What's the most botched "greatest hits"?

[eddie]

The worst mistake Rhino ever made was putting the single version of "Tighten up" on the best of Archie Bell and the Drells. The other selections are alright but why why shorten the set by 20 seconds. The album version is in 2 parts. The single starts of with drums while the Lp version begins with a swaying bass riff. A classic totally ruined!!

[Salsoul1975]

I hate to say this, only because at one time I had this on both cassette and CD, but for "botched" greatest hits compilations, Donna Summer's ON THE RADIO: GREATEST HITS VOL. 1 & 2 wins hands down. Sure, it had all of Summer's hits post-"Last Dance" on it, plus the 12" of "Enough Is Enough" with Babs and a longer version of the title track (along with the radio length version), but overall, it could've been better. Perhaps the idea of weaving the songs together on three of the four sides was too ambitious. Not just simple segues, mind you, but incidental music overlapping the original recordings towards the end of the songs as they blend into the next. The worst offender on this album is the "Hot Stuff/Bad Girls" medley. Chopping "Hot Stuff" to 2:55 was a shock and the incidental music used to blend into "Bad Girls" was grating. Summer had such a good library of music up to this point that a greatest hits package would've been treated much better than it was. Interestingly enough, in the twenty five years since this albums' release, there have been more Summer greatest hits compilations than studio albums.

[Eurodancemix]

For me, it was the best of Nightlife Unlimited on Hot Productions. It was simply a compilation of their last two albums "I Love The Night In New York City" and "Power & Desire" (which was such a horrid album it was relegated to a minor pressing in Europe with a cover that is reminiscent of a 3rd grade art project).

[Bona boy]

'The Very Best of Sister Sledge 73-93' on Rhino (who are usually very good I think) is awful as it includes such dreadful tracks as their version of 'My Guy' & horrible remixes of 'Lost In Music' & 'We Are Family' plus an edited version of the original mix of the latter! :o :x
Also, Hot Productions' 'Best of Ritchie Family' commits the heinous crime of not including 'Quiet Village'! :evil:
Why can't we just have more original albums on CD instead? :-?

[Bernie]

Originally Posted by Bona boy

Why can't we just have more original albums on CD instead? :-?

Bingo!!! I have asked this myself many times.

[Videoskooter]

I totally agree but don't forget that WE are searching for every good discorecord and not only for the mainstream discohits. Record-companies usually aim at the general public who are usually just familiar with the big hits.

Maybe the people who are behind firms like Getdisconnect can make are dreams come true. Only last week a saw that a new 5cd-set was available here. What do U think? The same hits all over again, didn't bought it of course :cry:

[eddie]

I believe I have an answer to why albums are not just transferred to the new CD format. The masses don't view buying a 45 minute reissue CD as rewarding. If it doesn't sell to the masses (like 10,000 units/yeat), it becomes a special oder item for most retailers. Then sales usually plummet to less than 1,000/year.

The record labels view this specialty market as unprofitable unless these titles are sold as high-end imports or limited number releases (like Hip-o select or Rhino handmade).

What did Mr. Berry Gordy say about those 2 Lp's on 1 CD set?
"We have to stop this. We're selling off our cream."

Hence, I have had to buy 3 Confunkshun compilations for 3 above average songs because I want to original ablums.

PS: Another Hot label flop was Shades of Love with terrible and I mean really rough transfer from tape or vinyl.
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[QUINNY]

Originally Posted by Bernie

Bingo!!! I have asked this myself many times.

Pure economics and unknown sales potential, plus the fact that many of these 'treasures' are beyond repair or it's virtually impossible to locate the masters to them. Unless you yourselves would like to put your money where your mouth is and do this service, it ain't gonna change? Hope you have deep pockets and infinite patience.