1. ABBA "Gold-Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 14,483
Percentage change: +96
Weeks on: 12
Cume: 4,391,266

Call it the "Mamma Mia" effect. Still, a piss poor number considering the movie’s gross. Should a box of CDs have been sent along with the print? Better yet, should they have been sold for $5 apiece? You know Wal-Mart would agitate for that price. You’ve got to sell where and when the desire is highest at an impulse price.

2. Journey "Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 11,298
Percentage change: +6
Weeks on: 103
Cume: 758,234

Does Tony Soprano get a cut of every CD?

3. Bob Marley & the Wailers "Legend"

Sales this week: 10,533
Percentage change: -6
Weeks on: 887
Cume: 9,666,004

Does every CD come with ganja?

Or is it that the buyers are so stoned they don’t realize THEY’VE ALREADY GOT IT?

13. ABBA "Best of ABBA-Millennium Collection"

Sales this week: 4,863
Percentage change: +58
Weeks on: 4
Cume: 998,101

When physical is dead, will the multiple greatest hits package evaporate? LET’S HOPE SO!

18. Bon Jovi "Crossroad"

Sales this week: 4,353
Percentage change: -8
Weeks on: 444
Cume: 4,607,706

"Wanted Dead Or Alive" is SO good, Bon Jovi cut it twice, albeit the second time under the title "Blaze Of Glory".

I watched the finale of "Dangerous Catch" last night, and I found myself humming "Wanted Dead Or Alive" in front of the mirror as I performed my nighttime ablutions. You could say that’s the power of music and film/video, but I’d say it’s the power of one great track, better yet, one great album, produced by the gone and unfortunately forgotten Bruce Fairbairn. Producers don’t only count in hip-hop…

26. Creed "Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 4,107
Percentage change: +2
Weeks on: 87
Cume: 1,825,297

You might hate them, when I saw them the guitarist played out of tune and I walked out, but the audience LOVES them. If that guy could get clean and stop punching people he could have one hell of a reunion tour on his hands.

29. Bob Seger "Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 3,980
Percentage change: -6
Weeks on: 603
Cume: 8,454,310

And still unavailable on iTunes.

I’m a fan, but Bob’s no Pete Townshend, no Who. Bob ended up selling out with balladmania to try and maintain his peak. His cred is not high. Why doesn’t he license to TV shows? Why doesn’t he sell on iTunes? Why is he so reclusive? He’s not PINK FLOYD!

32. Metallica (Black Album)

Sales this week: 3,832
Percentage change: +1
Weeks on: 603
Cume: 15,199,226

If you know nothing about technology, don’t testify. The Napster fracas/charade hurt this band more than any of the not as good albums that followed this one. But, there is still demand. And it looks like Metallica may now satiate it. Can Rick Rubin do for Metallica what he did for the Chili Peppers? I think so.

33. Jack Johnson "In Between Dreams"

Sales this week: 3,812
Percentage change: -4
Weeks on: 73
Cume: 2,759,604

You may laugh at him, but the public is not in on the joke.

35. Doobie Brothers "Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 3,784
Percentage change: +1
Weeks on: 5
Cume: 2,161,196

Did they do something? Did they appear on Oprah? Or is it that despite being derided for having hits, they’re part of our rock fabric?

49. Tim McGraw "Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 3,440
Percentage change: -9
Weeks on: 296
Cume: 5,920,620

Never underestimate country.

51. Genesis "Turn It On Again-Hits"

Sales this week: 3,392
Percentage change: +4
Weeks on: 6
Cume: 773,552

If you didn’t see them last summer, you may never get the chance to. Not the three man outfit. If Peter Gabriel stops playing businessman and concentrates on music there could be one more tour, otherwise I’m betting against it… Because Phil Collins is too fucking rich and last year’s show was absent so much…

63. High School Musical

Sales this week: 2,928
Percentage change: +1
Weeks on: 24
Cume: 4,764,476

Proof in black and white that it’s a fad. Shit, the original cast album to "Hair" sold better for longer.

If kids truly cared, this would be much higher on the chart.

Disney is not infallible.

64. Tim McGraw "Vol. 2-Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 2,924
Percentage change: -10
Weeks on: 29
Cume: 2,171,957

See number 49 above.

77. Hinder "Extreme Behavior"

Sales this week: 2,597
Percentage change: 0
Weeks on: 2
Cume: 2,713,023

That’s a great fucking song. Obviously some people believe based on that track the rest of their material is just as good. It’s not.

81. Madonna "Immaculate Collection"

Sales this week: 2,493
Percentage change: -6
Weeks on: 29
Cume: 5,684,751

All that A-Rod commotion, a new album and people don’t want the greatest hits. She should stop making music and sell exclusive stories to the tabloids. That’s her talent anyway, business. Why does it have to be music, when the public is no longer interested in her music?

89. Jimmy Buffett "Songs You Know By Heart"

Sales this week: 2,397
Percentage change: -10
Weeks on: 28
Cume: 6,230,284

And his audience does.

91. Norah Jones "Come Away With Me"

Sales this week: 2,372
Percentage change: -4
Weeks on: 186
Cume: 10,377,615

People no longer care.

101. Sade "Best Of Sade"

Sales this week: 2,277
Percentage change: +2
Weeks on: 28
Cume: 1,421,012

I guess people still need music to fuck to.

103. Ramones "Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 2,271
Percentage change: -4
Weeks on: 2
Cume: 113,939

It’s all about the t-shirts.

110. Korn "Vol. 1-Greatest Hits"

Sales this week: 2,226
Percentage change: -4
Weeks on: 93
Cume: 1,462,280

Someone still cares?

Tell me there’s not a volume 2…

Oh yeah, the definition of "hit" for a sales guy is something that was released…

116. Sheryl Crow "Very Best Of Sheryl Crow"

Sales this week: 2,174
Percentage change: -7
Weeks on: 26
Cume: 4,087,703

Time for her covers album. That’s what sold this, her cover of Cat Stevens’/Rod Stewart’s "The First Cut Is The Deepest". No one wants new music by ANYBODY over forty.

126. Stevie Wonder "Definitive Collection"

Sales this week: 2,096
Percentage change: -13
Weeks on: 195
Cume: 1,788,005

I don’t get it. He doesn’t sell out, his records don’t fly off the shelf, and he had a streak as hot as Pixar’s. Equalled only by the Beatles. If you don’t own "Talking Book", "Innervisions" and "Fulfillingness’ First Finale", stop reading this, download them and LISTEN!

181. Maroon 5 "Songs About Jane"

Sales this week: 1,664
Percentage change: -13
Weeks on: 79
Cume: 4,584,705

Only as big as their last hit.

182. Muse "Black Holes and Revelations"

Sales this week: 1,663
Percentage change: -9
Weeks on: 2
Cume: 481,569

If this were the seventies, Muse would be one of the biggest bands in the land. When radio took risks, people listened and the road built solid fans…

See this band live and you’re converted.

Alas, not enough have.