Best of Album - Is This a Good Thing?

John J. Hlavaty ([email protected])
Thu, 27 Aug 1998 22:23:31 +0000

Elena Espinoza ([email protected]) wrote:
> paul mcguinness is currently in new york negotiating the terms
> of a possible contract for a GREATEST HITS album with a release
> date of november 1998. although the details are not quite clear,
> the SPECULATION is that this album will be like _rattle and hum_
> with new as well as live tracks.

Thank you Elena for the information.

As I read through this, I couldn't help but recall a statement
I believe the Edge (possibly Bono) made concerning these
"Greatest Hits" type of albums. The essence of the quote was
that only "washed up" bands release "Greatest Hits" albums.
Since U2 were no where near the end of the careers, we would
not be seeing this type of album from them any time soon.
This comment was made not long ago.

Most "Greatest Hits" albums always toss in a new song or two.
The new song is promoted as the "single" for the album which
in turn promotes the album. More than likely, the single will
be a very "classic" U2 song, something that has the potential
of becoming a top 10 hit. In other words, I doubt it will be
a very risky, "Discotheque", "Numb" or "The Fly" type of first
single. Nonetheless, the fact that we may get a few new songs
hardly counters the potential serious consequences an album
of this type may generate.

While I realize that U2 are nearing 40 and that many bands
have put out "Greatest Hits" albums and still went on to
have many more hits (Billy Joel, Elton John and the Rolling
Stones leap to mind), is this a sign that the "end is near"?
Without a doubt, U2 may are release this album because they
are desperate to get out of their contract with Polygram. Even
so, will a "Greatest Hits" release ultimately help or
hurt U2?

A part of me says that "Greatest Hits" release might help because it
will
remind fans of all of U2's great music. This way, when U2 comes
out with their next completely new material; release, fans will rush to
buy it.
To present the opposing veiw, some fans may feel that this is the
ultimate act of "selling out" - something that U2 has been accused
of this entire decade. Other fans may feel that by releasing
this album, U2 are "admitting" to being out of fresh ideas.
Correspondingly, this may hurt U2 when they release their next
completely
new material album.

Comments?? What do you all think of this release? What will the
effects be on the non-die-hard U2 fans?

Ciao,

John

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b2 on Thu Aug 27 1998 - 19:22:56 PDT