Friday, December 18, 2009

Top 10 New Songs On Greatest Hits Compilations That Didn't Suck

Something was brought to my attention when a customer scoffed at the tracklisting of the recently released Foo Fighters Greatest Hits package. It seems to be a requirement for any artist that releases a greatest hits, to include at least one new song on it. Isn't this just a bit presumptuous? Do you honestly believe Rolling Stones, that those four new tunes deserved a spot amongst your other 36 Licks? "That Was Then, This Is Now"?...It's no wonder why Mike Nesmith wanted no part of The Monkees reunion (the 80's one at least). Given the current state of Roger Daltry's voice, I didn't even bother with the two new songs on the most recent Who best-of (coincidentally titled Then And Now). It's a trick nearly every existing band will stoop to when releasing a greatest hits album. The idea is that it tries to rope in a few more sales from the die hard fans that will shell out the sheckles for one or two more songs...only to take it home and hear second rate, pretend hit singles like "Untitled" by The Smashing Pumpkins or "Fame 90". This being said, here are a few exceptions to this rule:

10.  The Psychedelic Furs - "All That Money Wants" from All Of This And Nothing (1988)
9. Prince - "Pink Cashmere" from The Hits 1 (1993)
8. Blur - "Music Is My Radar" from Blur: The Best Of (2000) 
7. Beastie Boys - "Alive" from The Sounds Of Science (1999)*
6. Morrissey - "All You Need Is Me" from Greatest Hits (2008)
5. Prince - "Pope" from The Hits 2 (1993)**
4. Bob Dylan - "You Ain't Going Nowhere" from Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits Vol. II (1971)
3. Neil Young - "Winterlong" from Decade (1977)
2. The Cure - "Cut Here" from Greatest Hits (2001)
1. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "Mary Jane's Last Dance" from Greatest Hits (1993)

*technically not a greatest hits, but an anthology of hits, fan/band favorites, rarities, and unreleased tracks

**that's right...Prince is on there twice

2 comments:

  1. "Fortune Faded" on the Chili Peppers Greatest Hits is also an exception to this rule.

    ReplyDelete
  2. right, that song is great...wonder why?!

    ReplyDelete