Greatest Greatest Hits
A couple weeks ago, my wife needed the Green Day song, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” for work (I can’t decide if it’s a good thing or a bad thing for a music-buying addict to be married to a Music Therapist). We don’t have a lot of Green Day, even though American Idiot won me over. So I took a quick look at their discography online, and I realized that not only was the song she needed on what might be Green Day’s worst album, but that overall a lot of their albums are inconsistent. On the other hand, International Superhits! looked like an amazing compilation. It turns out that it is. For having a bunch of spotty albums, Green Day has tons of fantastic songs; hearing them one after another solidifies the band in my mind as one of the real forces in 90′s (and 2000′s) rock. But this isn’t about Green Day. . .
When I was first taking the plunge and starting to take musc seriously (you know, about last year at this time), I thought it would ruin my credibility if people found out that I had several greatest hits compilations in my collection. With this album I think I have finally shed that complex. I now freely admit it — there are lots of fantastic compilations out there! For one, there’s the aforementioned Green Day problem: a great singles band but a so-so albums band. But there’s also the fact that I (yes, even I, spender-of-way-too-much-money-on-music, incessant-raider-of-friends’-collections, and obsessive-stereo/iPod-listener, have my limits) can only acquire and listen to so many albums, even by great album bands and artists. In the meantime, it’s a shame not to be able to appreciate music from their entire catalog because I don’t want to lower myself to buying a comp. Even though I have a couple proper albums each from David Bowie and Prince, I can’t express how happy I am also to have The Singles Collection and The Very Best of Prince.
There are some greatest hits releases that have even become classics in their own right. The Best of Blondie and the Buzzcocks’ Singles Going Steady belong in any early punk/new wave collection, for example. And greatest hits albums are really the only way to enjoy Bon Jovi or any Eagles music that isn’t on Hotel California.
In addition to the ones already mentioned, some compilations that are integral parts of my collection are:
Red hot Chili Peppers, Greatest Hits (I could really stand to get What Hits!?, too)
Korn, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 (talk about the Green Day problem!)
INXS, The Best of
Blur, The Best of
Lynyrd Skynyrd, All Time Greatest Hits
Van Morrison, The Best of
Stone Temple Pilots, Thank You
R.E.M., Eponymous
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Chronicle
I may think of more later.
It’s time to honor Greatest Hits CD’s! What ones do y’all like? I always need recommendations.
[And I really should get back to studying, what with finals starting on Monday and all. If I don't respond in a timely manner, I hope you'll forgive me.]
This is what you need, Logan:
The Police Box Set
The Who Box Set
I’ll be back with more later.
Comment by Susan M — December 8, 2005 @ 9:44 am
I listen to several:
The Singular Adventures of the Style Council, Crowded House: Recurring Dream (these I listen to because I love Paul Weller & Neil Finn and own everything by them, compilations included)
Simply Red singles, Alison Moyet singles (these are because they do the job and I don’t have to think about it, even though if I were so inclined, I could make a ‘better’ collection for my listening pleasure)
Live, Offspring (because the are all better single-wise instead of album-wise)
I also have a lot of 80′s groups compilations (Erasure, Glass Tiger, OMD, etc) because I haven’t taken the time or money to replace a lot of stuff I have on tape or shared with someone, etc and that’s a good place to start.
Comment by gabby — December 8, 2005 @ 10:01 am
You need Neil Young’s Decade!
Comment by Supergenius — December 8, 2005 @ 10:14 am
Squeeze – Singles 45s and Under
Guided By Voices – Human Amusements at Hourly Rates
Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians – Greatest Hits
The Housemartins – Now That’s What I Call Quite Good!
The Clash – The Story of the Clash
Talking Heads – Sand in the Vaseline
The Blue Hearts – Super Best (okay, I know not many of you are into Japanese punk, so this is a guilty pleasure pick)
Comment by BTD Greg — December 8, 2005 @ 10:20 am
oooh, I totally second The Housemartins – Now That’s What I Call Quite Good! Fantastic disc.
Comment by gabby — December 8, 2005 @ 10:25 am
Does The Smiths’ “Louder Than Bombs” count as a greatest hits?
Comment by Supergenius — December 8, 2005 @ 11:02 am
Oh yeah, Sand in the Vaseline is an excellent one.
I looked through my hard drive and made a list of all the greatest hits cds I have…It’s pretty embarrassing, how many there are. A lot are classic stuff, like Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Simon and Garfunkel, Bert Jansch, Billie Holliday, Four Tops, etc.
Then a lot are 70′s and 80′s stuff I loved as a kid, Quiet Riot, Anne Murray, REO Speedwagon, Journey, Styx, Berlin, Janet Jackson, etc.
Then there are the bands I own several albums by that I also have greatest hits collections of. Like Madness, Afghan Whigs, Billie Bragg, the Cure, Hoodoo Gurus, etc.
The U2 best-of is worth getting because of the second disc of b-sides (which I also have on vinyl…just shoot me now).
Comment by Susan M — December 8, 2005 @ 11:56 am
“You need Neil Young’s Decade!”
No! No! No! It’s a complete disservice to Neil Young. One must at least own Everybody Knows this is Nowhere, On the Beach, Tonight’s the Night, Harvest (okay, the GH might be okay for that one), Freedom…
Comment by Pris — December 8, 2005 @ 12:28 pm
Steve– I say Louder than Bombs qualifies, though it had four new songs on it, IIRC. Unfortunately the Smiths have had 5 “best of” CDs: Louder than Bombs, Singles, Best Vol. 1, Best Vol. 2, and the Very Best of the Smiths. Not to mention two other compilations. I think Louder than Bombs is the strongest of these five.
Comment by NFlanders — December 8, 2005 @ 12:44 pm
What this thread reveals, more than the fact that Greatest Hits collections are okay, is that music snobbery, i.e. the idea that its somehow bad to own a greatest hits album, gets in the way of common sense and smart spending. So down with the music snob on your shoulder, Logan, buy whatever you want and be proud.
Comment by Brian Gibson — December 8, 2005 @ 12:47 pm
I like Greatest Hits that give the hard-core fans a reason to buy it, like b-sides. The cassette version of the Cure’s “Staring at the Sea” included all their b-sides up till then on the other side of the tape.
Comment by NFlanders — December 8, 2005 @ 12:49 pm
Down with common sense and smart spending! Long live snobbery!
Actually I was surprised to find that I have several greatest hits albums. I’m only satisfied with greatest hits albums of artists that I don’t really care much about. Like these ones:
Billy Joel
Cat Stevens
Suzanne Vega
Jimmy Buffett
I have a few greatest hits albums, though, that are thorns in my side because when I listen to the songs out of the context of the album, I feel like I’m missing something, like I’m just seeing clips of a movie. For example:
Iggy Pop
Talking Heads (I did recently get Fear of Music. I need the rest of their early albums)
R.E.M. (Eponymous reminds me that I need their early albums, too)
Eric Clapton
That’s why I don’t buy comps. from The Smiths, The Cure, The Clash, and other bands that I have a lot of respect for even if I don’t own any of their music.
Comment by Tom — December 8, 2005 @ 1:34 pm
I’d love to get an Abba Greatest Hits. And the Bee Gees. Darn, there was someone else I was just thinking of…
A couple months ago I was thinking “I need some Quiet Riot,” and then later, “I need some Asia,” and then later, “I could use some REO Speedwagon.” Then I went into my local indie cd store that has a small used section, and there they all were. Greatest Hits of each. It was almost eerie.
Comment by Susan M — December 8, 2005 @ 3:17 pm
My problem with greatest hits compilations is not pure snobbery. It’s left over from hard lessons learned in my teenage years. I would get tapes like Queen “Classic”, and Neil Young “Decade”, and REM “Eponymous”, and Velvet Underground’s greatest hits, and The Eagles greatest hits. They were all terrific, so I’d go and buy the back catalog, at which point I’d either feel (1) wasteful in for buying tracks I already owned, even if the rest of the album was good, or (2) totally ripped off for being misled into thinking that, say Queen’s “The Game” was really worth my hard-earned nine bucks.
Nowadays when I’m interested in a new old artist, I buy their best reviewed regular release and go from there. I just bought my first David Bowie, “Ziggy Stardust,” (though I bought his “Low” at the same time). Of course, if a reviewer I trust says that all I need is the greatest hits compilation, I usually trust that (which is why I have The Jam’s hits comp only and (I know I’ll get killed for saying this) the Smith’s singles collection only).
Comment by Greg — December 8, 2005 @ 3:39 pm
some of my favorites:
herb alpert & the tijuana brass’ greatest hits
substance (both new order’s and joy division’s)
ramones mania
warehouse songs & stories – husker du
anthology – a tribe called quest
sure, you’re better off owning all of the individual albums when it comes to a lot of bands, but a well put-together greatest hits can be a great introduction. i would have never discovered neil young’s great albums of the 70′s if it weren’t for decade.
Comment by mike d. — December 8, 2005 @ 4:54 pm
Sorry to nitpick, Mike, but Warehouse: Songs and Stories isn’t a greatest hits, it’s a double album of original material. It does sound like it should be a greatest hits, with that title.
And Greg, there are plenty of Queen albums worth owning!
Comment by Susan M — December 8, 2005 @ 5:04 pm
I don’t disagree with you about Queen, Susan; but “The Game” ain’t one of them.
Comment by Greg — December 8, 2005 @ 5:41 pm
Blasphemy! Actually, the Smiths have more greatest hits albums than studio albums. That’s got to be a record of some sort. Kind of like Tupac releasing more album posthumously than living.
Comment by NFlanders — December 8, 2005 @ 8:34 pm
Me: Snap by The Jam
Hubby says:
Sly and the Family Stone’s Greatest Hits – Best one ever made – Every song on it blows you away.
Side 1 of Bread’s Greatest Hits is good “Best of Bread” -(if you like Bread) – song for song perfection, but side 2 – you’ll never play it. They made 6 great songs.
Public Enemy’s album called Greatest Misses – It will make you reconsider liking them if you don’t. Not too vulgar.
Bowie – The Singles Collection.
Comment by meems & hubby — December 9, 2005 @ 8:32 am
Also, Brian Eno’s album that’s not really a greatest hits album but a collection of Eno’s songs that he feels just go together –More Blank Than Frank.
If you want to know why people ever liked Depeche Mode, there is a Depeche Mode greatest hits album that’s really sensitive. But then again, I haven’t listened to it in 15 years. It may not have aged well.
Change on the Public Enemy one, not vulgar at all.
Comment by meems & hubby — December 9, 2005 @ 8:39 am
Todd Rundgren!
Comment by Susan M — December 9, 2005 @ 9:05 am
BTD Greg –
I searched in vain for stuff by the Blue Hearts for a couple of years after my mission. They had a video that made a brief appearance on MTV, and I had hopes they would make a small splash over here. Where can I get my hands on some? I miss Train-Train and Linda-Linda.
Comment by Bryce I — December 9, 2005 @ 9:34 am
Hey, everyone. Thanks for the input. One thing I think Tom said very well and that I agree with is that compilations are easier for me to buy if they’re from bands that aren’t necessarily as “classic” or “good” (whatever those words mean, and I know it’s likely to be different for every person). I think the Greatest Hits CD’s I listed largely reflect that idea, too. I’m still interested in getting full albums from the bands I love. It’s just that there’s so much incredible music that I don’t want to wait until I get around to every single one before I get a taste.
Now, on to some specific responses:
Susan, I don’t know if you can hear this, but I’m groaning at the idea of the Police box set. Isn’t there something smaller that I could use to develop a taste for them? Maybe I’ll be more interested in them when I eventually hit 30 (remember my rule — I don’t know anyone under 30 that likes the Police), but for now I think that much Police is more than I can handle.
I would love to have that U2 CD, though. But I understand that the version including B-sides was a limited edition that you can’t get anymore. Am I wrong?
With apologies to Pris, Decade is probably going on my list of comps to get. I know Neil has tons of classic albums, but when I have one in my hand compared to another classic album, I always put down the Neil Young one. At this rate I’ll never get any. The Greatest Hits is probably the only way I’ll start to know much Neil.
Other good suggestions that I’ll probably get soon are:
Queen
Ramones
Sly and the Family Stone
Talking Heads
Smiths (maybe)
By the way, what’s the word on the Rolling Stones? I’d love to get a bunch of their albums eventually, but their catalog is so daunting at this point. I’m thinking about getting Forty Licks.
Comment by Logan — December 9, 2005 @ 9:43 am
No I hear ya Logan. It’s just that the Police box set is something I just picked up and I was amazed at how great it was. All four discs! Maybe I’ll make you a comp.
The thing about the Smiths is they released a lot of singles that weren’t on albums. So they have all these “compilation” albums that include those singles, released after the singles were. Like one of their earliest releases, Hatful of Hollow, isn’t considered a regular album, but rather a compilation of singles. This confused me for a long time. I thought there must be a lot more albums than I was aware of. Turns out they just released a lot of singles not attached to albums.
Comment by Susan M — December 9, 2005 @ 10:06 am
Logan, for the Stones, their “Hot Rocks” compilation is pretty easy to find for cheap, and has what you need.
Comment by Supergenius — December 9, 2005 @ 10:13 am
Back before Aerosmith got back together, when there were records, I used to say I liked one side of their greatest hits album.
Comment by danithew — December 9, 2005 @ 10:34 am
I just picked up James Taylor’s Greatest Hits for a Christmas present to me from one of my kids. First music I’ve bought in a long time (it was on sale).
Back when I listened to music, CSNY’s “So Far” and Best of Doobie Brothers vol. 1 & 2 got a lot of play in my car, as did Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions (although I’ve since bought most of the albums).
I once drove across the country listening pretty much exclusively to the Best of Three Dog Night and the Best of The Band. Haven’t listened to them since.
My kids love ABBA Gold. Oddly enough, so does my father-in-law (who otherwise listens exclusively to MoTab and John Denver).
Comment by Bryce I — December 9, 2005 @ 11:07 am
Bryce, you want I should burn you a copy? Train Train and Linda Linda are both on it.
Comment by BTD Greg — December 9, 2005 @ 1:38 pm
Bryce, you want I should burn you a copy? Train Train and Linda Linda are both on it. I actually bought it when I went back to Japan on a business trip ten years after my mission. It’s funny because the Blue Hearts were at the peak of their popularity when I was there, and now they seem to be this influential band that all the young bands look to.
Comment by BTD Greg — December 9, 2005 @ 1:39 pm
Greg, that would be awesome. Email me at bryce at millennialstar dot org
Comment by Bryce I — December 9, 2005 @ 2:07 pm
I’ve got the best of Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass CD and can vouch for it’s greatness. That Blue Hearts album is really very good, too. My personal favorite is “Sha-La-La,” although “Train Train” is also fun.
SusanM, I’m laughing at “I could use some REO Speedwagon.” That might be the funniest thing I’ve read all week. Your music collection must be really amazing. And enormous.
I’ve been asking for a Best of the Dead Milkmen CD (although their “Ultimate Collection” is missing more than half of my favorites — whoever compiled it apparently hates “Bucky Fellini”) for about five years now. Maybe I’ll get one for Christmas this year if I’m good, or if Santa finally decides I’m serious.
Comment by Allison — December 9, 2005 @ 8:57 pm
Hmmm. No GnR? Their greatest hits album rocks. So does Van Halen’s (Best of I and II).
Did anybody laugh when Britney Spears came out with HER greatest hits album last year? LOL.
Comment by Elisabeth — December 10, 2005 @ 1:00 pm
Hey, Elizabeth, since I’ve already ruined my credibility with the very premise of this post, I’ll admit this, too:
I was just considering getting Britney’s greatest hits! (I’m glad you reminded me.) There was no way I was going to buy her albums, and there is probably no better single representation of US mainstream pop culture ca 2000-2005 than that shiny little package.
Comment by Logan — December 10, 2005 @ 2:20 pm
Logan, it’s not too late to delete your last comment. I’m just saying.
Comment by NFlanders — December 10, 2005 @ 2:26 pm
A great Bad Religion greatest hits compilation is All Ages. Admittedly, it’s already pretty old since it only includes songs from all albums preceding Recipe for Hate (1993). But it’s a great compilation nonetheless.
Comment by john f. — December 10, 2005 @ 3:38 pm
An old roommate had an old truck with an 8-track in it. The only 8-track he had to play was The Best of Bread. Needless to say, we heard it a few times and it grew on me. Haven’t heard much of that music since though.
Comment by danithew — December 10, 2005 @ 5:51 pm
Nice idea, Logan.
Good call on the Creedence. Simon & Garfunkel and John Denver are musts. U2 helps — Joshua Tree and Acthung, taken together, might as well be a greatest hits. GnR is a keeper; good call, E. And if one speaks Spanish, Mana is indispensible.
Everything else is negotiable.
Comment by Kaimi — December 10, 2005 @ 6:01 pm
Oh, come on, Ned. You know you’d love to hit that baby one more time!
John, I’m impressed you listen to Bad Religion. That’s an excellent candidate for Greatest Greatest Hits.
And Kaimi, good thinking on Simon and Garfunkel — a fantastic one. And I’d never thought about a Mana compilation. I’d never been able to decide which album of theirs to get, but a greatest hits sounds like the perfect choice.
Comment by Logan — December 10, 2005 @ 6:11 pm
Thanks Logan. Of course, I could have also mentioned 80-85 for a greatest greatest early BR hits. It’s hard to beat 80-85.
Comment by john f. — December 10, 2005 @ 6:56 pm
Logan,
You’ve never been able to decide which Mana album to get?
Donde Jugaran Los Ninos is one of the best albums ever. It’s got Como Diablos; Vivir Sin Aire; Oye Mi Amor; Huele a Tristeza — all sorts of good stuff there.
I’m trusting that my man Rusty will back me up on this one. . .
Comment by Kaimi — December 10, 2005 @ 7:21 pm
A few others that I didn’t think of earlier:
Cowboy Junkies: Studio
The Jazz Butcher: Draining the Glass
Uncle Tupelo: 89/93 An Anthology
The Specials: The Singles Collection
Comment by BTD Greg — December 11, 2005 @ 9:53 pm
I’ll back you up onthat Kaimi, but it doesn’t have the refrigerator song.
Comment by john f. — December 11, 2005 @ 10:38 pm
John,
True, it lacks Refrigerator, as well as some other real gems (Rayando el Sol, Buscandola, and Estoy Agotado come to mind). But on the whole, it’s incredibly strong from top-to-bottom — there’s really not a weak song on the whole album.
That said, Falta Amor would certainly not be a bad idea either.
Comment by Kaimi — December 12, 2005 @ 12:09 am
well, i wasn’t really arguing against donde jugaran los ninos–i agree that it is a very strong showing. i was just joking, actually, because, although i like many of the songs on falta amor, i don’t really like refrigerador very much.
Comment by john f. — December 12, 2005 @ 12:29 am
by the way, on “latin” music, check out Eros for a greatest greatest of Eros Ramazzotti. (for the same thing in Spanish, see the 1997 release. Very good stuff.
Comment by john f. — December 12, 2005 @ 12:42 am
I don’t buy many greatest hits because rarely do they have the best tracks from the band on them. What I prefer to do is to get all their albums and make my own “greatest hits” sans filler. I recently made one for the Velvet Underground because it couldn’t be a “GH” without Sister Ray.
I remember the first time I heard a proper Beatles album (The White Album)–and feeling decieved that I had never heard some of the best tracks because they don’t play them on the radio, at parties, etc. [I forget which one, but a few years ago, a magazine said the Beatles "1" comp was the worst disc of the year because you should really own all the albums anyway.]
Comment by Pris — December 12, 2005 @ 10:18 am
Yes, Kaimi, I’ll back you up. Donde Jugarán Los Niños? is probably Maná’s best album, not a bad song in the bunch. My two favorites from that album are Vivir Sin Aire and Me Vale, perhaps their two best songs. Falta Amor isn’t bad, Cuando Los Angeles Lloran is terrific and I’d say Sueños Liquidos is their second best album. I absolutely love Clavado en un Bar and Como Duele en los Labios. As far as “Greatest Hits” I’d say their Unplugged album is incredible. It has fantastic renditions of most of their best songs. I especially enjoy No Ha Parado de Llover and Rayando El Sol. Their older Live album is pretty good as well.
Comment by Rusty — December 12, 2005 @ 6:42 pm
While many people might not particularly like them or think about them, the Mamas and the Papas have a couple of amazingly great greatest hits albums too. Really!!
Comment by meems — December 12, 2005 @ 7:53 pm
A couple more to add to the list (oh, and hi all, John C. made me come by!)
Foreigner Records has a bunch of good ones on it.
B-52′s Time Capsule is ok.
The Journey GH albums is way good.
I think the Beatles’ 1 album is really quite good, if you can’t actually own all of their albums.
(Same for the recent Elvis (Elv1s?) compilation.)
Comment by FaithHopeLove — December 13, 2005 @ 2:02 am