{"id":58927,"date":"2026-02-26T12:51:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T12:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/26\/11-alternative-rock-greatest-hits-albums-you-need-on-vinyl\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T12:51:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T12:51:11","slug":"11-alternative-rock-greatest-hits-albums-you-need-on-vinyl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/26\/11-alternative-rock-greatest-hits-albums-you-need-on-vinyl\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Alternative Rock Greatest Hits Albums You Need on Vinyl"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Here are 11 greatest hits albums from alternative rock<\/a> acts that\u00a0every serious\u00a0vinyl\u00a0<\/a>collector needs on their shelf<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Sure, greatest hits albums can be a quick cash grab for artists repacking their best songs just in time for the holiday gift-giving season. But some bands put serious thought into their “best of” collections.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: 13 Essential ’90s Alternative Rock Albums Everyone Needs to Own on Vinyl<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Cure<\/a> has multiple “greatest hits” albums. In 2001, the band took a different approach by releasing acoustic versions of their most beloved songs.<\/p>\n

Other artists opt to use unreleased tracks to draw interest in their greatest hits collections. Green Day<\/a> called upon a country music star to duet with Billie Joe Armstrong when they dropped Greatest Hits: God’s Favorite Band<\/em> in 2017.<\/p>\n

See what other alternative bands have released their greatest hits on vinyl and which ones need to be part of your collection.<\/p>\n

The Cure, Acoustic Hits<\/em> (2001)<\/h3>\n
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the cure acoustic hits album cover<\/span><\/p>

Elektra<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> Acoustic versions of “Friday I’m in Love,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Close to Me”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dinosaur Jr.<\/a>, The Best of Dinosaur Jr. \u2013 Ear Bleeding Country<\/em> (2002)<\/h3>\n
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dinosaur jr ear bleeding country album cover<\/span><\/p>

Rhino<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> “In a Jar,” “Feel The Pain,” “Start Choppin'”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Foo Fighters<\/a>, Greatest Hits<\/em> (2009)<\/h3>\n
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foo fighters greatest hits album cover<\/span><\/p>

Legacy Recordings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> “Everlong,” “My Hero,” “Best of You”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Green Day, Greatest Hits: God’s Favorite Band<\/em> (2017)<\/h3>\n
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green day god’s favorite band album cover<\/span><\/p>

Reprise Records<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> “When I Come Around,” “American Idiot,” “Ordinary World (duet with Miranda Lambert)”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pearl Jam<\/a>, Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003)<\/em>\u00a0(2004)<\/h3>\n
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pearl jam rearviewmirror album cover<\/span><\/p>

Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> “Even Flow,” “Black,” “Dissident”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Red Hot Chili Peppers<\/a>, Greatest Hits<\/em> (2003)<\/h3>\n
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red hot chili peppers greatest hits album cover<\/span><\/p>

Warner Bros.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> “Under the Bridge,” “Give it Away,” “Californication”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Smashing Pumpkins<\/a>, Rotten Apples (The Smashing Pumpkins \u2013 Greatest Hits)<\/em> (2001)<\/h3>\n
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smashing pumpkins greatest hits album cover<\/span><\/p>

Virgin Records<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks: “Today,” “1979,” “Tonight, Tonight”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stone Temple Pilots<\/a>, Thank You<\/em> (2003)<\/h3>\n
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stone temple pilots thank you album cover<\/span><\/p>

Atlantic Records<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks<\/strong>: “Vasoline,” “Big Empty” “Interstate Love Song”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sublime<\/a>, Greatest Hits<\/em> (1999)<\/h3>\n
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sublime greatest hits album cover<\/span><\/p>

MCA Records<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> “What I Got,” “Santeria,” “Smoke Two Joints”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

311<\/a>, Greatest Hits ’93-’03<\/em> (2004)<\/h3>\n
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311 greatest hits album cover<\/span><\/p>

Volcano Entertainment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> “Down,” “Amber,” “Come Original”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The White Stripes<\/a>, My Sister Thanks You and I Thank You \u2013 The White Stripes Greatest Hits<\/em> (2020)<\/h3>\n
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white stripes greatest hits album cover<\/span><\/p>

Third Man\/Columbia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Key tracks:<\/strong> “Seven Nation Army,” “Icky Thump,” “Fell in Love With a Girl”<\/p>\n

Buy it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Many of the bands in this list helped carry the alternative music scene in the 1990s. Here is a look back at the best alt-rock album each year of the decade.<\/p>\n

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Best Alternative Album of Each Year of the 1990s<\/h2>\n
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Alt-rock finally got a mainstream spotlight in the ’90s and these are the albums that made the most of having that broader platform.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Most Played Songs Live of 35 Big Alternative Rock Bands<\/h2>\n
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From the ’80s through present day, see what some of alt-rock’s biggest bands played the most live.<\/p>\n

* Stats were compiled as of March 4, 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n