The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder
The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder is a compilation album by English electronic musician Fatboy Slim, released on 19 June 2006. In addition to previously released material, the album includes two new tracks: "Champion Sound" and "That Old Pair of Jeans". A collection of music videos titled The Greatest Hits – Why Make Videos was also released in 2006.
The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Greatest hits album by | ||||
Released | 19 June 2006 (UK) 20 June 2006 (US) | |||
Recorded | 1996–2006 | |||
Genre | Big beat | |||
Length | 65:46 | |||
Label | Skint (UK) Astralwerks (US) Sony BMG (Int'l) | |||
Producer | Fatboy Slim | |||
Fatboy Slim chronology | ||||
| ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
US edition cover | ||||
Singles from The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Pitchfork Media | (6.7/10)[2] |
PopMatters | (7/10)[3] |
Q | |
The Times | [4] |
Background
To save space on the audio disc, the songs are shorter radio edits with the exception of the final track. The profanity in "Wonderful Night" remains intact in the United Kingdom edition, but was removed for the United States. "Champion Sound" is also significantly different on the US edition, as it contains verses that are absent from the UK release.
Cover art
For the UK release, the artwork for the album cover was created by Brighton artist Julie-Anne Gilburt. It features the image of the man previously used on the cover of You've Come a Long Way, Baby. Gilburt painted this cover for the greatest hits album depicting an angelic version of the man, with wings. Several images were created for this project, including a full frontal nude, and the man lounging on a sofa. These images appear in the album booklet.
For the US release, the front cover was altered to that of Christopher Walken from the "Weapon of Choice" music video. The title of the compilation comes from the slogan on the T-shirt of the man who adorns the non-US covers of both this album and You've Come a Long Way, Baby: "I'M # 1 SO WHY TRY HARDER".
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The Rockafeller Skank" (edit) | 3:57 |
2. | "Praise You" (radio edit) | 3:48 |
3. | "Brimful of Asha" (Norman Cook remix of Cornershop) | 4:01 |
4. | "Weapon of Choice" (Attack Hamster edit) (featuring Bootsy Collins) | 3:40 |
5. | "Gangster Trippin" (edit) | 3:32 |
6. | "I See You Baby" (edit) (Fatboy Slim remix of Groove Armada featuring Gram'ma Funk) | 3:30 |
7. | "Wonderful Night" (featuring Lateef the Truth Speaker) (US release contains clean edit) | 2:45 |
8. | "Right Here, Right Now" (edit) | 3:56 |
9. | "Going Out of My Head" (edit) | 3:43 |
10. | "Sunset (Bird of Prey)" (edit) | 3:59 |
11. | "Everybody Loves a Carnival" (radio edit) | 4:05 |
12. | "Don't Let the Man Get You Down" (edit) | 3:18 |
13. | "Demons" (shorter radio version) (featuring Macy Gray) | 3:14 |
14. | "Sho Nuff" (edit) | 3:21 |
15. | "Slash Dot Dash" | 2:55 |
16. | "Santa Cruz" (edit) | 4:18 |
17. | "Champion Sound" (featuring Lateef the Truth Speaker) (US release contains version with Sharon Woolf, 3:21)) | 3:00 |
18. | "That Old Pair of Jeans" (featuring Lateef the Truth Speaker) | 4:44 |
The Greatest Hits – Why Make Videos DVD
- "Praise You"
- "The Rockafeller Skank"
- "Weapon of Choice" (starring Christopher Walken)
- "Gangster Trippin'"
- "Wonderful Night"
- "Right Here, Right Now"
- "Going Out of My Head"
- "Sunset (Bird of Prey)"
- "Everybody Loves a Carnival"
- "Don't Let the Man Get You Down" (swimming ending)
- "Demons"
- "Slash Dot Dash"
- "Santa Cruz"
- "Ya Mama"
- "Star 69"
- "The Joker"
- "That Old Pair of Jeans"
Rare and Unseen Videos
- "Sunset (Bird of Prey)" (directors cut)
- "Star 69" (animated version)
- "Everybody Needs a 303" (Pigboy)
- "The Rockafeller Skank" (Spike Jonze audition demo version)
- "Build It Up, Tear It Down"
- Why Make Videos (documentary)
Special bonus section
- "Are We Having Fun Yet?" (Live from Brighton, Brazil & Brixton) (montage with album version of Love Island put underneath)
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Ireland (IRMA)[5] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[6] | Gold | 7,500^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[7] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- David Jeffries. "The Greatest Hits: Why Try Harder – Fatboy Slim". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- Marc Hogan (27 June 2006). "Fatboy Slim: Greatest Hits: Why Try Harder". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- Tim O'Neil (19 June 2006). "Fatboy Slim: The Greatest Hits: Why Try Harder". PopMatters. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- "The Irish Charts - 2006 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- "New Zealand album certifications – Fatboy Slim – Why try harder". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- "British album certifications – Fatboy Slim – Why try harder". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 May 2019. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Why try harder in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
External links
- The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder at Discogs (list of releases)
- Why Try Harder: The Greatest Hits at MusicBrainz (list of releases)