Greatest Hits (1980)

In hindsight, Aerosmith's first Greatest Hits compilation is woefully inadequate. You could fill an entire album with the songs they'd already recorded that weren't there (and later, they did, 1988's Gems.) But since Aerosmith wasn't really a band that lived on the charts, it's hard to argue with what is there. If their 1970's run could only be known for 10 songs, the only one you could argue against is "Remember (Walking in the Sand)" which could be swapped out for "No Surprize" to give the album more consistency. Still, "Remember" is at least a good track to go out on. Even "Kings and Queens," which I said was a bit of an oddity in the context of the Draw the Line album, stands tall here. The only real problem with the album is that the songs are sometimes a bit chopped-up radio edits, with the most glaring loss to me being the intro to "Sweet Emotion," whose existence is exactly what sets Aerosmith apart.

In a way, this album has become outdated, both because the story kept going and because there were new ways of looking at it. There's a few double discs out there that incorporate tracks from both the 1970's era, when they recorded for Columbia, and the 80's/90's, when they were with Geffen, but none of them have enough space to give either era its due. That's sort of why I wanted to do this site. Nothing about this band feels inessential to me, every album is like a chapter in a book, every track either a payoff or a build to one. Even the frustrating, lackluster moments have a character and importance to the story.

But what its ten "greatest hits" show is a confident, competent band writing and performing that great rock and roll story of bravado, energy, youth, desire and need, whether it's yearning for success in "Dream On" or home sweet home on "Last Child..." whether learning how to "Walk This Way" or getting "Back in the Saddle." Most importantly, seeking that "Sweet Emotion" while learning how to "Draw the Line." It's pure and simple and never dull.

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