Looking at my music collection, I can guesstimate that 1/4 of the collection consists of box sets, greatest hits, best of's, the hits, the #1's etc... I didn't think anything of it, but sometimes I do prefer buying those first, and then buying some of the well known cds by that artist. Does anybody else do that? Almost feels like an addiction to look for those first especially at Tower Records. Is it cheating as a music lover not to buy for instance Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder but purchase the box set first, and then buy the individual releases?

Sometimes when the discussion of favorite cds comes up, there were times that I just wanted to list mostly the greatest hits. Is there anybody on the org who purposely avoid buying those type of music packagings, and if so why?

funkyslsistah said:

I always find that such collections are important as "tasters" of the artist's work. There's nothing wrong with buying them, because for me at least, they always get me more interested in the parent albums.

funkyslsistah said:

No, there's nothing wrong with it. I rarely buy compilations, but when I do it's because I don't know much about said artist/group and I don't know the word of mouth about any of their regular albums. If I like the compilation well enough I delve into their regular albums.

I depend on "greatest hits" sets to get to know artists a little better. There's always somebody that folks go on about & I'm like "Why?" GH's give you a taste & let you know to either keep going, stop where you are or return that mutha

CalhounSq said:

Anthologies are usually good, too

I just got the Chicago 5-CD box set for Christmas.I'm really interested in this band,so I decided to start here.Later,I'll go back and get the individual albums,which have all been remastered.Box sets can be an exciting introduction to an artist's catalog.

CalhounSq said:

Ditto here. I just got the Red Hot Chili Peppers recent Greatest Hits and want to get some of their albums as well now.

It's not good to say that a certain artist's "Best Album" is their greatest hits collection. It's like, well duh!

the first prince albums i brought (after purple rain) were the two hits cd (they didnt have the triple pack). i thought it was really helpful cos i just sorta ticked albums off as brought them. As a younger fan i think greatest hits are important becuase cds you wouldnt have originally thought you'd like you end up trying out. for example i would never have brought For You as it was so old and it just looked nasty but then i got Hits and brought it and its one of my favourite albums to chill to. just shows never judge a cd by its cover lol

CinisterCee said:

CalhounSq said:

when people say their favorite album is a greatest hits collection... it's like "oh, you've managed to stomach a collection of their most widely promoted songs? greaaat." we're already predisposed to enjoying songs that we've been exposed to.

it doesn't really show that you've tried to learn anything about the artist. especially if you already knew the hit songs, how much effort was it to pick up that collection?

i can understand if it is something like a rare funk artist from the 70s that doesn't have anything else reissued on compact disc. we all know it's difficult to get music by someone if it has been deleted since it was on vinyl or wasn't in wide circulation in the first place.

i usually START with a greatest hits collection for an artist i have nothing of. but i would never claim a hits collection was my "favorite" even if it was in preference over the rest of an artist's oeuvre i had collected.

and you don't have to be a fan of everyone. i think i own ABBA Gold, and that's enough for me... i'm not really a "fan" of theirs, so i didn't feel like buying Voulez-Vous or Super Trouper, yknow?

i guess it's a pretty good indicator of how much one is a fan by how much they tried to hear (considering what is available).