In the digital era, the concept of a greatest hits album has come into question, prompting artists to reinvent the concept and present their work in unique ways, across formats, for fans to enjoy.
And there have been plenty; anniversary releases from Tina Turner (50), Wham! (40), Louise (30) and Busted (20), celebratory campaigns from Deacon Blue and PWL, and live sets from Bryan Adams and Liam Gallagher kept us in music all year long.
Celebrating the very best career retrospectives and live LPs of the past 12 months, this is RETROPOP’s Top 10 Artist Compilation and Live Albums…
10. Howard Jones – Celebrate It Together – The Very Best Of (Cherry Red)
Forty years of his recorded music career are collected on Howard Jones’ latest new best-of, including songs from his classic Warner-era catalogue, as well as work from his independent Dtox label, highlighting the progression of his output over the decades and shining a spotlight on his work outside of the major label system. With 64 recordings, all remastered, and grouped into four categories by the performer himself, it’s a strong set indeed.
9. Bryan Adams – Live At The Royal Albert Hall (BMG)
Bryan Adams brought to life three of his classic albums for his latest live release direct from London’s Royal Albert Hall, capturing ‘Cuts Like A Knife’ (1983), ‘Into The Fire’ (1987) and ‘Waking Up The Neighbours’ (1991) in their entirety. Packed with hits and giving a plethora of deep cuts airings for the first time in years, all while showcasing his ageless vocals and unwavering energy, it’s a testament to his fine showmanship.
8. PWL Extended Big Hits & Surprises Vol. 1+2 (BMG)
OK, this one stretches the rules just a little, but it’s rooted in the foundations of PWL and Stock Aitken Waterman’s Hit Factory so we’re going there. The first two instalments of the new series brought together classic hits and forgotten gems from the archives for the first time, collecting work from Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Rick Astley, along with lesser-known acts like Lonnie Gordon, Paul Varney and Boy Krazy.
7. Tina Turner – Queen Of Rock ‘N’ Roll (Rhino)
Celebrating 50 years since the start of Tina Turner’s solo career, ‘Queen Of Rock ‘N’ Roll’ collected 55 tracks as a thundering anthology of her enduring legacy, bringing together all-time classics such as What’s Love Got To Do With It, Private Dancer, Typical Male and The Best and showcasing her ascent back to the top following her split with Ike. Arriving months after her passing, it proved her once again to be an all-time legend!
6. Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22 (Warner)
Twenty-six years since Oasis drew 250,000 people to Knebworth, Liam Gallagher made a bold return to the iconic venue for a show documented on his latest live record, which saw him and his band on fiery form throughout, blazing through a set of the group’s classics and his solo material. Live records can be hit and miss but ‘Knebworth 22’ is a stellar display from one of the premier rock stars of a generation.
5. Deacon Blue – All The Old 45s and You Can Have It All (Cooking Vinyl)
On the back of their 35th anniversary celebrations, Deacon Blue revisited a lifetime of hits with their brand new best-of LP and comprehensive box set, offering either a whistle-stop tour through their singles or the complete album experience, with the addition of the newly-recorded ‘Peace Will Come’ acoustic set. Coinciding with a world tour from the band, it only cements their place in pop history.
4. Wham! – The Singles: Echoes From the Edge of Heaven (Sony)
Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of their debut album, the duo’s latest compilation brought together Wham!’s impeccable run of hit records along with a selection of additional tracks and mixes from across their career. Alongside the main album, a singles box set was a massive bonus that delivered the nostalgia of the Wham! repertoire all over again and proved knack for crafting and delivering hit after hit.
3. Pet Shop Boys – Smash – The Singles 1985 – 2020 (Parlophone)
For their latest singles collection, Pet Shop Boys went all-out with an epic 55-song voyage through their decades-spanning catalogue, working chronologically through the duo’s classic output, opening with their debut hit West End Girls and journeying through 2020’s Monkey Business. With select editions including a Blu-Ray with a bumper 66 visuals presented in total, it’s a fitting tribute to the career of two of synth-pop’s finest.
2. Louise – Greatest Hits (BMG)
Thirty years since Eternal released their classic debut album, ‘Always & Forever’, Louise’s latest ‘Greatest Hits’ celebration not only saw her collect works from the group and her hugely successful solo career, but also re enter the studio and rework a handful of the tracks with a contemporary spin perfect for 2023. It’s the new material that really sells the set and makes for an essential release of the past 12 months.
1. Busted – Greatest Hits 2.0 (Absolute)
With more than 20 years in pop under their belts, Busted threw the ultimate celebration by teaming up with a host of special guests for a massive re-worked ‘Greatest Hits’ album that put a new spin on all the classics with a little help from the likes of Jonas Brothers, McFly, Hanson and others. Also giving a taste of new music with the single Good One, the LP became the boys’ first chart-topper and picks up this year’s RETROPOP Artist Compilation Of The Year!
