# "Fake" Best Of albums **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 12, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661 "2022-01-12T20:57:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/1 "2022-01-12T20:57:50Z")
The debut album by German punk/new wave legends Extrabreit was called “Ihre größten Erfolge”, which means “Their Greatest Successes”. It’s still the most beloved album of their catalog, but of course it was named ironically because they were nobodies when they released that album. Then there’s the infamous “Best Of The Beatles” album, by which Pete Best, the drummer who got the boot in 1962 for Ringo, wanted to cash in on the success of his former band mates. What are other examples of that trope? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/2 "2022-01-12T21:12:23Z")
Rock band Alien Ant Farm’s first two albums both had tongue-in-cheek titles in this vein: - Their first album was titled “Greatest Hits” - Their second album was titled “ANThology” (the term “anthology” is often used on actual greatest-hits albums) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/3 "2022-01-12T21:16:00Z")
_The Rutles_ compiled the best of four earlier albums that didn’t exist. It was all a parody of the Beatles. > **[The Rutles (album)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rutles_(album))** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Rutles (alternately titled Meet The Rutles) is a soundtrack album to the 1978 telemovie All You Need Is Cash. The album contains 14 of the tongue-in-cheek pastiches of Beatles songs that were featured in the film. > The primary creative force of the Rutles' music was Neil Innes, the sole composer and arranger of the songs. In the late 1960s, Innes had been the "seventh" member of Monty Python as well as one of the main artists behind the Bonz... ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/4 "2022-01-12T21:16:41Z")
English Punk Band **The Cockney Rejects** first two albums were **Greatest Hits Vol. 1** and **Greatest Hits Vol 2**. Neither were greatest hits compilations. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/5 "2022-01-12T21:25:14Z")
“Phil Ochs’ Greatest Hits” wasn’t a compilation, it was just another LB by the folksinger. [![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41H38SMA64L._QL70_ML2_.jpg) ](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41H38SMA64L._QL70_ML2_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/6 "2022-01-12T21:28:37Z")
On the cover of [The Residents’ first album](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meet_the_Residents) it says: > The First Album by North Louisiana’s Phenomenal Pop Combo “Phenomenal Pop” is… not quite accurate. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/7 "2022-01-12T22:19:02Z")
Someone gave me this album (which has absolutely nothing to do with great jazz funk songs): > **[20 Jazz Funk Greats](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_Jazz_Funk_Greats)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > > 20 Jazz Funk Greats is the third studio album by British industrial music group Throbbing Gristle, released in December 1979 by the band's label Industrial Records. It is known for its tongue-in-cheek title and artwork, and has been hailed as the band's best work, with UK magazine Fact naming it the best album of the 1970s, and Pitchfork naming it the best industrial album of all time. > 20 Jazz Funk Greats is the band's first full studio album,... ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/8 "2022-01-12T23:25:45Z")
Your mileage may vary but **Shades of Deep Purple** , the debut album by **Deep Purple** , could have served as the title of a Greatest Hits compilation in my opinion. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/9 "2022-01-12T23:39:27Z")
**Circle Jerks** ’ third album was titled _Golden Shower of Hits_. It was not a compilation album. The title track was a punky spoof of the Stars-on-45 style medleys that were popular at the time. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/10 "2022-01-12T23:44:32Z")
Well, if an album is called “A Golden _Shower_ Of Hits”, I think only naive folks took it for a serious Greatest Hits album… ETA: especially if the band is called Circle Jerks. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/11 "2022-01-12T23:49:00Z")
Ah, if I only knew how to fake a link to [No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLC5itS0THQ) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2022, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/12 "2022-01-12T23:58:32Z")
Oh, I thought of another one, Ween’s “12 Golden Country Greats”, which are not 12 covers of country classics as you might suppose , but 10(!) original spoofs of Country music, excellently delivered. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/13 "2022-01-13T00:08:40Z")
Sort of in the same vein: NRBQ released an album titled NRBQ At Yankee Stadium. And indeed, if you look closely, that’s them seated in the front row. [![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSwCRLO3ep8/Tw1v-jGBTiI/AAAAAAAAAhk/5gLU4yWJGWA/s1600/NRBQ+-+At+Yankee+Stadium_1978_Mercury_Front+Cover.jpg) ](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSwCRLO3ep8/Tw1v-jGBTiI/AAAAAAAAAhk/5gLU4yWJGWA/s1600/NRBQ+-+At+Yankee+Stadium_1978_Mercury_Front+Cover.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/14 "2022-01-13T00:13:57Z")
Not sure whether or not this counts: > **[Golden Hits of the Smothers Brothers, Vol. 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Hits_of_the_Smothers_Brothers,_Vol._2)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Golden Hits of the Smothers Brothers, Vol. 2 (released July 1966) is the Smothers Brothers' first greatest hits album. There is no Volume 1, but all of the routines had been performed on earlier comedy albums by the duo. These are not the same performances contained on other albums, making it a "new" album. There was not a true hits collection for the duo until Sibling Revelry: The Best of the Smothers Brothers released in 1988. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/15 "2022-01-13T01:33:15Z")
Then there are the presumptuous best of albums by bands with a small repertoire. _Dove: The Best of Belly_ is only the third album Belly released and the single song in their repertoire that even remotely qualifies as a hit, “Feed the Tree”, isn’t even on the Best of album in its original (radio hit) version. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/16 "2022-01-13T01:57:32Z")
Not an album, but the thread topic kind of reminds me of when _Community_ did a clip-show episode where none of the clips were from previously aired episodes. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/17 "2022-01-13T02:02:05Z")
_Mungo Jerry’s Greatest Hits_ – I think it would fit on a single-sided 45. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/18 "2022-01-13T02:05:04Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > the thread topic kind of reminds me of when _Community_ did a clip-show episode where none of the clips were from previously aired episodes. Long before that, the second episode of [_Clerks: The Animated Series_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerks:_The_Animated_Series) was a clip show. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/19 "2022-01-13T11:36:54Z")
How about **Hits Greatest Stiffs**? > **[Hits Greatest Stiffs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hits_Greatest_Stiffs)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Hits Greatest Stiffs is a various artists compilation album, drawn from ten of the first eleven Stiff Records singles, BUY 1 to BUY 11. > The tracks follow the numerical order of the singles, but feature mostly the B-sides, although several singles were originally issued as double A-sides. The other sides of the Motörhead and Elvis Costello tracks had appeared on the previous compilation album, A Bunch of Stiff Records. The missing single from the... A weird sorta-best-of (very much in a Stiff Records kind of way). Thing is, at the time these guys were pretty much a bunch of non-entities. Now the cast list reads like key figures in the music of the time, great artists - and some non-entities. j ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2022, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661/20 "2022-01-13T16:09:45Z")
That’s the one I came to post. And I agree…it is excellently delivered. Fantastic album. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-best-of-albums/957661.md?page=2)