Listenin to my Beatles 1 cd got me thinking of a question.
On the 1 cd, which is a compilation of the great works of the Beatles, it neglected to put a few very popular/influential/controversial songs on there. One such song being Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band. Now here comes the actual question.
Why, on some compilation CDs, do they neglect songs that were the most popular/ Namesake of an album?
The reason that album is called “1” is because all of the songs on it went to #1 on the singles charts. “SPLHCB” was not a single, and so, could not be included.
So that you will have to buy the album to get the song you like. Sure, SPLHCB was a great song and didn’t make it to numero uno when it first came out, but you remember it and want it. GOTCHA!
Actually, the album debuted at #1 on June 3, 1967 and stayed there until October 28th.
But did the song?
I’m not sure what you’re asking. The song was not issued on a 45 RPM single, so it did not make the singles chart. The album as a whole made its entrance into the world at #1. “Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite” isn’t regarded as a record that went to #1, because it wasn’t a single, either, although it was on the same #1 album.
If I may try and clear it up:
The Beatles “1” CD is a *not *a ‘best of’ or ‘greatest hits’ compilation. It is a compilation of all SINGLES that made it to #1 on the US chart. If a radio airplay single did not get to #1, it will not appear on “1”. I believe this is covered in the liner notes.
Your question still applies to compilations in general I suppose, but not in the cas eof “1”.
Minor correction: some of the songs on Beatles 1 were #1 British singles, but not number 1 in the U.S. But you’re correct – it was billed as a collection of all #1 singles by the Beatles, and as such, SPLCB did not qualify for inclusion.
In general, compilation albums include the most popular of the group’s songs, plus some less popular ones that are considered especially good. It’s inevitable that some serious fans will have favorites that aren’t included (for instance, Legendary Hits by the Allman Brothers Band does not include “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” but I suspect it had to do with the length of the song). When you have a lot of material, you can’t include it all, and the decision is ultimately made by whoever’s compiling the album, even if the choices may leave out songs an individual fan would want included.
I smell what you’re steppin in.
Another example is the Christian Contemporary band Newsboys. On their greatest hits cd (Shine- The greatest hits), they neglected to include Love, Liberty, Disco which was the namesake of the album they had just released months earlier. a very fine song, i might add, and none too long that it should be omitted.
It also depends who the compiler is. Sometimes it’s the artist himself/group itself and they have specific ideas of what should be on a “best of” compilation. If they’ve changed record labels during their career (and many have) they can probably only compile works from their current label. Look at the numerous Rolling Stones comps. Some on London, some on Rollling Stones records, some on Arista, I believe.