Greatest Greatest Hits

[dynatech]

What do forumites think are the outstanding "greatest hits" complilations of the last 30 years or so.... I'm not on about great collections compiled years after for the consumption of the cd market, but collections that were great albums in themselves and made a difference....
I'd like to nominate Queen's first Greatest Hits from 1981. As an album it flows seemlessly from one track to the next, 17 tracks with no rubbish culled from 9 studio albums (17 from 9, not 17 from 4 a la most acts these days), and let us not forget that they prolific enough to exclude smaller yet equally fine hits like "Tie Your Mother Down". I believe it's massive success also gave the band a new lease of life for the 80's and aided their massive popularity from 84 onwards. Certainly, there is not one track that is unfamiliar, would the likes of "Don't Stop Me Now" (UK#9 in March 1979) be as well known if it wasn't for Greatest Hits, every home seemed to have a copy!

[Jacques]

I'd have to say Everything and Nothing by David Sylvian. A retrospective of his carreer with Japan, Rain Tree Crow, Solo and Collaborations. Terrific stuff.

[randyandy]

For me it is the Joshua Tree by U2

Lots of albums have a track or two (if not more) that you don't mind skipping but this is one that I can listen to from start to finish.

If it's one for the effect it caused then, for me, it will always be Never Mind the Bollocks by the Sex Pistols.

[fudgeflaps]

A first posting that ends a thread- you've hit the nail on the head with that one IMO, dynatech.

I wonder which greatest hits have been compiled from ONE album- there must be a few, surely? Rick Astley et al..........

.........and the chancers who have one borderline 'hit' and cushion the rest of their 'greatest hits' with obscure filler. I pity the gullible twats who buy this stuff.

[steve56]

wouldnt buy queen for 10p sorry.

[Buckley]

How about a greatest greatest hits album that is just that, of which of course you'd never get concensus.

the 25 greatest hits ever:

Jailhouse Rock: Elvis Presley
Oh Carol: Chuck Berry
Be Bop a Lu La: Gene Vincent
Cathy's Clown: Everly Brothers
Peggy Sue: Buddy Holly
Telstar: Tornados
Town Without Pity: Gene Pitney
Change is Gonna Come: Sam Cooke
Wanna be Your Man: Rolling Stones
Elenor Rigby: Beatles
Bernadette: Four Tops
Shapes of Things: Yardbirds
I Can See For Miles: Who
Waterloo Sunset: Kinks
Heard it Through the Grapevine: Marvin Gaye
God only Knows: Beach Boys
All Along the Watchtower: Jimi Hendrix
Like a Rolling Stone: Bob Dylan
Staying Alive: Bee Gees
God Save the Queen: Sex Pistols
Tainted Love: Soft Cell
Smalltown Boy: Bronski Beat
Ghost Town: Specials
People Get ready: Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart
Born To Run: Bruce Springsteen

Now THAT's what I call music...

That CD would last me thanks

[KJ]

Joshua Tree - full of fine songs but given that it didn't have "Thriller"-level proportions of songs released as singles (100%?) I'm not sure it qualifies as a Greatest Hits album

Generally speaking, I hate "Greatest Hits" albums. They aren't necessarily the best songs on the albums whence they originally came and I don't understand the need to celebrate the "single" in that way. Albums are constructed as a body of work and should be celebrated as such.

"Best ofs" are a bit easier to forgive.

[Pervert]

Can I make a case for one of the earliest and best CDs I ever bought: Substance by New Order.

And KJ is right---Joshua Tree and Thriller are studio albums, not greatest hit compilations.

[Ace]

The Essential Clash is without doubt, the GREATEST Hits album you'd ever want to buy.......Trust me

[Deuce Bigolo]

Artists that were with 1 record Company during their lifetime are about the only ones whos compilations/best ofs would be deemed to be as least worthwhile buying

The Whos Greatist Hits is all class IMHO...20 songs that run seemlessly
Some of the The Rolling Stones are OK and some are diabolical

cheers
B....OZ