10 Worst Greatest-Hits Album Mistakes
- Posted by Spinner Staff
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Do you remember that Madonna song 'Hollywood'? Neither do we. Which is why it's surprising to see it on her recent greatest-hits collection, 'Celebration.' Of course, it's not the first time an artist has messed with the best. Now, best-of records can be wonderful. And they simplify life by keeping us from buying more than one Steve Miller record. Still, performers and labels often find ways to take the "great" out of greatest hits, which is why we count down the 10 worst greatest-hits album mistakes.
10. Omission of Key Songs
Unless you're the Beatles and can't possibly fit all your greatest hits on one record, your best-of better include all the best. On 'The Very Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates,' the duo's yearning single 'She's Gone' -- one of their top three songs -- is noticeably missing. Yet, the inferior 'Wait for Me' is there. Of course, 'She's Gone' was included on subsequent greatest-hits albums, which leads us to ...
9. Too Many Greatest-Hits Albums
If you thought John Mellencamp's 'The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988' would be followed by a similarly priced 'Best That I Could Do 1988-,' you probably felt like a sucker when he released 'Words and Music' instead. That more expensive collection contained everything from the first greatest-hits album, plus songs that would have filled a follow-up, setting up the question, "Why didn't they just release 'Words and Music' to begin with?"
8. The "Previously Unreleased" Single
Bands want to make you think you're getting a bonus by adding a new song to a greatest-hits record. But acts always save the good stuff for the next studio album, so the "previously unreleased" songs are usually terrible. The Red Hot Chili Peppers had the sense to put 'Save the Population' at the end of their 2003 best-of compilation. Sugar Ray weren't as considerate: In their case, new songs were probably needed to fill the album, leading us to ...
7. You're Not Worthy!
When a band releases a best-of record, there's a presumption that the band has has lots of hits. But let's face it: Many musicians have no business pretending to be that good. Smash Mouth's 'All Star,' 'Walkin' on the Sun' and 'Why Can't We Be Friends?' were all good singles. But can you name another Smash Mouth tune? And, don't forget, 'Why Can't We Be Friends?' was originally a War song.
6. Inclusion of Cover Songs
Granted, Smash Mouth's cover song was technically a hit. But in many cases, artists include versions of other people's hits to fatten a thin package. So it shouldn't surprise you to know that Sugar Ray's greatest hits includes covers of Cyndi Lauper's 'Time After Time' and Joe Jackson's 'Is She Really Going Out With Him?' It'd be different if the remakes were better than the originals. But you're better off hearing Simple Minds sing 'Don't You (Forget About Me)' than Billy Idol.
5. B Sides and Rarities
If you're U2 or Bruce Springsteen, even your rejects are wonderful. But for most bands, there's a reason some songs never made it to an album. Faith No More's also-rans, added on a second CD of 'The Very Best Definitive Ultimate Greatest Hits Collection,' prove that some songs are better left on the shelf. We recommend you exercise caution with Snoop Dogg's upcoming 'The Lost Sessions, Vol. 1.'
4. Lack of Chronology
Listen to 'The Very Best of Marvin Gaye' and you'll note the progression of the his music -- from formulaic hitmaker to socially conscious soul pioneer. When greatest-hits albums include tracks in chronological order, not only do you get a sense of the artist's growth but also the music just flows better. 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' simply doesn't sound right coming just before 'Superstition' on 'Stevie Wonder -- Song Review: Greatest Hits.'
3. The Late-Era Song
While nobody wants to hear anything Boston did after the '70s, the band felt compelled to bog down its greatest hits with 'Livin' for You,' a sappy track that didn't even feature the voice of Boston, Brad Delp. Acts need to know when they've jumped the shark. So, Phil Collins and Elton John? Hold the Disney songs, please.
2. The Same Song Twice
Labels, please -- just give us the best version of a song. Sheryl Crow's cover of 'First Cut Is the Deepest' was unremarkable to begin with. But on her 'Very Best of Sheryl Crow,' it actually appears twice: once as the "country version." A&M rightfully rereleased the Police's 'Every Breath You Take: The Classics' with the original version of 'Don't Stand So Close to Me.' But it goofed when it kept the lackluster, slowed-down 1986 version on the record as well.
1. The Live Version
Sure, there's a place for live singles -- on live albums. Greatest-hits albums should include only studio recordings. On one of Foreigner's best-of albums, 'Hot Blooded' -- one of the band's finest moments -- appears as a meth-paced live track, taking all the muscle out it. While the Grateful Dead were famous for their live shows, the two live tracks from 'Skeletons From the Closet' seem out of place grouped with cleaner studio tracks.
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Reader Comments(1 of 5)
Triciaat 10-20-2009
My gosh, some of these are so true; especially the one about not being worthy. I've seen greatest albums by bands who I consider one hit wonders. Also, some people release greatest hits collections after like 2 albums! That's crazy! I happen to think that greatest hits are overrated, some bands hit their mark with only one album and that's all you need to hear!
hiat 10-31-2009
I disagree. I think the author of the article missed the point of a greatest hits album, which is typically to provide fans with a band's best few songs (considering the origins in a time where singles weren't always easy to find, and the internet didn't exist as a market for music) without forcing them to buy all of the albums, or intended to provide a fan with a wide sampling of a band's work and things that wouldn't be published on a regular studio album.
they're typically to introduce the band to bigger audiences easily, for casual fans, or hardcore fans.
cover songs and B-sides are a great way to flesh out the tail of a greatest hits album as you're not going to find them most anywhere else, and a true fan would appreciate it greatly.
the only real gripe I'd ever have with a greatest hits album is in popular omissions or a band simply having too many.
Rayat 11-01-2009
Tricia, you are right- but why write new songs when I can make 3 more albums with 4 covers and the 2 albums I already made. Geez, I am a Musician, I don't have time to work :)
Jeffat 10-21-2009
This is good stuff, however, it should be noted that the vast majority of these decisions are not made by the artists. Bands generally have clauses in their contracts requiring greatest hits releases or labels take it upon themselves to release them without consulting the artist because the labels love the fact that this kind of release costs them nothing in dollars or headaches. Some bands get to decide what they want on there, but mostly it's the label that does that for them.
Matthew Smithat 10-21-2009
The exception that proves the rule for the Previously Unreleased Single is Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance." It was recorded for the Greatest Hits album, and subsequently became one of their greatest hits. One of many reasons why that CD is the best hits collection ever.
Dougat 10-21-2009
All good, but I want to add an 11th. Shortening the classic song. On Aerosmith's Greatest Hits, the first one that came out forever ago, from 1981. On Sweet Emotion, they completely skip the awesome trippy intro and cut straight to where the vocals start. I had to grow up with that as a kid, not knowing how it really sounded until I was almost a teenager. That is criminal.
philat 10-31-2009
Doug: you are absolutely correct. You were cheated! This stunt has been going on forever. I believe it was originally developed to conserve time. I, being much older than you, remember this being done on The Four Seasons track...Dawn.
I was livid when this was done on a "best of" Cheap Trick (how appropriate)"Want you to want me" LP.
Aerojadedat 11-01-2009
I agree 100%. Sweet Emotion is my favorite song ever & its just not right without that amazing intro. I did love it when the drums were redone for the Armageddon soundtrack. It rocks even harder and makes you want to forgive all those years of missing out. LOL
p curleyat 11-26-2009
Doug - I can relate to this too. In 1971 there was a hit by the 5 Man Electrical Band called "Signs" which had an approximately 23 second guitar intro before before the first vocal. When the song aappeared on a compliation CD of some kind, this intro was conspicuous by its abscence. I said to myself "What happened to the rest of the song" Yes, this is a "booby trap" on some of these. You could also add a 12th. A re-recording that sounds very different from the original.
Frank Pazasisat 1-22-2010
Not only Sweet Emotion, but Same Ol' Song and Dance featured an edited AM cut with different lyrics. There was a classic rock radio station in LA that was using it in the 90's. I couldn't take it and emailed the program director, and they changed it to the regular album cut.
baconfatat 10-21-2009
re: The Grateful Dead album - it's called Skeletons FROM the Closet. Also, the live version of "One More Saturday Night" (originally from the Europe '72 live album) is obviously superior to the studio version from the Bob Weir "solo" album Ace. And Pigpen doing the heavily-edited "Turn On Your Love Light" (originally on Live/Dead) was probably included because it was a huge part of their repertoire (and growing legacy as a monster live act) during Pigpen's lifetime. That, or because the edited version was included on a Warner Bros. sampler LP that was sold as a loss-leader, and they probably had a loophole in the contract which allowed them to not pay the band any royalties for the track.
General Apathy and Major Boredomat 10-21-2009
Sugar Ray's "Best of" CD blew!! Who the heck cares about the covers and OMG how many times can "Time After Time" be redone?! WTF! That wasn't even a good song to begin with and just about every sucky band has covered it. Go figure. There were too many bad songs on that CD and not enough substance, but then again that's how their shows are too. They keep their set list to 10 or 11 songs and never do any of the really old stuff. Does anyone even listen to them anymore??
2fsat 10-21-2009
I disagree on the "b-sides and rarities" thing - at least so long as they're confined to a second disc *and* the set is sold at single-disc price (or single-album download price).
Johnny Bacardiat 10-21-2009
The only way "Wait for Me" is inferior to "She's Gone" is if you're a bean-counter, and numbers are more important in your world-view than good music. In my opinion, OF COURSE.
Gortat 11-01-2009
AGREED. "Wait for Me" is a classic. "She's Gone" is an OK early song.
Scott Stuitat 10-21-2009
I agree with the editing of the songs on GH albums. Also, I hate when they split their best songs onto 2 GH editions. Example: Gordon Lightfoot splits The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and Sundown onto 2 different albums.
Patrickat 11-02-2009
Scott,
Sometimes it depends on when the songs are recorded as to when they get put in greatest hits collections. The "split" between "Sundown" and "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was because of when the individual songs and the respective "Gord's Gold" albums were all recorded / released. "Gord's Gold," which included great songs like "Sundown," "Old Dan's Records," "Carefree Highway" and "If You Could Read My Mind," was released in late 9174 / early 1975. The Great Lakes ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald sank on November 10th, 1975. The song, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was released on the "Summertime Dream" album that came out in 1976. I always thought it was the great irony of Gordon Lightfoot's career that he released a greatest hits album (with a number of excellent songs) and then proceeded to have have arguably his greatest / signature hit. Like many other things in life, it's all a matter of timing.
Julien Peter Benneyat 10-22-2009
This is extremely logical stuff.
However, there is a catch. It would often be more than pointless to have a greatest hits album if every song (or even almost every one) were available on individual albums. If there are a mere few not so available, they can now be reissued with the other songs easily and in such a way as to minimise loss of flow.
Of the flaws listed, the worst has to be having too many greatest-hits albums. When I was a child Police fan I had that problem, and I did with other 1980s groups I have now (largely) grown out of.
The most excusable flaw would be adding B-sides, since if they're rare and of value, as some of the Police songs might be considered - or Kate Bush's rare B-sides.
WMGat 10-31-2009
Your story holds true ever for older groups. Those of us old enough to remember Moby Grape will recall that their two-disc "Best of" CD was, basically, their complete first album on one disc, and the second disc was full of songs most of us never heard, studio out-takes, and unworthy alternate versions.
adrastia9at 10-31-2009
I've never really paid attention to greatest hits song chronology. I honestly don't care if their first hit is at the end of the album. I use the program button most of the time anyway. But I can imagine that it bothers some people that it's not in the most logical order.
As for the Disney songs, yeah you could just play those for your kids. But unless they became huge hits they don't need to be on a Greatest Hits album. I do enjoy compilations that feature demo tracks though.