Why do artists release greatest hits collections then put out new albums? LL Cool J, Mariah Carey and even Prince himself have used this tactic...Is it a deperate bid for record sales? Or a means of fufilling contractual obligation without recording new material? Or is it just a sign of the beginning of the descending arc of an artist's career? Being that these collections will not be definative or even entirely complete as there may be hits on subsequent albums that render it obsolete...So what purpose do they serve? I mean even the GOD DAMN BAHA MEN have a collection of "Greatest Movie Hits" for Christ's sake ...someone please explain

Are you saying that an artist should wait until their careers are over before releasing a Greatest Hits CD?

Yes so that you don't have to buy several "Greatest Hits" albums to get all of the definative tracks.....Or at least specify "Greatest Hits Vol 1."(Like Madonna or Janet's "Design Of A Decade") if the artist has had a very long career and does not wish to release a massive expensive box set
[This message was edited Sun Dec 15 8:47:49 PST 2002 by AprilMichelle]

I read an article ... years ago ... that the reason many artists do this ... is simply pressure from the record companys ... the record companys know it is a "money maker thing " ... many artists say "oh i will never put out a greatest hits album " ... and then ... pressure builds ... and sure enough ... it hits the stores ...

I think Prince is an excellent example of this ... (hell , he has 2 "greatest hits " albums out now , right !!??

it's all about Business.sometimes a Artist knows they need too make a Sure Fire Hit&usually a Greatest Hits Package Works.sometimes&Most of the time it's the Record Company that forces the issue.I mean lets be real:over the past 40 Years Alot of Acts are More Singles Releated Artists than Album Artists IMHO.I just got through reading something on Tommy Mottola&He was quoated as saying that 3 Albums with Most of these Acts out now is what He kinda Expects.the Attention Span of most of the Music Buying Public Screams for Greatest Hits Packages&in alot of cases it puts things into Perpspective.also it brings a new entire Generation too your Work.Barry Manilow&Elvis Presley had big years with the Release of Greatest Hits Collections.

the greatest Greatest Hit collection that was meant 2 be released was The Beatles Anthology, damn if Prince released some shit like that...

The "artist" doesn't release "Greatest Hits" comps, the LABLE does...to try and recoup when sales of current releases are slumping.

mistermaxxx said:

Cece Peniston has a greatest hits album. So does Cathy Dennis. Kind of renders them pointless, don't you think?

I like Greatest Hits albums by my favorite artists,but I have one complaint.Why do record companies keep releasing the SAME DAMN compilations over and over? For example,there is a "new" Stevie Wonder hits compilation called 'The Definitive Collection' that basically contains the same songs that appeared on numerous other Wonder compilations.There are also recent 2-CD compilations by Earth Wind and Fire and Santana,but they contain the SAME tracks that you can find on other compilations by them.


All they really do re-package the same old hits over and over,without adding anything new.Oh wait,they do add new liner notes and a few rare photos.That's nice of them,dontcha think?

The worst one is Elvis' new 30 #1s. Only 2 years ago they had "The 50 Greatest Hits" at the same chart price as what 30 #1s is selling now. They delete the superior compilation, release a crap one and flog it for the same price.

my dad & me love elvis presley,but wouldnt buy that piece of shit #1's cd,just cos they release the same shit every year,on 4-5 compilations RCA do.
This one is the 1st time they have put those EXACT 30 songs on one compact disc,so its worth buying?

I love elvis 4 his voice & his music,but i wont buy those compilations just 4 the hell of having the collection cos its a disgusting thing that RCA & EPE do...they know there r DIE HARD E' fans that will buy them 2 have a full collection.What they sell,the merchandise & the amount of repetitive compilations they release,it sickens me that they try 2 make money off him like it,& they DO!...which is more sickening,people buy in2 this record company BULLSHIT!
only decent thing i have seen in the last 3 years is a 3cd (or 4 i think,not sure) set,of alternate takes & unreleased songs,a box set,its expensive,but the going price i spose...looks pretty neat.
However,the 3 Box sets ...one for the 50s,one for the 60s & one for the 70s.....with 5cd's in each,they r brilliant,the live cd on the 70s box is brilliant,the versions of the beatles "Something" & also "you've lost that loving feeling" r breathtaking,so if ur after any kind of Elvis packages,& u have the money,i suggest u grab them,they come with big books,great fotos & discography,& a sheet of stamps in each box (these were released in the mid 90s im sure)

as 4 Hits/B*sides from Prince,tho im sure its more Warner's idea than P's,its a very nice set...Mariah is a joke tho with 2 'best of' cd's in as many years.
Don't be surprised 2 c a NSYNC Greatest Hits cd in 2003,hehe or britney.
[This message was edited Mon Dec 16 5:49:45 PST 2002 by Joshy84au]

A Smiths song (PAINT A VULGAR PICTURE) covers this topic well:

At the record company meeting
On their hands - a dead star
and ooh, the plans that they weave
and ooh, the sickening greed
At the record company party
on their hands - a dead star
the sycophantic slags all say:
"I knew him first, and I knew him well"
Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package!
Re-evaluate the songs
double pack with a photograph
Extra Track (and a tacky badge)
...
who could never really know
Best of! Most of!
Satiate the need
slip them into different sleeves!
Buy both, and be deceived
climber - new entry, re-entry
World tour! ("media whore")
...


Ironically The Smiths' own discography consists largely or re-releases, compilations, and best-ofs

I prefer Box Set by Barenaked Ladies

I never thought that you would love me the way that you do.
I never thought that you would love me half as much as I do.
You say you wanna know everything about me. Well here you go.
You say you couldn't live your life without me. I don't know.
But if you want it girl, you've got it,
it's all right here,
in my box set.

I never thought that words like product could ever leave my lips,
but something happened to me somewhere that made me lose my grip.
Maybe it's a lack of inspiration that makes me stoop,
or maybe it's a lack of remuneration; I can't recoup.
But if you want it folks, you got it;
it's all right here in my box set.

Disc One
it's where we've begun, it's all of greatest hits,
and if you are a fan then you know that you've already got 'em.

Disc Two
it was all brand new, al album's worth of songs,
but we had to leave the whole disc blank 'cause
some other label bought 'em.

Disc Three
This is really me in a grade school play;
I had about a hundred thousand lines but of course I forgot 'em.

I never thought there'd be days like this, there was always someone at my door.
I never thought I would ever miss, and the crowd would always holler for more.
But now it seems all that people want is what I used to be,
and every time I try to do something new,
all they want is 1973.

I never thought I'd be regretful of all my past success.
But some stupid number one hit single has go me in this mess.
You can put it on every compilation - that's all right.
You can hear it on the oldies radio station every night.
And if you want it again, you got it
it's right here in my box set.

Disc Four
Never released before, and you can tell why.
it's just some demos I recorded in my basement.

Disc Five
I was barely alive, I was coughing up a lung,
so they had to use a special computer as my replacement.

Disc Six
A dance remix, so I can catch the latest trend
and it'll make you scratch your head and wonder
where my taste went.

So now my fans are crying sellout,
they say that I've lost my touch.
They say I should just get the hell out,
before I do too much.
Hear my songs in an ad for a bathroom cleanser -
they say it's greed,
And now I'm wondering where my friends are in this time of need.
But if you change your mind and buy it,
I hope you enjoy my new box.

I hope you enjoy my new box,
I hope you enjoy my new box set.

i was thinking the same thing the other day...

what is the point of releasing a GH early if all of the devote fans already have all the songs that are on the GH? is it really worth buy for one or two songs?

sparxxxtresss said:

Pulp have just released a Greatest Hits (last contractual agreement), and some fans have been complaining about having to buy a new CD just for one new track. One of the Pulp band members response was that completists need to get a life, and if they really want just that song then go and get it from a P2P network. I can't imagine Prince condoning that in a hurry!


btw, love the lyrics to the "Box Set" song above

DavidEye said:

it's safe Money&it doesn't cost anything for Record Companys to release them again.

why?

hmmm, why not? greatest hits compilations are evergreen. and if you put them out with some regularity there'll always be people to buy them if you're continuing with your career and adding things to your catalog.