The best of the best-ofs
A subjective ranking of 50 favorite rock hits collections
Introduction and Nos. 1-10
11. "Legend," Bob Marley (1984) -- Released three years after the Jamaican icon's death, this collection -- reissued in 2002 with two bonus tracks -- is packed with listenable jukebox standards. If you're only going to own one reggae recording, this is it.
12. "Gold," Abba (1993) -- Representing 1970s Europop on the list, this Swedish supergroup provides a hit collection with a popularity so widespread that even the likes of metalheads must have taken a chance on what is, after all, the name of the game: perfect pop songs.
13. "Singles," the Clash (1991) -- Sometimes referred to as "the only band that mattered," the leftist Londoners show why on this magnificent 18-song collection, ranging musically from punk to funk -- and living up to their legend.
14. "The Very Best of Prince," Prince (2001) -- This 17-song, 25-year retrospective shows why the Minnesota multi-instrumentalist was called a genius by Bob Dylan and is revered by producers for his own funk/rock/pop hit craftsmanship.
15. "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy," the Who (1971) -- Where would CBS's "CSI" franchise be without theme music from this first-generation British power-pop band? Their innovative songwriting and storytelling talents are on full display with this early collection of singles, which is shorter and more coherent than 1996's also-strong "My Generation: The Very Best of the Who."
16. "Staring at the Sea: The Singles," the Cure (1986) -- A hit at home in the UK and a success in the U.S., this killer collection from the late 1970s and early '80s helped Robert Smith and company get goth on the radio before the more lightweight hits that water down later compilations.
17. "20 All-Time Greatest Hits!," James Brown (1991) -- Bridging the evolution from R&B to soul to funk from the 1950s to the '70s, these hits show how the Georgia-born Godfather of Soul got everybody dancing to songs of sex machines and black pride.
18. "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits," Elvis Presley (2002) -- The King shook up the world by introducing rock 'n' roll to the masses, and this collection pulls together 30 of the No. 1 hits (31, if you count a modern remix) that helped make him one of the top-selling artists ever.
19. "Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits," Bob Dylan (1967) -- This 10-song collection hits the highlights from the first seven albums in the ongoing career of Minnesota-born troubadour Robert Allen Zimmerman, a towering influence throughout the changing times of popular music.
20. "Singles," The Smiths (1995) -- The Manchester quartet changed the course of synth-heavy British pop in the mid-1980s, led by guitarist Johnny Marr and tongue-in-cheek crooner Stephen Morrissey; their breakup spawned the monster Morrissey solo collection "Bona Drag" in 1990.
21. "1," the Beatles (2000) -- Sure, Liverpool's Fab Four formed one of the top two bands ever; and sure, this collection is packed with 27 chart-topping hits (though it's missing the group's first British No. 1, "Please Please Me," for some reason). For subsequent solo work, go with John's "Lennon Legend" and McCartney's "All the Best."
22. "Once Upon a Time: The Singles," Siouxsie and the Banshees (1981) -- This 10-song, 1978-81 collection beats out 1992's "Twice Upon a Time" and the more readily available, career-spanning 2002 best-of by capturing the formative years of a spellbinding and underrated pre-goth, punk band that should rank with the Clash and the Sex Pistols.
23. "The Best of New Order," New Order (1995) -- The choice for the Manchester survivors -- who gave dance music to New Wave rock kids -- only because "Substance" is a double-disc; this would also be higher if it weren't the only recording in the Top 50 to include singing and rapping soccer players.
24. "On Returning (1977-1979)," Wire (1989) -- You'll get bang for your buck with the 31 tracks -- including "Strange," covered on an R.E.M. album -- with this collection covering three albums of thinking man's punk by these London eccentrics.
25. "The Great Twenty-Eight," Chuck Berry (1982) -- John Lennon said: "If you were going to give rock 'n' roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry.' " See why with this collection -- or if you can't find it, try 1997's "His Best, Vol. 1."
26. "Anthology," A Tribe Called Quest (1999) -- This 19-song retrospective spanning the New York trio's career shows how they helped inject jazz, fun and social awareness -- rather than gangsta posturing -- into 1990s rap.
27. "Carry on Up the Charts," the Beautiful South (1995) -- Former members of the Housemartins (check out 1998's "Now That's What I Call Quite Good!") scored a surprise smash with one of the top-selling British albums ever in this good-as-gold collection of lush pop and cynical lyrics.
28. "A Brief History of the Twentieth Century," Gang of Four (1990) -- The quartet of leftists who met at England's Leeds University continued to rage against the machine after this 20-song collection of political punk party music; but this is all you need to hear how they brought literacy, irony and solid-gold entertainment to the genre.
29. "Greatest Hits, Vol. 1," The Kinks (1989) -- This collection of early singles from the mid-60s makes the list despite its relative rarity driving up the price, because it's the best single-disc showcase for the genesis of Ray Davies' songwriting and the most British act from the British Invasion.
30. "Greatest Hits," Aerosmith (1980) -- Representing 1970s rockers on the list, Boston's Toxic Twins came together to produce these 10 songs -- required listening for 16-year-olds since -- before they were done in by addiction and later got back in the saddle with the same old song and dance.
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