Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003) is a two-disc compilation album by the American rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 16, 2004, through Epic Records. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA in the United States. It was reissued in 2013 as The Essential Pearl Jam.

Overview The compilation debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 96,000 copies in its first week of release. rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003) has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

The album's two discs are both devoted to different sides of the band's catalogue: the first disc, or "Up Side", contains heavier rock songs while the second disc or "Down Side" consists of slower songs and ballads. Both discs are in chronological order, with the exception of the last song on the "Down Side", regular show closer "Yellow Ledbetter".

The tracks "Once", "Alive", and "Black" were remixed by Brendan O'Brien. Pearl Jam's version of the Victoria Williams song "Crazy Mary" was supposed to appear on disc two,"Pearl Jam: Greatest Hits" . Pearl Jam Online. September 22, 2004. but was replaced with "Man of the Hour" before release. This release marked the end of Pearl Jam's contractual agreement with Epic Records.

AllMusic staff writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album four and a half out of five stars. He said that the album "does an expert job not only of capturing the moment when Pearl Jam were monstrously popular, but proving that they still turned out good music even when they were fading from the spotlight. Unlike most career-spanning, multi-disc retrospectives, Rearviewmirror does not emphasize latter-day albums in order to achieve a sense of balance that's inherently phony." Rolling Stone staff writer Christian Hoard gave the album four out of five stars, saying, "Pearl Jam have spent much of this decade courting devotees with a series of live bootlegs, so Rearviewmirror is a welcome concession to casual fans, rounding out the hits with concert staples and non-album cuts. The rockers on the "Up Side" disc sum up the band's continually evolving relationship with effects pedals and emotional catharsis; the slower "Down Side" disc offers gold sounds that are long on big choruses and well-worn sincerity."

Track listing

Personnel

Pearl Jam Stone Gossard – guitars Jeff Ament – bass guitar, album concept, additional booklet photos Eddie Vedder – vocals, guitars Mike McCready – guitars Dave Krusen – drums on Ten, "Yellow Ledbetter" Dave Abbruzzese – drums on Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Vs., Vitalogy Jack Irons – drums on Merkin Ball, No Code, Yield Matt Cameron – drums on "Last Kiss", Binaural, Riot Act, "Man of the Hour"

Additional musicians and production Matt Bayles, John Burton, Caram Costanzo, Don Gilmore, Dave Hillis, Sam Hofstedt, Adrian Moore, Adam Samuels, Kevin Scott, Trina Shoemaker, Ashley Stubbert – engineering Tchad Blake – production, mixing Nick DiDia – mixing, engineering Brett Eliason – production, mixing, engineering Boom Gaspar – Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes on Riot Act Walter Gray – cello on "Jeremy" Adam Kasper – production, engineering Brad Klausen – design and layout Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering – mastering Lance Mercer – photos Brendan O'Brien – production, mixing, engineering; bass guitar on "I Got Id", pump organ, Hammond organ, piano; remixing on "Once", "Alive", and "Black" Tim Palmer – mixing Rick Parashar – production, engineering, piano on "Black" Pearl Jam – production George Webb – equipment manager Neil Young – guitar on "I Got Id"

Chart positions Weekly charts + 2004 weekly chart performance for Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003) Chart (2004) Peakposition Australian Albums ChartPearl Jam in Australian Charts . Australian-Charts.com. Retrieved on May 28, 2008. 2 Austrian Albums Chart 66 Belgian Albums Chart (Vl) 23 Canadian Albums Chart 10 Dutch Albums Chart 32 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)75 Irish Albums Chart 22 Italian Albums Chart 57 New Zealand Albums ChartPearl Jam in New Zealand Charts . Charts.Org.NZ. Retrieved on May 28, 2008. 3 Norwegian Albums Chart 25 Portuguese Albums Chart 10 Swedish Albums Chart 15 Swiss Albums Chart 75 UK Albums Chart 58 US Billboard 200 16 US Top Internet Albums 13 + 2022–2025 weekly chart performance for Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003) Chart (2022–2025) Peakposition Greek Albums (IFPI) 6

Decade-end chart + Decade-end chart performance for Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003)Chart (2000–2009)Position Australian Albums (ARIA)60

Certifications

References

External links rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003) information and lyrics at pearljam.com