1995 greatest hits album by Bruce Springsteen
Greatest Hits is the firstcompilation album by the American singer-songwriterBruce Springsteen , released February 27, 1995, onColumbia Records . It is a collection of some of Springsteen's hit singles and popular album tracks through the years along with four new songs at the end, mostly recorded with theE Street Band in 1995. The latter constituted Springsteen's first (albeit very partial) release with his backing band since the late 1980s. Some of the songs are shorter versions of the original album releases.
The recording of the new tracks was depicted in the 1996 documentaryBlood Brothers . "Murder Incorporated" and "This Hard Land" were outtakes from the 1982 sessions forBorn in the U.S.A. , with the latter being re-recorded more than a decade later, and both have been frequently performed by Springsteen in concert.[ 8] [ 9] [ 10] "Blood Brothers", on the other hand, has been played on only four occasions, including as the opening number of the first concert following keyboardistDanny Federici 's death in April 2008. "Secret Garden " became well-known when it was featured on the soundtrack of the 1996 filmJerry Maguire . Alternate versions of several of these new tracks were released on the 1996Blood Brothers EP and the 1998 box setTracks .
The compilation was commercially successful, hitting number one on theBillboard 200 andUK Albums Chart , and sold six million copies in the U.S.[ 11]
Greatest Hits received mixed review upon release, with critics pointing out the challenge of summarising a lengthy career with only one album, including both notable omissions and the inclusion of four new tracks that had been cut from earlier albums. William Ruhlmann pointed out that the timing of the release (the day before theGrammy Awards ) was notable as "Streets of Philadelphia " was up for five awards.
David Browne ofEntertainment Weekly referred to the liner notes when pointing out that some songs appeared to be "chosen for their chart success rather than for artistic merit" which means that several important songs were overlooked. He described the album as invigorating, but also felt that "Murder Incorporated" (a song about the 1930sorganized crime group of the same name ) was the only good new song on the album and that overall the album felt as if Springsteen did not believe in himself any more.[ 4]
TheRolling Stone review of the album by Parke Puterbaugh is rather unfavorable. Parke felt that the songs on the collection belonged on their original LP releases, that songs from beforeBorn to Run should have been included, and that the new songs weren't very good.[ 6]
Commercial performance [ edit ] The album debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 the week of March 18, 1995, with more than 250,000 copies sold, it remained on the chart for 43 weeks.[ 12] [ 13] As of March 2009 it has sold over 4,092,000 copies in the United States according toNielsen SoundScan .[ 14] It was certified six times platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on May 25, 2022, for shipments of 6 million copies[ 15]
In theUnited Kingdom the album entered at number one on March 11, 1995, and topped the chart for two non-consecutive weeks.[ 16] It was present on the chart for 134 weeks.[ 16] It was certified four times platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI) on March 21, 2014, denoting shipments of 1.2 million units.[ 17]
Credits are adapted from the liner notes ofGreatest Hits .[ 19]
Roy Bittan –piano ,synthesizer Clarence Clemons –saxophone ,percussion Danny Federici –organ ,synthesizer ,accordion Bruce Springsteen –guitar ,vocals (harmonica on "Thunder Road," "This Hard Land," and "Blood Brothers")Garry Tallent –bass guitar Max Weinberg –drums Steven Van Zandt – Electric guitar on "Badlands," acoustic guitar on "Murder Incorporated", "Born in the U.S.A." and "Murder Incorporated",mandolin on "This Hard Land" and "Glory Days"Nils Lofgren – guitar (15, 17, 18)Patti Scialfa – Harmony vocals on "Human Touch", background vocals on "Better Days"Backing vocals ("Murder Incorporated") – all of the above except Nils Lofgren and Patti ScialfaFrank Pagano – percussion on "Blood Brothers" and "This Hard Land" Produced by: Bruce Springsteen,Jon Landau andChuck Plotkin (and by Steven Van Zandt on "Murder Incorporated") Recorded by: Toby Scott Mixed by:Bob Clearmountain Mastered by:Bob Ludwig Assistant engineers: Carl Glanville, Pete Keppler, Ryan Freeland, Jay Militscher and Tony Duino-Black Sequence editing: Brian Lee Recorded atThe Hit Factory 1995 year-end chart performance forGreatest Hits Chart (1995) Position German Albums Chart[ 43] 10
2019 year-end chart performance forGreatest Hits Chart (2019) Position Irish Albums (IRMA)[ 44] 49
2020 year-end chart performance forGreatest Hits Chart (2020) Position Irish Albums (IRMA)[ 45] 30
2021 year-end chart performance forGreatest Hits Chart (2021) Position Irish Albums (IRMA)[ 46] 25
Certifications and sales [ edit ] Certifications and sales forGreatest Hits Region Certification Certified units /salesAustralia (ARIA )[ 47] 10× Platinum 700,000‡ Austria (IFPI Austria)[ 48] 2× Platinum 100,000* Belgium (BRMA )[ 49] Platinum 50,000* Canada (Music Canada )[ 50] 4× Platinum 400,000^ Denmark (IFPI Danmark )[ 51] 5× Platinum 100,000‡ Finland (Musiikkituottajat )[ 52] Platinum 76,419[ 52] France (SNEP )[ 53] Platinum 300,000* Germany (BVMI )[ 54] 2× Platinum 1,000,000^ Ireland (IRMA )[ 55] Platinum 15,000^ Italy 1995-1996 sales — 350,000[ 56] Italy (FIMI )[ 57] sales since 2009 Platinum 50,000‡ Japan (RIAJ )[ 58] Platinum 200,000^ Netherlands (NVPI )[ 59] 2× Platinum 200,000^ New Zealand (RMNZ )[ 60] 4× Platinum 60,000‡ Norway (IFPI Norway)[ 61] 2× Platinum 100,000* Spain (PROMUSICAE )[ 62] 2× Platinum 200,000^ Sweden (GLF )[ 63] digipack Platinum 100,000^ Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[ 64] Platinum 50,000^ United Kingdom (BPI )[ 65] 5× Platinum 1,500,000‡ United States (RIAA )[ 15] 6× Platinum 4,092,000[ 14] Summaries Europe (IFPI )[ 66] 5× Platinum 5,000,000* * Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
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RetrievedApril 4, 2025 . ^ "Bruce Springsteen to re-release landmark box set of rare material – Uncut" . August 12, 2013.Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. RetrievedOctober 18, 2018 .^ Spiegel, Ben (August 15, 2014)."10 Amazing Songs Springsteen Cut From 'Born in the U.S.A.' " .Rolling Stone .Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. RetrievedOctober 18, 2018 . ^ Collins, Roger."Springstreet staples" .Iomusic . Archived fromthe original on February 4, 2009. RetrievedDecember 9, 2008 . ^ Grein, Paul."Week Ending Oct. 19, 2008: Battle Of The Hat Acts" Archived October 26, 2008, at theWayback Machine .Yahoo! Music . October 22, 2008. ^ "Top 200 Albums" .Billboard . March 18, 1995.Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. RetrievedOctober 22, 2017 .^ Mayfield, Geoff (March 18, 1995)."Between The Bullets" .Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 12. p. 88.ISSN 0006-2510 .Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. RetrievedOctober 2, 2020 . ^a b Trust, Gary (March 27, 2009)."Ask Billboard: Basia, Bon Jovi and The Boss" .Billboard .Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. RetrievedOctober 22, 2017 . ^a b "American album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" .Recording Industry Association of America .^a b "Bruce Springsteen | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company" .www.officialcharts.com .Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. RetrievedOctober 22, 2017 .^ "British album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" .British Phonographic Industry . March 21, 2014.Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. RetrievedOctober 22, 2017 .^ Kirkpatrick, Rob (December 2006).The Words and Music of Bruce Springsteen . Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. p. 131 .ISBN 978-0-275-99245-3 . ^ Greatest Hits (liner notes).Bruce Springsteen .Columbia Records . 1995.{{cite AV media notes }}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link )^ "Australiancharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits ". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits " (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits " (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Ultratop.be – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits " (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Image 9077 ".RPM .Library and Archives Canada . Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Hits of the World – Ireland".Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 14. April 8, 1995. p. 61.ISSN 0006-2510 . ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits " (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Hits of the World – Eurochart" .Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 15. April 15, 1995. p. 61.ISSN 0006-2510 . RetrievedOctober 11, 2012 .^ "Hits of the World – Finland" .Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 15. April 15, 1995. p. 61.ISSN 0006-2510 . RetrievedOctober 11, 2012 .^ "Les "Charts Runs" de chaque Album Classé" .InfoDisc (in French). Archived fromthe original (PHP) on February 18, 2010. Search for "Bruce SPRINGSTEEN" on the drop-down menu to see results.^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits " (in German).GfK Entertainment charts . Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Archivum: Top 40 Album" .MAHASZ (in Hungarian).Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. RetrievedJuly 20, 2011 .^ "Hits of the World – Ireland" .Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 15. April 15, 1995. p. 61.ISSN 0006-2510 . RetrievedOctober 11, 2012 .^ "History" (in Italian).FIMI .Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. RetrievedMay 31, 2022 . Search "Bruce Springsteen" as a "Artista" then click "Classifiche".^ "Charts.nz – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits ". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits ". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF) .Music & Media . March 25, 1995. p. 17.Archived (PDF) from the original on May 1, 2021. RetrievedMay 1, 2021 .^ "Hits of the World – Portugal" .Billboard . Vol. 107, no. 14. April 8, 1995. p. 60.ISSN 0006-2510 .Archived from the original on March 5, 2024. RetrievedOctober 11, 2012 .^ "Swedishcharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits ". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits ". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Bruce Springsteen Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History ".Official Charts Company . Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ "Bruce Springsteen Chart History (Billboard 200) ".Billboard . Retrieved October 22, 2017. ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C.Zimbabwe: albums chart book . Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000 ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German).GfK Entertainment .Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. RetrievedAugust 13, 2018 .^ White, Jack (January 9, 2020)."Ireland's Official Top 50 biggest albums of 2019" . Official Charts Company.Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. RetrievedJanuary 11, 2020 . ^ White, Jack (January 10, 2021)."Ireland's Official Top 50 biggest albums of 2020" . Official Charts Company.Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. RetrievedJanuary 12, 2021 . ^ Griffiths, George (January 9, 2022)."Ireland's official biggest albums of 2021" . Official Charts Company.Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 9, 2022 . ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2022 Albums" (PDF) .Australian Recording Industry Association . RetrievedFebruary 7, 2022 .^ "Austrian album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in German).IFPI Austria.^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2000" .Ultratop . Hung Medien. RetrievedNovember 18, 2021 .^ "Canadian album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" .Music Canada .^ "Danish album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" .IFPI Danmark . Scroll through the page-list below until year 2018 to obtain certification.^a b "Bruce Springsteen" (in Finnish).Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland .^ "French compilation certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in French).SNEP .^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bruce Springsteen; ' Greatest Hits' )" (in German).Bundesverband Musikindustrie .^ "The Irish Charts - 2009 Certification Awards - Platinum" .Irish Recorded Music Association . RetrievedOctober 15, 2021 .^ Marinella Venegoni (January 4, 1996)."L'hit parade canta italiano Il blues napoletano alle stelle mentre Giorgia resta al palo" .La Stampa (in Italian). Archived fromthe original on July 1, 2012. RetrievedJune 2, 2013 . ^ "Italian album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . RetrievedOctober 15, 2021 .^ "Japanese album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in Japanese).Recording Industry Association of Japan . RetrievedFebruary 10, 2020 .Select 1996年1月on the drop-down menu ^ "Dutch album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in Dutch).Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . RetrievedOctober 22, 2020 .Enter Greatest Hits in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1996in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen" .^ "New Zealand album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" .Recorded Music NZ . RetrievedNovember 20, 2024 .^ "Norwegian album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" (in Norwegian).IFPI Norway.^ "Spanish album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Grandes Exitos" .El portal de Música .Productores de Música de España . RetrievedOctober 13, 2024 .^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2009" (PDF) (in Swedish).IFPI Sweden . Archived fromthe original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. RetrievedJuly 2, 2019 .^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (' Greatest Hits' )" . IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.^ "British album certifications – Bruce Springsteen – Greatest Hits" .British Phonographic Industry . RetrievedJune 4, 2021 .^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2003" .International Federation of the Phonographic Industry .
Studio albums Live albums Bruce Springsteen Archives Apollo Theater 3/09/12 (2014)The Agora, Cleveland 1978 (2015)Tower Theater, Philadelphia 1975 (2015)Nassau Coliseum, New York 1980 (2015)Brendan Byrne Arena, New Jersey 1984 (2015)LA Sports Arena, California 1988 (2015)Schottenstein Center, Ohio 2005 (2015)Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Rome 2013 (2015)Arizona State University, Tempe 1980 (2015)The Christic Shows 1990 (2016)HSBC Arena, Buffalo, NY, 11/22/09 (2016)Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO, 8/23/08 (2017)Olympiastadion, Helsinki, July 31, 2012 (2017)Palace Theatre, Albany 1977 (2017)Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY 1977 (2017)The Summit, Houston, TX December 8, 1978 (2017)The Roxy July 7, 1978 (2018)Soundtracks Compilations Box sets EPs Video releases Concerts Related people Related articles