Favourite Compilation albums?
 

I know they can be seen as anathema to the serious music fan but compilations are part and parcel of music and we have surely come across some and even hold them dear to our hearts. I do not mean any self made comps but commercially available compilations. Here a few of mine that were/are vital listening.

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What do you mean you have never heard of it? An essential mix of American Garage Rock singles from the 60's that provide a great history and evolution of the distorted guitar sound.

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Just like it states on the cover. There is nothing truly mind blowing on here but it's a fantastic reminder and educational album as to the development of hip hop.

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Many bands at the time of the NWOBHM only managed to make singles and no albums. This album collects as many lost gems as humanely possible. Classic.

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One of the finest, funkiest bad ass Funk albums ever compiled. Chock full of rare grooves it makes we want to buy platforms with goldfishes in the sole

I'll second Nuggets. Although I haven't listened to too much of it, I like Children of Nuggets as well. Plan-It-X has some good ones too.

i've gotten flack for this one in the past but whatever. it was my introduction to the man

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it's a fantastic mix of his best known tracks and the perfect entry point into his music IMO. i suppose at this point it would be much simpler to just download the 3 experience albums, but back in '93 when all you had to go on was album art and song titles this made for an awesome sampler.

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African Herbsman-Bob Marley & The Wailers.
To be honest I've always felt as if I didn't like Wailers albums as a whole but this compilation only has about 16 songs, all of which I feel truly embody their best songs.

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The Way Of The Vaselines-The Vaselines.
With only a couple ep's and one album to their name, this Vaselines compilation is pretty essential. Call them silly, amateurish, simplistic but damn if these aren't hilarious and great pop songs.

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The Smiths- Hatful of Hollow
My first album by this band and my favorite including studio albums. Mostly made up of live sessions and b sides but the live sessions sound better than their album version such as Still Ill which adds a harmonica solo at the beginning or the acoustic layer of This Charming Man. Amazing.

Fav Tracks:
What Difference Does It Make? (Peel Session - BBC)
Handsome Devil (Peel Session - BBC)
Still Ill (Peel Session - BBC)
William, It Was Really Nothing
This Charming Man (Peel Session - BBC)
How Soon Is Now?
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The Smiths had released some single only tracks but they can be found on here so you can still look cool buying this instead of a best of. The album is close to matching Hatful of Hollow in its greatness but it has the flaw of including the bands worst song ever 'Golden Lights'.
Fav Tracks:
Rubber Ring
Sweet And Tender Hooligan
Sheila Take A Bow
London
Asleep
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DK have always been one of my favorite punk bands I'd go as far as to say they were the best of the 80's, and this helps back that claim up.
Fav Tracks:
The Man With The Dogs
Saturday Night Holocaust
Police Truck
Holiday In Cambodia
The Prey
Night Of The Living Rednecks
Night Of The Living Rednecks

i think jackhammer means compilations between different bands, not that Greatest Tits nonsense.

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one of my favorites, produced by Brian Eno. there's a hell of a lot missing from the compilation, but considering the entire movement was just a rotating number of musicians (most notably James Chance & Lydia Lunch) it doesn't do too badly for the four big ones it's got on the comp.

That's a good one too. DNA, James Chance & The Contortions, Teenage Jesus & The Jerks are all great.

First one I can think of...

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Trojan Records Box Sets!
 

Trojan Records released a lot of insanely good compilations of their rocksteady/ska/reggae catalog.

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Of the ones I've heard, this one is my favorite..

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I love the few Trojan comps I've heard. I've discovered some of my favorite dub bands from them.