It’s been quite a week of Greatest Hits! I’ve heard a real wide variety of music, and it turns out I can’t even count. Here’s a recap:
14 Sun – Rob Zombie
15 Mon – The Who
16 Tue – Richard Marx
17 Wed – Medeski Martin and Wood
18 Thu – non-series-related r.e. GBV breakup
19 Fri – Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66
20 Sat – Notorious B.I.G.
20 Sat – Garth Brooks
21 Sun – ZZ Top
I thought I’d done one every day, but I missed Thursday for non-series-related content. So, throwing up two on Saturday (yesterday) balanced it all out! My inner compass runs true!
It’s been a fun and instructive week. Hits sets are a tough thing. Sometimes they’re great all the way through (Garth Brooks), and sometimes they’re a bit of a disappointment in track selection (Notorious B.I.G.). Sometimes they remind you of old friends (Medeski Martin and Wood, Richard Marx), and sometimes they leave you somewhat indifferent as to an artists overall hits (Rob Zombie, Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66). Sometimes they should definitely have been more than one CD (The Who, ZZ Top).
But whatever the case, and whether they’re contractually obligated to release them or not, a Greatest Hits set is often the best way to get your ears full of an artist’s best stuff, which is especially great when you’re being introduced to them for the first time. That wasn’t the case for me with any of these discs this week, but it’s happened often enough to me in my life. On this point, the best place to get Compilation Vs. Catalogue posts is over at Rich’s great site. You should go there and read it ALL!
Thanks for reading along. I’m sure there’ll be another series shortly. Onward to more great music! Let’s GIVE ‘ER!
keepsmealive 
I tend not to bother with hits sets all that much. Unless there are tracks on them that aren’t available elsewhere I don’t usually bother.
LikeLike
But what if it’s an artist that you can’t be arsed to own the whole discography, and a Hits set would do it for you? Wait! That’s Rich territory!
LikeLike
Erm… I honestly can’t think of that happening very often at all. But then, the alternative isn’t owning the whole discography. I would usually just start with the album (or two) that seem to be the most well-regarded and/or hits-laden and see what happens from there. Just my way of doing things. Unless we include box sets I have been know to settle for those instead of the albums.
LikeLike
Dammit, stop being so reasonable! It’s all or nothing around here! Hahahahahaaaa!
LikeLike
Hmm… you’ve got me wondering how many bands or artists I’ve actually got everything of. (And by everything I mean all the studio albums) I’m thinking not that many… but probably more than I think. I might have to do a list!
LikeLike
Hits sets are useful for those artists we just don’t know a lot about yet…I find this helpful, thank you!
LikeLike
You’re welcome! Happy to do the leg work so you don’t have to.
I need to be careful here, though, and say that I didn’t outright dislike any of the discs I heard this week. It’s just that some were stronger than others.
LikeLike
Yeah that’s right ..that wasn’t even my intention this time! 🙂
LikeLike
Sure, sure… 😉
LikeLike
Also the Stones are releasing the Hampton 1981 show on video before Xmas along with a show from 75 as well..forgot to tell ya…..
LikeLike
Dammit I’m gonna want those. And nice glancing reminder that I still you owe you a review of that show! Very sly, Dekester!
LikeLike
Good job reviewing hits 6 out of the last 7 days…..some serious listening and variety going on. Now I gotta go and dump my drool bucket!
Hahaha….
Man I’m still laughing at that comment…made my day !
LikeLike
Thanks Deke! It was indeed all over the map, but I like it like that. Too much of one thing makes me itchy, when it comes to listening to music. I’d rather run the full spectrum and just see where the music takes me.
Glad I could make your day! 🙂
LikeLike