Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Compilations: Top 100 All-Time

First posted 3/30/2018; last updated 9/4/2020.

Compilations:

The Top 100 Albums

“Greatest hits” packages are maligned entities in the world of music criticism, targeted by haters as cheap, record-contract-fulfilling-repackagings of works better heard in their original presentations. Naysayers argue that gathering up an act’s most commercial product hardly justifies calling a collection “the best of.”

However, compilations serve an important role in music. They are often a casual fan’s entry point to an artist. In some cases, the distillation of an act’s discography into a single collection weeds out the fluff and truly does present the act at its best.

In any event, here is Dave’s Music Database’s collection of the greatest compilations of all-time. DMDB lists are determined by aggregating best-of lists alongside chart data, sales figures, awards, and album ratings. Note: this list is confined to 1 or 2-disc collections. Box sets (3 or more discs) are summed up in a separate DMDB list. When an act has released multiple compilations, only the highest-rated has been listed, unless other compilations cover completely different material. The years covered by the compilation are noted in parentheses followed by the year the collection was released (noted by an r.).

Also, check out other best-of-genre lists here.

1. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (1973-83, r. 1984)
2. Eagles Very Best of (includes all of 1976’s Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 and 1982’s Greatest Hits Volume 2) (compilation: 1971-2003, r. 2003)
3. The Beatles 1 (1962-70, r. 2001)
4. Madonna The Immaculate Collection (1983-90, r. 1990)
5. Elton John Very Best of (includes all of 1974’s Greatest Hits (1970-90, r. 1990)
6. Abba Gold: Greatest Hits (1973-82, r. 1992)
7. Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (1936-37, r. 1990)
8. Queen Greatest Hits (aka “We Will Rock You”) (1973-81, r. 1981)
9. Elvis Presley 30 #1 Hits (compilation: 1956-77, released 2002)
10. Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits (1964-70, r. 1972)

11. Michael Jackson Number Ones (1978-2003, r. 2003)
12. Creedence Clearwater Revival Chronicle: Their 20 Greatest Hits (1968-72, r. 1976)
13. The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks 1964-71 (1964-71, r. 1971)
14. Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I & II (1973-85, r. 1985)
15. U2 Best of 1980-1990 (1980-89, r. 1998)
16. Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits (1947-53, r. 1978)
17. Howlin’ Wolf Moanin’ in the Moonlight/Howlin’ Wolf (aka “The Rocking Chair Album”) (1951-62, r. 1962)
18. Garth Brooks The Hits (1989-93, r. 1994)
19. Sly & the Family Stone Anthology (includes all of Greatest Hits) (1967-73, r. 1981)
20. Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits (1957-63, r. 1973)

21. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits (1976-93, r. 1993)
22. Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (1955-64, r. 1982)
23. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (1977-80, r. 1980)
24. Journey Greatest Hits (1977-87, r. 1988)
25. New Order Substance (1981-87, r. 1987)
26. Carpenters The Singles 1969-1981 (includes all of The Singles 1969-1973 (1969-81, r. 2000)
27. Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits (1999-2005, r. 2005)
28. Bessie Smith The Essential (1923-33, r. 1997)
29. Paul Whiteman Masterpieces (1920-27, r. 2015)
30. Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits (1975-95, r. 1995)

31. Bon Jovi Cross Road (1982-94, r. 1994)
32. Billy Murray Anthology: The Denver Nightingale (1903-40, r. 2018)
33. Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady (1977-79, r. 1979)
34. Guns N’ Roses Greatest Hits (1987-94, r. 2004)
35. Glenn Miller Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (1939-42, r. 1945)
36. Queen Greatest Hits 2 (1981-91, r. 1991)
37. Celine Dion All the Way…A Decade of Song (1991-99, r. 1999)
38. Mariah Carey #1’s (1990-98, r. 1998)
39. Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits (1975-88, r. 1988)
40. Al Green Greatest Hits (1971-73, r. 1975)

41. Sam Cooke The Man and His Music (1951-65, r. 1986)
42. Eurythmics Greatest Hits (1982-89, r. 1991)
43. Lionel Richie Back to Front (1977-92, r. 1992)
44. The Police Every Breath You Take – The Singles (1978-86, r. 1986)
45. The Who Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (1964-70, r. 1971)
46. Bob Dylan Greatest Hits (1962-66, r. 1967)
47. Eric Clapton The Cream of Clapton (1966-81, r. 1995)
48. David Bowie Best of Bowie (European version, 1969-2002, r. 2002)
49. R.E.M. In Time: The Best of R.E.M. (1988-2003, r. 2003)
50. Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974-1978 (1973-1978, r. 1978)

51. The Temptations Anthology (1964-72, r. 1973)
52. Arthur Collins The King of the Ragtime Singers (1902-16, r. 2014)
53. Phil Collins Hits (1981-98, r. 1998)
54. Bing Crosby The Definitive Collection (1931-57, r. 2006)
55. Barbra Streisand Memories (aka “Love Songs”) (1974-81, r. 1981)
56. Bryan Adams So Far So Good (1983-93, r. 1993)
57. Johnny Mathis Johnny’s Greatest Hits (1956-58, r. 1958)
58. Buddy Holly 20 Golden Greats (1956-58, r. 1978)
59. John Denver Greatest Hits (1969-72, r. 1973)
60. Roy Orbison For the Lonely - 18 Greatest Hits (1956-65, r. 1989)

61. Aerosmith Greatest Hits (1973-79, r. 1980)
62. Guy Lombardo The Band Played On: 25 Number One Hits! (1927-50, r. 2002)
63. The Byrds Greatest Hits (1965-67, r. 1967)
64. The Doors Best of the Doors (1966-71, r. 1987)
65. George Michael Ladies and Gentlemen: The Best of (1984-98, r. 1998)
66. Robbie Williams Greatest Hits (1997-2004, r. 2004)
67. Ray Charles Anthology (1955-68, r. 1988)
68. Johnny Cash The Legend of… (1955-2003, r. 2005)
69. The Supremes Anthology (1962-76, r. 1986)
70. Rod Stewart Greatest Hits (1971-78, r. 1979)

71. James Taylor Greatest Hits (1969-76, r. 1976)
72. Charlie Patton Founder of the Delta Blues (1929-34, r. 1995)
73. Blondie Best of (1976-80, r. 1981)
74. Muddy Waters His Best 1947-55 (includes all of Best of, compilation: 1947-55, r. 1997) 75. Van Morrison Best of (1965-89, r. 1990)
76. Neil Young Decade (1966-76, r. 1977)
77. Henry Burr Anthology: The Original King of Pop (1903-28, r. 2005)
78. Willie Dixon/various artists The Chess Box (1951-69, r. 1988)
79. Nirvana Nirvana (1988-94, r. 2002)
80. Madonna GHV2 (1991-2000, r. 2001)

81. Sting Fields of Gold – The Best of (1985-94, r. 1994)
82. Pink Floyd Echoes: The Best of (1967-94, r. 2001)
83. Whitney Houston The Greatest Hits (1984-2000, r. 2000)
84. Pet Shop Boys Discography – The Complete Singles Collection (1985-91, r. 1991)
85. Shania Twain Greatest Hits (1994-2004, r. 2004)
86. Bob Seger Greatest Hits (1972-94, r. 1994)
87. John Lennon The Collection (1969-80 r. 1982)
88. James Brown 20 All Time Greatest Hits! (1956-76, r. 1991)
89. Janis Joplin Greatest Hits (1967-71, r. 1973)
90. Led Zeppelin Remasters (1969-79, r. 1992)

91. The Doobie Brothers Best of the Doobies (1972-76, r. 1976)
92. Paul McCartney All the Best! (1970-87, r. 1987)
93. The Beach Boys Endless Summer (1962-65, r. 1974)
94. Janet Jackson Design of a Decade 1986/1996 (1986-95, r. 1995)
95. Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits (1989-2003, r. 2003)
96. Sade Best of (1984-93, r. 1994)
97. Dire Straits Money for Nothing (1978-85, r. 1988)
98. Prince Very Best of (1979-92, r. 2001)
99. Jimi Hendrix The Ultimate Experience (1966-70, r. 1992)
100. Tina Turner Simply the Best (1973-91, r. 1991)

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1 comment:

  1. Great Posting "WOW to ALL The Work You Put Into Making & Organizing All your Music, I am New At finding CD's & Downloading Music to Usb's to Listen to & Make Extra Usb's for Friends to Have While Ridding Our Motorcycles in South California During Our Winters Stay In Cathedral City, To YOU DAVE WOW & THANKS, I Am Now A Follower,
    Dale Whittaker.

    ReplyDelete