Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)

Infobox Album
Name = Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)
Type = compilation
Artist = Dream Theater


Released = flagicon|Australia March 29, 2008
flagicon|USA April 1, 2008
Recorded = 1991–2005
Genre = Progressive metal
Length = 138:16
Label = Rhino
Producer = David Prater, Duane Baron, John Petrucci, John Purdell, Kevin Shirley, Mike Portnoy
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wxfixz9jldde link]
*Sputnikmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=15693 link]
Last album = "Systematic Chaos"
(2007)
This album = "Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)"
(2008)
Next album = "Chaos In Motion 2007-2008"
(2008)

"Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)" is a compilation album by progressive metal band Dream Theater released by Rhino Records on April 1, 2008.cite web |url= http://www.dreamtheater.net/news_dreamtheater.php#dtgh |publisher= Dream Theater/Mark Bredius |title= DREAM THEATER'S GREATEST HIT (...and 21 other pretty cool songs) - due April 1st|accessdate= 2008-02-05] The title alludes to their only Top-10 radio hit, "Pull Me Under." It features three songs from their breakthrough album "Images and Words" remixed by Kevin Shirley: "Pull Me Under," "Take the Time," and "Another Day." It also features the song "To Live Forever," from the Images and Words sessions and B-side of the "Lie" single, which was previously unreleased on studio albums. Several single edits are also featured on this compilation.

The songs have been divided in two discs: the first one, dubbed "The Dark Side," features heavy, metal-influenced songs, while the second one, entitled "The Light Side," spotlights the band's melodic side. The set spans the years from 1991 to 2005, therefore it doesn't include any songs from Dream Theater's debut album, "When Dream and Day Unite," or from their latest release, "Systematic Chaos."

Drummer Mike Portnoy explains in the album's booklet that the selection of songs were carefully made in order to appease both the newcomer and the already existing fan by offering up different versions of songs on other albums to "make the newcomer want to buy the albums from whence they came" and to "give different versions of songs already on other albums" to the current fan. He also suggests that a third disc should've been included called "The Epic Side" showcasing their progressive side.

Track listing

Disc one ("The Dark Side")

tracklist

lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes
extra_column = Original album

title1 = Pull Me Under (2007 remix)
lyrics1 = Kevin Moore
music1 = Dream Theater
extra1 = "Images and Words"
length1 = 8:13

title2 = Take the Time (2007 remix)
lyrics2 = Dream Theater
music2 = Dream Theater
extra2 = "Images and Words"
length2 = 8:22

title3 = Lie (single edit)
lyrics3 = Moore
music3 = Dream Theater
extra3 = "Awake"
length3 = 5:01

title4 = Peruvian Skies
lyrics4 = John Petrucci
music4 = Dream Theater
extra4 = "Falling into Infinity"
length4 = 6:42

title5 = Home (single edit)
lyrics5 = Mike Portnoy
music5 = Dream Theater
extra5 = ""
length5 = 5:38

title6 = Misunderstood (single edit)
lyrics6 = Petrucci
music6 = Petrucci, John Myung, Jordan Rudess, Portnoy
extra6 = "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"
length6 = 5:14

title7 = The Test That Stumped Them All (single edit)
lyrics7 = Portnoy
music7 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
extra7 = "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"
length7 = 5:00

title8 = As I Am (single edit)
lyrics8 = Petrucci
music8 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
extra8 = "Train of Thought"
length8 = 7:14

title9 = Endless Sacrifice
lyrics9 = Petrucci
music9 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
extra9 = "Train of Thought"
length9 = 11:23

title10 = The Root of All Evil
lyrics10 = Portnoy
music10 = Dream Theater
extra10 = "Octavarium"
length10 = 7:16

title11 = Sacrificed Sons
lyrics11 = James LaBrie
music11 = Dream Theater
extra11 = "Octavarium"
length11 = 9:41

Disc two ("The Light Side")

tracklist

lyrics_credits = yes
music_credits = yes
extra_column = Original album

title1 = Another Day (2007 remix)
lyrics1 = Petrucci
music1 = Dream Theater
extra1 = "Images and Words"
length1 = 4:25

title2 = To Live Forever
lyrics2 = Petrucci, Moore
music2 = Dream Theater
extra2 = "Lie"
length2 = 4:56

title3 = Lifting Shadows off a Dream
lyrics3 = Myung
music3 = Dream Theater
extra3 = "Awake"
length3 = 6:09

title4 = The Silent Man
lyrics4 = Petrucci
music4 = Petrucci
extra4 = "Awake"
length4 = 3:47

title5 = Hollow Years
lyrics5 = Petrucci
music5 = Dream Theater
extra5 = "Falling into Infinity"
length5 = 5:55

title6 = Through Her Eyes (alternate album mix)
lyrics6 = Petrucci
music6 = Dream Theater
extra6 = "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory"
length6 = 6:03

title7 = The Spirit Carries On
lyrics7 = Petrucci
music7 = Dream Theater
extra7 = "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory"
length7 = 6:40

title8 = Solitary Shell (single edit)
lyrics8 = Petrucci
music8 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
extra8 = "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"
length8 = 4:10

title9 = I Walk Beside You
lyrics9 = Petrucci
music9 = Dream Theater
extra9 = "Octavarium"
length9 = 4:28

title10 = The Answer Lies Within
lyrics10 = Petrucci
music10 = Dream Theater
extra10 = "Octavarium"
length10 = 5:15

title11 = Disappear
lyrics11 = LaBrie
music11 = Petrucci, Myung, Rudess, Portnoy
extra11 = "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence"
length11 = 6:45

Personnel

*James LaBrie – vocals
*John Petrucci – guitar, backing vocals
*John Myung – bass
*Mike Portnoy – drums, backing vocals
*Jordan Rudess – keyboard (tracks 5–11 on disc one and tracks 6–11 on disc two)
*Kevin Moore – keyboard (tracks 1–3 on disc one and tracks 1-4 on disc two)
*Derek Sherinian – keyboard, backing vocals (track 4 on disc one and track 5 on disc two)
*Jay Beckenstein – saxophone on "Another Day" and "Through Her Eyes"
*Theresa Thomason – additional vocals on "Through Her Eyes" and "The Spirit Carries On"

Cover art

*On the cover, the S, H, I and T of the words "Greatest Hit" are all colored in maroon.
*"Pull Me Under" is highlighted in yellow on the track listing.
*On close examination of the back cover, a hand can be seen holding up the umbrella.
*On the cover, the 21 is colored in red; this is the 21st release by Dream Theater.

Chart positions

References