As I was finishing up my portion of the Note for Note series we did on Earth, Wind & Fire, I had a brainstorm.
One of their biggest hits, “September,” originated not from one of their great studio albums, but it was the only new track on their first greatest hits compilation.
While hits compilations have had a lot more to do with commerce than art, historically speaking, quite a few great singles have been the one new track (or one of several new tracks) on greatest hits/best of compilations.
After bringing the topic up in the Popblerd Music Lovers Facebook group (you should join,) I decided to compile my own list of favorites. Of course, we are now in an a-la-carte age and you can just buy these as standalone songs on iTunes or Amazon (or stream them endlessly, or steal them) but BACK IN MY DAY…
Let me cut off the old man rant before it starts and get straight to the music.
Stevie Wonder “That Girl” (from Original Musicquarium Vol. 1, 1982)
Not only was Original Musicquarium the first album to compile the hits from Stevie’s killer ’70s run, but it contained four new songs, three of which were the equal of anything from his classic period In addition to the funky “Do I Do” and the stunning ballad “Ribbon In The Sky,” there was this midtempo groover that spend more than two months at #1 on the R&B chart in the spring of 1982 (it wound up being Billboard’s #1 Soul Single of the year.) Those that thought Stevie’s run of awesomeness ended at the end of the ’70s are certainly forgetting this song.
Earth, Wind & Fire “September” (from The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1, 1978)
Of course, I had to include the song that gave me the idea to put together this list in the first place. Like much of EW&F’s work, “September” exudes pure joy. The interplay between Maurice White and Philip Bailey is so amazing. Backyard barbecues and wedding receptions aren’t the same without a little “September.”
Sting “When We Dance” (from Fields of Gold: The Best Of Sting 1984-1994, 1994)
Mr. Sumner at his most romantic. “When we dance, angels will run and hide their wings” is a line that could melt even the most love-averse heart. This song, which was a top 40 hit just after Sting ended his run of pop radio dominance with Ten Summoner’s Tales, also features some great bass playing (lest we forget that Sting handled the bottom for The Police before he became King of Tantra.)
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” (from Greatest Hits, 1993)
This chugging rocker from Tom Petty’s long-overdue first hits package (arriving over 15 years after his first hit) is gold with or without the creepy Kim Basinger co-starring video. You’ve got to admit that Mr. Petty had a hell of a run of great videos for a while.
Queen (featuring David Bowie) “Under Pressure” (from Greatest Hits, 1982)
Yeah, yeah yeah-a generation of kids (including me, if we’re being honest) first recognized this song as the musical bed for Vanilla Ice’s immortal but embarrassing smash “Ice Ice Baby,” but that’s to take nothing away from this historic convergence of British rock gods. Our man Freddie loses his shit vocally while Bowie brings out his best monotone. What might amaze some folks who recognize “Under Pressure” as a huge hit is the fact that on original release, this song didn’t even hit the top twenty. So maybe we should thank the Iceman for doing his part to make sure “Pressure” got its proper due (even if he didn’t originally want to give them credit for it.)
Sade “Still In Love With You” (from The Ultimate Collection, 2012)
A beautiful cover of a rare ballad from ’70s rockers Thin Lizzy. Sade’s version is faithful and reverent to-and as haunting as-the original.
Lionel Richie “My Destiny” (from Back To Front, 1992)
A great Lionel song with an old-school Motown vibe. This was one of three new songs on the compilation Back to Front, the only music Lionel released during a ten-year layoff while he tended to a divorce and other personal issues. Maybe he was still recovering when he OK’ed doing the video with his shirt open.
Nas “Surviving The Times” (from Greatest Hits, 2007)
This hits package arrived just as Nas split from Columbia and joined his former nemesis Jay-Z at Def Jam. It’s a fantastic career encapsulation, just as he caught his third (!!) wind with classic albums like Hip-Hop Is Dead and Life Is Good.
Daryl Hall & John Oates “Say It Isn’t So” (from Rock ‘n Soul Part 1, 1983)
I believe we covered this in a recent Jheri Curl Fridays column, yes?
Chaka Khan “Everywhere” (from Epiphany: The Best Of Chaka Khan, 1996)
On her Warner Brothers swan song, the soul diva paid tribute to her labelmates Fleetwood Mac with an excellent re-working of their 1988 hit. Giving Christine McVie’s groove an island twist, Chaka turned an effervescent pop classic into a sultry, seductive R&B jam as only she can.
Are there any other songs you’d add to this list? Let us know!
