Greatest Hits, later re-released as Greatest Hits 1973–1988, is the first greatest hits compilation album by American hard rock band Aerosmith, released by Columbia Records on November 11, 1980.

Release and reception

Although the official website for Aerosmith lists the release for Greatest Hits as October 1980, and the album was originally scheduled for release on October 24, 1980, it was delayed until November 11, 1980.

Some of the tracks were significantly edited from their original versions. The single version of "Same Old Song and Dance" was used, and was edited down almost a full minute. It also contained an alternate lyric which was not heard on Get Your Wings. The original lyric was "Gotcha with the cocaine, found with your gun." The alternate lyric, included on the compilation, was "You shady lookin' loser, you played with my gun." "Sweet Emotion" also used the single version; it begins with the first chorus, cutting out the now famous talk box intro and the coda was replaced with a repeating chorus and fades out. "Kings and Queens" was also edited down, cutting the intro and certain other parts. "Walk This Way" was edited slightly, chanting the first chorus once instead of twice. The other remaining tracks were kept intact.

On April 21, 1997, a slightly revised version, Greatest Hits 1973–1988, was released outside the US, with the ten tracks in their edited versions retained, with five additional songs from the same era added, plus the 1991 version of "Sweet Emotion" and a live version of "One Way Street".

Greatest Hits is the band's highest RIAA certified album in the United States, having been certified 12× Platinum in 2021.

Track listing

Original version

1997 reissue Track details same as original version track listing, except where noted.

Personnel Aerosmith Steven Tyler – lead vocals, harmonica, percussion, producer, arrangement Joe Perry – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, arrangement, except on "Lightning Strikes" Brad Whitford – rhythm and lead guitar, producer, arrangement Tom Hamilton – bass guitar, producer, arrangement Joey Kramer – drums, producer, arrangement Additional musicians Jimmy Crespo – lead guitar, backing vocals on "Lightning Strikes" Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone on "Same Old Song and Dance" and "Big Ten Inch Record" Randy Brecker – trumpet on "Same Old Song and Dance" Stan Bronstein – baritone saxophone on "Same Old Song and Dance" Jon Pearson – trombone on "Same Old Song and Dance" David Woodford – saxophone on "Mama Kin" Scott Cushnie – keyboards, piano on "Big Ten Inch Record" Jay Messina – bass marimba on "Sweet Emotion" Production Jack Douglas – producer, arrangement Adrian Barber – producer George Martin – producer Ray Colcord – producer Jay Messina – engineer Vic Anesini – remastering Janet Perr – cover concept John Berg – design

Charts

Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for Greatest Hits Chart (1980–2020) Peakposition

Year-end charts +2019 year-end chart performance for Greatest Hits Chart (2019) Position US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) 63 +2020 year-end chart performance for Greatest Hits Chart (2020) Position US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) 41 +2021 year-end chart performance for Greatest Hits Chart (2021) Position US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) 44 +2024 year-end chart performance for Greatest Hits Chart (2024) Position US Billboard 200 129

Certifications

Release history +Release history and formats for Greatest HitsRegionDateFormatTracksLabelCatalog #BarcodeEditionSeriesNotesUSNov 11, 1980LP10Columbia/CBSFC 36865074643686518——Some front covers have the right side of the logo, others the left sideUSNov 11, 1980Cassette10Columbia/CBSFCT 36865074643686549——Some issues have the “0 7464-36865-1” LP barcodeUSNov 11, 19808-Track11Columbia/CBSFCA 36865074643686587——Grey Shell; "Walk This Way" is listed twiceUSJul 1983LP10Columbia/CBSPC 36865074643686518—The Nice PriceBillboard: July 23, 1983, page 23USJul 1983Cassette10Columbia/CBSPCT 36865074643686549—The Nice PriceUSMay 1986CD10Columbia/CBSCK 36865074643686525——Longbox; sched. for Dec 1984 - delayed 17 monthsBased on the "DIDP 20145" mastering number and Billboard December 15, 1984, page 25Based on the Schwann CD CatalogUSAug 30, 1988CD10Columbia/CBSCK 36865074643686525—Best Value SeriesLongboxUSJan 1989LP10Columbia/CBSFC 36865074643686518 01—Chart BustersLancaster New Era: January 26, 1989, page 60USJan 1989Cassette10Columbia/CBSFCT 36865074643686549 01—Chart BustersUSSep 1989Cassette10Columbia/CBSFCT 36865074643686549 01—Best Value SeriesArizona Republic: September 20, 1989, page 188USMar 1990LP10Columbia/CBSPC 36865074643686518 02—The Nice PriceThe Evening Sun: March 16, 1990, page 7USMar 1990CD10Columbia/CBSCK 36865074643686525—The Nice PriceLongboxTucson Citizen: March 8, 1990, page 78USMar 1990Cassette10Columbia/CBSPCT 36865074643686549 02—The Nice PriceUSApr 18, 1990Cassette10Columbia/CBSPCT 36865074643686549 02—The Nice Pricefull length coverUSOct 20, 1990CD10Columbia/CBSCK 36865074643686525—The Nice Pricepossibly released in a "The Nice Price" LongboxUSApr 1, 1993CD10Columbia/CBSCK 36865074643686525—The Nice PriceDogbone stickerUSSep 7, 1993CD10Columbia/SMEICK 57367074645736723Special Limited Collector's EditionBest Value1993 Remaster; sched. for Aug 24, 1993 - delayed 2 weeksUSSep 7, 1993Cassette10Columbia/SMEICT 57367074645736747—Best Value1993 Remaster; sched. for Aug 24, 1993 - delayed 2 weeksUSSep 14, 1993MiniDisc10Columbia/SMEICM 57367074645736785——1993 Remaster; sched. for Aug 24, 1993 - delayed 3 weeksUSFeb 1, 2008MP3 256k10Columbia/SBMECK 57367074645736723——1993 Remaster; album onlyUSJul 1, 2009MP3 192k10Columbia/SMECK 57367074645736723——1993 Remaster; album onlyUSOct 6, 2009MP3 320k10Columbia/SMECK 57367074645736723——1993 Remaster; album only; approx. date; issued between Oct 6 - Nov 28, 2009USAug 26, 2011MP3 256k10Columbia/SMECK 57367074645736723——1993 Remaster; individ. tracksUSAug 26, 2011MP3 320k10Columbia/SMECK 57367074645736723——1993 Remaster; individ. tracksUSSep 6, 2011AAC 256k10Columbia/SMECK 57367074645736723——1993 Remaster; individ. tracksUSNov 6, 2012AAC 256k10Columbia/SME88644 37119 4886443711945—Mastered for iTunes2012 Remaster; individ. tracksUSApr 21, 2014FLAC 96/2410Columbia/SME88644 37119 4886443711945——2012 Remaster; album onlyUSSep 26, 2014CD10Columbia/SMEICK 57367888750363527——1993 Remaster; also listed as Jan 16, 2015USSep 26, 2014CD10Columbia/SMEICK 57367888750363626——1993 Remaster; also listed as Nov 11, 2014USJun 21, 2019LP10Columbia/SME19075846981190758469812——140 GramUSAug 7, 2019AAC 256k10Columbia/SME88644 37119 4886443711945—Apple Digital Master2012 Remaster; individ. tracksUSSep 27, 2019FLAC 96/2410Columbia/SME88644 37119 4886443711945——2012 Remaster; album onlyUSNov 29, 2019LP10Columbia/SME19075977671190759776711—Walmart ExclusiveWhite Vinyl

See also

List of best-selling albums in the United States

References

External links