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The Best Greatest Hits albums

  • 02-04-2021 01:15PM
    #1
    Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭


    OK - in the era of Spotify and making your own playlists, Greatest Hits / Best Of / Singles Collections are no longer as important or popular as before. Nevertheless, there is still a demand and a thoughtful, well-compiled one can be great introduction to an artist - or else, complement their existing catalogue.

    In my opinion, they ideally should have the following:

    1/ At least one new track to entice fans who have everything. Generally speaking this track should be used to promote the compilation.

    2/ For artists who have a big back catalogue stretching back a number of years, they should be representative and try to cover as many eras as possible.

    3/ And this is the most important - they should include the single mixes and radio edits, not album versions. There is nothing worse than album versions on a Greatest Hits.

    Here's how you do a perfect one.
    Every single, in its single version, in the order they were singles.

    77018949_10162815127380089_1949253843384532992_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-3&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=-K1YLhWVfw4AX_k41AY&_nc_ht=scontent.fdub1-2.fna&oh=6e474f99372e3b617a0d56d3bf6c7ed7&oe=608E883D

    So which ones are your favourites?


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,852 ✭✭✭Quantum Erasure


    I'd have to say, the best of the Beatles


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,401 ✭✭✭gipi


    Queen - vols 1, 2 and 3!


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    gipi wrote: »
    Queen - vols 1, 2 and 3!

    The first one is great.
    For II, I was disappointed that their most underrated single of the 1980s - Scandal - missed out. They could have fitted it if they used a couple of more 7" edits of other tracks. Third one is an interesting selection.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 151 ✭✭gabria


    The very best of the Stone Roses.

    It is like an expanded studio album remake of their famous debut also starting with I wanna be adored and finishing with This is the One / I am the Resurrection. The other classics from the debut, the underrated singles from Second Coming, early recordings like Sally cinnamon and the more famous non-album tracks all sown together into perfect sequence.

    I wanna go listen to it now.


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    gabria wrote: »
    The very best of the Stone Roses.

    It is like an expanded studio album remake of their famous debut also starting with I wanna be adored and finishing with This is the One / I am the Resurrection. The other classics from the debut, the underrated singles from Second Coming, early recordings like Sally cinnamon and the more famous non-album tracks all sown together into perfect sequence.

    I wanna go listen to it now.

    It's good. Nice to get Ten Storey Love Song with a clean intro. I'd like to have one of the backwards tracks on it (Don't Stop, Simone, Guernica). To fit, they could have included the 7" versions of Fools Gold (4:15) and Elephant Stone (3:00) instead of the 12" mixes.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,829 ✭✭✭mailforkev


    Depeche Mode The Singles 86-98 is a belter.


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Some favourites

    Smashing Pumpkins - Rotten Apples. All killer and the a brilliant bonus disc.
    Buzzcocks - Singles Going Steady. Bs just as good as As.
    Bob Dylan - Greatest Hits Volume II. Selection is ace..
    Neil Young - Decade. Very wide-ranging.
    Sly and The Family Stone - Greatest Hits. All killer.
    Squeeze - Singles 45s And Under. Likewise.
    Echo and The Bunnymen - More Songs To Learn And Sing. Blown away when I got this. Really great.
    Chicago - Chicago IX: Greatest Hits. Nice concise set with trimmed mixes.
    The Who - Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy. Savage.
    Guided By Voices - Human Amusements At Hourly Rates. Massive catalogue but does the job.
    Level 42 - Level Best. You need the CD version for the four extra tracks. Quiet pressing. Sounds great in car.
    Erasure - Pop! The First 20 Hits. Banger after banger.

    Some frustrating ones
    The Cure - Standing On A Beach. Promoted by Boys Don't Cry (New Vocal) which doesn't appear and is still MIA on CD (7" wise).
    Kate Bush - The Whole Story. The good: a better Wuthering Heights. The bad: missing singles, random edits of some but not others.
    Madonna - The Immaculate Collection. Uses Q-Sound remixes for most of it. Too many gaps - no Angel, Dress You Up, True Blue, Who's That Girl. Her catalogue needs a proper overhaul. Ridiculous that for someone of her stature, you can't buy some single versions digitally (CD / download)


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    mailforkev wrote: »
    Depeche Mode The Singles 86-98 is a belter.

    Definitely - seriously strong. They're due another.....


  • Posts: 451 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Some favourites

    Squeeze - Singles 45s And Under. Likewise.
    )

    We had the small record single for Labelled With Love and on the other side was a mix of songs fit into 3 or 4 minutes or whatever. I just looked it up and it was called Squabs of Forty Fab.

    I use to listen to it like it was one song. It works quite well like a mini greatest hits.



  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Olivia2 wrote: »
    We had the small record single for Labelled With Love and on the other side was a mix of songs fit into 3 or 4 minutes or whatever. I just looked it up and it was called Squabs of Forty Fab.

    I use to listen to it like it was one song. It works quite well like a mini greatest hits.


    Squabs.. is brilliant. I have played it when DJing - always gets people out.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 416 ✭✭BOSTIK


    These are good singles collections

    International Superhits - Green Day
    Greatest Hits - Squeeze
    Substance 1987 - New Order, great for B-sides
    Ballyhoo - Echo & the Bunnymen, also includes some B-sides

    The ones below are more varied, containing more obscure tracks but serve as excellent tasters for that reason. They tend to give a broader sample of an artist’s repertoire. I tend to prefer this type of collection.

    Louder than Bombs - The Smiths. Features non-album singles, of which there were a good few, and a fair share of B-sides

    Forty Licks - Rolling Stones. Contains some of their greatest non-singles such as Gimme Shelter, Sympathy for the Devil & Happy as well as the well known singles and 4 new at the time songs.

    Also, the deluxe versions of the two U2 singles compilations are worth picking up for the B-sides alone.


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    BOSTIK wrote: »
    These are good singles collections

    International Superhits - Green Day
    Greatest Hits - Squeeze
    Substance 1987 - New Order, great for B-sides
    Ballyhoo - Echo & the Bunnymen, also includes some B-sides

    The ones below are more varied, containing more obscure tracks but serve as excellent tasters for that reason. They tend to give a broader sample of an artist’s repertoire. I tend to prefer this type of collection.

    Louder than Bombs - The Smiths. Features non-album singles, of which there were a good few, and a fair share of B-sides

    Forty Licks - Rolling Stones. Contains some of their greatest non-singles such as Gimme Shelter, Sympathy for the Devil & Happy as well as the well known singles and 4 new at the time songs.

    Also, the deluxe versions of the two U2 singles compilations are worth picking up for the B-sides alone.

    Loved Substance especially the new version of Temptation which is my favourite. I ended buying all three formats to get all the tracks.

    Louder Than Bombs is excellent; was expensive at the time. Import prices. There was also a double vinyl edition of The World Won't Listen (28 tracks) that I bought in Virgin December 1987.

    I have Forty Licks; it's a good compilation that covers both eras. Also good are the two Hot Rocks, The Singles Collection and Jump Back.

    Agree re the two U2 compilations. Wasn't gone on the CD1 tracklist for 1980-1990 though. No Gloria, 11 O'Clock Tick Tock or A Celebration.


  • Posts: 451 ✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I loved Smokies Greatest Hits! Think I must have been one of the youngest Smokie Fans in Ireland when we got that cd :)

    Lay Back in the Arms of Someone, If you think you know how to love me (that is a really gorgeous song), Don't play your Rock n' Roll to me and Something's been making me blue - all really great songs.

    They were much more than just Living Next Door to Alice!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭Rothko


    Legend - Bob Marley
    Complete Discography - Minor Threat
    1 - The Beatles
    The Essential Clash - The Clash
    Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology - Ramones


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    For The Beatles, I prefer the Red and Blue albums - they were my introduction to them back in the '80s.

    That Ramones anthology is brilliant, very well chosen.

    Legend reminds me so much of the summer of 1984, classic compilation that's had a couple of adjustments over the years.

    The Clash comp you pick is great because it has the balls to include This Is England - Mick Jones would prefer that people erase Cut The Crap from history.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭supernova5


    The Jam - Snap - absolute belter from one of the best bands in the last 45 years


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    supernova5 wrote: »
    The Jam - Snap - absolute belter from one of the best bands in the last 45 years

    Yes, was a favourite in school. Great selection and flows very well. Was a brave decision to break up the band in 1982. Love The Style Council (Our Favourite Shop is all time top 5) and Weller solo too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 742 ✭✭✭supernova5


    Wellar, the Modfather - probably the best and most influential singer songwriters Britain has ever produced


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 416 ✭✭BOSTIK


    gabria wrote: »
    The very best of the Stone Roses.

    It is like an expanded studio album remake of their famous debut also starting with I wanna be adored and finishing with This is the One / I am the Resurrection. The other classics from the debut, the underrated singles from Second Coming, early recordings like Sally cinnamon and the more famous non-album tracks all sown together into perfect sequence.

    I wanna go listen to it now.

    I was given a copy of the Complete Stone Roses. Great to get the B-sides and the non-album singles from the Silvertone era.

    Fools Gold is marvelous, but I had to go hunting for the 12 inch version though. The 7 inch version doesn’t do it justice at all.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 416 ✭✭BOSTIK


    mailforkev wrote: »
    Depeche Mode The Singles 86-98 is a belter.

    It is.

    I’d love if they did a B-sides and rarities collection, maybe even include some Composition of Sound stuff if it can be found.

    The liner notes on their 81-85 Singles are gas, including one positive and one negative review for each single. Though one could never write anything bad enough about The Meaning of Love.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 416 ✭✭BOSTIK


    For The Beatles, I prefer the Red and Blue albums - they were my introduction to them back in the '80s.

    That Ramones anthology is brilliant, very well chosen.

    Legend reminds me so much of the summer of 1984, classic compilation that's had a couple of adjustments over the years.

    The Clash comp you pick is great because it has the balls to include This Is England - Mick Jones would prefer that people erase Cut The Crap from history.

    Agree with you about the Beatles, a fine sampler.

    I’d totally forgotten about Legend, nearly everyone bought it in 1984.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,915 ✭✭✭con747


    The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival
    Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd
    The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac
    Legacy The Very Best of David Bowie

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.

    Save Boards.ie from closing down. Buy a subscription to help keep it running here https://subscriptions.boards.ie/



  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    BOSTIK wrote: »
    I was given a copy of the Complete Stone Roses. Great to get the B-sides and the non-album singles from the Silvertone era.

    Fools Gold is marvelous, but I had to go hunting for the 12 inch version though. The 7 inch version doesn’t do it justice at all.

    Agree the 9:53 12" is massive - although takes up a lot of space on a compilation.
    The Super Deluxe Edition of the debut album that came out in 2009 was the ideal opportunity to round-up everything from that era - but that omits stuff too.


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    con747 wrote: »
    The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival
    Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd
    The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac
    Legacy The Very Best of David Bowie

    Echoes is very good.

    For Fleetwood Mac, The Very Best Of is good but has nothing from the in-between years (after Green but before Buckingham). 50 Years: Don't Stop covers all eras.


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    BOSTIK wrote: »
    It is.

    I’d love if they did a B-sides and rarities collection, maybe even include some Composition of Sound stuff if it can be found.

    The liner notes on their 81-85 Singles are gas, including one positive and one negative review for each single. Though one could never write anything bad enough about The Meaning of Love.

    Last year's Mode box had four CDs of B-Sides etc but sold out awful fast.

    Those reviews on the first Singles album are hilarious alright. They must have a low-ish opinion of The Meaning Of Love as it was omitted from the vinyl along with Somebody.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35 Orange Tiny Terror


    Beatles red and blue album
    The Kinks the singles collection
    Ocean Colour Scene songs from the front row
    Oasis stop the clocks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,978 ✭✭✭✭Rothko


    The Clash comp you pick is great because it has the balls to include This Is England - Mick Jones would prefer that people erase Cut The Crap from history.

    Yeah, I just wish they had included Spanish Bombs or Death Or Glory as well. I'd regard as amongst the best tracks on London Calling.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 416 ✭✭BOSTIK


    “All of this and nothing” Psychedelic Furs

    This was a nice mid-price introduction to their catalogue, it’s not comprehensive but the selection is well chosen. Their big American hit “Heartbreak Beat” is probably the worst song on the album.

    “Masterplan” Oasis

    Great collection of B-sides.


  • Posts: 4,229 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    The Masterplan is brilliant.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,434 ✭✭✭✭Arghus


    Prince: The Singles is bloody great. 2 Discs of banger after banger and then the B-sides in the third disc, more absolute quality.

    Beatles Past Masters 1 and 2


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