The 25 Best "Best Of" Albums

[Jahfin]

"Greatest Hits" collections are a tricky bunch. Some people never had a lot of hits and get to write their history as they see fit (Nirvana, Neil Young). Others had so many hits, the collections write themselves (Elvis Presley, The Eagles, Al Green, The Beatles). Besides, there are more than 25 deserving artists. I could've compiled 200 and Y! Music would've found me dying at the bottom of the hamster wheel whispering..."Golden Grass, Grass Roots...Otis Redding...Sam Cooke...Motorhead...Tom Waits...Placebo...Replacements..."

Then there are performers where you're better off just buying their actual studio albums. If you want more Meat Loaf, buy Bat Out Of Hell. If you like Bruce Springsteen, get Born To Run or Darkness On The Edge Of Town. The Sex Pistols only made one album and then a ton of ripoffs.

But you have to draw limits and to some degree attempt a little something called balance. And you have to have a little fun. Will Radiohead's new greatest hits album redefine the genre? Probably not. But it could serve as an introduction for people looking to be casually introduced. Which is what these collections do. For some, it's all you need. Unless you're obsessed or something.

The numbers are sometimes arbitrary. Everyone had to fit somewhere. Whether the greatness of Motown really should fall behind the Smiths and the Cure is probably reason to have my lights punched out, but I considered the number 19 to be luckier than 15 or 16, so there was a certain amount of superstition involved. Which reminds me that Stevie Wonder should've been on this list. But he isn't. But then neither is Hank Williams or Muddy Waters or Sheryl Crow or Randy Newman or The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band or the Jam...you get the idea...

To read the list click here.

[jimmie ray]

There are a number of groups that I like in general, but honestly don't enjoy some of their albums the whole way through - Greastest Hits albums work good in this case. Why there would be a Beatles or Jimi Hendrix Greatest Hits album is beyond me, though...

[Bong-Man]

Whether the greatness of Motown really should fall behind the Smiths and the Cure is probably reason to have my lights punched out,

...he got one thing right.

[jimmie ray]

I'm not familiar with the Smiths or Cure, but assume these are names of single bands. Motown, I believe, is a general term for many groups of a certain genre that came from a specific area. How does all that get lumped into one album, without leaving out very important contributions?

[lzfan715]

I've not heard all of them, but I have Echoes on vinyl and it's good.

[jimmie ray]

Is "Echoes" the greatest hits of Floyd that cuts out the whale noises in the actual song "Echoes"? Normally, that would be unforgiveable - but I will admit it makes it more listenable for the average listener.