Greatest Hits (1980)
1.Dream On
2.Same Old Song and Dance
3.Sweet Emotion
4.Walk This Way
5.Last Child
6.Back in the Saddle
7.Draw the Line
8.Kings and Queens
9.Come Together
10.Remember (Walk in the Sand)
In the often transient world of rock compilations, few albums capture the raw essence of a band’s formative power like Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits. Released during a period when compilation albums began to saturate the market—many curated less by artistic intent than corporate opportunism—this 1980 release stands as a deliberate and cohesive attempt to preserve a snapshot of Aerosmith’s early brilliance.
Representing selections from each of their studio albums up to that point, the collection functions not only as a retrospective but as a distilled essence of their 1970s prime. Unlike later, more bloated collections, this set is lean. It prioritizes impact over exhaustiveness. The omissions—while notable—are understandable and later remedied by subsequent releases. Yet for all its brevity, it achieves a surprising balance, resisting the trap of filler and maintaining an uninterrupted energy.
There is, however, an anomaly. Remember (Walking in the Sand)—pulled from the ill-fated Night in the Ruts—feels like an awkward afterthought. Placed at the end, it bookends the otherwise propulsive momentum with a thud of tonal dissonance. While the track is not egregious in isolation, its inclusion alongside the likes of Dream On and Sweet Emotion only highlights its lack of vitality.
More successful is the inclusion of Come Together, a Beatles cover originally released on Live! Bootleg. Its presence might raise eyebrows—especially as the lone “new” addition—but it works. The track captures Aerosmith’s gift for transformation: here, the band doesn’t merely cover Lennon and McCartney—they reinterpret, inject swagger, and make it their own.
In the years since, more comprehensive anthologies have emerged—offering depth, rarities, and remasters. Still, for purists and newcomers alike, this original compilation endures not just as a gateway but as a monument. It marks the moment when a scrappy Boston band became legends, and when their best songs first stood still long enough to be framed and admired.