At last I have found an article that says essentially what I have been saying for years now. Most of the greatest hits albums are nothing more than a cheap attempt to make a buck. I don’t think that it was always this way.
Let me clarify that. I think that there was always a desire to make money off of the greatest hits, but it used to be that a band was around for a while. They had to stand the test of time before they could put out an album of so called greatest hits. That is not really the case anymore.
I thought that the following excerpt from the article was worth sharing as it sums much of this up.
Some greatest-hits records take on a life of their own — like the Eagles’ “Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975),” which is the best-selling album ever in the U.S. Similarly, Bob Marley’s “Legend” was (and still is) a sensation. At one point, it spent 106 straight weeks atop the Nielsen SoundScan catalog chart.
Other bands like U2 and Aerosmith have been criticized for their seemingly unceasing parade of greatest-hits albums. U2 followed 1998’s “The Best of 1980-1990” and 2002’s “The Best of 1990-2000” with 2006’s “U218 Singles.” Last year’s “Devil’s Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith” was the band’s eighth compilation over the course of their 27-year career.
Now I just really want the best songs.
That is really why I enjoy iTunes.
I do have some problems with Greatest Hits albums. If I were to get ELO’s greatest hits I’d want Telephone Line, Can’t get it out of my head and one other, that I forget right now. Now matter how many different iterations, I cannot find all 3 on the same album.
On the other side, once I was a purist. Now I just really want the best songs. The Eagles 71-75 is one of the best albums I own. As is Chronicle I by CCR, Tom Petty’s Greatest hits and the Cream of Clapton.
However I’ve seen the Rolling Stones Jump Back 1971-1993 and wonder why? I’d be much happier with Through the Past Darkly that ends with Wild Horses. And I can’t figure out why anyone would pass on Chicago IX for the Greatest hits album that starts with Hot Streets (I think).
It really varies from artist to artist.
Mark,
I work hard to stay a step ahead of you.
Benning,
That is why I use iTunes.
And somtimes it’s the only way to get the hits of a band without bankrupting yourself trying to buy all the albums they have made.
I was gonna publish a KOTGD’s Greatest Hits of Blogging but I see you’re on to my little scam…