"Best Of" albums + bonus new tracks

[DJ]

Anyone getting sick of this new trend for bands to release a "best of" album
that contains 1 (or maybe 2) new tracks, that you can only get on CD by
buying the whole album? Recent example is Powderfinger's Fingerprints, which
contains the new song "Bless My Soul" (that I really like), plus another
previously-unreleased song "Process This" (which I haven't heard).
Essentially I'd be paying $10 per song, as I already have all of their
previous efforts (and if I buy the album at a Big W/KMart etc.)

DJ

[Sarch]

On Mon, 8 Nov 2004 16:57:54 +1100, DJ wrote:

> Anyone getting sick of this new trend for bands to release a "best of" album
> that contains 1 (or maybe 2) new tracks, that you can only get on CD by
> buying the whole album?

"The Immaculate Collection" by Madonna did it 14 or so years ago so I would
hardly call it a new trend. ;)

Recent example is Powderfinger's Fingerprints, which
> contains the new song "Bless My Soul" (that I really like), plus another
> previously-unreleased song "Process This" (which I haven't heard).
> Essentially I'd be paying $10 per song, as I already have all of their
> previous efforts (and if I buy the album at a Big W/KMart etc.)

I know how you feel. "Ultimate Kylie" by Kylie (duh) is another example;
and yes, with 2 new songs. The problem is that she's released half a dozen
"greatest hits" compilations in the last 5 years. If you're someone who
already owns such a CD (I happen to be such a person as of last week) then
there's no incentive to buy the new set.

Your only recourse is to buy the singles. Thankfully Kylie and Powderfinger
are singles-friendly acts so at least you have an alternative. The problem,
of course, is waiting for the individual releases. But it'd suck if the act
you wanted to buy wasn't as easily available on the singles format.

I wonder if releasing these previously unreleased tracks from greatest hits
albums as singles is the new trend to not piss off some buyers? I noticed
that "Word Up" by Korn is getting the single treatment and they're not
exactly singles-friendly. Okay, it's just _one_ example but I'm sure
there'd be many more.

Sarch

[DJ]

"Sarch" <sarch_usenet@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2v8jfoF2h8nqlU1@uni-berlin.de...
> On Mon, 8 Nov 2004 16:57:54 +1100, DJ wrote:
>
>> Anyone getting sick of this new trend for bands to release a "best of"
>> album
>> that contains 1 (or maybe 2) new tracks, that you can only get on CD by
>> buying the whole album?
>
> "The Immaculate Collection" by Madonna did it 14 or so years ago so I
> would
> hardly call it a new trend. ;)

Okay you got me there!

>
> Recent example is Powderfinger's Fingerprints, which
>> contains the new song "Bless My Soul" (that I really like), plus another
>> previously-unreleased song "Process This" (which I haven't heard).
>> Essentially I'd be paying $10 per song, as I already have all of their
>> previous efforts (and if I buy the album at a Big W/KMart etc.)
>
> I know how you feel. "Ultimate Kylie" by Kylie (duh) is another example;
> and yes, with 2 new songs. The problem is that she's released half a dozen
> "greatest hits" compilations in the last 5 years. If you're someone who
> already owns such a CD (I happen to be such a person as of last week) then
> there's no incentive to buy the new set.
>
> Your only recourse is to buy the singles. Thankfully Kylie and
> Powderfinger
> are singles-friendly acts so at least you have an alternative. The
> problem,
> of course, is waiting for the individual releases. But it'd suck if the
> act
> you wanted to buy wasn't as easily available on the singles format.
>
> I wonder if releasing these previously unreleased tracks from greatest
> hits
> albums as singles is the new trend to not piss off some buyers? I noticed
> that "Word Up" by Korn is getting the single treatment and they're not
> exactly singles-friendly. Okay, it's just _one_ example but I'm sure
> there'd be many more.
>
> Sarch

It is a great idea for a band to release the one new song from a greatest
hits album as a single - that way both groups of buyers are satisfied: the
hardcore fan who already has all albums only has to shell out $5 for a
single; and the casual fan can buy the greatest hits and get what they want.
Korn is a good example as you mentioned, similarly No Doubt did it with
their Singles CD. With the Powderfinger example, I'm unsure if Bless My Soul
is a single yet or not, or even whether the other new song will be (if they
put that as a B-side on a Bless My Soul single, I'd be happy!)

DJ