Greatest Hits (Aerosmith album)
1980 greatest hits album by Aerosmith
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Greatest Hits, later re-released as Greatest Hits 1973–1988, is the first greatest hits compilation album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released by Columbia Records on November 11, 1980.
ReleasedNovember 11, 1980
Recorded1972 at Intermedia Studios, Boston, Massachusetts; 1973–1977 and 1979 at Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York; February–March 1976 and August 1978 at the Wherehouse, Waltham, Massachusetts; June–October 1977 at the Cenacle, Armonk, New York; 1979 at Mediasound, New York City, New York[1]
Length37:15
| Greatest Hits | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | November 11, 1980 | |||
| Recorded | 1972 at Intermedia Studios, Boston, Massachusetts; 1973–1977 and 1979 at Record Plant Studios, New York City, New York; February–March 1976 and August 1978 at the Wherehouse, Waltham, Massachusetts; June–October 1977 at the Cenacle, Armonk, New York; 1979 at Mediasound, New York City, New York[1] | |||
| Genre | Hard rock, blues rock | |||
| Length | 37:15 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Adrian Barber, Jack Douglas, Ray Colcord, Aerosmith, George Martin, Gary Lyons[2] | |||
| Aerosmith compilation chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Greatest Hits 1973–1988 | ||||
 Album art of 1997 revised version | ||||
Release and reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [3] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A−[4] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 6/10[5] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [6] |
| The Great Rock Discography | 9/10[7] |
Although the official website for Aerosmith lists the release for Greatest Hits as October 1980,[1] and the album was originally scheduled for release on October 24, 1980,[8] it was delayed until November 11, 1980.[9]
Some of the tracks were significantly edited from their original versions. The single version of "Same Old Song and Dance" was used, and was edited down almost a full minute. It also contained an alternate lyric which was not heard on Get Your Wings. The original lyric was "Gotcha with the cocaine, found with your gun." The alternate lyric, included on the compilation, was "You shady lookin' loser, you played with my gun." "Sweet Emotion" also used the single version; it begins with the first chorus, cutting out the now famous talk box intro and the coda was replaced with a repeating chorus and fades out. "Kings and Queens" was also edited down, cutting the intro and certain other parts. "Walk This Way" was edited slightly, chanting the first chorus once instead of twice. The other remaining tracks were kept intact.
On April 21, 1997, a slightly revised version, Greatest Hits 1973–1988, was released outside the US, with the ten tracks in their edited versions retained, with five additional songs from the same era added, plus the 1991 version of "Sweet Emotion" and a live version of "One Way Street".[10]
Greatest Hits is the band's highest RIAA certified album in the United States, having been certified 12× Platinum in 2021.
Track listing
Original version
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s)[1] | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dream On" (from Aerosmith, 1973) | Steven Tyler | Adrian Barber | 4:24 |
| 2. | "Same Old Song and Dance" (Single version) (from Get Your Wings, 1974) | Tyler, Joe Perry | Jack Douglas, Ray Colcord | 3:02 |
| 3. | "Sweet Emotion" (Single version) (from Toys in the Attic, 1975) | Tyler, Tom Hamilton | Douglas | 3:12 |
| 4. | "Walk This Way" (Slightly edited version) (from Toys in the Attic) | Tyler, Perry | Douglas | 3:30 |
| 5. | "Last Child" (from Rocks, 1976) | Tyler, Brad Whitford | Douglas, Aerosmith | 3:26 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s)[1] | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Back in the Saddle" (from Rocks) | Tyler, Perry | Douglas, Aerosmith | 4:39 |
| 2. | "Draw the Line" (from Draw the Line, 1977) | Tyler, Perry | Douglas, Aerosmith | 3:21 |
| 3. | "Kings and Queens" (Single version) (from Draw the Line) | Tyler, Whitford, Hamilton, Joey Kramer, Jack Douglas | Douglas, Aerosmith | 3:46 |
| 4. | "Come Together" (from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band: The Original Soundtrack, 1978) | John Lennon, Paul McCartney | Douglas, George Martin | 3:44 |
| 5. | "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" (from Night in the Ruts, 1979) | George Morton | Gary Lyons, Aerosmith | 4:03 |
| Total length: | 37:32 | |||
1997 reissue
Track details same as original version track listing, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Dream On" | 4:26 | ||
| 2. | "Mama Kin" (from Aerosmith) | Tyler | Barber | 4:27 |
| 3. | "Same Old Song and Dance" | 3:03 | ||
| 4. | "Seasons of Wither" (from Get Your Wings) | Tyler | Douglas, Colcord | 4:57 |
| 5. | "Sweet Emotion" | 3:13 | ||
| 6. | "Walk This Way" | 3:32 | ||
| 7. | "Big Ten Inch Record" (from Toys in the Attic) | Fred Weismantel | Douglas | 2:15 |
| 8. | "Last Child" | 3:27 | ||
| 9. | "Back in the Saddle" | 4:41 | ||
| 10. | "Draw the Line" | 3:23 | ||
| 11. | "Kings and Queens" | 3:49 | ||
| 12. | "Come Together" | Lennon–McCartney | 3:45 | |
| 13. | "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" | 4:05 | ||
| 14. | "Lightning Strikes" (from Rock in a Hard Place, 1982) | Richard Supa[11] | Lyons, Aerosmith | 4:28 |
| 15. | "Chip Away the Stone" (from Gems, 1988) | Supa | Douglas | 4:01 |
| 16. | "Sweet Emotion" (David Thoener remix - from Pandora's Box Single, 1991; original version from Toys in the Attic) | Tyler, Hamilton | Douglas | 4:36 |
| 17. | "One Way Street" (Live) (from Made in America, 1997/2001; original version from Aerosmith) | Tyler | 6:40 | |
| Total length: | 68:40 | |||
Personnel
Aerosmith
- Steven Tyler – lead vocals, harmonica, percussion, producer, arrangement
- Joe Perry – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, arrangement, except on "Lightning Strikes"
- Brad Whitford – rhythm and lead guitar, producer, arrangement
- Tom Hamilton – bass guitar, producer, arrangement
- Joey Kramer – drums, producer, arrangement
Additional musicians
- Jimmy Crespo – lead guitar, backing vocals on "Lightning Strikes"
- Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone on "Same Old Song and Dance" and "Big Ten Inch Record"
- Randy Brecker – trumpet on "Same Old Song and Dance"
- Stan Bronstein – baritone saxophone on "Same Old Song and Dance"
- Jon Pearson – trombone on "Same Old Song and Dance"
- David Woodford – saxophone on "Mama Kin"
- Scott Cushnie – keyboards, piano on "Big Ten Inch Record"
- Jay Messina – bass marimba on "Sweet Emotion"
Production
- Jack Douglas – producer, arrangement
- Adrian Barber – producer
- George Martin – producer
- Ray Colcord – producer
- Jay Messina – engineer
- Vic Anesini – remastering
- Janet Perr – cover concept
- John Berg – design
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[18] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Japan (RIAJ)[19] 1997 reissue |
Gold | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[20] original release |
Gold | 100,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[21] 1997 reissue |
Silver | 60,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[22] | 12× Platinum | 12,000,000‡ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Tracks | Label | Catalog # | Barcode | Edition | Series | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Nov 11, 1980 | LP | 10 | Columbia/CBS | FC 36865 | 074643686518 | — | — | Some front covers have the right side of the logo, others the left side |
| US | Nov 11, 1980 | Cassette | 10 | Columbia/CBS | FCT 36865 | 074643686549 | — | — | Some issues have the “0 7464-36865-1” LP barcode |
| US | Nov 11, 1980 | 8-Track | 11 | Columbia/CBS | FCA 36865 | 074643686587 | — | — | Grey Shell; "Walk This Way" is listed twice |
| US | Jul 1983 | LP | 10 | Columbia/CBS | PC 36865 | 074643686518 | — | The Nice Price | [23] |
| US | Jul 1983 | Cassette | 10 | Columbia/CBS | PCT 36865 | 074643686549 | — | The Nice Price | [23] |
| US | May 1986 | CD | 10 | Columbia/CBS | CK 36865 | 074643686525 | — | — | Longbox; sched. for Dec 1984 - delayed 17 months[24][25] |
| US | Aug 30, 1988 | CD | 10 | Columbia/CBS | CK 36865 | 074643686525 | — | Best Value Series | Longbox[26] |
| US | Jan 1989 | LP | 10 | Columbia/CBS | FC 36865 | 074643686518 01 | — | Chart Busters | [27] |
| US | Jan 1989 | Cassette | 10 | Columbia/CBS | FCT 36865 | 074643686549 01 | — | Chart Busters | [27] |
| US | Sep 1989 | Cassette | 10 | Columbia/CBS | FCT 36865 | 074643686549 01 | — | Best Value Series | [28] |
| US | Mar 1990 | LP | 10 | Columbia/CBS | PC 36865 | 074643686518 02 | — | The Nice Price | [29] |
| US | Mar 1990 | CD | 10 | Columbia/CBS | CK 36865 | 074643686525 | — | The Nice Price | Longbox[30] |
| US | Mar 1990 | Cassette | 10 | Columbia/CBS | PCT 36865 | 074643686549 02 | — | The Nice Price | [29] |
| US | Apr 18, 1990 | Cassette | 10 | Columbia/CBS | PCT 36865 | 074643686549 02 | — | The Nice Price | full length cover[31] |
| US | Oct 20, 1990 | CD | 10 | Columbia/CBS | CK 36865 | 074643686525 | — | The Nice Price | possibly released in a "The Nice Price" Longbox[32] |
| US | Apr 1, 1993 | CD | 10 | Columbia/CBS | CK 36865 | 074643686525 | — | The Nice Price | Dogbone sticker[33] |
| US | Sep 7, 1993 | CD | 10 | Columbia/SMEI | CK 57367 | 074645736723 | Special Limited Collector's Edition | Best Value | 1993 Remaster; sched. for Aug 24, 1993 - delayed 2 weeks[34] |
| US | Sep 7, 1993 | Cassette | 10 | Columbia/SMEI | CT 57367 | 074645736747 | — | Best Value | 1993 Remaster; sched. for Aug 24, 1993 - delayed 2 weeks[35] |
| US | Sep 14, 1993 | MiniDisc | 10 | Columbia/SMEI | CM 57367 | 074645736785 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; sched. for Aug 24, 1993 - delayed 3 weeks[36] |
| US | Feb 1, 2008 | MP3 256k | 10 | Columbia/SBME | CK 57367 | 074645736723 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; album only[37][38][39] |
| US | Jul 1, 2009 | MP3 192k | 10 | Columbia/SME | CK 57367 | 074645736723 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; album only[40][41] |
| US | Oct 6, 2009 | MP3 320k | 10 | Columbia/SME | CK 57367 | 074645736723 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; album only; approx. date; issued between Oct 6 - Nov 28, 2009[42][43][44] |
| US | Aug 26, 2011 | MP3 256k | 10 | Columbia/SME | CK 57367 | 074645736723 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; individ. tracks[45] |
| US | Aug 26, 2011 | MP3 320k | 10 | Columbia/SME | CK 57367 | 074645736723 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; individ. tracks[46] |
| US | Sep 6, 2011 | AAC 256k | 10 | Columbia/SME | CK 57367 | 074645736723 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; individ. tracks[47][48] |
| US | Nov 6, 2012 | AAC 256k | 10 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 4 | 886443711945 | — | Mastered for iTunes | 2012 Remaster; individ. tracks[49][50] |
| US | Apr 21, 2014 | FLAC 96/24 | 10 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 4 | 886443711945 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; album only[51][52] |
| US | Sep 26, 2014 | CD | 10 | Columbia/SMEI | CK 57367 | 888750363527 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; also listed as Jan 16, 2015[53][54] |
| US | Sep 26, 2014 | CD | 10 | Columbia/SMEI | CK 57367 | 888750363626 | — | — | 1993 Remaster; also listed as Nov 11, 2014[55][56] |
| US | Jun 21, 2019 | LP | 10 | Columbia/SME | 19075846981 | 190758469812 | — | — | 140 Gram[57][58][59][60] |
| US | Aug 7, 2019 | AAC 256k | 10 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 4 | 886443711945 | — | Apple Digital Master | 2012 Remaster; individ. tracks[61][62] |
| US | Sep 27, 2019 | FLAC 96/24 | 10 | Columbia/SME | 88644 37119 4 | 886443711945 | — | — | 2012 Remaster; album only[63] |
| US | Nov 29, 2019 | LP | 10 | Columbia/SME | 19075977671 | 190759776711 | — | Walmart Exclusive | White Vinyl[64] |