Hits (compilation series)

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Hits is a compilation album series running over 20 years and compiled as a joint venture, usually between the compilation arms of the Sony BMG and Warner Music groups (e.g. WSM or Global Television). However, rather than all the albums in the series just simply being labeled Hits and the issue number, a number in the series have been released under alternative and expanded names such as Monster Hits, Huge Hits or simply just The Hits Album.

Contents

[edit] Hits 1: The Hits Album

Hits 1
Hits 1

The Hits Album was a highly successful compilation brand that was released in the UK between 1984 and 1991. It was a joint venture by CBS and WEA, in response to EMI and Virgin Records starting the Now That's What I Call Music series in 1983. The first Hits Album managed to keep the rival Now album (Now 4) from the No.1 position in December 1984, spending a total of 7 weeks at No.1.

After the album (commonly known as Hits 1) was released the The Hits Album title has been used without an issue number at other times in the campaign, for example the 1990s release that came after Snap It Up - Monster Hits 2. This successive refreshing of the brand could be seen as minor relaunches of the series, each time in the face of the continuing success and strength of the rival Now! brand.

[edit] Hits 2 - Hits 10

Hits 2
Hits 2

In 1986, Hits 5 was the first album of the series to be released on a single CD, with Hits 7 being the first to be released as a double CD. A video compilation was also released at the same time as the albums.

[edit] Hits Albums 1989 - 1993

From the early 1990s, albums in the Hits series were released under the following names:

  • Monster Hits
  • Snap It Up! - Monster Hits 2
  • The Hits Zone
  • The Hits Album

After the last album the partners behind the series retired the brand.

[edit] Hits 93

With the Hits brand retired, Telstar Records launched the Hits 93 compilation series. Unlike the albums put out by the respective Sony BMG and Warner labels of the era, Hits 93 was formatted as a single CD and featured a larger percentage of dance acts than the normal Hits releases (for example see below). However even though these albums could be seen as an extension of other Telstar Hit compilations (such as 100% Hits) these albums were categorized under the Hits brand in the Complete Book Of British Charts, which was probably due to Telstar's subsequent involvement in the series.

[edit] Hits 93 volume 2

Track listing:

[edit] The Hits Album - Rebirth

The Hits Album was relaunched in 1996 (with the BMG TV compilations arm being known as Global Television, and WSM - warner.esp) but this time the numbering system was abandoned in favour of different titles such as Huge Hits or Essential Hits with the year normally following the word hits.

[edit] Examples in the range

  • Hits 96 (the first in the relaunched series by Global/warner.esp)
  • Fresh Hits 1997 (Sony Music TV had rejoined the venture by this album's release)
  • New Hits 1997
  • Huge Hits 1998
  • Big Hits 98

[edit] Hits 51 to Essential Hits

In 2002, it was cheekily rebranded to Hits 51 and timed for release very shortly after Now! 50. Hits 60 was released on the same day as Now! 59.

The current album in the series is Essential Hits which was released on the 5th December 2005 as a 3 CD set featuring the following singles:

[edit] Essential Hits Track Listing (2005)

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