Here Come The Hits

If Christmas is coming, then you know labels are gearing up for the Hits season. This week I added Nsync and Destiny's Child's Greatest Hits CD's to my collection. Both acts made decent, but not essential regular CD's, so a compilation is the way to go with both. That previous statement also applies to the forthcoming Mary J Blige Hits set and Country act Montgomery Gentry. Some acts are better served by compilations. Especially ones with a mixed back catalog. Eventually everyone releases a Greatest Hits CD. For a while in the early 90's there were holdouts: Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp to name a few. But they all gave in. There aren't many acts left that haven't put out a compilation. Of artists with big catalogs, I can only think of AC/DC, Chris Isaak, Metallica who've not gone the Hits route. But it's only a matter of time. Labels love compilations. It's easy cash for them and for artists it's an easy payday to repackage your old songs. And we fans buy 'em.