Greatest Hits (Eurythmics album)

Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 18 March 1991 by RCA Records. It contains their successful singles spanning the years 1982 through 1990. The album topped the charts in the United Kingdom for a total of 10 weeks, in New Zealand for eight weeks and in Australia for seven weeks. It remains the duo's best-selling album worldwide and has been certified six-times platinum in the United Kingdom and triple platinum in the United States. Phil Sutcliffe in Q Magazine noted that "this compilation portrays, for once, a band accorded precise justice by the singles charts".[7]

Greatest Hits
Greatest hits album by
Released18 March 1991 (1991-03-18)
Recorded1982–1989
Genre
Length77:19
LabelRCA
Producer
Eurythmics chronology
We Too Are One
(1989)
Greatest Hits
(1991)
Live 1983–1989
(1993)
Singles from Greatest Hits
  1. "Love Is a Stranger"
    Released: 1991 (re-release)
  2. "Sweet Dreams '91"
    Released: 1991 (remix)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Calgary HeraldB[2]
Robert ChristgauA−[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
New Musical Express8/10[5]
Tom Hull – on the WebB+ ((2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention))[6]
Q Magazine[7]

The original European version of the album contains 18 tracks, while the version released in the US contains only 14. The five songs omitted from the US edition are "Right by Your Side", "Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)", "It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)", "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" and "The Miracle of Love", while "The King and Queen of America" is added. The track order also differs.

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart, except "When Tomorrow Comes" co-written by Patrick Seymour

International CD / cassette version
No.TitleAlbumLength
1."Love Is a Stranger"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1982)3:40
2."Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) 12” Version"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (1983)4:50
3."Who's That Girl?"Touch (1983)3:44
4."Right by Your Side"Touch (1983)3:49
5."Here Comes the Rain Again"Touch (1983)4:54
6."There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"Be Yourself Tonight (1985)4:41
7."Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (with Aretha Franklin)Be Yourself Tonight (1985)5:51
8."It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)"Be Yourself Tonight (1985)3:43
9."When Tomorrow Comes"Revenge (1986)4:15
10."You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart"Savage (1987)3:46
11."The Miracle of Love"Revenge (1986)4:35
12."Sex Crime (1984)"1984 (For the Love of Big Brother) (1984)3:52
13."Thorn in My Side"Revenge (1986)4:11
14."Don't Ask Me Why"We Too Are One (1989)4:13
15."Angel"We Too Are One (1989)4:47
16."Would I Lie to You?"Be Yourself Tonight (1985)4:22
17."Missionary Man"Revenge (1986)3:45
18."I Need a Man"Savage (1987)4:21
Total length:77:19
US CD / cassette version
No.TitleNoteLength
1."Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (12-inch version)Previously unreleased on CD4:50
2."When Tomorrow Comes" (LP version) 4:25
3."Here Comes the Rain Again" (12-inch version)Previously unreleased on CD5:03
4."Who's That Girl?" (short version)Previously unreleased on CD3:44
5."Would I Lie to You?" (LP version) 4:22
6."Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (with Aretha Franklin) (LP version) 5:54
7."There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" (LP version) 5:19
8."Missionary Man" (7-inch version)Previously unreleased on CD3:45
9."Don't Ask Me Why" (short LP version) 4:13
10."I Need a Man" (LP version) 4:21
11."Love Is a Stranger" (LP version) 3:40
12."Thorn in My Side" (LP version) 4:11
13."The King and Queen of America" (LP version) 4:31
14."Angel" (Greatest Hits edit) 4:58
Total length:63:16
LP version (side one)
No.TitleLength
1."Love Is a Stranger"3:40
2."Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"4:50
3."Who's That Girl?"3:44
4."Right by Your Side"3:49
5."Here Comes the Rain Again"5:03
6."There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"5:19
LP version (side two)
No.TitleLength
7."Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" (with Aretha Franklin)5:54
8."It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)"3:43
9."When Tomorrow Comes"4:25
10."You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart"3:46
11."Sex Crime (1984)"3:52
12."Thorn in My Side"4:11
13."Don't Ask Me Why"4:13
Total length:56:29

Personnel edit

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Greatest Hits.[8]

  • David A. Stewart – production (all tracks)
  • Adam Williams – production (track 1)
  • Jimmy Iovine – production (tracks 14, 15)
  • Jon Bavin – engineering (tracks 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 17)
  • Fred Defaye – engineering (track 10)
  • Eric Thorngren – engineering (track 12)
  • Manu Guiot – engineering (tracks 9, 11, 13, 17, 18)
  • Sophie Muller – cover picture
  • Laurence Stevens – art, design
  • Annie Lennox – art, design

Charts edit

Certifications edit

Certifications for Greatest Hits
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[37] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[38] Platinum 50,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[39] 3× Platinum 300,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[40] Gold 32,801[40]
France (SNEP)[41] Platinum 300,000*
Germany (BVMI)[42] 5× Gold 1,250,000
Japan (RIAJ)[43] Gold 100,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[44] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] 4× Platinum 60,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[46] Platinum 50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[47] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[48] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[49] 2× Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[51] 6× Platinum 2,055,996[50]
United States (RIAA)[52] 3× Platinum 3,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Video version edit

Greatest Hits
Video by
Released14 May 1991 (1991-05-14)
Recorded1982–1989
Length95 minutes
LabelBMG Video
Eurythmics chronology
We Two Are One Too
(1990)
Greatest Hits
(1991)
Peacetour
(2000)

A version of the compilation with 21 music videos was also released, on VHS and LaserDisc in 1991, and on DVD in 2000. Although it includes three more songs than the European audio version, and seven more than the US audio version, it still omits the videos for the singles "Never Gonna Cry Again" (1981), "The Walk" (1982), "Shame" (1987) and "Revival" (1989). In contrast to the audio versions of the compilation, the music videos are presented in chronological order, with short collages (made from snippets from the videos) between the songs.

No.TitleDirector(s)Length
1."Sweet Dreams"
 
2."Love Is a Stranger"Mike Brady 
3."Who's That Girl?"Duncan Gibbins 
4."Right by Your Side"
  • Chris Ashbrook
  • Jon Roseman
 
5."Here Comes the Rain Again"
  • Dave Stewart
  • John Gerschfield
  • John Roseman
 
6."Sex Crime (1984)"Chris Ashbrook 
7."Julia"Chris Ashbrook 
8."Would I Lie to You?"Mary Lambert 
9."There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)"
  • Eddie Arno
  • Mark Innocenti
 
10."Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves"
  • Eddie Arno
  • Mark Innocenti
 
11."It's Alright (Baby's Coming Back)"Willy Smax 
12."When Tomorrow Comes"
  • Chris Ashbrook
  • Dave Stewart
 
13."Thorn in My Side"
  • Chris Ashbrook
  • Dave Stewart
 
14."Miracle of Love"Dave Stewart 
15."Missionary Man"Willy Smax 
16."Beethoven (I Love to Listen To)"Sophie Muller 
17."I Need a Man"Sophie Muller 
18."You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart"Sophie Muller 
19."Don't Ask Me Why"Sophie Muller 
20."The King & Queen of America"Willy Smax 
21."Angel"Sophie Muller 

Charts edit

Chart performance for Greatest Hits
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Swedish Music DVD (Sverigetopplistan)[53] 2

Certifications edit

Certifications for Greatest Hits
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[54] Gold 5,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ AllMusic review
  2. ^ Muretich, James (2 June 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
  3. ^ Robert Christgau review
  4. ^ Robbins, Ira (27 September 1991). "Eurythmics: Greatest Hits". Entertainment Weekly.
  5. ^ Collins, Andrew (23 March 1991). "Long Play". New Musical Express. p. 36.
  6. ^ Hull, Tom (26 April 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b Sutcliffe, Phil (5 March 1991). "Eurythmics Greatest Hits review". Q Magazine. 55: 85.
  8. ^ Greatest Hits (liner notes). Eurythmics. RCA Records. 1991. PD74856.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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  11. ^ a b c d e "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 16. 20 April 1991. p. 26. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1563". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
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  15. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
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  19. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Eurythmics – Greatest Hits". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 18. 4 May 1991. p. 22. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
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  42. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Eurythmics; 'Greatest Hits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  43. ^ "Japanese album certifications – ユーリズミックス – ユーリズミックス・グレイテスト・ヒッツ" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 8 August 2021. Select 1996年5月 on the drop-down menu
  44. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Eurythmics – Greatest Hits" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Greatest Hits in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1991 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  45. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Eurythmics – Greatest Hits". Recorded Music NZ. 18 August 2002.
  46. ^ "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
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  48. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. 17 December 1991. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
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  50. ^ Harris, Bill (17 November 2006). "Queen rules – in album sales". Jam!. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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