The Greatest Hits is the second European compilation album by American singer-actress Cher, released on November 30, 1999, by Warner Music U.K.'s WEA label. The album was very successful worldwide, topping the charts in Austria, Germany, and Denmark. It peaked at #7 on the official UK Albums Chart, and reached the top 10 in several countries across Europe and the rest of the world. This compilation was not available in the United States, due to the release of the US-only compilation, If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's Greatest Hits which was released that same year. The album sold 3 million copies as of January 2000.
Critical reception
AllMusic noted that the compilation "samples the biggest hits from throughout Cher's career" but "concentrates the heaviest on her '80s/early-'90s material", adding that it is "not the most logical sequencing in the world", though it "does have all the signature songs in one place", which "may be enough for many listeners". The New Straits Times stated that the album features "multi-million selling, chart-topping singles" that made Cher "one of the most successful performers ever", concluding that "from pop to rock, soul and techno, Cher is winner all the way" and "this is certainly one lady whose lustre has not dimmed with age". In a second review the journal noted that "Believe is not all that bad" and that the compilation has "some other sunny moments", but criticized that "about half the selections are pretty crummy", adding that the older songs retain "a nostalgia-evoking power". Times Colonist wrote that "The Greatest Hits "deftly chronicles said hits" and is "an excellent offering for the gypsies, tramps and thieves in all of us".
Track listing
Notes "Believe" features writing contributions by Cher, who remains uncredited.
Personnel Cher – main vocals, production Sonny Bono – main vocals, production Mark Taylor – production Peter Asher – production Brian Rawling – production Michael Lavine – photography
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for The Greatest HitsChart (1999–2000)PeakpositionCanadian Albums (RPM)17Czech Albums (IFPI Czech Republic)11Danish Albums (Hitlisten)1European Albums (Top 100)1French Compilations (SNEP)6German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)1Greek Albums (IFPI Greece)5Irish Albums (IRMA)7Italian Albums (FIMI)8Portuguese Albums (AFP)3Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)5
Year-end charts +1999 year-end chart performance for The Greatest HitsChart (1999)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)56Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)50Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)79Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)75Danish Albums (Hitlisten)19Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)58German Albums Chart73Norwegian Christmas Period Albums (VG-lista)9UK Albums (OCC)30
+2000 year-end chart performance for The Greatest HitsChart (2000)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)37Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)59Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)64Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)175Danish Albums (Hitlisten)38Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)80European Top 100 Albums38Finnish Foreign Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)130German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)60Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)58UK Albums (OCC)113
Certifications and sales
References
External links Official Cher site Warner official site