.Y.C. Man)
Paul McCartney & Wings (Wingspan)
Beach Boys (20 Golden Greats)
The Beatles (two: Red and Blue)
Jam (Snap)
Siouxsie and the Banshees (One Upon A Time)
The Stranglers (Greatest Hits)
Squeeze (45s and Under)
There are many others, but I don’t want to waste time not annoying people.
Not riled, Gary: in fact, I agree with all bar two of these suggestions.
You need Twice Upon a Time as well for Siouxsie and the Banshees. In fact, it’s better than the first one. They are a very underrated singles band.
LLoyd Cole & the Commotions 1984 – 1989 is all the Lloyd Cole I think I need.
Fischer Z`s Going Red for a Salad rounds up The UA Singles for this underrated band.
Fossil Fuel – The XTC Singles 1977- 1982 shows what a great singles band XTC were.
Blimey @uncle-mick I didn’t know there was a Fischer Z compilation. I’m a fan but would admit that might be all you need.
My fave of all time though is The Best of the Spencer Davis group with Steve Winwood. IMO Steve never equalled most of these performances in his later career. He’d done it all already.
It’s easy to be satisfied with a best of in this world in which we live in, when we are all time poor, and often the singles are the best when all is said and done but having had that approach I’ve then found myself getting all the albums and realise that is a far richer and deeper experience,especially with acts who change a lot. A Dylan collection like the Essential selection is just baffling when it’s so all over the place, also Talking Heads, Sand In The Vaseline.
I know that @gary mentioned the Stranglers / Greatest Hits above, but for me it’s the Stranglers / The Collection 1977-1982, which covered the “imperial period” up to Strange Little Girl (and includes one of my all time favourite tracks in “Waltzinblack”).
Can I also add Fleetwood Mac / Greatest Hits – the 1971 release with the Peter Green era stuff. Whilst i have all the original albums, this is a really good 12 track album with every track being brilliant – Oh Well (parts 1 and 2), Green Manalishi, Black Magic Woman, Need Your Love So Bad, Albatross, etc etc…..
Forgot about that one … tis indeed marvellous
10cc 1972-1978 which I bought on cassette Christmas 1979.
Everything you ever need on a greatest hits album.
Clearly lots more to find on the albums.
My route to 10CC came later via Changing Faces – The Very Best of 10cc and Godley & Creme.
Same for me, and same format and same time. It’s a perfect album.
The Very Best Of The Byrds
I went on to buy the original albums but really only need this.
Roxy Music Greatest Hits (1977 version)
My gateway to early Roxy. All albums subsequently bought & essential.
No way re: The Byrds.
Wrong, wrong and wrongity wrong.
Those CD releases in the 1990s have a whole heap of bonus tracks that eclipse much of what constitutes ‘The Best’, and the 27-track… erm… ‘Very Best’ contrives to not include their greatest two-and-a-half minutes by a considerable margin, namely ‘Lady Friend’.
This is an omission only eclipsed by ‘Forty Licks’ (‘Featuring seven No. 1 singles’ – Why not feature eight!) not including Little Red Rooster.
Oh, that’s a good idea, they knew what they were doing there!
I find myself once again in agreement with DD. The Byrds outtakes are better than most bands A-sides. I don’t know of any other reissue series that delivered the goods like this.
Best of Blondie in any form covering 1976-81
I’d die a happy DD, if EMI/Parlophone were to put out on CD – not vinlys – an As and Bs Beatles’ compilation.
22 As on CD 1, 22 Bs on CD 2, just like the peerless Dusty model.
That would effortlessly, and in an instant, beat all other contenders.
EMI/Parlophone reply
Dear Deram, we have taken your suggestion onboard and are delighted to announce the release of NuBeatlesbox an extremely limited edition box set containing 22 7” singles a 2-CD collection of Beatles a sides and a 3-CD collection of corresponding b sides (unavailable separately) beautifully presented and yours for just £Youravinalaff!
They already did that, except it was spread over 22 CDs, each with a picture cover. Lovely.
Presumably for easy use. Daft.
The Rolling Stones London Years – OK, it’s annoying cos of the US label and all that, but it does cover all the Decca and London A and B sides…and you can pick it up really cheaply.
For the fabs, the new Red and Blue on CD are pretty good short of buying everything anyway ( everyone moans their favourite B side isn’t there).
My Generation by the Who (not the original 1965 album of course, but the comp) is the best I have of theirs.
London Years is indeed excellent. I really dislike the new Red and Blue ones though especially on vinyl, where the 3rd LP is all the added stuff making for a weird listening experience
Once again, an As and Bs of the Who would be excellent.
Alas, it does (sort of) exist in a box set, so everyone can all enjoy the singles from after the Golden Age. I bet they get a lot of play. Triffic.
Hovered around a choice shop of mine – the one that split up that Dylan box with Side Tracks on it (£7.99, thank you, now I can listen to Biograph!) hoping to get CD1 – but to ‘no avail’, and so ‘no sale’.
The Simon and Garfunkel Collection (1981) —the one with them on the beach—has all the ones you need (My Dad had the cassette in the car).
Maybe “Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro” is better for the casual listener than the recent box sets.
And going back a bit, Buffalo Springfield’s “Retrospective” was the pick of the three albums.
Your dad had S&G’s 1981 greatest hits on cassette in the car? So did Matt Berry’s dad-
https://thequietus.com/interviews/bakers-dozen/matt-berry-favourite-music-albums/2/
Well I never! And it’s a fake cover photo! Thanks very much for the link, as I hadn’t read that.
I love the Hollies, but find their original albums very patchy – let’s face it, they were a great singles band. Back in the 70s I had ‘The History of The Hollies – 24 Genuine Top Thirty Hits’ which is a 2LP set with the tracks in chronological order (as any comp should be, of course), and then got the 2CD ‘All the Hits and More’ in the early 90s, which is essentially an expanded version of the earlier set, again in chronological order. I think disc one of that set is one of my most played Cds.
Disc 1
Just Like Me 2:08
Searchin’ 2:23
Stay 2:13
Just One Look 2:28
Here I Go Again 2:20
We’re Through 2:15
Yes I Will 2:55
I’m Alive 2:26
Look Through Any Window 2:17
If I Needed Someone 2:20
I Can’t Let Go 2:27
Bus Stop 2:54
Stop Stop Stop 2:49
Pay You Back With Interest 2:42
On A Carousel 3:13
Carrie Anne 2:55
King Midas In Reverse 3:04
Dear Eloise 3:05
Jennifer Eccles 2:45
Listen To Me 2:39
Sorry Suzanne 2:59
He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother 4:15
Disc 2
I Can’t Tell The Bottom From The Top 3:45
Gasoline Alley Bred 3:55
Hey Willy 3:29
Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress 3:16
The Baby 3:50
The Day That Curly Billy Shot Down Crazy Sam McGee 4:21
The Air That I Breathe 4:05
Sandy 4:06
I’m Down 4:12
Daddy Don’t Mind 3:35
Too Young To Be Married 4:50
Soldier’s Song 4:01
If The Lights Go Out 3:23
Take My Love And Run 3:39
Give Me Time 3:07
Heartbeat 3:23
Tell Me How 3:20
Don’t Let Me Down 4:15
I like the way you have rated each song out of 5
Wow, that’s precise!
I’m obviously going to like The Hollies more than most, but even I have to confess that if they’d never existed would anyone really miss them?
They seem to operate in a parallel universe to The Beatles, and it’s the latter, and not them, who make all the right calls.
I have a 2 CD compilation by Stylus, “The Who Collection” which makes a fair stab at covering the best bits with Moon. 1st CD is similar to Meaty Beaty, adds the Lifehouse singles and some highlights from Tommy and Who’s Next. My gripe is that only 5.15 makes it from Quadrophenia.
5:15 is all you need from Quadrophenia!
*ducks*
for me a great greatest hits must ultimately be a singles act – certainly from the seventies onwards, and give you confidence that you’re just fine without the albums.
Abba Gold, the Immaculate Collection perfect examples.
Can I add My Prerogative: Britney Spears Greatest Hits. All the Britney you’ll ever need in one handy package. Not perfect, as there are some very skippable tracks. But a great example.
Yeah, Britters was a great singles artist. Somewhat ironically, the title song of this compilation is possibly her worst single. Another great disappointment to me was her cover of I Love Rock’n’Roll – I was expecting a huge, cavernous stomper with all the signature Max Martin sturm und drag, and what we actually got was a timid, tiny damp squib.
The original Leonard Cohen Greatest Hits actually feels like a fantastic album, not a compilation. It’s also the only album worth buying for the liner notes. Sample phrase:
‘I used to play this song on a Mexican 12-string guitar, until I destroyed the instrument by jumping on it in a fit of impotent fury in 1967.’
I mostly buy Best Of/Greatest Hits albums by artists I don’t love, just like some things by, but the one Greatest Hits album I can’t live without is the one for Three Dog Night.
Because I bloody love them, and I can’t find any original albums to buy…
There have been some really great label and/or producer hits compilations over the years.
Perhaps not relevant to this particular thread but worthy of a thread of it’s own.
I’d throw the 1998 The Best Of James into this. It was on constant repeat amongst my friendship group at the time & is an excellent introduction to the band.
It was very timely after the disappointing Whiplash & had them playing Arenas which carried on over the next few albums (Millionaires & Pleased To Meet You)
Great shout, re. James. Wonderful singles. My ex-girlfriend used to test Tim Booth’s dad’s eyes, so if there’s a weaker claim to fame than that, I’m happy.
My gig buddy’s ex-girlfriend’s chiropodist was the mother of someone in a moderately popular beat combo (their best selling single made number 42 in the hit parade). Is that weak enough?
Unless Keith Chegwin’s cousin taught you origami, I refuse all claims to weakness, young Fentonsteve.
My best man’s uncle was once in Showaddywaddy.
Mrs F’s bridesmaid’s cousin was in the band Goya Dress, whose sole album was produced by John Cale.
Eddi Reader once did a gig wearing my woolly hat, having cut her head on some backstage scaffolding.
None of these are actually crap enough, are they?
Not crap at all – I now want your autograph, Mr F…
I used to live around the corner from TV weatherman, Bert Foord. He, like us, lived in a semi-detached suburban house. Imagine! A big star like that living in a normal house!
Charlie Watts used to live next door to a school chum of mine, in Lewes. This would be early 70s, and was a relatively modest detached house, I recall.
I remember a piece about the Stones – after the Golden Age, obvs., and when the money started pouring in – that suggested that while cheques for Charlie, Bill and Mick Taylor were in the thousands, maybe even hundreds, Mick and Keith were on a million each.
Lesson?
Get your credit underneath that song title on the record label.