Hits to the Head
2022 greatest hits album by Franz Ferdinand
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Hits to the Head is a greatest hits album by Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, released on 11 March 2022 through the Domino Recording Company.
- Gula (Malmö)
- Govan Town Hall (Govan)
- Mr. Dan's Studio (London)
- Black Pudding (Glasgow)
- Sausage (London)
- Club Ralph (London)
- Motorbass (Paris)
- RAK (London)
| Hits to the Head | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | 11 March 2022 | |||
| Recorded | June 2003 – 2021 | |||
| Studios |
| |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 69:20 | |||
| Label | Domino | |||
| Producers | ||||
| Franz Ferdinand chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 77/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Clash | 9/10[3] |
| PopMatters | 6/10[4] |
| Under the Radar | 7/10[5] |
Overview
The album was announced on 2 November 2021, coinciding with the release of the single "Billy Goodbye".[6]
Of the decision to release a greatest hits album, lead singer Alex Kapranos compared the selection process of tracks for it to "writing a set-list for a festival", while further adding: "I have friends who believe you're somehow not a "real" fan if you own a best of rather than a discography. I disagree. I think of my parents' record collection as a kid. I loved their compilation LPs. I am so grateful that they had Changes or Rolled Gold. Those LPs were my entrance point. My introduction."[7]
Content
The album includes the band's singles with the exception of the album track "Outsiders". The versions available on the compilation are for the most part single versions and edits, except two exclusive edits, "Walk Away" and "The Fallen", and "Glimpse of Love" which is presented with the album version.
On vinyl issues of the album, each side presents an "Era" of the band. The first side (Tracks 1–5) covers their debut album, second side (6–10) covers their sophomore album, etc.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Darts of Pleasure" (Franz Ferdinand, 2004) | Tore Johansson | 3:00 | |
| 2. | "Take Me Out" (Franz Ferdinand, 2004) |
| Johansson | 3:59 |
| 3. | "The Dark of the Matinée" (Franz Ferdinand, 2004) |
| Johansson | 4:05 |
| 4. | "Michael" (Franz Ferdinand, 2004) |
| Johansson | 3:23 |
| 5. | "This Fire" (single version; original album version from Franz Ferdinand, 2004) |
| Rich Costey | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Do You Want To" (You Could Have It So Much Better, 2005) |
|
| 3:36 |
| 7. | "Walk Away" (HTTH edit; You Could Have It So Much Better, 2005) |
|
| 3:28 |
| 8. | "The Fallen" (HTTH edit; You Could Have It So Much Better, 2005) |
|
| 2:57 |
| 9. | "Outsiders" (You Could Have It So Much Better, 2005) |
|
| 3:37 |
| 10. | "Lucid Dreams" (non-album single; 2008) |
|
| 3:44 |
| 11. | "Ulysses" (Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, 2009) |
|
| 3:10 |
| 12. | "No You Girls (Radio Mix)" (Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, 2009) |
|
| 3:22 |
| 13. | "Right Action" (Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, 2013) |
| 2:56 | |
| 14. | "Evil Eye" (Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, 2013) |
|
| 2:46 |
| 15. | "Love Illumination" (Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, 2013) |
| Kapranos | 3:45 |
| 16. | "Stand on the Horizon" (Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, 2013) |
|
| 4:25 |
| 17. | "Always Ascending" (Always Ascending, 2018) |
| Philippe Zdar | 3:50 |
| 18. | "Glimpse of Love" (Always Ascending, 2018) |
| Zdar | 3:13 |
| 19. | "Curious" (newly recorded) | Kapranos |
| 2:49 |
| 20. | "Billy Goodbye" (newly recorded) | Kapranos |
| 3:41 |
| Total length: | 69:20 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21. | "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" (You Could Have It So Much Better, 2005) (Single Version) |
| Costey | 3:14 |
| Total length: | 72:45 | |||
Charts
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[9] | 78 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[10] | 15 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[11] | 22 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[12] | 5 |
| Croatian International Albums (HDU)[13] | 1 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[14] | 31 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[15] | 55 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[16] | 9 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[17] | 45 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP)[18] | 10 |
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[19] | 4 |
| Spanish Albums (Promusicae)[20] | 16 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] | 15 |
| UK Albums (Official Charts)[22] | 7 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[23] | 42 |