Greatest Hits (Bruce Springsteen album)

Greatest Hits
Greatest hits album by Bruce Springsteen
Released February 27, 1995
Recorded 1974 - 1995
Genre Rock
Length 76:35
Label Columbia
Producer Bruce Springsteen, Mike Appel, Jon Landau, Steven Van Zandt, Chuck Plotkin, Roy Bittan
Bruce Springsteen chronology
In Concert/MTV Plugged
(1993)		 Greatest Hits
(1995)		 The Ghost of Tom Joad
(1995)
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band chronology
Chimes of Freedom
(1988)		 Greatest Hits
(1995)		 Blood Brothers
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Entertainment Weekly (B+)[2]
Rolling Stone (Unfavorable)[3]

Greatest Hits is Bruce Springsteen's first compilation album, released February 27, 1995 on Columbia Records. It is a collection of some of Springsteen's hit singles and popular album tracks through the years and four extra numbers at the end, mostly recorded with the E Street Band in 1995. The latter constituted Springsteen's first (albeit very partial) release with his backing band since the late 1980s. Some of the songs are shorter versions of the original album releases.

The incorporation of the "new" tracks was portrayed in the 1996 documentary Blood Brothers. "Murder Incorporated" and "This Hard Land" were, in fact, unused 1982 songs from the Born in the U.S.A. sessions, with the latter being re-recorded here more than a decade later, and both subsequently became Springsteen concert staples.[4] "Blood Brothers", on the other hand, was played only as the final closing song of both the 1999-2000 Reunion Tour and 2002-2003 Rising Tour, both times with an extra verse added. "Secret Garden" achieved notoriety via the soundtrack of the 1996 film Jerry Maguire. Alternate versions of several of these new tracks were released on the 1996 Blood Brothers EP.

The compilation was commercially successful, hitting the peaks of the U.S. album chart and UK Album Chart and selling more than four million copies in the U.S.[5]

Contents

Critical reception

The reception by music critics of Greatest Hits were rather negative upon the album's release, as were more contemporary reviews. David Browne of Entertainment Weekly felt that the album was released when it was because the Grammy Awards were coming up and "Streets of Philadelphia" was up for five awards and that the songs on the album were selected because of charting success which means that several important songs were overlooked. He also felt that "Murder Incorporated" was the only good new song on the album and that overall the album felt as if Bruce did not believe in himself any more.[2] The Rolling Stone review of the album by Parke Puterbaugh was rather unfavorable, which is surprising as most of Springsteen's albums were praised by the magazine. Parke felt that the songs on the collection belonged on their original LP releases, that songs from before Born to Run should have been included and that the new songs weren't that good.[3] A more contemporary review by Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine was also unfavorable, saying that a lot of Bruce's hits and popular album tracks were missing, that "Murder Incorporated" was better than the other new songs, and that The Essential Bruce Springsteen was much better than Greatest Hits.[1]

Track listing

  1. "Born to Run" – 4:30
    • (Originally released on the album Born to Run in 1975.)
  2. "Thunder Road" – 4:48
    • (Originally released on the album Born to Run in 1975.)
  3. "Badlands" – 4:03
  4. "The River" – 5:00
    • (Originally released on the album The River in 1980.)
  5. "Hungry Heart" – 3:20
    • (Originally released on the album The River in 1980.)
  6. "Atlantic City" – 3:56
    • (Originally released on the album Nebraska in 1982.)
  7. "Dancing in the Dark" – 4:03
  8. "Born in the U.S.A." – 4:41
  9. "My Hometown" (early fade edit) – 4:12
  10. "Glory Days" (early fade edit) – 3:49
  11. "Brilliant Disguise" – 4:15
  12. "Human Touch" (edit) – 5:10
    • (Originally released on the album Human Touch in 1992.)
  13. "Better Days" – 3:44
    • (Originally released on the album Lucky Town in 1992.)
  14. "Streets of Philadelphia" (single edit) – 3:16
    • (Originally released on the soundtrack to Philadelphia in 1994.)
  15. "Secret Garden" – 4:27
  16. "Murder Incorporated" – 3:57
    • Recorded at The Power Station in April/May 1982
  17. "Blood Brothers" – 4:34
    • Recorded in January 1995 at The Hit Factory, New York City
  18. "This Hard Land" – 4:50
    • Recorded in January 1995 at The Hit Factory, New York City

Personnel (Tracks 15–18)

The E Street Band

Additional musicians

Production

Chart positions

Chart (1995) Peak
position
Australian Top 50 Albums[6] 1
Austrian Top 75 Albums[7] 1
Belgium (Flanders) 100 Albums[8] 1
Belgium (Wallonia) 100 Albums[9] 2
French Compilations[10] 1
Canadian Top Albums[11] 1
German Albums Chart[12] 1
Hungarian Top 40 Albums[13] 7
Netherlands Top 100 Albums[14] 2
New Zealand Top 40 Albums[15] 1
Norwegian Top 40 Albums[16] 1
Swedish Top 60 Albums[17] 1
Swiss Top 100 Albums[18] 1
UK Albums Chart[19] 1
US Billboard 200[20] 1
Chart (2007) Peak
position
Spanish Top 100 Albums[21] 27
Chart (2011) Peak
position
Finnish Top 50 Albums[22] 25
Preceded by
II by Boyz II Men		 Billboard 200 number-one album
March 18, 1995 – March 31, 1995		 Succeeded by
Me Against the World by 2Pac
Preceded by
The Colour of My Love by Celine Dion
Wake Up! by Boo Radleys		 UK number one album
March 11, 1995 – March 17, 1995
April 15, 1995 – April 21, 1995		 Succeeded by
Medusa by Annie Lennox
Picture This by Wet Wet Wet
Preceded by
Hi Fi Way by You Am I		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
March 12, 1995 – March 18, 1995		 Succeeded by
Dookie by Green Day

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[23] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[24] 2× Platinum 100,000x
Canada (Music Canada)[25] 4× Platinum 400,000^
France (SNEP)[26] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[27] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[28] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[29] Platinum 50,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[31] 4× Platinum 4,000,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[32] 5× Platinum 5,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review: Greatest Hits by Bruce Springsteen". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r209233/review. Retrieved July 21, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b Browne, David (March 10, 1995). "Music Review: Bruce Springsteen: Greatest Hits (1995)". Entertainment Weekly (265). ISSN 1049-0434. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,296322,00.html. Retrieved July 21, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b Puterbaugh, Parke (April 6, 1995). "Album Review: Greatest Hits by Bruce Springsteen". Rolling Stone (Jann S. Wenner). http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/greatest-hits-19950406. Retrieved July 21, 2011. 
  4. ^ Collins, Roger. "Springstreet staples". Iomusic. http://iomusic.com/Bands_and_Artists/S/Springsteen__Bruce/. Retrieved 2008-12-09. 
  5. ^ Grein, Paul. "Week Ending Oct. 19, 2008: Battle Of The Hat Acts". Yahoo! Music. October 22, 2008.
  6. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (ASP). Australian Charts. Hung Medien. http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  7. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (in German) (ASP). Austrian Charts. Hung Medien. http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  8. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (in Dutch) (ASP). Ultratop. Hung Medien. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  9. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (in French) (ASP). Ultratop. Hung Medien. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  10. ^ "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé" (in French) (PHP). InfoDisc. http://www.infodisc.fr/Albums_ChartRun.php.  Search for "Bruce SPRINGSTEEN" on the drop-down menu to see results.
  11. ^ "100 Albums (CD's & Cassettes)" (PDF). RPM 61 (7). March 20, 1995. ISSN 0315-5994. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9077&type=2&interval=50&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3. Retrieved July 21, 2011. 
  12. ^ "Chartverfolgung / Springsteen,Bruce / Longplay" (in German). Music Line. Media Control Charts. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Springsteen%2CBruce/?type=longplay. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  13. ^ "Archivum: Top 40 Album" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. http://mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum&lista=top40&ev=1995&het=12&submit_=Keresés. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  14. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (in Dutch) (ASP). Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  15. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  16. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (ASP). Norwegian Charts. Hung Medien. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  17. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts. Hung Medien. http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  18. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (ASP). Swiss Charts. Hung Medien. http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  19. ^ "All the Number One Albums: 1995". The Official Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/all-the-number-one-albums-list/_/1995/. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  20. ^ "Greatest Hits – Bruce Springsteen". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/album/bruce-springsteen/greatest-hits/160755. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  21. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (ASP). Spanish Charts. Hung Medien. http://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  22. ^ "Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits (Album)" (ASP). Finnish Charts. Hung Medien. http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Bruce+Springsteen&titel=Greatest+Hits&cat=a. Retrieved July 20, 2011. 
  23. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-albums-1997.htm. 
  24. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in German). IFPI Austria. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin.  Enter Bruce Springsteen in the field Interpret. Enter Greatest Hits in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  25. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits". Music Canada. http://www.musiccanada.com/GPSearchResult.aspx?st=Greatest+Hits&sa=Bruce+Springsteen&smt=0. 
  26. ^ "French compilation certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-CERTIFICATIONS.html?year=1997&type=24. 
  27. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bruce Springsteen; 'Greatest Hits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=Greatest+Hits&strInterpret=Bruce+Springsteen&strTtArt=alben&strAwards=checked. 
  28. ^ "Norwegian album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. http://www.ifpi.no/sok/lst_trofeer_sok.asp?type=artist. 
  29. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Bruce Springsteen; 'Greatest Hits')". Hung Medien. http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=Bruce+Springsteen+Greatest+Hits. 
  30. ^ "British album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx.  Enter Greatest Hits in the field Search. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Click Go
  31. ^ "American album certifications – Springsteen, Bruce – Greatest Hits". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?artist=%22Greatest+Hits%22.  If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  32. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2003". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_news/plat2003.html. 
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Studio albums
Live albums
Other albums

Greatest Hits (1995) · Blood Brothers (EP) (1996) · Tracks (1998) · 18 Tracks (1999) · The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003) · Greatest Hits (2009)
Singles
"Blinded by the Light" (1973) · "Spirit in the Night" (1973) · "Born to Run" (1975) · "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" (1976) · "Prove It All Night" (1978) · "Badlands" (1978) · "The Promised Land" (1978) · "Hungry Heart" (1980) · "Sherry Darling" (1980) · "Fade Away" (1981) · "The River" (1981) · "Cadillac Ranch" (1981) · "Point Blank" (1981) · "Atlantic City" (1982) · "Open All Night" (1982) · "Dancing in the Dark" (1984) · "Cover Me" (1984) · "Born in the U.S.A." (1984) · "I'm on Fire" (1985) · "Glory Days" (1985) · "I'm Goin' Down" (1985) · "My Hometown" (1985) · "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (1985) · "War" (1986)  · "Fire" (1987) · "Born to Run" (live) (1988) · "Brilliant Disguise" (1987) · "Tunnel of Love" (1987) · "One Step Up" (1988) · "Tougher Than the Rest" (1988) · "Spare Parts" (1988) · "Human Touch" (1992) · "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" (1992) · "Better Days" (1992) · "Leap of Faith" (1992) · "Lucky Town" (1993) · "Streets of Philadelphia" (1994) · "Secret Garden" (1995) · "Murder Incorporated" (1995) · "Hungry Heart" (re-issue) (1995) · "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (1996) · "Secret Garden" (1997) · "Sad Eyes" (1999) · "The Rising" (2002) · "Lonesome Day" (2002) · "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" (2003) · "Devils & Dust" (2005) · "All the Way Home" (2005) · "Radio Nowhere" (2007) · "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" (2007) · "Working on a Dream" (2008) · "My Lucky Day" (2008) · "The Wrestler" (2009)
Video releases
Tours

Born to Run tours (1974–77) · Darkness Tour (1978) · River Tour (1980–81) · Born in the U.S.A. Tour (1984–85) · Tunnel of Love Express (1988) · Human Rights Now! (1988) · "Other Band" Tour (1992–93) · Ghost of Tom Joad Tour (1995–97) · Reunion Tour (1999–2000) · Rising Tour (2002–03) · Vote for Change (2004) · Devils & Dust Tour (2005) · Seeger Sessions Band Tour (2006) · Magic Tour (2007–08) · Working on a Dream Tour (2009)
Related articles
Book:Bruce Springsteen