What are the best greatest hits albums ever?

[Buried Alien]

If you're very interested in the work of an artist, you'll probably own every one of his/her/their albums. For casual and economy-minded fans, however, the greatest hits album is the way to go.

Not all greatest hits albums are created equal. Some do an excellent job presenting the best and/or most well-known items of an artist's work, and serve as an excellent overview that might lead into a deeper interest in the artist's work. Other greatest hits albums have glaring omissions, or otherwise fail to capture the essence of an artist's career.

So what are your picks for best (and worst) greatest hits collections ever?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[The Mirrorball Man]

My favorite greatest hit album is "Intergalactic Sonic 7"s", by Ash.

[howyadoin]

1962-66

1967-70

Endless Summer

Who Made Who

Almost any Ramones compilation.

[cmdrbond007]

Steely Dan's Greatest Hits... first CD that I know of that has over 80 minutes of music. One CD!

[howyadoin]

I can't forget Steve Miller Band's Greatest Hits 1974-78.

[Rob H]

Most "Essential" albums are fantastic. The Essential Simon and Garfunkle is one example. The Essential Sly and the family stone is another.

[Cactusakic]

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Anthology: Through The Years
The Clash - The Essential Clash
Prince - The Hits/The B-Sides
Ash - Intergalactic Sonic 7's
Beastie Boys - Sounds Of Science
Bruce Springsteen - The Essential Bruce Springsteen
Joy Division - Substance
Orbital - Work

[Sanagi]

Immediately after reading B.A.'s suggested merits in the first post, I thought of The Moody Blues Anthology. It's got a great representation of the band's work from psychedelic to symphonic rock to the more pop stuff they did later on. Lots of just plain good songs that weren't necessarily big hits(although the hits are also on there; it's a 2-Disc-er).

[Adam Crocker]

Joy Division - Substance


Though it isn't a 'Greatest Hits' compilation, so much as a singles collection with some EP and compilation tracks on it. (Of course you could interpret it as a 'Greatest Hits' comp since it has "Love Will Tear Us Apart" on it.) On the other hand it's the best single disc summation of Joy Division's music that one can hope to find.

(Boy I'm glad I didn't just post the Birthday Party's Hits in this thread.)

I'm surprised that no one's mentioned Bob Marley's Legend as it seems to be considered one of the all time best greatest hits collections ever. Its certainly an excellent single-disc introduction to Marley, containing his better known songs, which were of high quality and it makes for a very cohesive listening experience.

I'll also submit the Jam's singles collection Snap! which is almost effectively a greatest hits compilation since their singles quite often were quantifiable hits on the British chart, and increasingly so as their career progressed. (There's a Jam Greatest Hits comp that apparently has the same track list save for "Just Who Is the 5'O-Clock Hero," the album version of "That's Entertainment," and the original mix of "Funeral Pyre.") As for why it's a great greatest hits comp, well the Jam were not only a spectacular guitar-pop band, but a great singles band as well who built a fanatical following in Great Britain on the backs of singles like "In the City," "Going Underground," and "Town Called Malice." For comparison Jam Collection, a 1996 collection that does not feature any singles, simply b-sides and album tracks. Most of the songs are good, but the compilation never grabbed my interest and essentially felt aimless and pointless.

And by fuck, it starts off with "In the City" one of the greatest lead-off tracks ever recorded.

And while I can't think of a worst greatest hits album I have heard, I imagine that Rod Stewart's name would be on one of them. :p

[Deathstroke]

The Eagles Greatest Hits Volume 2

[TomGun13]

Ramones Anthology

[Dennis K]

If you can choose a two CD "best of" I'll go with Warren Zevon's I'll Sleep When I'm Dead. If you have to limit yourself to a single CD, then I'll go with Zevon's Genius. Blur's "Best Of Blur" deserves mention too.

[berk]

Sly and the Family Stone's Greatest Hits (can't recall if that's the exact name or not).

[Slam_Bradley]

Chuck Berry - The Great Twenty-Eight

Roy Orbison - For the Lonely: 18 Greatest Hits

Jerry Lee Lewis - 18 Original Sun Greatest Hits

Fats Domino - My Blue Heaven: The Best Of Fats Domino

[Cactusakic]

Ramones Anthology

It's been bugging me all day that I forgot to mention this one in my original post. As soon as I got home I came on here to post it only to find that someone already had. Well done, you are clearly someone who has great taste.

Also neglected to mention:

Primal Scream - Dirty Hits
Beth Orton - Pass In Time
Rob Zombie - Past, Present And Future
Pixies - Wave Of Mutilation

I'm sure I'll think of more, but that's it for now. Gotta say my 2 all-time fav's would be the Tom Petty and Ramones ones.

[Reptisaurus!]

Beth Orton - Pass In Time


Oh. Come. On.

She had, what, three albums? And I don't remember hearing more than one single off any of 'em.

Liking Beth Orton is fine and all, but as a Greatest Hits album this one was chock full o' Booty Stank.

Speaking of crap...

Frank Zappa's Greatest Hits was terrible. Poorly, almost randomly sequenced tracks completely devoid of context.

And I bought a Dizzy Gilespie (Supposed) Greatest Hits album in my younger days and it was all his newer, Godawfuller, almost fusiony tracks, ignoring the material that gave him a reputation as the best trumpet player ever.

Edit: Best: The great Twenty Eight. End of Paragraph. End of Story. End of Book. Go on about your lives, you have nothing more to say here.

[Cactusakic]

Oh. Come. On.

She had, what, three albums? And I don't remember hearing more than one single off any of 'em.

Liking Beth Orton is fine and all, but as a Greatest Hits album this one was chock full o' Booty Stank.



Each to their own brother.
I dont really feel the need to justify myself or my choices, it's my opinion and I'm as intitled to it as you are to yours, but I think she is an incredibly talented vocalist.
Plus, although she may have only had one or two singles off each of her albums, she has done a lot of collaborations with other artists which were not featured on any of her albums but were on the greatest hits.
Worth a listen if you appreciate good female vocalists, not worth it if you dont.

[berk]

Squeeze - 45's & Under, or whatever it's called.

Those red and blue Beatles double albums.

The Stones' Hot Rocks

the double album CCR one, can't recall the name right now.

[Dreadstar]

the double album CCR one, can't recall the name right now.

Chronicles I & II.

But it wasn't originally a double album, it was two separate releases. It's just that nowdays they always seem to be packaged together.

Oh, and The Best of the Marshall Tucker Band.

[Ilash]

Well, what do you know, my favourite greatest hits comp hasn't been mentioned yet. For me, Strange Brew: The Very Best of Cream is the one to beat. It contains no more than 12 songs which means that it manages to feel like a simply great album in its own right but it also acts as a great sampler for the band while leaving space to delve into their actual albums. And those twelve songs are freakin' AMAZING let me tell you. While the only Cream album I own so far is Disraeli Gears, it is well known that their albums tend to suffer with a rather severe filler problem so Strange Brew is probably the best Cream listening experience you could hope for.

A few others:

Ramones Anthology: A much too limited band for me to buy all their albums but this really nice set is a blast to listen to and contains all the Ramones that I really need.

Good Boys... When They're Asleep: The Best of the Faces. Again, apparently their albums are fairly uneven so this is probably a better bet than all their albums. All I know is that we have nineteen utterly fantastic boogie rock songs that are pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on your face. You like rock and roll? PLEASE get this amazing comp!

The Beatles: Past Masters 2. This is actually a singles collection for all their singles and b-sides from the second half of their career that acts as a great greatest hits sampler and it doesn't prevent you from rushing out and getting all their albums, which is really what you should be doing because it collects only songs that aren't found on the albums.

Also though they are South-Africa-only releases, Deep Purple: Platinum, Creedence Clearwater Revival: Platinum I and II (similar to their chronicle albums but more comprehensive), The Hollies: Platinum and the Animals: platinum are all excellent greatest hits albums.

Oh and though I don't actually own a Police Greatest Hits, I'd imagine it would be great because as a singles band they're damned good... as an album-band... not so much.

[DDM]

The Best of Siouxsie & the Banshees (get the 2 CD version with the rare OOP remixes)
The Bestiary of the Creatures
The Essential Heart 2 CD set
All The Best: Tina Turner 2 CD set
Campfire Songs: The Best of 10,000 Maniacs
The Best of Pat Benatar
1's, The Beatles
The Best of Shakespeare's Sister
The Essential Dolly Parton 2 CD set
The Very Best of the Human League

[howyadoin]

Chronicles I & II.

But it wasn't originally a double album, it was two separate releases. It's just that nowdays they always seem to be packaged together.Chronicle was a double on vinyl.

[Deathstroke]

If you can choose a two CD "best of" I'll go with Warren Zevon's I'll Sleep When I'm Dead. If you have to limit yourself to a single CD, then I'll go with Zevon's Genius. Blur's "Best Of Blur" deserves mention too.


Both of the Zevon choices are superb.

[Dreadstar]

Chronicle was a double on vinyl.

Really? I stand corrected. I thought that the first one came out and when the second came out a couple years later they repackaged it. My bad.

[howyadoin]

Really? I stand corrected. I thought that the first one came out and when the second came out a couple years later they repackaged it. My bad.Sorry, didn't explain that well. The first Chronicle (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000XB9/qid=1117688445/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-0936427-9947110#product-details)compilation was a double album (on vinyl). So was the second, but it was indeed a separate album altogether.

[Neil]

The Big Bang! The Best of The MC5
Hits and B-sides by Prince
Death Rides a Pale Horse by The Dead Milkmen
Anthology by The Lovin' Spoonful
Anthology by Sly & The Family Stone
Photographs and Memories by Jim Croce
Proud Mary: The Best of Ike and Tina Turner

And I'm going to put in a vote for The Steve Miller Band - The Best of 1968-1973.

Not too many others leaping to mind that haven't gotten plenty of mention or don't quite satisfy me. I'm sure I didn't think of something pretty awesome, though.

[howyadoin]

And I'm going to put in a vote for The Steve Miller Band - The Best of 1968-1973.I never knew that existed. What's on it?

[Grant]

I never knew that existed. What's on it?

Good stuff.

[Neil]

I never knew that existed. What's on it?
1. The Joker
2. Living in the U.S.A.
3. My Dark Hour
4. Going to the Country
5. Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma
6. Going to Mexico
7. Come on in My Kitchen
8. Evil
9. Song for Our Ancestors
10. Your Saving Grace
11. Quicksilver Girl
12. Seasons
13. Space Cowboy
14. Gangster of Love
15. Kow Kow Calqulator
16. Little Girl
17. Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around
18. Jackson-Kent Blues
19. Sugar Babe

[cactusmaac]

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Anthology: Through The Years


Didn't know that was out.

Thanks.

[Cactusakic]

Didn't know that was out.

Thanks.

Been out for quite a while.
I've had it for at least 18 months and I think it was around for at least 6 months before I bought it.
As I believe I have said previously on this thread, easily one of my top 5 (if not number 1) Greatest Hits albums ever. 34 tracks and ever single one of them is excellent.
Plus is memory serves it has some pretty good liner notes from Cameron Crowe talking about how hard it is to pick a favorite Tom Petty track.
The man has a damned good point.
Enjoy.

[Cactusakic]

Didn't know that was out.

Thanks.

Been out for quite a while.
I've had it for at least 18 months and I think it was around for at least 6 months before I bought it.
As I believe I have said previously on this thread, easily one of my top 5 (if not number 1) Greatest Hits albums ever. 34 tracks and every single one of them is excellent.
Plus if memory serves it has some pretty good liner notes from Cameron Crowe talking about how hard it is to pick a favorite Tom Petty track.
The man has a damned good point.
Enjoy.

[cactusmaac]

Yeah, I was listening to the Heartbreakers greatest hits today and pretty much every song on it is really strong.

My favourite is probably Honeybee from Wildflowers but that isn't on the album. :(

[Patient Boy]

I'm surprised that no one's mentioned Bob Marley's Legend as it seems to be considered one of the all time best greatest hits collections ever. Its certainly an excellent single-disc introduction to Marley, containing his better known songs, which were of high quality and it makes for a very cohesive listening experience.


I actually prefer the more recently released One Love compilation. It's got more songs for one, including most of the stuff from Legend, and I think the sound might be of a better quality given the remastering, though I've never actually done a track by track comparison. My only problem with it is that it has a version of Redemption Song done with the band, rather than just Marley and his guitar. The track seems to lose something when performed that way.

[JeffreyWKramer]

That two-disk Petty set is incredible. There isn't a weak song on there.

Some of the greatest hits collections which I play in high rotation include:
THE BEST OF BLONDIE - Really solid set of music
ALICE COOPER'S GREATEST HITS - Incredibly solid, though I wish it extended a bit further chronologically, at least to WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE.
PRINCE - THE HITS AND THE B-SIDES

[Neil]

ALICE COOPER'S GREATEST HITS - Incredibly solid, though I wish it extended a bit further chronologically, at least to WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE.
Alice Cooper's Greatest Hits is the best of what is now known as The Alice Cooper Group. It think The Best Of Alice Cooper: Mascara & Monsters is probably the best single disk retrospective on the career of the man... well, into the '80s.

[Valmore]

Outside Looking In - The Best of The Gin Blossoms.

Seriously.

It's a collection of some of the best pop songs of the 1990's.

[Grant]

My Bad Company mixtape is the Best Greatest Hits album ever. I even include "All Right Now" by Free just to expand the whole Paul Rodgers experience.

[berk]

My best of Bad Company compilation, if I made one, would just be everything from their first two albums, Bad Co and Straight Shooter.

You might want to check into a best of Free cd. They had a few more good songs besides All Right Now. Catch A Train comes to mind ... can't recall any other titles right now.

[comic_lover]

If you're very interested in the work of an artist, you'll probably own every one of his/her/their albums. For casual and economy-minded fans, however, the greatest hits album is the way to go.

Not all greatest hits albums are created equal. Some do an excellent job presenting the best and/or most well-known items of an artist's work, and serve as an excellent overview that might lead into a deeper interest in the artist's work. Other greatest hits albums have glaring omissions, or otherwise fail to capture the essence of an artist's career.

So what are your picks for best (and worst) greatest hits collections ever?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Anthology ; Billy Joel -1973-97-Complete Hits Collection ; The Eagles - Very Best of ; and The Steve Miller Band - Young Hearts: Complete Greatest Hits are some of my favs.As far as worst,maaaaaaaan there's too many double dippers to choose from !

[Patient Boy]

Gang Starr's Full Clip is an excellent retrospective of their career.