There have been countless debates on what the best albums are, but how about compilations? Aside from the fact that they compile all the best hits of an artist/label/whatever into a single record, they can also serve as a means for people to get their hands on songs that aren't on readily distributed albums anymore.

So throughout the rock genre, which comps are essential to any collection?

I'm only naming two: Singles Going Steady by the Buzzcocks and Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy by the Who.

Essential Cohen - Leonard Cohen

Tom Petty - Greatest Hits (1993)
Steve Miller Band - Greatest Hits 1974-1978

Joy Division - Substance is the first one that comes to mind.

I'm not sure about the best of all time but The Rolling Stones London Years is damn good. I'm glad I picked it up when I did because it's oop (or at least not available new from Amazon) and some of those old singles are hard to come by. The Stones have so many great hits collections like Hot Rocks and Sucking in the Seventies but it does need to be emphasized that the original classic studio albums like Let It Bleed and so on are absolutely essential. Too many rock'n'roll fans think of the Stones in terms of singles and classic tracks instead of classic albums.

Got to mention Hatful of Hollow by the Smiths and The Masterplan by Oasis, two comps that collect a number of excellent songs never put on the regular studio albums. Incesticide by Nirvana too, I guess.

the coffin box set by the misfits

the complete 50's masters by Elvis Presley

I'm actually not a huge fan of that one. His early stuff isn't very well represented and his latter stuff is overly-represented.

I think my favorite compilation is The Band's A Musical History.


Edit: Does anyone have any opinion on the Nuggets collections? I'm getting a bonus in a few days and I thought I might invest in the 60's psychedelic Nuggests collections (both American and British) but I'd like to hear what some of our more knowledgeable members might have to say about them first.

I've thought about getting that, myself. The only possible downside I know of is that I'd rather buy complete albums, if possible. However, as I understand it, most of the bands on there were pretty much one hit wonders, and I doubt their albums are in print, if they're even any good.