Greatest Hits (Westlife album)
2011 greatest hits album by Westlife
Greatest Hits is the second greatest hits album release by Irish boy band Westlife . It was released on 18 November 2011 by RCA Records and Sony Music . Greatest Hits follows their previous compilation Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1 (2002) and was their last before their split in the months following its release. The album is the group's first album not under Syco Music and not under the tutelage of Simon Cowell , having left Syco and Cowell in March 2011. The album contains 14 singles spanning throughout the band's career and 4 new songs produced by John Shanks . The standard edition of the album contains eighteen tracks; an expanded deluxe edition features a bonus disc and a DVD containing nearly all of the band's music videos up to that point. The album's lead single "Lighthouse " was released on 14 November 2011.
Greatest Hits received mixed reviews from music critics, with some reviewers praising the compilation's structure, while others disliked the group's musical style. The compilation reached No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart , and has sold more than 900,000 units being certified 3× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry as of June 2024.[ 1] The album debuted at the No. 1 position on the Irish Albums Chart and performed moderately elsewhere.
Background
On 5 September 2011, it was confirmed the album would be simply titled Greatest Hits .[ 2] On 12 October 2011, the group announced the track listing on their official website.[ 3] Amazon.co.uk and Play.com released editions that included free postcards and member signatures.[ 4] A limited-release signed edition sold out in less than 24 hours.[ 5]
There are four new tracks on the standard edition: "Beautiful World" (written by Feehily, Shanks and Ruth-Anne Cunningham ), "Wide Open" and "Last Mile of the Way" (co-written by Byrne, Filan, Dimitri Ehrlich, Coyle Girelli ) and the lead single "Lighthouse ". The new tracks on the album were recorded from May - September 2011 with the band's Gravity producer Shanks and new producers Dan Radclyffe and Boxsta Martin. Bryne said that the new tracks took "four or five weeks" to record.[ 6] In 2014, Dimitri Ehrlich, co-writer of the song "Last Mile of the Way", posted a demo of the song on his SoundCloud account.[ 7]
Album artwork
The album photoshoot took place in South Africa starting on 17 September 2011, alongside the lead single music video shoot.[ 8] [ 9] On 12 October 2011, the official site posted the album artwork.[ 3] Julia Simpson of Yahoo OMG! UK reported: "the artwork for their brand new album sees them striking one of their best model poses yet."[ 10]
Reception
Greatest Hits received mixed reviews from music critics. Critics that positively received the album praised the album's track listing and new songs, particularly "Beautiful World". Reviewers that criticized the album also noted the group's repetitive formula in their songs.
Shaun Kitchener of Trash Lounge gave the compilation a perfect five stars, calling it "the perfect way for the band to bid farewell."[ 18] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the album four stars out of five, praising the inclusion of numerous hits in the track listing, as well as the new songs of the compilation. However, he was disappointed that the new songs "point to what could have been an interesting new direction for the band".[ 12] Alistair McGeorge of Female First called the album a "fine retrospective of one of the best boy-bands in history", as well as assuring the listeners that they will be "taken on a journey from the band’s beginnings through to their last recordings, constantly reminded of the talent they showed."[ 15]
Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music gave a mixed review of the album, noting the repetitive structure of the group's previous hits, and that listening to the album felt "strange". Despite this, he praised the album's last three tracks.[ 11] Simon Gage of Daily Express said that the compilation "needs no introduction with big key-change numbers like "Flying Without Wings" and "You Raise Me Up" telling their own story."[ 14] Star Magazine UK called the group's formula "annoyingly, irresistibly effective" and that "it's the ballads they’ll be remembered for."[ 17] Jon O'Brien of Rovi Music gave the album a borderline two and a half out of five stars, saying, "while this collection contains a few pop gems, it's a samey and uninspiring listen that suggests their split has been well overdue." He also noted that numerous uptempo songs and four No. 1 hits ("Seasons in the Sun", "Fool Again", "Unbreakable" and "The Rose") were excluded from the album's standard edition.[ 16] Pip Ellwood of Entertainment Focus gave the album a negative review, saying that listening to the album was like "listening to one song for just over an hour."[ 13] While Allmusic only gave 2.5 of 5 stars.[ 19]
Track listing
Title Writer(s) Album 1. "Swear It Again " (Radio Edit) Wayne Hector , Steve Mac Westlife (1999)4:08 2. "If I Let You Go " (Radio Edit) Jörgen Elofsson , David Kreuger , Per Magnusson Westlife 3:41 3. "Flying Without Wings " Hector, Mac Westlife 3:35 4. "I Have a Dream " (Remix) Benny Andersson , Björn Ulvaeus Coast to Coast (2000)4:13 5. "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) " (with Mariah Carey ) Phil Collins Coast to Coast 3:19 6. "My Love " (Radio Edit) Elofsson, Kreuger, Magnusson, Pelle Nylén Coast to Coast 3:51 7. "Uptown Girl " (Radio Edit) Billy Joel World of Our Own (2001)3:05 8. "Queen of My Heart " (Radio Edit) Hector, Mac, John McLaughlin , Steve Robson World of Our Own 4:18 9. "World of Our Own " (Single Remix) Hector, Mac, Dennis Morgan , Simon Climie World of Our Own 3:28 10. "Mandy " Scott English , Richard KerrTurnaround (2003)3:17 11. "You Raise Me Up " Brendan Graham , Rolf Løvland , Lo Ta-yu Face to Face (2005)4:00 12. "Home " Michael Bublé , Alan Chang , Amy Foster-Gillies Back Home (2007)3:24 13. "What About Now " (2011 Remix) Ben Moody , David Hodges , Josh HartzlerWhere We Are (2009)3:59 14. "Safe " (Single Remix) James Grundler, John Shanks Gravity (2010)3:52 15. "Lighthouse " Gary Barlow , ShanksGreatest Hits (2011)4:23 16. "Beautiful World " Ruth-Anne Cunningham , Mark Feehily , ShanksGreatest Hits 4:02 17. "Wide Open" Grundler, Shanks Greatest Hits 3:41 18. "Last Mile of the Way[a] " Nicky Byrne , Shane Filan , Dimitri Ehrlich, Coyle Girelli [ 20] Greatest Hits 3:49
Japanese Bonus Track[ 21] [ 22] Title Writer(s) Album 19. "Over and Out" Ben Earle, Craigie Dodds, John Shanks, Ruth-Anne Cunningham Greatest Hits 3:24
Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc
Title Writer(s) Album 1. "Seasons in the Sun " Jacques Brel , Rod McKuen Westlife 4:06 2. "Fool Again " Jörgen Elofsson , David Kreuger , Per Magnusson Westlife 3:53 3. "What Makes a Man " Wayne Hector , Steve Mac Coast to Coast 3:51 4. "When You're Looking Like That " (Single Remix) Max Martin , Andreas Carlsson , Rami Yacoub Coast to Coast 3:52 5. "Bop Bop Baby " (Single Remix) Shane Filan , Brian McFadden , Chris O'Brien, Graham MurphyWorld of Our Own 4:27 6. "Unbreakable " (Single Remix) Elofsson, John Reid Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1 (2002)4:32 7. "Hey Whatever " Hector, Mac, Ken Papenfus, Carl Papenfus Turnaround 3:26 8. "Obvious " Carlsson, Pilot , Savan Kotecha Turnaround 3:29 9. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me " (with Diana Ross ) John Bettis, Albert Hammond Face to Face 3:55 10. "Amazing " Kotecha, Kristian Lundin , Pilot, Jake Schulze Face to Face 2:49 11. "The Rose " Amanda McBroom The Love Album (2006)3:38 12. "Us Against the World " Arnthor Birgisson , Kotecha, YacoubBack Home 3:59 13. "What About Now " (Live from The O2 ) Ben Moody , David Hodges , Josh HartzlerWhere We Are Tour: Live from The O2 (2010)4:15 14. "Uptown Girl " (Live from The O2) Billy Joel Where We Are Tour: Live from The O2 3:59 15. "Mandy " (Live from The O2) Scott English , Richard KerrWhere We Are Tour: Live from The O2 3:50 16. "Home " (Live from The O2) Michael Bublé , Alan Chang , Amy Foster-GilliesWhere We Are Tour: Live from The O2 3:41 17. "Flying Without Wings " (Recorded Live at BBC Proms in the Park 2011) Hector, Mac Previously unreleased 4:29 18. "You Raise Me Up " (Recorded Live at BBC Proms in the Park 2011 with Fionnuala Sherry ) Brendan Graham , Rolf Løvland , Lo Ta-yuPreviously unreleased 4:51
Deluxe Edition Bonus DVD Title Writer(s) Producer(s) 1. "Swear It Again " Wayne Hector , Steve Mac Steve Mac 4:07 2. "If I Let You Go " Jörgen Elofsson , David Kreuger , Per Magnusson David Kreuger, Per Magnusson 3:39 3. "Flying Without Wings " Hector, Mac Mac 3:46 4. "I Have a Dream " Benny Andersson , Björn Ulvaeus Pete Waterman , David Foster 4:20 5. "Seasons In the Sun " Jacques Brel , Rod McKuen David Foster 4:01 6. "Fool Again " Jörgen Elofsson , David Kreuger , Per Magnusson David Kreuger, Per Magnusson 4:20 7. "Against All Odds " (with Mariah Carey ) Phil Collins Mariah Carey, Steve Mac 3:20 8. "My Love " Elofsson, Kreuger, Magnusson, Pelle Nylén David Kreuger, Per Magnusson 4:14 9. "What Makes a Man " Wayne Hector , Steve Mac Steve Mac 3:49 10. "I Lay My Love on You " Jörgen Elofsson, Per Magnusson, David Kreuger Per Magnusson, David Kreuger 3:29 11. "Uptown Girl " Billy Joel Mac 4:11 12. "When You're Looking Like That " Max Martin , Andreas Carlsson , Rami Yacoub Rami Yacoub 4:00 13. "Queen of My Heart " Hector, Mac, John McLaughlin , Steve Robson Mac 4:28 14. "World of Our Own " Hector, Mac, Dennis Morgan , Simon Climie Mac 3:38 15. "Bop Bop Baby " Shane Filan , Brian McFadden , Chris O'Brien, Graham MurphyMac 4:58 16. "Unbreakable " Elofsson, John Reid Mac 4:33 17. "Tonight " Steve Mac, Wayne Hector, Jorgen Elofsson Steve Mac 4:31 18. "Miss You Nights " Dave Townsend Steve Mac 3:12 19. "Hey Whatever " Hector, Mac, Ken Papenfus, Carl Papenfus Mac 3:35 20. "Mandy " Scott English , Richard KerrMac 3:17 21. "Obvious " Carlsson, Pilot , Savan Kotecha Quiz & Larossi 3:28 22. "Ain't That a Kick in the Head " Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen Mac 2:26 23. "Smile " Charles Chaplin, Geoffrey Parsons, John Turner Mac 2:49 24. "Angel " Sarah McLachlan Mac 4:22 25. "You Raise Me Up " Brendan Graham , Rolf Løvland Mac 4:00 26. "When You Tell Me That You Love Me " (with Diana Ross ) John Bettis, Albert Hammond Andreas Romdhane 4:00 27. "Amazing " Kotecha, Kristian Lundin , Pilot, Jake Schulze Carl Falk 2:55 28. "The Rose " Amanda McBroom Quiz & Larossi 3:32 29. "Home " Michael Bublé , Alan Chang , Amy Foster-GilliesMac 3:29 30. "Us Against the World " Arnthor Birgisson , Kotecha, YacoubArnthor Birgisson 3:57 31. "Something Right " Arnthor Birgisson, Rami Yacoub, Savan Kotecha Arnthor Birgisson, Rami Yacoub 3:14 32. "What About Now " Ben Moody , David Hodges , Josh HartzlerSteve Robson 4:10 33. "Safe " James Grundler, John Shanks John Shanks 3:50 34. "Swear It Again " (U.S. Version) Wayne Hector , Steve Mac Steve Mac 4:10 35. "World of Our Own " (U.S. Version) Hector, Mac, Morgan, Climie Mac 3:34
^[a] "Last Mile of the Way" or "The Last Mile of the Way".[ 23]
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
Chart (2010–2019)
Position
UK Albums (OCC)[ 1]
97
Certifications and sales
Release history
Main release
Import release
References
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^ a b "Official News (GLOBAL) - Greatest Hits Track listing & Artwork Revealed!" . Westlife. 12 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012 .
^ "Westlife - Greatest Hits (2CD & DVD Deluxe Edition) online at Play.com and read reviews" . Play.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2011 .
^ "Official News (GB) - Greatest Hits Box Set" . Westlife. 15 September 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011 .
^ "Too cool for school... Rocco and Jay will enjoy another year at home with mum - Around Town, Entertainment" . Herald.ie. Retrieved 13 October 2011 .
^ Ehrlich, Dimitri (6 November 2014). "LAST MILE OF THE WAY (ORIGINAL DEMO)" . SoundCloud . Retrieved 6 November 2018 .
^ @MarkusFeehily (8 September 2011). "Sitting in RCA with the lads doin..." (Tweet ) – via Twitter .
^ "Westlife Filming New Video" . Female First. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011 .
^ Julia (12 October 2011). "Westlife pull off their best staring-into-the-distance pose in new album shot | 110% pop - Yahoo! omg! UK" . Uk.omg.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012 .
^ a b McAlpine, Fraser (18 November 2011). "Westlife Greatest Hits Review" . BBC Music . BBC. Retrieved 20 December 2011 .
^ a b Copsey, Robert (21 November 2011). "Westlife: 'Greatest Hits' - Album review" . Digital Spy . Retrieved 20 December 2011 .
^ a b Ellwood, Pip (20 November 2011). "Westlife - Greatest Hits" . Entertainment Focus. Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2011 .
^ a b Gage, Simon (18 November 2011). "CD REVIEW - WESTLIFE: GREATEST HITS" . express.co.uk . Daily Express . Retrieved 20 December 2011 .
^ a b McGeorge (21 November 2011). "Album Review: Westlife - Greatest Hits" . Female First . Retrieved 20 December 2011 .
^ a b O'Brien, Jon (21 November 2011). "Westlife, "Greatest Hits" Review" . Rovi Music . Rovi Corporation . Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2011 .
^ a b "Westlife - Greatest Hits" . Star Magazine . Star Magazine . 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2011 .
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^ Greatest Hits - Westlife
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^ TwitLonger — When you talk too much for Twitter
^ iTunes - Musik – "Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition)" von Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes Store
^ iTunes Store
^ iTunes Store
^ iTunes - Musique - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) par Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ WESTLIFE / GREATEST HITS (2CD+DVD: DELUXE ED) - HMV Hong Kong [permanent dead link ]
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes Store
^ iTunes Store
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ Ansluter till iTunes Store
^ Music, Movies, Games, Gadgets & Events : EntertainmentAfrica.com : South African Entertainment
^ Greatest Hits: Westlife: Amazon.co.uk: Music
^ iTunes - Musica - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) di Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes - Música - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) de Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes - Música - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) de Westlife
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^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ iTunes - Music - Westlife - Greatest Hits (Deluxe Edition) by Westlife
^ Greatest Hits(+DVD, Greatest Hits)【CD】-Westlife Release Country: Europe|Popular Rock|Rock & Pop|Music|HMV ONLINE Buy Music & Movie CD / DVD
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