Greatest Hits (Westlife album)

Greatest Hits is the second greatest hits album release by Irish boy band Westlife. It was released on 18 November 2011 by RCA Records and Sony Music. Greatest Hits follows their previous compilation Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1 (2002) and was their last before their split in the months following its release. The album is the group's first album not under Syco Music and not under the tutelage of Simon Cowell, having left Syco and Cowell in March 2011. The album contains 14 singles spanning throughout the band's career and 4 new songs produced by John Shanks. The standard edition of the album contains eighteen tracks; an expanded deluxe edition features a bonus disc and a DVD containing nearly all of the band's music videos up to that point. The album's lead single "Lighthouse" was released on 14 November 2011.

Greatest Hits
Greatest hits album by
Released18 November 2011
Genre
Label
Producer
Westlife chronology
Gravity
(2010)
Greatest Hits
(2011)
The Love Songs
(2014)
Singles from Greatest Hits
  1. "Lighthouse"
    Released: 14 November 2011

Greatest Hits received mixed reviews from music critics, with some reviewers praising the compilation's structure, while others disliked the group's musical style. The compilation reached No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart, and has sold more than 900,000 units being certified 3× Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry as of June 2024.[1] The album debuted at the No. 1 position on the Irish Albums Chart and performed moderately elsewhere.

Background

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On 5 September 2011, it was confirmed the album would be simply titled Greatest Hits.[2] On 12 October 2011, the group announced the track listing on their official website.[3] Amazon.co.uk and Play.com released editions that included free postcards and member signatures.[4] A limited-release signed edition sold out in less than 24 hours.[5]

There are four new tracks on the standard edition: "Beautiful World" (written by Feehily, Shanks and Ruth-Anne Cunningham), "Wide Open" and "Last Mile of the Way" (co-written by Byrne, Filan, Dimitri Ehrlich, Coyle Girelli) and the lead single "Lighthouse". The new tracks on the album were recorded from May - September 2011 with the band's Gravity producer Shanks and new producers Dan Radclyffe and Boxsta Martin. Bryne said that the new tracks took "four or five weeks" to record.[6] In 2014, Dimitri Ehrlich, co-writer of the song "Last Mile of the Way", posted a demo of the song on his SoundCloud account.[7]

Album artwork

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The album photoshoot took place in South Africa starting on 17 September 2011, alongside the lead single music video shoot.[8][9] On 12 October 2011, the official site posted the album artwork.[3] Julia Simpson of Yahoo OMG! UK reported: "the artwork for their brand new album sees them striking one of their best model poses yet."[10]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
BBC Music(mixed)[11]
Digital Spy     [12]
Entertainment Focus     [13]
Daily Express     [14]
Female First(positive)[15]
Rovi Music     [16]
Star Magazine     [17]
Trash Lounge     [18]
Allmusic     

Greatest Hits received mixed reviews from music critics. Critics that positively received the album praised the album's track listing and new songs, particularly "Beautiful World". Reviewers that criticized the album also noted the group's repetitive formula in their songs.

Shaun Kitchener of Trash Lounge gave the compilation a perfect five stars, calling it "the perfect way for the band to bid farewell."[18] Robert Copsey of Digital Spy gave the album four stars out of five, praising the inclusion of numerous hits in the track listing, as well as the new songs of the compilation. However, he was disappointed that the new songs "point to what could have been an interesting new direction for the band".[12] Alistair McGeorge of Female First called the album a "fine retrospective of one of the best boy-bands in history", as well as assuring the listeners that they will be "taken on a journey from the band’s beginnings through to their last recordings, constantly reminded of the talent they showed."[15]

Fraser McAlpine of BBC Music gave a mixed review of the album, noting the repetitive structure of the group's previous hits, and that listening to the album felt "strange". Despite this, he praised the album's last three tracks.[11] Simon Gage of Daily Express said that the compilation "needs no introduction with big key-change numbers like "Flying Without Wings" and "You Raise Me Up" telling their own story."[14] Star Magazine UK called the group's formula "annoyingly, irresistibly effective" and that "it's the ballads they’ll be remembered for."[17] Jon O'Brien of Rovi Music gave the album a borderline two and a half out of five stars, saying, "while this collection contains a few pop gems, it's a samey and uninspiring listen that suggests their split has been well overdue." He also noted that numerous uptempo songs and four No. 1 hits ("Seasons in the Sun", "Fool Again", "Unbreakable" and "The Rose") were excluded from the album's standard edition.[16] Pip Ellwood of Entertainment Focus gave the album a negative review, saying that listening to the album was like "listening to one song for just over an hour."[13] While Allmusic only gave 2.5 of 5 stars.[19]

Track listing

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  • Standard Edition
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Swear It Again" (Radio Edit)Wayne Hector, Steve MacWestlife (1999)4:08
2."If I Let You Go" (Radio Edit)Jörgen Elofsson, David Kreuger, Per MagnussonWestlife3:41
3."Flying Without Wings"Hector, MacWestlife3:35
4."I Have a Dream" (Remix)Benny Andersson, Björn UlvaeusCoast to Coast (2000)4:13
5."Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (with Mariah Carey)Phil CollinsCoast to Coast3:19
6."My Love" (Radio Edit)Elofsson, Kreuger, Magnusson, Pelle NylénCoast to Coast3:51
7."Uptown Girl" (Radio Edit)Billy JoelWorld of Our Own (2001)3:05
8."Queen of My Heart" (Radio Edit)Hector, Mac, John McLaughlin, Steve RobsonWorld of Our Own4:18
9."World of Our Own" (Single Remix)Hector, Mac, Dennis Morgan, Simon ClimieWorld of Our Own3:28
10."Mandy"Scott English, Richard KerrTurnaround (2003)3:17
11."You Raise Me Up"Brendan Graham, Rolf Løvland, Lo Ta-yuFace to Face (2005)4:00
12."Home"Michael Bublé, Alan Chang, Amy Foster-GilliesBack Home (2007)3:24
13."What About Now" (2011 Remix)Ben Moody, David Hodges, Josh HartzlerWhere We Are (2009)3:59
14."Safe" (Single Remix)James Grundler, John ShanksGravity (2010)3:52
15."Lighthouse"Gary Barlow, ShanksGreatest Hits (2011)4:23
16."Beautiful World"Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Mark Feehily, ShanksGreatest Hits4:02
17."Wide Open"Grundler, ShanksGreatest Hits3:41
18."Last Mile of the Way[a]"Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Dimitri Ehrlich, Coyle Girelli[20]Greatest Hits3:49
Japanese Bonus Track[21][22]
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
19."Over and Out"Ben Earle, Craigie Dodds, John Shanks, Ruth-Anne CunninghamGreatest Hits3:24
  • Deluxe Edition Bonus Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Seasons in the Sun"Jacques Brel, Rod McKuenWestlife4:06
2."Fool Again"Jörgen Elofsson, David Kreuger, Per MagnussonWestlife3:53
3."What Makes a Man"Wayne Hector, Steve MacCoast to Coast3:51
4."When You're Looking Like That" (Single Remix)Max Martin, Andreas Carlsson, Rami YacoubCoast to Coast3:52
5."Bop Bop Baby" (Single Remix)Shane Filan, Brian McFadden, Chris O'Brien, Graham MurphyWorld of Our Own4:27
6."Unbreakable" (Single Remix)Elofsson, John ReidUnbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1 (2002)4:32
7."Hey Whatever"Hector, Mac, Ken Papenfus, Carl PapenfusTurnaround3:26
8."Obvious"Carlsson, Pilot, Savan KotechaTurnaround3:29
9."When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (with Diana Ross)John Bettis, Albert HammondFace to Face3:55
10."Amazing"Kotecha, Kristian Lundin, Pilot, Jake SchulzeFace to Face2:49
11."The Rose"Amanda McBroomThe Love Album (2006)3:38
12."Us Against the World"Arnthor Birgisson, Kotecha, YacoubBack Home3:59
13."What About Now" (Live from The O2)Ben Moody, David Hodges, Josh HartzlerWhere We Are Tour: Live from The O2 (2010)4:15
14."Uptown Girl" (Live from The O2)Billy JoelWhere We Are Tour: Live from The O23:59
15."Mandy" (Live from The O2)Scott English, Richard KerrWhere We Are Tour: Live from The O23:50
16."Home" (Live from The O2)Michael Bublé, Alan Chang, Amy Foster-GilliesWhere We Are Tour: Live from The O23:41
17."Flying Without Wings" (Recorded Live at BBC Proms in the Park 2011)Hector, MacPreviously unreleased4:29
18."You Raise Me Up" (Recorded Live at BBC Proms in the Park 2011 with Fionnuala Sherry)Brendan Graham, Rolf Løvland, Lo Ta-yuPreviously unreleased4:51
Deluxe Edition Bonus DVD
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Swear It Again"Wayne Hector, Steve MacSteve Mac4:07
2."If I Let You Go"Jörgen Elofsson, David Kreuger, Per MagnussonDavid Kreuger, Per Magnusson3:39
3."Flying Without Wings"Hector, MacMac3:46
4."I Have a Dream"Benny Andersson, Björn UlvaeusPete Waterman, David Foster4:20
5."Seasons In the Sun"Jacques Brel, Rod McKuenDavid Foster4:01
6."Fool Again"Jörgen Elofsson, David Kreuger, Per MagnussonDavid Kreuger, Per Magnusson4:20
7."Against All Odds" (with Mariah Carey)Phil CollinsMariah Carey, Steve Mac3:20
8."My Love"Elofsson, Kreuger, Magnusson, Pelle NylénDavid Kreuger, Per Magnusson4:14
9."What Makes a Man"Wayne Hector, Steve MacSteve Mac3:49
10."I Lay My Love on You"Jörgen Elofsson, Per Magnusson, David KreugerPer Magnusson, David Kreuger3:29
11."Uptown Girl"Billy JoelMac4:11
12."When You're Looking Like That"Max Martin, Andreas Carlsson, Rami YacoubRami Yacoub4:00
13."Queen of My Heart"Hector, Mac, John McLaughlin, Steve RobsonMac4:28
14."World of Our Own"Hector, Mac, Dennis Morgan, Simon ClimieMac3:38
15."Bop Bop Baby"Shane Filan, Brian McFadden, Chris O'Brien, Graham MurphyMac4:58
16."Unbreakable"Elofsson, John ReidMac4:33
17."Tonight"Steve Mac, Wayne Hector, Jorgen ElofssonSteve Mac4:31
18."Miss You Nights"Dave TownsendSteve Mac3:12
19."Hey Whatever"Hector, Mac, Ken Papenfus, Carl PapenfusMac3:35
20."Mandy"Scott English, Richard KerrMac3:17
21."Obvious"Carlsson, Pilot, Savan KotechaQuiz & Larossi3:28
22."Ain't That a Kick in the Head"Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van HeusenMac2:26
23."Smile"Charles Chaplin, Geoffrey Parsons, John TurnerMac2:49
24."Angel"Sarah McLachlanMac4:22
25."You Raise Me Up"Brendan Graham, Rolf LøvlandMac4:00
26."When You Tell Me That You Love Me" (with Diana Ross)John Bettis, Albert HammondAndreas Romdhane4:00
27."Amazing"Kotecha, Kristian Lundin, Pilot, Jake SchulzeCarl Falk2:55
28."The Rose"Amanda McBroomQuiz & Larossi3:32
29."Home"Michael Bublé, Alan Chang, Amy Foster-GilliesMac3:29
30."Us Against the World"Arnthor Birgisson, Kotecha, YacoubArnthor Birgisson3:57
31."Something Right"Arnthor Birgisson, Rami Yacoub, Savan KotechaArnthor Birgisson, Rami Yacoub3:14
32."What About Now"Ben Moody, David Hodges, Josh HartzlerSteve Robson4:10
33."Safe"James Grundler, John ShanksJohn Shanks3:50
34."Swear It Again" (U.S. Version)Wayne Hector, Steve MacSteve Mac4:10
35."World of Our Own" (U.S. Version)Hector, Mac, Morgan, ClimieMac3:34
  • ^[a] "Last Mile of the Way" or "The Last Mile of the Way".[23]

Charts

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Certifications and sales

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Ireland (IRMA)[41] 3× Platinum 45,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] 3× Platinum 900,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Main release

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Country / Region Date Format Label
Austria[43] 18 November 2011 CD, digital download Sony Music, RCA Records
Belgium[44]
Germany[45][46]
Ireland
Luxembourg[47]
Netherlands[48]
Norway[49]
Singapore[50]
Switzerland[51]
Bulgaria[52] 21 November 2011
Canada[53]
Czech Republic[54]
Cyprus[55]
Denmark[56]
Estonia[57]
Finland[58]
France[59]
Greece[60]
Hong Kong[61]
Hungary[62]
Latvia[63]
Lithuania[64]
Poland[65]
Portugal[66]
Slovakia[67]
Sweden[68]
South Africa[69]
United Kingdom[70]
Italy[71] 22 November 2011
Malta[72]
Mexico[73]
Romania[74]
Spain[75]
Taiwan[76]
Australia[77] 25 November 2011
New Zealand[78] 28 November 2011
Philippines 29 November 2011
Japan[79] 6 December 2011

Import release

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Country / Region Date Format Label
Canada[80] 29 November 2011 CD, Digital download RCA Records,
Sony Music
Japan[81]
Thailand[82]
United States[83] 27 December 2011

References

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