Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
| Greatest Hits: Back to the Start | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Greatest hits album by | ||||
| Released | June 28, 2005 | |||
| Recorded | 1984–2000 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 78:04 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Megadeth chronology | ||||
| ||||
Greatest Hits: Back to the Start is the second greatest hits album by Megadeth. It was released on June 28, 2005, via Capitol Records.[1] The title "Back to the Start" is a reference to lyrics in "Rust in Peace... Polaris" from Megadeth's 1990 album Rust in Peace: "The day of final conflict/All pay the price/The third World War rapes peace/Takes life back to the start." The cover art is an edited version of the Castle Romeo H-bomb test.
Background and release[edit]
The selection of tracks for the album was largely determined by fans, who voted on songs in polls on the band's website.[2] However, the inclusion of "Kill the King," a track originally released on Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years, was insisted upon by Mustaine.[3] To help promote the release, a new video was made for "Kill the King."[1]
Commercial performance[edit]
Greatest Hits: Back to the Start reached No. 65 on the U.S. Billboard 200,[4] selling 17,441 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan.[5] By December 16, 2005, the album had sold about 133,000 copies in the U.S.[6] The album was also certified gold in Canada in July 2011.[7] On July 23, 2011 in Toronto, Canada, the band was presented with gold plaques by EMI in recognition of the achievement.[8]
Reception[edit]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blender |   [9] |
| AllMusic | [10] |
Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic critiqued the album for being more of a sampler and having a more "balanced" approach to the band's Capitol Records material, rather than focusing on Megadeth's first few records.[10]
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" | 1990 - Rust in Peace | 6:32 |
| 2. | "In My Darkest Hour" | 1988 - So Far, So Good... So What! | 6:26 |
| 3. | "Peace Sells" | 1986 - Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? | 4:02 |
| 4. | "Sweating Bullets" | 1992 - Countdown to Extinction | 5:26 |
| 5. | "Angry Again" | 1993 - Last Action Hero (Soundtrack) | 3:47 |
| 6. | "A Tout le Monde" | 1994 - Youthanasia | 4:25 |
| 7. | "Trust" | 1997 - Cryptic Writings | 5:12 |
| 8. | "Kill the King" | 2000 - Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years | 3:42 |
| 9. | "Symphony of Destruction" | 1992 - Countdown to Extinction | 4:06 |
| 10. | "Mechanix" | 1985 - Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! | 4:21 |
| 11. | "Train of Consequences" | 1994 - Youthanasia | 3:30 |
| 12. | "Wake Up Dead" | 1986 - Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? | 3:38 |
| 13. | "Hangar 18" | 1990 - Rust in Peace | 5:12 |
| 14. | "Dread and the Fugitive Mind" | 2000 - Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years | 4:23 |
| 15. | "Skin o' My Teeth" | 1992 - Countdown to Extinction | 3:15 |
| 16. | "She-Wolf" | 1997 - Cryptic Writings | 3:39 |
| 17. | "Prince of Darkness" | 1999 - Risk | 6:28 |
| Total length: | 78:04 | ||
Limited edition DVD[edit]
- "Kill the King" music video
- "Live at the Fillmore Auditorium December 27, 1999"
- "Prince of Darkness"
- "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due"
- "In My Darkest Hour"
- "Hangar 18"
- "Sweating Bullets"
- "Symphony of Destruction"
- "Peace Sells"
- Arsenal of Megadeth trailer
Personnel[edit]
- Dave Mustaine – guitars, lead vocals on all tracks
- Marty Friedman – guitars on tracks 1, 4–7, 9, 11, 13, and 15–17
- Chris Poland – guitars on tracks 3, 10 and 12
- Al Pitrelli – guitars on tracks 8 and 14
- Jeff Young – guitars on "In My Darkest Hour"
- David Ellefson – bass on all tracks
- Nick Menza – drums on tracks 1, 4–7, 9, 11, 13, and 15–16
- Gar Samuelson – drums on tracks 3, 10 and 12
- Jimmy DeGrasso – drums on tracks 8, 14, and 17
- Chuck Behler – drums on "In My Darkest Hour"
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] | 21 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 47 |
| US Billboard 200[14] | 65 |
Certifications[edit]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[7] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[15] | Silver | 60,000‡ |
| United States | — | 133,000[6] |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Megadeth: New 'Kill The King' Video Posted Online - June 6, 2005". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ a b c Greatest Hits: Back to the Start liner notes. Capitol Records. 2005. pp. 6, 8–9.
- ^ Begrand, Adrien (July 28, 2005). "Megadeth: Greatest Hits: Back to the Start". Popmatters. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
- ^ "Greatest Hits: Back to the Start - Megadeth | Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
- ^ "Soundscan Report: CKY, Megadeth, Devildriver, Darkest Hour, Throwdown". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 6 July 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Megadeth: Album Sales Update". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 16 December 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Canadian album certifications – Megadeth". Music Canada.
- ^ "Megadeth Presented With Canadian Gold Plaques For 'Back To The Start'". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 24 July 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ Blender Review Archived May 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Birchmeier, Jason. "Greatest Hits: Back to the Start - Megadeth". AllMusic. Retrieved September 28, 2013.
- ^ Greatest Hits: Back to the Start limited edition back panel. Capitol Records. 2005.
- ^ "Megadeth: GREATEST HITS - BACK TO THE START" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". Zobbel. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ "Megadeth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
- ^ "British album certifications – Megadeth". British Phonographic Industry.
