Compilations: Top 100 All-Time

Compilations: The Top 100 Albums

“Greatest hits” packages are maligned entities in the world of music criticism, targeted by haters as cheap, record-contract-fulfilling-repackagings of works better heard in their original presentations. Naysayers argue that gathering up an act’s most commercial product hardly justifies calling a collection “the best of.” However, compilations serve an important role in music. They are often a casual fan’s entry point to an artist. In some cases, the distillation of an act’s discography into a single collection weeds out the fluff and truly does present the act at its best. In any event, here is Dave’s Music Database’s collection of the greatest compilations of all-time. DMDB lists are determined by aggregating best-of lists alongside chart data, sales figures, awards, and album ratings. Note: this list is confined to 1 or 2-disc collections. Box sets (3 or more discs) are summed up in a separate DMDB list. When an act has released multiple compilations, only the highest-rated has been listed, unless other compilations cover completely different material. The years covered by the compilation are noted in parentheses followed by the year the collection was released (noted by an r.). Check out other best-of-genre/category lists here. 1. The Beatles 1 (1962-70, r. 2001) 2. Bob Marley & the Wailers Legend (1973-83, r. 1984) 3. Eagles Very Best of (includes all of 1976’s Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 and 1982’s Greatest Hits Volume 2) (compilation: 1971-2003, r. 2003) 4. Madonna The Immaculate Collection (1983-90, r. 1990) 5. Robert Johnson The Complete Recordings (1936-37, r. 1990) 6. Elvis Presley 30 #1 Hits (1956-77, r. 2002) 7. Queen Greatest Hits (aka “We Will Rock You”) (1973-81, r. 1981) 8. Elton John Very Best of (includes all of 1974’s Greatest Hits (1970-90, r. 1990) 9. Abba Gold: Greatest Hits (1974-82, r. 1992) 10. Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits (1999-2005, r. 2005) 11. Simon & Garfunkel Greatest Hits (1964-70, r. 1972) 12. Creedence Clearwater Revival Chronicle: Their 20 Greatest Hits (1968-72, r. 1976) 13. Michael Jackson Number Ones (1978-2003, r. 2003) 14. The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks 1964-71 (1964-71, r. 1971) 15. Bruce Springsteen Greatest Hits (1975-95, r. 1995) 16. Billy Murray Anthology: The Denver Nightingale (1903-40, r. 2002) 17. Hank Williams 40 Greatest Hits (compilation: 1947-53, r. 1978) 18. U2 Best of 1980-1990 (1980-89, r. 1998) 19. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits (1976-93, r. 1993) 20. Howlin’ Wolf Moanin’ in the Moonlight/Howlin’ Wolf (aka “The Rocking Chair Album”) (1951-62, r. 1962) 21. Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits (1977-80, r. 1980) 22. Journey Greatest Hits (1977-87, r. 1988) 23. Bessie Smith The Essential (1923-33, r. 1997) 24. Patsy Cline 12 Greatest Hits (1957-63, r. 1973) 25. Guns N’ Roses Greatest Hits (1987-94, r. 2004) 26. Chuck Berry The Great Twenty-Eight (1955-64, r. 1982) 27. Bon Jovi Cross Road (1982-94, r. 1994) 28. Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I & II (compilation: 1973-85, r. 1985) 29. David Bowie Changesbowie (1969-1990, r. 1990) 30. Garth Brooks The Hits (1989-93, r. 1994) 31. Al Jolson Songs He Made Famous (1913-46, r. 1946) 32. New Order Substance (1981-87, r. 1987) 33. Bryan Adams So Far So Good (1983-93, r. 1993) 34. The Police Every Breath You Take – The Singles (1978-86, r. 1986) 35. Mariah Carey #1’s (1990-98, r. 1998) 36. Glenn Miller Glenn Miller Glenn Miller (aka “Glenn Miller & His Orchestra”) (1939-42, r. 1945) 37. Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits (1975-88, r. 1988) 38. Queen Greatest Hits 2 (1981-91, r. 1991) 39. Paul Whiteman Masterpieces (1920-27, r. 2015) 40. Lionel Richie Back to Front (1977-92, r. 1992) 41. Carpenters The Singles 1969-1981 (includes all of The Singles 1969-1973 (1969-81, r. 2000) 42. Eurythmics Greatest Hits (1982-89, r. 1991) 43. Al Green Greatest Hits (1971-73, r. 1975) 44. Celine Dion All the Way…A Decade of Song (1991-99, r. 1999) 45. Bob Dylan Greatest Hits (1962-66, r. 1967) 46. Led Zeppelin Mothership (1969-79, r. 2007) 47. Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits (1989-2003, r. 2003) 48. Phil Collins Hits (1981-98, r. 1998) 49. Sly & the Family Stone Anthology (includes all of Greatest Hits) (1967-73, r. 1981) 50. Buzzcocks Singles Going Steady (1977-79, r. 1979) 51. R.E.M. In Time: The Best of R.E.M. (1988-2003, r. 2003) 52. Sam Cooke The Man and His Music (1951-65, r. 1986) 53. The Who Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (1964-70, r. 1971) 54. Bob Seger Greatest Hits (1976-94, r. 1994) 55. Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits 1974-1978 (1973-1978, r. 1978) 56. Charlie Patton Founder of the Delta Blues (1929-34, r. 1995) 57. Aerosmith Greatest Hits (1973-79, r. 1980) 58. The Beach Boys Very Best of (1962-88, r. 2001) 59. Arthur Collins The King of the Ragtime Singers (1902-16, r. 2014) 60. Blondie Best of (1976-80, r. 1981) 61. John Denver Greatest Hits (1969-72, r. 1973) 62. John Lennon The Collection (1969-80 r. 1982) 63. Shania Twain Greatest Hits (1994-2004, r. 2004) 64. Jimi Hendrix The Ultimate Experience (1966-70, r. 1992) 65. Eric Clapton The Cream of Clapton (1966-81, r. 1995) 66. Alabama Greatest Hits (1980-86, r. 1986) 67. Willie Dixon/various artists The Chess Box (1951-69, r. 1988) 68. Sting Fields of Gold – The Best of (1985-94, r. 1994) 69. Nirvana Nirvana (1988-94, r. 2002) 70. Pink Floyd Echoes: The Best of (1967-94, r. 2001) 71. Paul Simon The Ultimate Collection (1965-2002, r. 2015) 72. Barbra Streisand Memories (aka “Love Songs”) (1974-81, r. 1981) 73. Paul McCartney All the Best! (1970-87, r. 1987) 74. Guy Lombardo The Band Played On: 25 Number One Hits! (1927-50, r. 2002) 75. The Byrds Greatest Hits (1965-67, r. 1967) 76. John Mellencamp The Best That I Could Do (1978-88, r. 1997) 77. Bing Crosby The Definitive Collection (1931-57, r. 2006) 78. U2 Best of 1990-2000 (1991-2000, r. 2002) 79. Def Leppard Vault: Greatest Hits (1980-95, r. 1995) 80. Ray Charles Anthology (1955-68, r. 1988) 81. Styx Greatest Hits (1975-90, r. 1995) 82. Van Morrison Best of (1965-89, r. 1990) 83. Henry Burr Anthology: The Original King of Pop (1903-28, r. 2005) 84. Johnny Cash The Legend of… (1955-2003, r. 2005) 85. James Taylor Greatest Hits (1969-76, r. 1976) 86. The Doors Best of the Doors (1966-71, r. 1987) 87. Alan Jackson Greatest Hits Volume 2 and Some Other Stuff (compilation: 1996-2003, released 2003) 88. Janis Joplin Greatest Hits (1967-71, r. 1973) 89. Buddy Holly 20 Golden Greats (1956-58, r. 1978) 90. Roy Orbison For the Lonely - 18 Greatest Hits (1956-65, r. 1989) 91. Neil Young Decade (1966-76, r. 1977) 92. Pet Shop Boys Discography – The Complete Singles Collection (1985-91, r. 1991) 93. The Supremes Anthology (1962-76, r. 1986) 94. The Doobie Brothers Best of the Doobies (1972-76, r. 1976) 95. Bee Gees Timeless: The All-Time Greatest Hits (1966-97, r. 2017) 96. Alan Jackson The Greatest Hits Collection (1989-95, r. 1995) 97. Rod Stewart Greatest Hits (1971-78, r. 1979) 98. Olivia Newton-John Magic: The Best of (1973-90, r. 2001) 99. Prince Very Best of (1979-92, r. 2001) 100. Madonna GHV2 (1991-2000, r. 2001) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Box Sets: Top 100” Dave’s Music Database: other best-of-genre lists First posted 3/30/2018; last updated 5/12/2024.