The greatest Greatest Hits collection

Agree with those who have said Squeeze. Two I would add:
Old 97’s: Hit by a Train
Guided by Voices: Human Amusement at Hourly Rates

Both sum up the bands’ careers nicely and are sequenced well. They’re both my defaults when I want to listen to either.

Judas Priest - Metal Works is a great one for those that are new to JP because it successfully covers all of the eras through Painkiller and it orders them in a way where it's not chronological, which is boring.

Singles Going Steady is really the right answer to this.

Palace of Swords Reversed is the best introduction to the Fall and i've probably played it more than any of their proper album. But it doesn't have their characteristic sprawl, it's very manageable. It feels abridged, or actually more like an excerpt. It's a lot like looking at a detail of a larger picture.

There's something about it that feels 'cheap' or thrown together. The licensing thing makes sense.

The A List is an example of the inverse, I think. Like Os Mutantes' best of, where it's hard to single out one of the first three albums as the best, but any one of them would be way better than the comp.

Same, but the b-side comp doesn't really work as a listening experience, and they still haven't reissued Brimstone and Treacle with the wonderful Sting solo track "Only You", or the Klark Kent stuff, and any proper playlist of "weird Police" should include those as well as a few Rumblefish cuts.

well yeah their b-sides were all over the place so I understand that. I actually had no idea they released such a thing and looking at it now it doesn't include "I Burn For You" which is nuts, it's legitimately one of Sting's best tunes. must be some kind of rights issue with the soundtrack. anyway I'd be all in on a "weird Police" playlist though really this would be like 75% Stewart Copeland stuff wouldn't it? I mean that Klark Kent comp really does sound like a lost Police album to me

Re: Steely Dan, I prefer the albums, but they did release a two-LP set in the '70s that's really good. The outtake "Here At The Western World" is bait - it was later included on other compilations including Gold - and I would have preferred that they replaced it with "Deacon Blues." Had they released this set a few years later, they could have also included "FM" and "Hey Nineteen." With those tweaks, it would have been a perfect 20-track "hits" set, but it's still a great listen as-is.

What's the consensus among Fall fans (I am not one) re 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong? I bought it when it came out, liked one or two songs, but was not won over.

The Steely Dan compilation I had was 1985's A Decade of Steely Dan.

Split Enz (wisely omitting the pre Neil stuff to make a coherent new wave statement)

There's a light sprinkling of early stuff on disc 2 of Spellbound, the .au/NZ best of.

xp I’m a Fall fan [thru ‘89 or so] but never heard a Fall comp, and can’t really imagine it being a good vehicle for the group—or at least their early material.

Oh, I forget about the 458489 comps. Those are good.

I like 458489, it was done very well. Covers a specific period, which makes it a better and more cohesive listen.

IIRC, A Decade of Steely Dan was an early CD that was supposed to help sell the format. The original edition does sound great, it uses Roger Nichols's digital transfers of the original master tapes. (Nichols knew CD's would probably take-off and made sure the best possible digital masters would be ready ahead of time.) Even though it covers the entire span of their pre-reunion output, It's a little short at 14 songs so It's missing key songs.

> Like Os Mutantes' best of, where it's hard to single out one of the first three albums as the best, but any one of them would be way better than the comp.

Wow, I gotta say I think this is one of the very best single-artist single-disc comps out there, in the exalted firmament of In The Jungle Groove (another one not yet mentioned), but I spent so much money on the albums when they were import cds in the 90s that I sometimes forget to put it on instead. The selection of very un-Mutantes sounding late-period tracks - the english Baby, the fake mexican and fake santana songs - is inspired because they end up giving the comp a sort of sprawling weird diversity.

We haven't really talked about this genre of 90s world reissue comps... Serge Gainsbourg's Comic Strip/du Jazz dans le Ravin, Best Best of Fela Kuti, Ethiopiques, 100% dynamite, mondo morricone, etc...

No one's mentioned De La Soul's Timeless yet.

Well, Ethiopiques and 100% Dynamite were V/A comps, and "Mondo Morricone" is not a 'greatest hits' collection.
xp

He has at least several 'greatest hits' type releases, most notably the 'Fistful of Film Music' Anthology, but there are dozens of better 'specialty' compilations for each style.

For the "mondo" stuff 'Eviva! Morricone' has been my go-to.

The Best Best of Fela Kuti is kinda weak because it cuts the songs down, frequently omitting the long instrumental sections that kicked them off.

Haha, I can think of a couple of artists who would arguably be well served by a compilation that omits the long instrumental sections, but Fela Kuti obviously isn't one of them. That's a dealbreaker.

Hard disagree on the Steely Dan comp also. Some things just can't be abridged.

― enochroot, Monday, June 28, 2021 3:34 PM (two hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

Oh I'm with you--no SD compilation is a substitute for the original albums, but because I was introduced to Steely Dan via the Gold compilation at a very young age I have a soft spot for those particular tracks in that particular order. It was a trip to hear the studio version of "Bodhisattva" several years later after only knowing the raucous mid-fi live version with the drunken intro monologue from that comp.

My intro was the Showbiz Kids comp, which has the same problem: it's so good, I had to get all the albums. I never listen to the comp anymore

I have the Every Breath You Take: The Classics comp, and I do like it better than any of their albums, but I'd slot at least a few more tracks on it. Weird that it's missing "So Lonely" and "Canary in a Coalmine", two songs I've heard on the radio

Howard Jones and Style Council have enjoyable best-ofs but I've never felt the need to go further

Turns out "Singles Going Steady" is a comp. I wasn't sure until just now.

― billstevejim, Friday, July 20, 2018 5:39 PM (two years ago) bookmarkflaglink

I keep second guessing that one too

― Gâteau Superstar (dog latin), Friday, July 20, 2018 5:41 PM (two years ago) bookmarkflaglink

It's a comp, but it sort of stands apart because most of those songs don't appear on any other album.

It's a comp that plays like an 'all killer no filler' album. Which is remarkable considering the chronological sequencing. It's also very clever. The title is clever, putting the b-sides on side b is clever...

Going for the obvious ones but these are the ones I either own or I have seen on my friends' houses:

ABBA - ABBA Gold
Al Green – Greatest Hits
Björk – Greatest Hits
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Legend
Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady
Joy Division - Substance
New Order - Substance
Fugazi - 13 Songs
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Chronicle
The Cure - Galore
Rolling Stones - Forty Licks
Depeche Mode - The Singles 86>98

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91f9RepvqrL._SX355_.jpg

this creedence collection is by no means comprehensive -- it only has five songs on it -- but it's perfect for when you want to ball and have a good time

cash money records platinum hits vol 1
oyasumi hologram 1
perfume complete best

No one's mentioned De La Soul's Timeless yet.

The U.S. version (or maybe just the most common version worldwide) is a great singles compilation, but that's another one that got a different track list elsewhere, this time in Australasia. The U.S. version is better, though De La Soul Is Dead had some great tracks weren't released as singles so a singles collection can't do it justice.

The Best Best of Fela Kuti is kinda weak because it cuts the songs down, frequently omitting the long instrumental sections that kicked them off.

Unfortunately, those tracks are so long that a concise best-of or "hits" collection isn't possible without big edits. Similar to James Browne's 20 All-Time Greatest Hits!! (all single edits which cut out a lot, if not nearly as much), I think The Best Best of Fela Kuti is a nice sampler and a good intro for those completely new to his musical world. But a box set compilation would be great too for those who prefer those tracks uncut.

I have the Every Breath You Take: The Classics comp, and I do like it better than any of their albums, but I'd slot at least a few more tracks on it. Weird that it's missing "So Lonely" and "Canary in a Coalmine", two songs I've heard on the radio

Yeah, Greatest Hits had "So Lonely," though it didn't have "Canary in a Coalmine." "When the World...." and "Driven to Tears" are also great and the former got a ton of radio play - I put those on my homemade comp. Zenyatta Mondatta is possibly the only Police LP that I might like from start-to-finish.

Turns out "Singles Going Steady" is a comp. I wasn't sure until just now.

Possibly the greatest album ever made from a basic singles compilation. I didn't realize it when I first got it because it sounded so cohesive, but when I got familiar with the band, I discovered that they actually sequenced the 45 A-sides on the LP's A-side, and the 45 B-sides on the LP's B-side. You could say that's unimaginatively logical and straightforward, but it plays so well, some things just work themselves out.

*James BROWN

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/4TcAAOSw4eRgfe1M/s-l500.jpg

It's def "Singles Going Steady"

But I think my second fave is Motorhead "No Remorse"

No Remorse is a great compilation because Lemmy got word that the label was gonna put one out, so he took the project over and sequenced it himself, plus added four tracks by the then-new lineup of the band to prove that they weren't has-beens.

Re James Brown, a standard "greatest hits" is never gonna do it — the compilations from the late '90s centered on short time periods are fantastic: Funk Power 1970: A Brand New Thang, Make It Funky: The Big Payback 1971-75, and Dead on the Heavy Funk: 1975-83.

Emperor did an excellent best of. I prefer it to listening to their albums

Emperor did an excellent best of. I prefer it to listening to their albums

Did they pull a ZZ Top and overdub the drums?

This Cat Stevens CD is surprisingly good, maybe the best out there:
https://www.discogs.com/release/594021-Cat-Stevens-Remember-The-Ultimate-Collection

Look like his own indie release, but it reuses what may be the masters from the original Island CD releases, supposedly the best sounding digital masterings of his music. The type of compilation I like from an artist that doesn't figure among my favorites - scoops up all the best stuff and puts them together in a way that leaves the impression that there's more to explore. Sometimes I'll be disappointed or sometimes I'll find I've underestimated them, but the point is it makes me give the rest of their catalog another chance. Even if a revisit proves disappointing, at least the hits CD earns them a secure place on my shelves.

Or rather not an indie release, Discogs lists Island and I just noticed their logo on some parts, though not very conspicuous

Ghastly album art, though.

oh yeah. that's why i thought it was a self-release

I've never heard that particular compilation, but I really doubt that mixing up his 60s pop songs with the 70s folk songs would work (instead of putting them in chronological order).

omg - that cover art is all-time

I've never heard that particular compilation, but I really doubt that mixing up his 60s pop songs with the 70s folk songs would work (instead of putting them in chronological order).

Yeah, chronological might be better. It generally is for compilations. I'm not a fan though, so mixing it up still works for me - I think the changes keep me on my toes.

The cover is awful, but I'll say it's kind of charming to me. Like I never think of Cat Stevens unless he pops up in a good movie like Rushmore. But the title feels more like "Remember Cat Stevens?" to me, like "whatever happened to him?" and the picture tells you everything there is, even in its low-budget look - the guy's on a different path and a long, loooong way from the music business.

Really wish ABBA Gold had replaced "Thank You for the Music" with "Lay All Your Love on Me." Would've made that disc perfect for me (and all the ABBA I'd ever need).

After going through Rufus's catalog, I have a much greater appreciation for The Very Best of Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - their albums aren't bad, they really stand out as a singles band, and that compilation (originally released in 1982) scoops up all the hits. On paper it sounds utilitarian, but it really is their best stuff and it's sequenced into THE great Rufus album IMHO. I don't even fault them for missing out on their last hit, "Ain't Nobody" from 1983 - the sound is so different, it would have disrupted the cohesiveness of the whole LP. I just wish one of the audiophile labels would remaster it - the current CD was done in the '90s, and it sounds too bright to me. (First pressing even had an egregious error on "Once You Get Started," where they overlooked a bad splice that messed up the master tape. Some copies are still out there even though MCA had a replacement program for it.) Also the packaging really sucks, like they were told to whip up something on a $5 dollar budget:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/516xyaGasyL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg

If could they just fix the presentation, it would go over as an essential addition to any music library.

^^ bought this about 10 years ago, and, yeah, it needs "Ain't Nobody" and a better sleeve.

Cover Connection:

https://i.discogs.com/Xn7Wd8OmNryNDcgU_i52OAl7vn0Vw8Loc1vdDW_0Ros/rs:fit/g:sm/q:90/h:600/w:600/czM6Ly9kaXNjb2dz/LWRhdGFiYXNlLWlt/YWdlcy9SLTEyNDA0/Mjc5LTE1MzQ2MDQ4/MDEtNjMzMy5qcGVn.jpeg

Also early '80s -- was there a darts craze or something?

Visually punning on the theme of 'Hits'?

The Eagles one brings to mind skee ball even though the holes don't line up in a straight line.

I wonder how many "hits" collections used a pun for their cover art? Joni's was the first one I ever noticed - it's kind of a dopey joke but I always find it amusing:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51pCD45UWRL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg

Extending the idea to her "misses" helped make an impression:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41t3MmoCCPL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg

Public Enemy's take on the same idea is especially memorable:

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zV4MbTTCL._SX300_SY300_QL70_ML2_.jpg

there's an Australian band called Mondo Rock who I assume have zero profile outside Australia - I think of them as late 1960's rock vets trying to get a bite of the new wave cherry but unable to totally overcome their yacht rock leanings - with enjoyably FM-friendly results

ANYWAY while they were still a going concern they released a greatest hits record which is absolutely the only Mondo Rock record you might need (if you needed one at all, I absolutely do)

BUT the CLEVER BIT is that they included a new non-album single - 'THE MOMENT' and the hits LP is called 'UP TO THE MOMENT' - do you SEE?

I gave a Pop Con talk on the very subject.

Hah, that's awesome! Thanks Alfred!

xp LOL, that's like a Norm MacDonald joke.

Devo also, with the Hits and Misses thing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo%27s_Greatest_Hits#/media/File:Devo_Greatest_Hits.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devo%27s_Greatest_Misses#/media/File:Devo_Greatest_Misses.jpg