I always admired Jimmy Buffet for putting out an album titled “Jimmy Buffet’s Greatest Hit(s)”. I like a lot of his songs, but at least he was honest enough to admit that outside of a rather dedicated fan base most people haven’t heard a thing he’s done since Margaritaville.
and rightfully so!
I am with you except for Abba, I guess I heard it once too many times in college.
Thanks for the feedback, I think The Avalanches are very interesting.
On the subject of people whose track record of hits is less than stellar, Debby Boone actually put out a greatest hits album with the subtitle (painted onto the cover, not a sticker on the shrink wrap) Includes the Hit Single You Light Up My Life. Talk about a one-hit wonder.
Truth be known, though, sometimes a two or three album group’s best stuff can be condensed into one album (probably saving the record company some dough by not having to re-release all the albums). And while not all the songs were hit singles, necessarily, they may have been cuts that got a decent amount of radio airplay (remember Album Oriented Rock stations?)
Wang Chung has a greatest hits album.
(inarticulate sputtering)
You… you… you bikwitus! You big poopyhead!
(more inarticulate sputtering)
-Rue. (a Parrothead from way-back)
The Beatles’ Red and Blue albums were released just after they broke up. I believe John said in an interview that they did it because bootleg “greatest hits” albums were coming out, and the Beatles were losing money.
Try this on for size sports fans,
Limahl has a greatest hits disc.
That’s right, Limahl. Ex-Kajagoogoo, who have their own greatest hits disc. Granted they did do “Too Shy”, but is that enough to warrant a “best of” compilation for the group AND for the singer after he left the group?
After saying all that though, I tend to be a fan of some types of greatest hits releases. I don’t like the Eagles enough to go out and buy one of their regular albums, but I did buy their greatest hits to satisfy any cheesy California dino-rock cravings I may have.
Both the Smiths greatest hits albums are very good, as is the best of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
Isn’t the Eagles greatest hits album one of the best selling albums of the last 20 or so years?
Actually, the real champions of greatest hits albums are the Bonzo Dog Band. Here are a list of their compilation albums:
1970 The Best of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
1974 History of the Bonzos
1984 Very Best of Bonzo Dog Band
1989 The Bestiality of the Bonzo Dog Band
1991 The Best of the Bonzo Dog Band
1992 The Bonzo Dog Band
1998 Cornology
1999 Anthropology
2000 Vol. 2: The Outro
2000 Vol. 3: Dog Ends
2001 New Tricks
There are also two live albums. Pretty good for a group that only put out four albums to begin with (plus a reunion album) and broke up in 1969.
Of course, I’m delighted that they continue to release music by one of the greatest bands ever.
Yup. In fact if trends continue it’s on track to become the single best-selling album of all time. “Thriller” currently holds that distinction, but the Eagles are gaining ground.
Nothing beats the greatest hits of Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer… on the same cd… I bought it for $3.99 at Circuit City.