Bands/Singers Without GH or Live Al***s

Can't think of any off hand but I get the impression that many of the 'Greatest Hits' releases are instigated by the labels rather than the artist to cash in on the name while it is still marketable (or its nearly Xmas and the great non-music buying public make their annual CD purchase). Also when an artist switches labels, the old label attemot to cash in on any further success by re-issuing stuff from the back catalogue.

You do occasionally get a retrospective album produced by an artist - one that springs to mind is "A Young Person's Guide to King Crimson" which I think Fripp had a hand in putting together. I don't own it, its just that I'm listening to "Red" on my walkman at the moment.

Similarly live albums are often used to fulfil contract obligations. Obviously there are a great many fine exceptions to this (there was a lengthy thread on this topic some time ago). A good live band often only fulfil the potential of their material when away from the confines of the studio.

Mike,
I'm guessing you're not that big fan of Melissa Etheridge as she has two live albums out!

One just came out last week as a matter of fact because I heard it played and advertised on the radio.

Her first live record was recorded by NPR as part of their "Gay Pop Artists" series and is, I believe, only available via NPR (though I know of people with bootlegs/CDRs of it). It came out circa 1988.

Ron The Mon,
Needle-Freak

I think live albums and greatest hits are a different kettle of fish really. Live albums are for fans, Greatest Hits are for casual/potential fans. I don't think a greatest hits should be produced until someone has had either an GH album full of singles or 6 plus albums.

Greatest hits on the other hand: If you are a big fan of a band it can be annoying if the first live album is produced after say 6-7 albums/years as if this is the case you may never get to hear live versions of early material (apart from poor quality bootlegs).

e.g. as a Queen fan, their first live album was after 7 studio albums and contains little material from their first few albums.

quote:

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Originally posted by Ron The Mon:
Mike,
I'm guessing you're not _that_ big fan of Melissa Etheridge as she has two live albums out!

One just came out last week as a matter of fact because I heard it played and advertised on the radio.

Her first live record was recorded by NPR as part of their "Gay Pop Artists" series and is, I believe, only available via NPR (though I know of people with bootlegs/CDRs of it). It came out circa 1988.

Ron The Mon,
Needle-Freak

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Ron - You are correct. She is not in my personal Top 10 or so of favorites, although I do like most of her music and have all or most of her studio albums. I was unaware of her live albums. It sounds like one just came out and the other is not widely available. Anyway, the real thought I had - which probably was interesting only to me - is that she has a lot of really strong songs and has put out a lot of albums, and yet has never had a greatest hits album or (to my knowledge) a live album. Thinking about other singers/bands that I like, I couldn't think of a similar situation where the singer/band has a lot of studio material and has enjoyed a pretty fair amount of success, but has never put out a GH or live album that far into their careers. The point above about GH albums being more driven by labels than the artists is well taken, but, still, there aren't too mahy other examples like this, are there?

Mike

Funnily enough, I was only thinking last weekthat Meat Beat Manifesto and released loads of albums and singles, but no summary, GH or live album.

DS

OTD - Dr. Walker - Psychedelic Kitchen

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