What is a “Greatest Hits” Album?

A “greatest hits” album is a compilation of an artist’s or band’s most popular or commercially successful songs. These albums collect tracks from several albums released previously during their career into a single release. “Greatest hits” albums go by many names including “best of”, “singles collection”, “the definitive collection”, or “the essential”.

Why Release a Greatest Hits Album?

Artists and record companies release “greatest hits” albums for many reasons:

To celebrate and highlight an artist’s most popular songs in one package
As a starting point for new listeners to discover an artist’s music
To boost an artist’s back catalog album sales
As a lower-cost alternative for fans compared to buying all the original albums
At the end of a contract with a record label as a final release
To keep an artist on the charts between studio album releases

“Greatest hits” albums introduce new fans to a sampling of an artist’s music. Listeners enjoy having all the hits in one place. For longtime fans, previously unreleased songs, alternate versions or new tracks may be added as an incentive to purchase the compilation.

How are the Songs Chosen?

The track list for a “greatest hits” album is usually decided by a combination of:

Singles that charted highly and received the most radio airplay
Total sales figures for each album they come from
An artist’s personal favorites from their catalog
Historically significant or fan favorite album tracks

The goal is showcasing the most popular and iconic songs representing all eras of the artist’s career. Balancing commercial hits with key album tracks captures an overview of their musical evolution through the years.

Albums Excluded from “Greatest Hits”

Songs from soundtrack albums, Christmas albums, and live albums an artist released are frequently not included. The focus stays on radio hits and tracks from their main studio albums.

Chronological and Themed Track Orders

Two common ways to organize “greatest hits” albums are:

In chronological order of their original release date
By grouping similar songs into themes

Chronologically sequenced albums show an artist’s development over time. Themed track listings create new context by linking songs together in a fresh way for listeners. Both approaches offer a guided experience through the artist’s catalog highlights.

New Songs Added as a Bonus

Including one or two new songs on a “greatest hits” album is a popular tactic. Any new tracks are usually released as singles to promote the compilation. Adding something new boosts the appeal for existing fans who already own the original albums.

Not Necessarily an Artist’s Personal Favorites

The songs on a “greatest hits” album are not always the artist’s favorite songs they have made. Commercial success shapes the track list more than personal preference. Some artists have mixed feelings seeing their whole career reduced down to a dozen radio hits.

Negotiating Song Inclusions

Artists sometimes have to negotiate with their record label about what songs get included. A label may insist on focusing only on the highest-charting singles. An artist may want to balance hit singles with critically acclaimed fan favorites, even if those album tracks were never released as singles.

Crafting a Satisfying Musical Experience

Compiling a great “greatest hits” album takes more than just picking the statistically most successful songs. The songs also need to fit together musically and tell a coherent story about the artist. The final track list should flow as a satisfying standalone musical experience.

Setting Up the Next Career Stage

“Greatest hits” albums often mark the end of one chapter of an artist’s career and the beginning of the next. It sums up their musical journey so far and introduces their music to a new generation of listeners. A well-received compilation can re-energize an artist’s back catalog sales and set the stage for a successful next album.

###”Greatest Hits” Can Boost the Profile of Lesser-Known Artists

For artists with devoted fan bases who never quite broke through to mainstream popularity, a well-curated “greatest hits” collection can boost their profile. It puts their music in front of new listeners and can lead to a resurgence in their popularity. Many artists have seen their careers get a second wind due to a successfully released “greatest hits” album.

Variations on “Greatest Hits” Albums

Some variations on the “greatest hits” concept include:

“Singles collections” including only songs officially released as singles
“The essential” or “ultimate collection” spanning an artist’s entire career
Collections focused on a specific decade of an artist’s output
Genre-specific compilations like “the greatest ballads” or “the greatest rock songs”
Live performance collections of an artist’s biggest songs

Introducing an Artist’s Music to New Audiences

Younger listeners also discover an artist’s music for the first time through “greatest hits” collections. It gives them a curated first impression and overview of the artist’s musical style and evolution. Many artists have found new audiences and longtime fans through the release of a solid “greatest hits” album. It’s a gateway for new generations to discover artists from the past.