Rock History Digested (80 Bite-Sized Nuggets!)
- The Clovers – Down in the Alley: The Best of the Clovers (1991)
- Percy Mayfield – Memory Pain (1992)
- Little Richard – The Georgia Peach (1991)
- Elvis Presley – Elvis’ Golden Records (1997; this version has bonus tracks including a few Sun singles)
- Gene Vincent – The Screaming End: The Best of Gene Vincent (1997)
- LaVern Baker – Soul on Fire: The Best of LaVern Baker (1991)
- Buddy Holly – Greatest Hits (1996)
- Jerry Lee Lewis – 18 Original Sun Greatest Hits (1984)
- Roy Orbison – The Complete Sun Sessions (2001)
- The Everly Brothers - Cadence Classics: Their 20 Greatest Hits (1986)
- Wanda Jackson – Vintage Collections Series (1996)
- Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers – The Very Best of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (1998)
- Chuck Berry – The Great Twenty-Eight (1982)
- Dick Dale & the Del-Tones – King of the Surf Guitar: The Best of Dick Dale (1989)
- Jan & Dean – Anthology Album (1996)
- The Meters – The Very Best of the Meters (1997)
- Arthur Alexander – The Ultimate Arthur Alexander (1993)
- Del Shannon – Greatest Hits (1990)
- The Beach Boys - Endless Summer (1974)
- The Ronettes – The Best of the Ronettes (1992)
- Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits (1967)
- The Byrds – The Byrds’ Greatest Hits (1999)
- Wilson Pickett – Wilson Pickett’s Greatest Hits (1973)
- Smokey Robinson & the Miracles – The Ultimate Collection (1998)
- The Rolling Stones – Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (1966)
- The Animals – The Best of the Animals (1967)
- The Beatles – The Beatles 1 (2000)
- The Impressions – Ultimate Collection (2001)
- James Brown – 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! (1991)
- Donovan – Donovan’s Greatest Hits (1999)
- Aretha Franklin – The Very Best of Aretha Franklin, Vol. 1 (1994)
- Simon & Garfunkel – The Best of Simon & Garfunkel (1999)
- The Doors – The Very Best of the Doors (2001)
- Jimi Hendrix – Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix (1998)
- Sly & the Family Stone – Greatest Hits (1970)
- The Who – Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy (1971)
- The Band – Greatest Hits (2000)
- Ray Charles – Anthology (1989)
- Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – Anthology (1988)
- Creedence Clearwater Revival – Chronicle, Vol. 1 (1976)
- Santana – Greatest Hits (1974)
- Neil Young – Greatest Hits (2004)
- Alice Cooper – Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits (1974)
- Can – Cannibalism I (1980)
- Leonard Cohen – The Best of Leonard Cohen (1975)
- The Staple Singers – The Best of the Staple Singers (1990)
- The Jackson 5 – The Ultimate Collection (1995)
- Elton John – Greatest Hits (1974)
- James Taylor – Greatest Hits (1976)
- The Eagles – Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) (1976)
- Earth, Wind & Fire – The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1 (1978)
- Al Green – Al Green’s Greatest Hits (1975)
- John Lennon – Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon (1997)
- Joni Mitchell – Hits (1996)
- Barry White – Barry White’s Greatest Hits (1975)
- Chic – Dance, Dance, Dance: The Best of Chic (1991)
- The Ohio Players – Gold (1976)
- The Spinners – The Very Best of the Spinners (1993)
- Aerosmith – Greatest Hits (1980)
- Thin Lizzy – Dedication: The Very Best of Thin Lizzy (1991)
- David Bowie – Changesbowie (1990)
- Parliament – Funked Up: The Very Best of Parliament (2002)
- Bill Withers – Lean on Me: The Best of Bill Withers (1994)
- Blondie – The Best of Blondie (1981)
- The Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady (1979)
- Van Morrison – The Best of Van Morrison (1990)
- The Cure – Staring at the Sea: The Singles (1986)
- Fleetwood Mac – Greatest Hits (1988)
- The Jam – Snap! (1983)
- The Specials – The Singles Collection (1991)
- Squeeze – Singles 45’s and Under (1982)
- The Pretenders – The Singles (1987)
- The Stray Cats – Greatest Hits (2000)
- Minor Threat – Complete Discography (1988)
- R.E.M. – Eponymous (1988)
- The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs (1987)
- Def Leppard – Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1995)
- Madonna – The Immaculate Collection (1990)
- Pet Shop Boys – Discography: The Complete Singles Collection (1991)
- Green Day – International Superhits! (2001)
The trend is obvious, and the music shelves at your local Best Buy and Border’s proves it is true; more people are resorting to buy single-disc compilations and allowing the one CD to suffice for the artist. This surely causes much worry for all us album fans, but there are many excellent single-disc best-ofs out there, and I suspect one could go pretty far in a rock education with them. Here, then, is my humble attempt to prove that statement. All of the above discs make for a terrific listen, capture some essential element of rock history, and should make most listeners smile.
Each record is a greatest hits or best of compilation, is one disc in length, and (with one or two essential exceptions) is in print. The list is in a very rough chronological order according to the music's recording date. Obviously, older music is better represented than newer music, but given the nature of compilations, this can hardly be helped...
A few major artists are missing because of the lack of a great single-disc compilation._
Special thanks to JohnnyW; his comment noting the lack of The Buzzcocks on my '20 Compilations' list made me envision this beast...
Nice.
So many great compilations. Jerry Lee Lewis? Check. The Great Twenty Eight? Check. The early Aerosmith package? Check. Everly Brothers, Meters, Blondie. Check, check, check. And the Buzzcocks! Yeah!
One quibble, and a few recommendations: first, why not From the Original Master Tapes for Buddy Holly? And what about Link Wray's Rumble! The Best of (1993), ZZ Top's Best of (1977), and Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's Greatest Hits (1993)? And I can't remember the name of it now, but Curtis Mayfield's Rhino compilation is one of the most listenable best of's I've ever heard. And you need to check out OMD's The OMD Singles.
I'm sure the Bill Withers collection you listed is great, but I still have to go with the older one simply because of the great "lover man" album cover: tossed-aside stilleto heels, empty champagne glasses, and half-eaten shrimp cocktails. Oh baby, it's getting hot and heavy...
Johnny Waco
Thanks!
My favorite Buddy collection, From the Original Master Tapes, is out of print, and I decided the newer Greatest Hits wasn't too shabby and certainly not bad enough to justify listing a deleted album.
My original list was around 91 albums long, and Tom Petty's was on it. I'm not sure why I trimmed it down to 80. Maybe I'll expand out to 90 once I hear some suggestions.
The ZZ Top and Link Wray albums were considered, but I bumped them. They first struck me as not quite as essential to rock history as the above, and the second just wasn't quite a sock-blowing (IMHO) as Dick Dale's, and I thought one of those was enough.
Yes, you are absolutely right. I really need to hear that OMD set!
Again, thanks for the comments! I would blush to confess how much time I spent on this list...
And everybody keep the suggestions coming! As I said, as I see what I missed, I might add five or ten to the list to flesh it out.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
PS - I really hated chopping the new Supergrass comp. I really wanted at least one Brit pop album on here, and I am addicted to the album, but alas, a list of 81 discs seemed too odd. Pulp's Hits wouldn't be a bad choice either..
In fact, here is my Listology challenge. Let's get this list to 100! If I expand to include rap comps, I know of four that could join here easily. JohnnyW's Tom Petty suggestion is stellar, and I would like to see Supergrass land here. That's what, six? Can we get 14 more great ones?
Do read my description below the list, however, before suggesting...
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Two of my favourite single disc best of albums are
Nick Drake - Way To Blue, An Introduction To Nick Drake (1994)
Crowded House - Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House (1996)
I also very much enjoy
Beautiful South - Carry on up the Charts: The Best of the Beautiful South (1994)
but it might not fit the criteria. The copy I have is only a single disc but my sister has a two disc edition of the same name. The first CD in the two disc is the same as the single disc.
The Beautiful South album was on my original, longer, list; I think the criteria finally chopped it. It doesn't seem very instructive about the general flow of music history, but my, it is a fantastic comp, one that perfectly sums up the band and makes for terrific listening.
The Drake and Crowded House ones are both great, but a bit frustrating; both leave out songs I really think should be on them. The Crowded House, I believe, even omits some actual minor hits.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I used to play Nick Lowe's Basher compilation a ton of times when I was in school. Spent a few good years with that one. His pal Elvis Costello has had a few good comps, but most of them have been double disc sets. And as for those on single disc, you'd have to put two or more together to have good coverage of his career.
Speaking of those late 70s dudes, Joe Jackson has a Greatest Hits put together by A&M, which they seemingly did for everybody on their roster. But it's still a pretty good representation of his first 10 years in the biz, distilled down to 17 tracks.
I actually haven't heard Basher, though I suspect I have probably heard all of the music on it. I still cannot believe that Lowe's first two albums are out of print here in the States...
Elvis has some fine multi-disc comps, but even the best single disc ones seem to miss so much of the man.
If I allowed double-discs, Joe Jackson would also definitely be above. I'll look into the one you mentioned. I love his debut album, and honestly, Steppin' Out is one of my favorite singles from the 80s.
I'll investigate the Lowe. Thanks!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Ok, if you're expanding the list I pretty much have to insist on The Very Best of Curtis Mayfield (1997). No way it can be excluded from a top 100!
And if there is room for The Pet Shop Boys, surely The OMD Singles I keep harping on incessantly can be included, right?
Johnny Waco
I am ignorant of both collections. I know Mayfield has a double-disc collection that would certainly be on this list if I allowed them. I really cannot include the OMD set until I hear it, though...
I will look into both. Thanks!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
I can see how you could spend a great deal of time putting a list like this together. A few surprises, but no arguments from me. If I could suggest just one... as much as they battled head to head with the Beatles for No. 1 status in the states during the mid 60's, I think this release by The Supremes is worth mentioning. I think it has just the right amount of songs to cover their best work.
That is an excellent choice. Thanks!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs