Problem. The hits have dried up, the fans have drifted away and the cheques are starting to bounce. Solution? Dredge up your back catalogue and get all the people who didn’t buy them the first time round to run out and buy your Greatest Hits.
Okay, so it may sound cynical but what’s good for them is good for us too. We get an entire career's worth of hits on one CD (two if we're really lucky) and if we’re jammy the videos are thrown in for good measure!
So, for your listening pleasure, here’s a run down of the best of the 'Best Of' CD compilations.
David Bowie: The Platinum Collection
Containing four UK No. 1s, 15 Top 10s, six Top 20s and 14 Top 75 hits the quality speaks for itself. Dust off your sparkly cat suits with classics like 'Starman', 'Fame', 'Heroes', 'Sound and Vision', 'Ashes to Ashes', 'Under Pressure' and 'Let’s Dance'. This is a collection from one of the greatest performers of the 20th Century.
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Human League: Original Remixes & Rarities
The popularity of The Human League never seems to wane and this compilation features 14 previously unreleased 12” remixes and extended versions of some of their best known tracks. All together now, "Don't You Want Me Baby?" Or are you living in 'Electric Dreams'?
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Duran Duran: Greatest
Between 1981 and 1989 Duran Duran had 13 top ten hits. They're all featured here, including the No. 1’s 'Is There Something I Should Know' and 'The Reflex', which were both No. 1 singles. This compilation also includes a bonus DVD featuring all the band's videos, including the classic video for 'Wild Boys'.
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Madness: Divine Madness
They were the biggest selling singles act of the 1980s and this CD and DVD compilation features their 21 Top 20 hit singles such as ‘It Must Be Love’, ‘Baggy Trousers’, ‘My Girl’ and ‘Our House’. How mental will you go with the classic ska-pop band?
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Blondie: Greatest Hits
Emerging from the punk and new wave scene of the late 1970’s, Blondie went on to become one of the most influential bands of their generation. This compilation features every track from their outstanding career plus the accompanying single videos. What's more, to enjoy this you don’t even need to die your hair!
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UB40: The Best Of UB40, Volumes 1 & 2
This double album brings together both of UB40's Greatest Hits CD's. All their pop / reggae hits are featured here as well as the number one singles, 'Red Red Wine', 'I Got You Babe' and '(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You'. Lovely.
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Shakespear's Sister: The Best of Shakespear's Sister
This ‘best of’ compilation album includes the duo’s best known singles from the peak of their popularity; ‘Stay’, ‘You're History’ and ‘Hello (Turn Your Radio On)’ plus a DVD of the group's music videos. It's just a pity the French and Saunders pastiche of the 'Stay' video isn't included for good measure!
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Never Forget: The Ultimate Collection
Almost ten years after they called it a day comes another best-of comp from one of the UK's most successful acts ever. They arguably ignited the boyband boom which has seen acts like Westlife and Backstreet Boys dominate charts around the world, and launched the career of Robbie Williams. This album brings together all the hits including their seven UK no.1s, as well as a new remix of 'Relight My Fire' and the previously unreleased 'Today I've Lost You'.
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Buy Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock online and save yourself some money while you learn all about queer rock. And you thought it was all Shirley Bassey and Dolly Parton...
Alternatively, get Mondo Homo: Your Essential Guide to Queer Pop Culture online and find out if you can live without the classic gay icons!