Metallica and AC/DC: Why haven't they released a 'Hits' album yet?
#27
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Southside Virginia
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Cusm
I wish AC-DC would releasee a Bon Scott best of collection as I do not want to buy 5-6 AC-DC cds.
#28
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
Yep. AC/DC, Metallica & Pink Floyd are three artists that are discovered year after year by high schoolers fueling sales of the back catelog. All that would become null and void with a GH package.
regarding metallica, they would need to do a 2 disc set with pre black and post black albums. Plus, unlike some of these gh artists, most of the albums by the 3 bands mentioned in your post are really good.
#29
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Part of the Left-Wing Conspiracy
Posts: 7,538
Received 204 Likes
on
118 Posts
Originally Posted by cdollaz
I'm more concerned about U2 not having an acceptable live album yet.
#31
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by cactusoly
One thing that really bothers me about "best of" and "greatest hits" is that they always have new or unreleased tracks so people who already have all the albums still have to buy the "Greatest Hits" collection.
Also, ever notice that whenever there is a "best of" there is always one or two essential tracks that are convieniently left off. (assuming so you will buy the back catalogue)
Also, ever notice that whenever there is a "best of" there is always one or two essential tracks that are convieniently left off. (assuming so you will buy the back catalogue)
Obligatory Kids in the Hall quote: "Greatest Hits albums are for housewives and little girls."
#32
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like Greatest Hits albums. For me, I'm not such a HUGE fan of AC/DC that I want to buy every album of theirs just to have the songs I want. I would much prefer a 2 CD set containing (for me) the best stuff.
I've read the argument that if AC/DC puts out a hits album it will hurt sales of their catalog. I can see that, sure but there is a flipside. Hits albums can introduce people to the band's work and may very well entice them to go back and buy the albums. It can work both ways.
Hardcore fans would not likely buy a hits album in the first place seeing as they own all the stuff already, casual fans don't want to buy 10 CDs for a handful of songs htye like. So why not a hits album?
Say you're a member of AC/DC (or Metallica) and some exec says they would like a hits album for the holiday season. You damn well KNOW any hits album will be huge for you (either band would debut in the top 10, without a doubt) so even if (and that's a big "if") your catalog saw a slight drop in sales but saw 5 million copies of your hits album fly off the shelves, possibly creating new fans by giving folks a nice overview of your career, wouldn't you go for it?
I've read the argument that if AC/DC puts out a hits album it will hurt sales of their catalog. I can see that, sure but there is a flipside. Hits albums can introduce people to the band's work and may very well entice them to go back and buy the albums. It can work both ways.
Hardcore fans would not likely buy a hits album in the first place seeing as they own all the stuff already, casual fans don't want to buy 10 CDs for a handful of songs htye like. So why not a hits album?
Say you're a member of AC/DC (or Metallica) and some exec says they would like a hits album for the holiday season. You damn well KNOW any hits album will be huge for you (either band would debut in the top 10, without a doubt) so even if (and that's a big "if") your catalog saw a slight drop in sales but saw 5 million copies of your hits album fly off the shelves, possibly creating new fans by giving folks a nice overview of your career, wouldn't you go for it?
#33
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the problem would be that both bands catalogues are HUGE.
To do a proper Greatest hits box set for both bands you'd almost have a triple disc set, and stack all three discs to the 80 minute mark.
And even than, not everybody will be pleased because everybody's opinions of greatest hits are different.
If you are those bands, that's a good problem to have.
Myself, I own every Metallica(even the herendous St. Anger, I can't help it I must complete my collection once I start) & ACDC album out(major releases)
You'd have to seperate the ACDC's w/bon & without Bon
Metallica would have to be Before Black album & after Black.
To do a proper Greatest hits box set for both bands you'd almost have a triple disc set, and stack all three discs to the 80 minute mark.
And even than, not everybody will be pleased because everybody's opinions of greatest hits are different.
If you are those bands, that's a good problem to have.
Myself, I own every Metallica(even the herendous St. Anger, I can't help it I must complete my collection once I start) & ACDC album out(major releases)
You'd have to seperate the ACDC's w/bon & without Bon
Metallica would have to be Before Black album & after Black.
#34
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by Michael Allred
so even if (and that's a big "if") your catalog saw a slight drop in sales but saw 5 million copies of your hits album fly off the shelves, possibly creating new fans by giving folks a nice overview of your career, wouldn't you go for it?
As for a GH introducing the artist to a new fan, I don't buy it(with these artists). These 2(3 w/Floyd) bands have full CDs full of hits. Master of Puppets, Black, Who Made Who, Back in Black, the Wall, DSotM, etc. Anyone who hasn't heard anything from these bands(obviously living under a rock) can pick up any of those albums and have a good taste for the artist and not get stuck with an album of filler.
Like I said, these artists are discovered every year by a new high schooler. Kind of like a rite of passage. That has been done all this time w/o a GH. Why fix what ain't broke?
Not to mention, at least in the case of Metallica, they've already been accused for selling out once. A greatest hits is just another way of selling out for the quick buck and viewed negatively by the core fans.
#36
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
But we aren't talking a dip in sales a few months within release we are talking a permenant dip in sales. Once a GH is out there there is no going back.
It'd be interesting to know what kind of impact that put on his catalog, other marketing stunts by him aside.
#38
New Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've read before that AC/DC won't release a GH album because they think it'll hurt/cheapen their existing catalog.
If you're looking for a "Greatest Hits," pick up the Big Balls DVD- it's a 2 parter- 1 Bon disc (videos are mostly live performances or TV Appearances) and 1 Brian disc.
Meat.
If you're looking for a "Greatest Hits," pick up the Big Balls DVD- it's a 2 parter- 1 Bon disc (videos are mostly live performances or TV Appearances) and 1 Brian disc.
Meat.
#39
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Southside Virginia
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wonder if the proper place for an AC/DC or Metallica greatest hits album would be to release it only to a certain online music store only for sale by the album and have it be the only music released (at least initially) by them online. I don't actually know enough about the online business to know if that's a good idea or not, but at least it hasn't been mentioned yet.
#40
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by DJLinus
Maybe a compromise: Not that I'm putting him on par with these two bands, but Garth Brooks's greatest hits disc was only in print for a year and sold over 8 million copies (according to AMG).
It'd be interesting to know what kind of impact that put on his catalog, other marketing stunts by him aside.
It'd be interesting to know what kind of impact that put on his catalog, other marketing stunts by him aside.
you hit the nail on the head
both bands should put out a double make a limited edition & take it out of print after 3-6 months.
Only problem......kids will be downloading this once it hits the market.....the internet wasn't as big with downloads during the Garth fiasco
#41
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by Jimmy James
I wonder if the proper place for an AC/DC or Metallica greatest hits album would be to release it only to a certain online music store only for sale by the album and have it be the only music released (at least initially) by them online. I don't actually know enough about the online business to know if that's a good idea or not, but at least it hasn't been mentioned yet.
#42
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Don't listen to Mettalica, but as for AC/DC I can't understand why anyone wouldn't want the complete albums up through Back in Black. It's album rock. There was a time when I thought it would be cool to make personal compilation discs of bands like Zeppelin, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, etc. and finally gave up in frustration because I couldn't make up my mind what to put in what to leave out. I continue to listen to them they way they were meant to be heard as complete albums.
The latest Rolling Stone has an article about artists that haven't allowed there songs to be available for download. One of the reasons Led Zeppelin won't do is because they don't want the albums broken up into songs. Part of their original deal with Atlantic Records back in '68 is that there would be NO singles released. Atlantic snuck a couple out without the band's permission. If Zep ever goes online it'll probably be complete album only and you wont be albe to rearrange the order of the songs. You could probably rearrange using another burning program though if the songs are sperate files. It would be a pretty good deal still since several have only 8 songs. $7.92 for an album. The Song Remains the Same for $8.91. Unless they put a higher total album price above .99/per song.
The latest Rolling Stone has an article about artists that haven't allowed there songs to be available for download. One of the reasons Led Zeppelin won't do is because they don't want the albums broken up into songs. Part of their original deal with Atlantic Records back in '68 is that there would be NO singles released. Atlantic snuck a couple out without the band's permission. If Zep ever goes online it'll probably be complete album only and you wont be albe to rearrange the order of the songs. You could probably rearrange using another burning program though if the songs are sperate files. It would be a pretty good deal still since several have only 8 songs. $7.92 for an album. The Song Remains the Same for $8.91. Unless they put a higher total album price above .99/per song.
#43
Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by rw2516
Don't listen to Mettalica, but as for AC/DC I can't understand why anyone wouldn't want the complete albums up through Back in Black. It's album rock. There was a time when I thought it would be cool to make personal compilation discs of bands like Zeppelin, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, etc. and finally gave up in frustration because I couldn't make up my mind what to put in what to leave out. I continue to listen to them they way they were meant to be heard as complete albums.
The latest Rolling Stone has an article about artists that haven't allowed there songs to be available for download. One of the reasons Led Zeppelin won't do is because they don't want the albums broken up into songs. Part of their original deal with Atlantic Records back in '68 is that there would be NO singles released. Atlantic snuck a couple out without the band's permission. If Zep ever goes online it'll probably be complete album only and you wont be albe to rearrange the order of the songs. You could probably rearrange using another burning program though if the songs are sperate files. It would be a pretty good deal still since several have only 8 songs. $7.92 for an album. The Song Remains the Same for $8.91. Unless they put a higher total album price above .99/per song.
The latest Rolling Stone has an article about artists that haven't allowed there songs to be available for download. One of the reasons Led Zeppelin won't do is because they don't want the albums broken up into songs. Part of their original deal with Atlantic Records back in '68 is that there would be NO singles released. Atlantic snuck a couple out without the band's permission. If Zep ever goes online it'll probably be complete album only and you wont be albe to rearrange the order of the songs. You could probably rearrange using another burning program though if the songs are sperate files. It would be a pretty good deal still since several have only 8 songs. $7.92 for an album. The Song Remains the Same for $8.91. Unless they put a higher total album price above .99/per song.
Disc 1 of 2
1. Good Times, Bad Times
2. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You
3. Dazed And Confused
4. Communication Breakdown
5. Whole Lotta Love
6. What Is And What Should Never Be
7. Immigrant Song
8. Since I've Been Loving You
9. Black Dog
10. Rock And Roll
11. The Battle Of Evermore
12. When The Levee Breaks
13. Stairway To Heaven
Disc 2 of 2
1. The Song Remains The Same
2. No Quarter
3. Houses Of The Holy
4. Trampled Underfoot
5. Kashmir
6. Ten Years Gone
7. Achilles Last Stand
8. Nobody's Fault But Mine
9. All My Love
10. In The Evening
#44
DVD Talk Godfather
Not to mention the following GH collections:
not to mention the BBC set is essentially a GH of their first 4 albums:
Zep has certainly hit the GH well. One too many times if you ask me.
Love that third album cover, BTW.
not to mention the BBC set is essentially a GH of their first 4 albums:
Zep has certainly hit the GH well. One too many times if you ask me.
Love that third album cover, BTW.
#45
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
As for a GH introducing the artist to a new fan, I don't buy it(with these artists). These 2(3 w/Floyd) bands have full CDs full of hits. Master of Puppets, Black, Who Made Who, Back in Black, the Wall, DSotM, etc. Anyone who hasn't heard anything from these bands(obviously living under a rock) can pick up any of those albums and have a good taste for the artist and not get stuck with an album of filler.
I should also point out that I am an example of someone getting hooked by buying a hits album. I became a Queen fan in the early 90s after I purchased the "Classic Queen" CD and I never looked back.
Like I said, these artists are discovered every year by a new high schooler. Kind of like a rite of passage. That has been done all this time w/o a GH. Why fix what ain't broke?
Not to mention, at least in the case of Metallica, they've already been accused for selling out once. A greatest hits is just another way of selling out for the quick buck and viewed negatively by the core fans.
#46
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Southside Virginia
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Michael Corvin
Well if you are trying attract new listeners this would go against that goal.