Top 5 - Best Greatest Hits Albums Ever

I don’t dislike greatest hits albums, but find them more like a cash grab or contract obligation than anything else. Although, it can be an easy way to capture most everything a band has done in one go. These days, you can just ask the AI sisters to “play songs by XYZ” and go, but back in the day, these gave you all the goods.

Here are my top 5 greatest hits albums:

5. Greatest Hits - Aerosmith (1980) Captures all of the early hits, before the breakdown, and before the re-construction. These are classic rock staples.

4. Eponymous - R.E.M. (1988) R.E.M. had some great albums, but this album captures all the gems and staples of the early days.

3. Changesonebowie - David Bowie (1976) Bowie was the master of identity changes. This greatest hits album pulls you through all of them, but never feels disjointed. That’s why Bowie is so good.

2. Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy - The Who (1971) Should be #1 on name alone! All the early hits in one place. Let’s face it, rock albums in the ‘60’s where all about the singles anyway.

1. Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits - Creedence Clearwater Revival (1976) One of the greatest songwriters ever, especially in the under 2-minutes singles variety. This album covers just about every hit in their rather short timeframe.

Honorable mentions would include: Immaculate Collection from Madonna, Al Green’s Greatest Hits and Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Legend. What are your greatest greatest hits albums?