There seems to be a stigma towards the concept of a compilation album. For many bands it is an easy way to earn money, for others it is a reminder of their previous top material. Certainly Pink Floyd, Radiohead and The Beatles would have little interest in their compilations and would point out to their fans the albums they recorded themselves. The compilations of The Clash, Slade and Oasis proved that their previous material was far superior to many of the songs that were subsequently released. But in some cases, a compilation shows the brilliance and continued development of a band that was never fully realized on one of their studio LPs. In these cases, these builds should be considered your best work.
Manic Street Preachers: National Treasures (2011): The Holy Bible aside, Manic Street Preachers never mastered the album format. All of his albums featured moments of unmistakable genius, but most of them were crushed by a few mediocre tracks. But as a singles band, the Welsh band have been the most inventive and daring since The Beatles. His hard rock songs “You Love Us” and “Stay Beautiful” perform as brilliantly as the more punk-oriented “Faster,” “The Love of Richard Nixon” and “Autumnsong.” From Richey Edward’s menacing, politically oriented lyrics on his early singles to Nicky Wire’s more subdued poetic words on his latest tracks, National Treasures displays the kind of maturity that his AC / DC, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith influences never reached. . “Motorcycle Emptiness”, “A Design for Life” and “If you put up with this, your kids will be next” should convince you to buy that album on your own. A gluttonous treat presented on two discs.
Queen- Greatest Hits (1981) and Greatest Hits II (1991): A brilliant live band, Queen was quite unpredictable when it came to their studio albums. Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack were undoubtedly fantastic, but Jazz, The Miracle, and A Kind Of Magic are incredibly boring. Instead of buying one of their studio records, it may be better to buy one (or both) of the greatest hits. The first volume contains killer singles released between 1974-1980. With a view to hard rock “Now I`m Here”, mainstream pop “You`re My Best Friend”, gospel influenced “Somebody To Love”, their stage oriented to sing “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the champions “, as well as the greatest success of his career” Another one bites the dust. ” Oh, and Bohemian Rhapsody, the song that was voted the song of the millennium. Greatest Hits II may not be that popular, but it shows Queen’s transcendence from 70s metal to 80s pop, incorporating some of the best songs of the decade like “I Want To Break Free”, “Radio Gaga” , “Hammer To Fall”, as well as arguably the best collaboration in music, the Queen-David Bowie track “Under Pressure.” The magnificent “The Show Must Go On” also appears on the album, closing the curtain on one of the most exciting bands of all time. Both are a must buy for everyone!
Bee Gees – His Greatest Hits (2001): A two-disc set spanning thirty-five years of trio hits, this 2001 gem showcases the brilliant components of one of the best songwriting units. Starting with his meticulous sixties ballads “Massachusetts” and “I Started A Joke”, continuing with the seventies disco beauties “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Staying Alive” before ending with the satirical “This Is Where I Vine In “, Their Greatest Hits shows the continuous progression of the Gibb brothers. Despite a multitude of different genres, Barry Gibb’s blue-eyed voice, Robin Gibb’s vibrato, and Maurice Gibb’s delicate harmony transcend them all. The psychedelic “World”, the beatly beat “Nights On Broadway” and the eighties stomper “You Win Again” are all indicative of the talent of the masters of pop. Forget Odessa or Saturday Night Fever, this is the definitive Bee Gees album!
The Smiths-The Sound of The Smiths (2008)Although the Smiths have released a ridiculous number of compilation albums, this is the one that should be bought. Although the Smiths could produce great albums (“The Queen Is Dead” and “Strangeways, Here We Come” are particularly indicative of this), it was the production of 45 that Johnny Marr and Morrissey were truly in their element. From the rhythmic jingles of “This Charming Man” to the acoustic eccentricities of “You Just Haven`t Earned It Yet, Baby”, from the comically depressing “Heaven Knows I`m Miserable Now” to the morbid “That Joke Isn`t Funny “Anymore”, The Smiths really encapsulated the indie scene. Starting with the single “Hand In Glove” and ending with the epic “Last Night I Dreamed That Somebody Loved Me”, The Sound of The Smiths stands out with its twenty-four fabulous tracks.
Madonna- Celebration (2009): Compiling twenty-seven years of material is no small feat, but what is even more impressive is how cognitive it all sounds. From the sugar pop molasses of “Like A Virgin” to Justin Timberlake’s trendy duet “4 Minutes,” the massive compilation of tracks redeems the album’s bold title. Eccentric pop “Into The Groove”, esoteric club tracks “Vogue” and varied dance rhythms “Ray Of Light” abound on this record. A powerful back catalog that changed, developed yet with the same level of cheek and intrigue!