Greatest Hits (Deluxe Version) [Extra tracks]

Morrissey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0013VSYR6
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,359 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. First Of The Gang To Die

2. In The Future when Alls Well

3. I Just Want To See The Boy Happy

4. Irish Blood, English Heart

5. You Have Killed Me

6. That's How People Grow Up [NEW]

7. Everyday Is Like Sunday

8. Redondo Beach

9. SuedeHead

10. The Youngest Was The Most Loved

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. The Last of the Famous International Playboys

2. The National Front Disco

3. Let Me Kiss You

4. Irish Blood, English Heart

5. I Will See You in Far-off Places

6. First of the Gang to Die

7. I Just Want to See the Boy Happy

8. Life is a Pigsty

9. That's How People Grow Up (U.S. EXCLUSIVE)

Editorial Reviews

Rolling Stone, January 24, 2008

" 'That's How People Grow Up', already familiar from the Mozzer's triumphant U.S. tour, is one of two fab new songs from his upcoming greatest-hits collection"

Product Description

The GREATEST HITS recording will be released in three versions; This version is the deluxe limited edition version. Disc 1 has 15 tracks plus an additional eight live songs on a second disc! The GREATEST HITS is the ultimate solo career retrospective spanning the years 1988 to the present day, a period where Morrissey hit his commercial and artistic peak. The album features many classic Morrissey tracks such as Every Day Is Like Sunday, the more recent Irish Blood, English Heart and the addition of two brand new songs That s How People Grow Up and All You Need Is Me.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The incredible 'Indian summer' of Morrissey., March 26, 2008

By 

tois (France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greatest Hits (Deluxe Version) (Audio CD)

Supposedly presenting the finest moments of his solo career, it consists primarily of songs from his last two albums. There's no room for "November Spawned A Monster", "Piccadilly Palare" or "Boxers", while a ropey live version of Patti Smith's "Redondo Beach" does make the cut. And yet, strictly speaking, commercially, "Greatest Hits" does almost exactly what it says on the tin: collect all his Top 10 (and thereabouts) singles of the past two decades.
Twenty one years after splitting with The Smiths to pursue a solo career, Morrissey releases a 2CD compilation that's sure to have the fans queuing to buy it - but which also demonstrates why the singer has occasionally struggled to remain as influential as he was as the figurehead of that band.
Maybe this is all a way of demonstrating to his new label (Decca) that, far from trading on former glories, as he approaches 50, Morrissey is more popular than ever.
Morrissey has somehow contrived a solo career technically more successful than that of his former band.
How on earth has he managed it?
While his solo career has spawned seven studio albums, running from 1988's "Viva Hate" through to "Ringleader of the Tormentor" of 2006, his back catalogue now includes no less than five compilations, pulling together everything from singles to album tracks to B-sides, with a "Best Of" having turned up in 2001.
While this admittedly means it did not include anything from Morrissey's latter two albums of rejuvenation, the release of a new collection - under the reliable but often misleading old moniker of "Greatest Hits" - still seems a little unnecessary, not really something the world has been desperately crying out for.
But aside from any scepticism of the market for this CD, it does inevitably still include plenty of top class tunes, tinged - as ever - with a majestic melancholy.
Every song on the album is a UK Top 20 single and nine of these are Top 10 hits.
Both of the two new songs - the single "That's How People Grow Up" and "All You Need Is Me" - were recorded with Jerry Finn, producer of 2004's widely acclaimed No.2 album "You Are The Quarry".
"Everyday Is Like Sunday" is every bit as much a timeless classic as the likes of Smiths classics "How Soon Is Now" or "Bigmouth Strikes Again", the newer songs do not feel out of place, and the track-listing does not grate in the way that detracts from many of these sorts of releases.
However, there are few artists who could write songs with titles like "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful", and without some of those more original but somewhat less commercial moments, the true heart of Morrissey's craft does not feel fully represented.
This is not to mention a completely forgettable cover of Patti Smith's "Redondo Beach", adding nothing of note to a borrowed song in the way that Morrissey previously achieved on "Suedehead" with his wistful, melancholic take on the Jam's "That's Entertainment".
A second CD is comprised of tracks recorded live at the Hollywood Bowl and is notable for including a handful of selections not on the main greatest hits CD, most notably "Life Is A Pigsty" and "The National Front Disco". It helps to ensure the Greatest Hits collection becomes more of a collectors' piece.
Nevertheless, it's an album that's worth hearing, if only to understand what the fuss is all about whenever Morrissey opens his mouth.
For all this, there's still plenty to tap your foot to - if that's really all you want from Morrissey...
Highlights : "I Just Want To See The Boy Happy", "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys", "Everyday Is Like Sunday", "First Of The Gang To Die" and "You Have Killed Me".

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I'm so sorry..., July 21, 2008

By 

Jesusshaves "mozmarr01" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greatest Hits (Deluxe Version) (Audio CD)

but, what on earth is this? If it's greatest hits two package, they should have labeled it that. It misses nearly all of his hits and concentrates on his career since taking care of his very demanding cat when he was without a contract. Perhaps his new label didn't want to shell out the money for rights for his early stuff or the person who put this together knows absolutely nothing about Morrissey. The cover image seems to be the only thing they used from the 80's, which is almost a contradiction considering 90% of the material is from his last two albums. If you are really a noob to Moz, go for the Best Of CD which does a much better job at giving an overview of Moz's career. Or send me 10 bucks and I'll put together a much better Greatest Hits compilation. Beethoven may have been deaf, but I'm not.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a powerful tasteful selection but with "loudness wars" treatment, March 30, 2008

By 

John Frame "There Is No Substitute For Equality" (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Greatest Hits (Deluxe Version) (Audio CD)

Morrissey's Greatest Hits is an extremely well arranged album which sounds very impressive as a complete unit. It's a thoroughly enjoyable journey right through to "I Have Forgiven Jesus" which perfectly sets up "The First Of the Gang To Die" - so the strong temptation is to just leave the CD on repeat (as my car stereo does by default).

The two new tracks are certainly of the same calibre as the other 13 and are right at home here. I couldn't imagine anyone doing a better job of collating and arranging a representative selection to celebrate Morrissey's 20 solo years.

It is important to be aware that the tracks from before the worldwide "loudness wars" which are "Everyday Is Like Sunday" (1988), "Suedehead" (1988), "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys" (1989) and "The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get" (1994) - all have been doubled from their orignal volume (and equalised) in order to compete with the loudness of the 21st century tracks. That huge volume increase comes at a cost - making them sound significantly muffled (especially "Everyday Is Like Sunday") when you compare them to the original CD versions.

I'm quite happy to live with that compromise in order to have the whole album sound as good, and as powerful, as it does. The main point is that even if you already owned all of these tracks on CD, you wouldn't be able to re-create the sound of this compilation without a great deal of trouble (and skill).

Morrissey's Greatest Hits is a valuable addition to any Morrissey collection - and the bonus live disc is just icing on the 20th anniversary cake.