The Smiths' "Singles" wasn't bad, especially after Best Of 1 and 2, which was bloody awful. Not to mention replacing Morrissey's cover design outside of North America. Happily "Singles" had his design, a nice picture of Diana Dors and with "Louder Than Bombs" was a better "Best Of" than the offical one was.
― Phil Paterson, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Josh, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Madonna's Immacualte Collection, plus Frozen and Beautiful Stranger, two bona fide pop classics if you ask me.
...Finally, Abba Gold. Most of these are classics, but you need 'The Visitors' on there as well. The way it builds up into the chorus is just amazingly good.
I'd say a Beatles compilation, but basically, none of the many do them justice, it's just not possible to compile one that would please everyone. (And I genuinely believe that, whatever people may say, most people like the Beatles at least a little)
Just adding to the consensus here...
Bill
― Bill, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Sterling Clover, Friday, 2 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― simon, Sunday, 4 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Dr. C, Sunday, 4 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
Josh, if the Doors you speak of is the 2-CD thing, quit while you're ahead. That's all the Doors you need. Sad but true story: As a teenager, I loved the Doors like every good American. I had that 2-CD Best Of. I liked it so much I thought I'd love the whole Doors catalog. So I sold the Best-of and went about acquiring the 6 studio albums. I bought all those, got very sick of the Doors, and in my early 20s sold all six. Now I have no Doors at all. Hence the wisdom of quitting while you're ahead.
― Mark Richardson, Sunday, 4 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
And if we *have* to go on to the Beatles, then go for the Red and Blue Albums, which between them contain all 27 tracks which ended up on that abomination known as "One", but which also contain a good few tracks that don't get so many daytime plays on Capital Gold :). (well, "I Am The Walrus", which is the one that really matters, though the Blue Album chooses appallingly from Abbey Road). The only Beatles repackagings worth even considering owning.
― Robin Carmody, Monday, 5 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-three years ago) link
― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Tuesday, 10 June 2003 19:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 16 December 2003 21:30 (twenty years ago) link
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00028HBK2.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
1. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...) - Lou Bega 2. Macarena - Los Del Rios 3. Chan Chan - Buena Vista Social Club 4. Frenesi - Linda Ronstadt 5. Theme from "Harry's Game" - Clannad 6. Over the Rainbow 7. Barcelona Nights - Ottmar Liebert 8. Valse d'Amelie - Yann Tiersen 9. Bomboleo - Gipsy Kings 10. Pata Pata - Miriam Makeba 11. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte 12. Swingin' the Mambo - Tito Puente 13. Soul Bossa Nova - Quincy Jones & His Orchestra 14. Pass the Dutchie - Musical Youth 15. Hot! Hot! Hot! - Arrow 16. Grazing in the Grass - Hugh Masekela 17. Mais Que Nada - Sergio Mendes 18. Oye Como Va - Santana
― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Monday, 15 May 2006 03:04 (eighteen years ago) link
― Charlie Howard, Saturday, 14 April 2007 18:09 (seventeen years ago) link
― Tim Ellison, Saturday, 14 April 2007 18:19 (seventeen years ago) link
― David Bachyrycz, Saturday, 14 April 2007 19:30 (seventeen years ago) link
― lex pretend, Saturday, 14 April 2007 19:39 (seventeen years ago) link
― NYCNative, Saturday, 14 April 2007 19:41 (seventeen years ago) link
― Mr. Odd, Saturday, 14 April 2007 20:00 (seventeen years ago) link
― kornrulez6969, Saturday, 14 April 2007 22:43 (seventeen years ago) link
― Mr. Odd, Sunday, 15 April 2007 07:24 (seventeen years ago) link
― henry s, Sunday, 15 April 2007 20:23 (seventeen years ago) link
Steely Dan's Greatest Hits may not delete the need to buy the actual albums but is probably the greatest collection of songs in existence.
Close second, Merle Haggard's "Songs I'll Always Sing".
― mulla atari, Monday, 18 June 2007 03:28 (seventeen years ago) link
i'm listening to the cult's 'pure cult' thingie. pretty damn good. needs 'aphrodisiac jacket' and a few more, but i guess they weren't singles...
― Charlie Howard, Monday, 18 June 2007 09:05 (seventeen years ago) link
Thread should have been closed after Dr C's choice of the Buzzcocks 'Singles Going Steady' way up there somewhere. As far as GH go, it doesn't get better than this.
― Guilty_Boksen, Monday, 18 June 2007 12:31 (seventeen years ago) link
"Once Upon A Time", Siouxsie and the Banshees, is great.
― koogs, Monday, 18 June 2007 12:41 (seventeen years ago) link
Yeah, Buzzcocks for me too. Chief competition would be Sly & the Family Stone and CCR. (Greatest non-existent GH = Bob Seger's)
― Myonga Vön Bontee, Monday, 18 June 2007 18:04 (seventeen years ago) link
Not The Beatles, simply because any "Greatest Hits" by The Beatles is automatically bound to be devoid of most of the great stuff they did.
Out of the ones not mentioned, Madness had a very strong run of singles.
― Geir Hongro, Monday, 18 June 2007 23:17 (seventeen years ago) link
And then there's Bob Marley's "Legend" too. Has been voted best "best of" a lot of times although personally I really don't think it worked out until all those extra tracks were added for the rather recent special edition.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/50000fall.jpg
maybe not the greatest ever but a pretty cool collection
― gman, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 05:03 (seventeen years ago) link
http://umusicimages.ca/doublediscgold/parliament.jpg is awesome
― abanana, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 05:11 (seventeen years ago) link
http://kpuk.net/big_img/608.jpg
― Siegbran, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 07:19 (seventeen years ago) link
Is there really no AC/DC greatest hits/best of? AMG doesn't list one, nor does Amazon. How odd.
― Colonel Poo, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 11:37 (seventeen years ago) link
SuperFurryAnimalsOKThkxBye.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 11:40 (seventeen years ago) link
Tom Petty's first Greatest Hits comp (the 1993 where "Mary Jane's Last Dance" was a new track) is wall-to-wall awesome, although I lost it years ago and may have to upgrade to the 2 disc that has "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and some more recent stuff on it. Queen's Greatest Hits is another great one I grew up with, although now I feel motivated to hear the whole albums.
It's kind of a delicate matter, figuring out whether to buy a GH or get the actual albums, because I know once I get a best-of it'll discourage me from getting the albums. So I'm constantly weighing like OK, I can live with just an Elton John best-of, but I need to get Thin Lizzy's individual albums.
― Alex in Baltimore, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 13:01 (seventeen years ago) link
Pet Shop Boys' Discography, people!
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 13:13 (seventeen years ago) link
Sparks "Profile." Excellent chronological overview of the many stylistic changes (on as many record labels) of one of my favorite bands evah.
― Dan Peterson, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 15:27 (seventeen years ago) link
you don't need any other records by them now it's come out, so I'd say the Best Of Blur
AS RONG AS RONG CAN BE
The answer to this thread is Steve Harley, IMO.
― Just got offed, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 15:32 (seventeen years ago) link
Definitely not the only album to own, but: John Lennon's <i>Shaved Fish</i>. All the big stuff, in the perfect order, and the most appropriate context for the absolutely-perfect "#9 Dream" (definitely not <i>Walls and Bridges</i>).
― Telephone thing, Friday, 2 November 2007 06:59 (sixteen years ago) link
And one day I will remember that ILX uses BBcode. Sigh.
― Telephone thing, Friday, 2 November 2007 07:00 (sixteen years ago) link
Sweet would fit in here. Just make sure you get a "Greatest Hits" that has "Love Is Like Oxygen" on it, not all of them do.
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 2 November 2007 11:34 (sixteen years ago) link
Sadly it is true. There is no AC/DC greatest hits.
― steampig67, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:14 (sixteen years ago) link
Although why you would need an AC/DC greatest hits is beyond me. After all, you should own them all already. At least thru 1990 anyway.
― steampig67, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:17 (sixteen years ago) link
Sly & the Family Stone's Greatest Hits will probably always be my favorite.
― JN$OT, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:20 (sixteen years ago) link
AC/DC's "Greatest Hits" was released in 1980 and is called "Back In Black".
― Geir Hongro, Friday, 2 November 2007 13:39 (sixteen years ago) link
No Bon, no cred.
― C. Grisso/McCain, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:07 (sixteen years ago) link
Bingo
― Bill Magill, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:18 (sixteen years ago) link
-- JN$OT, Friday, November 2, 2007 1:20 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Link
― Billy Pilgrim, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:58 (sixteen years ago) link
Here's a few that haven't been mentioned:
The Guess Who - Their first GH compilation is a wonderfully concise and sequenced song cycle - those original records are pretty spotty. I usually place the first Blood Sweat & Tears GH alongside the Guess Who pick, but the BS&T GH leaves too many solid album tracks off the list making this a near-perfect near-miss.
A couple of recording from The Record PLant in Sausalito should be represented, if only for their outstanding soumd quality and song selection.
Bob Marley & The Wailers - From the Record Plant (tracks also appear on "Talking Blues") this never was a properly released as a GH, but those original Wailer's day's are super tight.
Kinky Friedman - Mayhem Afterthought (Stooooopid Good!) If you only own 1 Kinky record - this is THE one to have.
― christoff, Friday, 2 November 2007 15:18 (sixteen years ago) link
Swell Maps Collision Time Revisited. Not technically a greatest hits, I guess. It's my favorite band anthology, anyway.
― Trip Maker, Friday, 2 November 2007 15:21 (sixteen years ago) link
The Pretenders, The Singles has a legit shot at the top spot here - pretty incredible run of hits
― unlistenable in philly (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Monday, 2 January 2012 17:42 (twelve years ago) link
when all is said and done...
https://i.discogs.com/Sk7nQMoR8jHWb-Dp7FD3oh-wqFkmS4b1a0YxL3YU43U/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:574/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTgwNjk4/Mi0xMzQ1MDA4ODQ5/LTI3MTMuanBlZw.jpeg
― scott seward, Monday, 10 June 2024 14:36 (one week ago) link
kinda almost perfect.
The first one of these that hooked me as a kid was the Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions with the blue cover… solid selection
― brimstead, Monday, 10 June 2024 14:36 (one week ago) link
everything felt did was perfect
One of those jukebox favorites for yeaaaaaaaars. xpost to scott
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 June 2024 14:37 (one week ago) link
Gold Mine Trash was earlier
― brimstead, Monday, 10 June 2024 14:37 (one week ago) link
xp to Kim
they didn't need that long solo deebank track on ACM but its okay. its all good in the Felt hood.
― scott seward, Monday, 10 June 2024 14:40 (one week ago) link
xp I was answering my own question above regarding reverse order compilations.
― Kim Kimberly, Monday, 10 June 2024 14:47 (one week ago) link
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hvYAAOSwyTpjtcxg/s-l1200.jpg
It might as well be a different band of course, but this is still my favourite Fleetwood Mac 'album'.
― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Monday, 10 June 2024 14:50 (one week ago) link
that rules, I also really like this German reprise FM one from around the same time: https://www.discogs.com/master/147914-Fleetwood-Mac-The-Best-Of-Fleetwood-Mac
― brimstead, Monday, 10 June 2024 14:52 (one week ago) link
I don't know that one - will have to seek it out.
― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Monday, 10 June 2024 15:04 (one week ago) link
What was the earliest reverse chronological greatest hits compilation?There is Absolute Classic Masterpieces by Felt from 1992 but I figure there has to be an earlier example.
There is Absolute Classic Masterpieces by Felt from 1992 but I figure there has to be an earlier example.
The same year there is Some Girls Wander By Mistake by Sisters of Mercy which starts in the middle then goes back to the beginning, probably a wise sequencing.
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 10 June 2024 15:11 (one week ago) link
https://www.discogs.com/label/441825-Chess-Blues-Masters-Series
― budo jeru, Monday, 10 June 2024 15:57 (one week ago) link
Literally in reverse chronological order, Pulp's 'Countdown 1992–1983'.
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Monday, 10 June 2024 17:12 (one week ago) link
Bananarama Greatest Hits is not strictly reverse chronological, but the Stock-Aitken-Waterman years are up front and the earlier Swain-Jolley years at the end.
― Hideous Lump, Monday, 10 June 2024 18:09 (one week ago) link
Underworld's 1992-2002 comp is insanely stacked, granted you probably couldn't make a bad UW comp if you tried, even still just insane how many bangers are on this thing
― frogbs, Monday, 10 June 2024 18:29 (one week ago) link
Re: Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac, this CD (more or less culled from the Blue Horizon box set) was my introduction:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cK6R+ctXL._SX300_.jpg
The only glaring omission is "Love That Burns," but it's a big one IMHO. I would've ditched the "Albatross" remake to make room for it (especially since the disc opens with the original "Albatross") but it's possible that remake was more or less the economic reason for producing this CD.
― birdistheword, Monday, 10 June 2024 19:41 (one week ago) link
Need Your Love So Bad was playing when I got married, yet I've never heard this longer version! Damn.
― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Monday, 10 June 2024 19:59 (one week ago) link
"albatross" is one of the great achievements of western civilization
― budo jeru, Monday, 10 June 2024 20:08 (one week ago) link
Not really the thread for it, but this 2-hour version of Albatross by Keith Fullerton Whitman also one of the great achievements of western civilisation: https://soundcloud.com/kfw/fleetwood-mac-albatross-blend
― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Monday, 10 June 2024 20:11 (one week ago) link
xp otm
― brimstead, Monday, 10 June 2024 20:17 (one week ago) link
It's PSB's Discography for me, no contest, BUT
"Live Rust" -- still the best-nearest-thing to a good "Best of Neil Young" intro that isn't overlong"Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael" -- a lovely 1990s object, double CD chunky plastic case, handsome George on the packaging, and lots of Wham when they were still (somewhat) undervalued. The selection on "25" is better -- "Precious Box" is on it, for a start -- but this one is more perfect (and has a much better cover)
― Chuck_Tatum, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 13:58 (one week ago) link
Finally landed on the one single-disc greatest hits that rivals Earth Wind & Fire's
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/29/Respect-M.E..jpg
― Rich E. (Eric H.), Tuesday, 11 June 2024 14:07 (one week ago) link
No. Bowie's best comp is 1993's out of print Ryko The Singles Collection: every single through 1993. Essential.
― the talented mr pimply (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 9 June 2024 00:51 bookmarkflaglink
the thing with that one is, it isn't every single, and some of the songs weren't even released as singles. different track listings on UK vs US as well so they both have different omissions
― Colonel Poo, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 15:00 (one week ago) link
"Live Rust" -- still the best-nearest-thing to a good "Best of Neil Young" intro that isn't overlong
Live Rust has the weird reggae Cortez the Killer which drives me nuts
― A So-Called Pulitzer price winner (President Keyes), Tuesday, 11 June 2024 15:09 (one week ago) link
I like Live Rust, and Decade misses a lot--impossible not to over a modest three albums--but I'd still take Decade. The new songs were really exciting at the time, topped by unearthing "Sugar Mountain."
― clemenza, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 15:54 (one week ago) link
what's the best best-of/comp for a band/artist that never had an album? this one goes in my top ten:
https://i.discogs.com/8CWtgDpL4v8OLjsIc1evPLp-A3RrgMEWLUMQJicsoWQ/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:539/w:540/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTE2MTQ1/NzgtMTM4OTUwMTYw/MC02OTU3LmpwZWc.jpeg
― scott seward, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 16:03 (one week ago) link
also this. and if you have never listened to The Poets, you totally should!
https://i.discogs.com/mG4CiF1wKth3ZU9B_4-qTk1_kUpV8tAkF-mmXbFVxic/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:587/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTUwNzQ5/ODktMTU0NjI2NDMy/OC05NTU1LmpwZWc.jpeg
― scott seward, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 16:11 (one week ago) link
The Essential Taj Mahal. I don’t know lots about him, but this contains all the “hits” I knew of, and with two discs I don’t have an urgent need to research his dozens of other albums.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Monday, October 19, 2020
One of my all timers is his Best of vol 1 from ‘81,
― Heez, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 16:17 (one week ago) link
xposts
Lol this was the only version of Cortez I knew for a long time - when I eventually heard it on Decade, I was like "where's the reggae bit?"
― Chuck_Tatum, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 16:52 (one week ago) link
xps The Missy Elliott disc is awesome. Anyone know why it was never issued in the U.S.? (Not that it matters - imports for it are cheap. I got another copy last year to replace one a friend never gave back for $10.)
― birdistheword, Tuesday, 11 June 2024 18:57 (one week ago) link