Greatest Hits (Half Japanese album)

Infobox Album
Name = Greatest Hits
Type = compilation
Artist = Half Japanese


Released = March 13, 1995
Genre = Punk rock Alternative rock
Produced = Half Japanese
Label = Safe House
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|4.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j9ftxquhldke link]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (Favourable) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,296406,00.html link]
Last album = "Boo! Live in Europe 1992" (1994)
This album = "Greatest Hits" (1995)
Next album = "Hot" (1995)

"Greatest Hits" is the first compilation album released by punk rock band Half Japanese, in 1995. It features the lineups from all albums released by the band.

History

Half Japanese's "Greatest Hits", which was the band's first compilation album, was released on March 13, 1995,cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j9ftxquhldke| title=Half Japanese - "Greatest Hits"
author=Raggett, Ned | work=Allmusic| accessdate=2008-09-24] after more than twenty years of activity as a band.cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:a9fqxqw5ldhe~T1| title=Half Japanese
author=Huey, Steve | work=Allmusic| accessdate=2008-09-24] By the time it came out, the band had gained an international fan base and it had already released thirteen studio albums; since the release of the compilation, there have been three more.cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:a9fqxqw5ldhe~T2| title=Half Japanese main albums| work=Allmusic| accessdate=2008-09-24] Half Japanese would later release two more compilation albums.cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:a9fqxqw5ldhe~T21| title=Half Japanese compilation albums| work=Allmusic| accessdate=2008-09-24]

Music

"Greatest Hits" is composed of two discs and it features at least one song from each album: from "1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts", with the band's original set, to "Boo! Live in Europe 1992". The album features notable guests such as John Zorn and Eugene Chadbourne.cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j9ftxquhldke~T2| title=Half Japanese - "Greatest Hits" (credits)| work=Allmusic| accessdate=2008-09-24]

There are strong differences in the styles approached as well as the sound fidelity between the songs. It's possible to find noise and electronic tracks, such as the ones from "1/2 Gentlemen/Not Beasts"; punk rock songs, like those from "Charmed Life"; experimental songs, such as those from "The Band That Would Be King" as well as more straightforward rock from other releases.

Critical reception

Ned Raggett from Allmusic gave the album 4.5 stars of 5 calling it the best way to start with Half Japanese given the scattered discography of the band. He praised the songs "King Kong," "Amazing Clock" and "Identical Twins" as well as "How to Play Guitar," which, according to him, makes for a great final touch.

The album was included in "Blender"'s top 100 indie rock albums, where it was called "undeniably difficult and trium­phantly messy."cite web|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=2974 | title=The 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever — #100 to #91
author=Jon Dolan, Josh Eells, Will Hermes, Jonah Weiner and Douglas Wolk | work=Blender| accessdate=2008-09-20]

Track listing

Disc one

tracklist
all_lyrics = Jad Fair except tracks 12 and 24
music_credits = yes
title1 = Firecracker
music1 = Jad Fair
length1 = 2:42
title2 = Daytona Beach
music2 = Fair
length2 = 1:47
title3 = Said and Done
music3 = Fair
length3 = 2:52
title4 = Dance When I Say Dance
music4 = Fair
length4 = 1:47
title5 = Postcard from Far Away
music5 = Fair
length5 = 1:42
title6 = The Worst I'd Ever Do
music6 = Fair
length6 = 0:43
title7 = Horseshoes
music7 = Fair
length7 = 2:12
title8 = Open/Close Your Eyes
music8 = Fair
length8 = 1:10
title9 = This Could Be the Night
music9 = Fair
length9 = 4:39
title10 = Put Some Sugar on It
music10 = Fair
length10 = 2:50
title11 = Calling All Girls
music11 = Fair
length11 = 1:01
title12 = La Bamba
music12 = Traditional
length12 = 1:56
title13 = Love at First Sight
music13 = Fair
length13 = 2:44
title14 = Rub Every Muscle
music14 = Fair
length14 = 1:45
title15 = Silver and Katherine
music15 = Fair
length15 = 3:13
title16 = My Sordid Past
music16 = Fair
length16 = 1:30
title17 = Ride, Ride, Ride
music17 = Fair
length17 = 0:32
title18 = Day and Night
music18 = Fair
length18 = 2:52
title19 = Last Straw
music19 = Fair
length19 = 1:22
title20 = Nicole
music20 = Fair
length20 = 4:30
title21 = Miracles Happen Every Day
music21 = Fair
length21 = 2:16
title22 = U.S. Teens Are Spoiled Bums
music22 = Fair
length22 = 1:08
title23 = School of Love
music23 = Fair
length23 = 1:09
title24 = Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)
music24 = Jimmie Rodgers
length24 = 8:23
title25 = Colleen
music25 = Fair
length25 = 2:33
title26 = Red Dress
music26 = Fair
length26 = 2:15
title27 = Charmed Life
music27 = Fair
length27 = 1:46
title28 = Rosemary's Baby
music28 = Fair
length28 = 1:32
title29 = I Know How It Feels... Bad
music29 = Fair
length29 = 2:38
title30 = Roman Candles Fair
music30 = Fair
length30 = 2:20
title31 = Dream Date
music31 = Fair
length31 = 1:45

Disc two

tracklist
all_lyrics = Jad Fair except tracks 1 and 24
music_credits = yes
title1 = Movin' on Up
music1 = Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, Robert "Throb" Young
length1 = 2:17
title2 = No More Beatle Mania
music2 = David and Jad Fair
length2 = 1:53
title3 = How Did You Know?
music3 = Fair
length3 = 1:34
title4 = Penny in the Fountain
music4 = Fair
length4 = 1:59
title5 = King Kong
music5 = Fair
length5 = 3:29
title6 = Secret
music6 = Fair
length6 = 2:16
title7 = B./C. Millionaires
music7 = Fair
length7 = 2:14
title8 = Amazing Clock
music8 = Fair
length8 = 2:44
title9 = Thick and Thin
music9 = Fair
length9 = 1:13
title10 = 1,000,000 Kisses
music10 = Fair
length10 = 1:55
title11 = Little Records
music11 = Fair
length11 = 1:20
title12 = Big Mistake
music12 = Fair
length12 = 1:26
title13 = No Direct Line from My Brain to My Heart
music13 = Fair
length13 = 2:01
title14 = The House I Live In
music14 = Fair
length14 = 1:02
title15 = UFO Expert
music15 = Fair
length15 = 1:11
title16 = Identical Twins
music16 = Fair
length16 = 0:39
title17 = Double Trouble
music17 = Fair
length17 = 2:04
title18 = Evidence
music18 = Fair
length18 = 2:05
title19 = Stripping for Cash
music19 = Fair
length19 = 1:22
title20 = On the One Hand
music20 = Fair
length20 = 3:28
title21 = Snake Line
music21 = Fair
length21 = 2:07
title22 = Too Much Adrenaline
music22 = Fair
length22 = 1:28
title23 = Trouble in the Water
music23 = Fair
length23 = 3:00
title24 = Ball 'n' Chain
music24 = Big Mama Thornton
length24 = 3:03
title25 = Her Parents Came Home
music25 = Fair
length25 = 1:02
title26 = Deadly Alien Spawn
music26 = Fair
length26 = 2:39
title27 = Ancient Life
music27 = Fair
length27 = 1:36
title28 = Poetic License
music28 = Fair
length28 = 2:10
title29 = Uncertain Feelings
music29 = Fair
length29 = 2:10
title30 = Something New...
music30 = Fair
length30 = 1:16
title31 = Fire to Burn
music31 = Fair
length31 = 2:33
title32 = Acupuncture
music32 = Fair
length32 = 2:16
title33 = Salt & Pepper
music33 = Fair
length33 = 1:58
title34 = Guitar Solo
music34 = Fair
length34 =0:43
title35 = A Little Bit More
music35 = Fair
length35 = 1:35
title36 = Mono
music36 = Fair
length36 =0:20
title37 = Better Than Before
music37 = Fair
length37 = 1:26
title38 = Everything Is Right?
music38 = Don Fleming
length38 = 2:46

Personnel

The people involved in the album are from the band's different lineups:
*Terry Adams – Piano
*Pippin Barnett – Drums
*Hank Beckmeyer – Bass, guitar, producer
*George Cartwright – Saxophone
*Eugene Chadbourne – Guitar, harmonica, vocals on "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)"
*Byron Coley – Liner notes
*David Doris – Saxophone
*John Dreyfuss – Saxophone
*Rick Dreyfuss – Drums
*David Fair – Guitar, percussion, vocals, liner notes
*Jad Fair – Guitar, harmonica, vocals, producer
*Danny Finney – Saxophone
*Don Fleming – Guitar, vocals
*Tim Foljahn – Guitar
*Fred Frith – Guitar
*Mick Hobbs – Guitar
*Scott Jarvis – Drums
*Mark Jickling – Guitar
*Steve Johnson – Guitar
*Rob Kennedy – Bass
*Kramer – Organ, bass, guitar, keyboards, producer
*Eppo Krol – Producer
*Richard Labrie – Drums
*David Licht – Conga
*Joe Martinelli – Drums
*Lisa Mednick – Keyboards
*Gilles V. Rieder – Drums, producer
*Rebby Sharp – Guitar
*John Sluggett – Guitar
*Jay Spiegel – Drums
*Maureen Tucker – Drums, producer
*Jason Willett – Bass
*Gary Windo – Saxophone
*Howard Wuelfing – Bass
*Lana Zabko – Saxophone
*Don Zientara – Producer
*John Zorn – Saxophone

References