Remix album

Michael Jackson (left) and Madonna have the first and second best-selling remix albums in history: Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix and You Can Dance , respectively

A remix album is an album consisting of remixes or rerecorded versions of an artist's earlier released material. The first act who employed the format was American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson ( Aerial Pandemonium Ballet , 1971). ^[1] As of 2007, the best-selling remix album of all time is Michael Jackson's Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix (1997).

History and concept

Aerial Pandemonium Ballet (1971) by Harry Nilsson is credited as the first remix album. ^[1] It was released after the successes of "Everybody's Talkin'" and The Point! , when he decided that his older material had started to sound dated.^{[ citation needed ]} Neu!'s Neu! 2 (1973) has also been described as "in effect the first remix album", as many tracks see the duo "speed up, slow down, cut, doctor, and mutilate the material, sometimes beyond recognition". ^[2]

In the 1980s, record companies would combine several kinds of electronic dance music, such as dance-pop, house, and techno into full-length albums, creating a relatively low-overhead addition to the catalogs and balance sheets. ^[3] Soft Cell's Non Stop Ecstatic Dancing (1982) and The Human League's Love and Dancing (1982) are credited for inventing the modern remix album. ^[4] Since this time, this kind of release is not only seen as an easy cash-in for an artist and their label, but also as an opportunity to provide a second lease of life for a record. ^[5] In reggae music, it is very common for a whole album to be remixed in a dub style. ^{[6] [7]}

Jennifer Lopez's album J to tha L–O! The Remixes (2002) is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first remix album to debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart. ^[8]

List of best-selling remix albums

Best-selling remix albums worldwide

No.	Album	Artist	Record label	Released	Total certified units (from available markets) [a]	Claimed sales (At least 500,000 sold)
1	Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix	Michael Jackson	Epic Records	1997	2,775,000 US: 1,000,000 [9] JPN: 100,000 [a] [10] GER: 250,000 [11] UK: 100,000 [12] FRA: 300,000 [13] CAN: 50,000< [14] AUS: 70,000 [a] [15] AUT: 25,000 [16] BRA: 100,000 [a] [17] NLD: 100,000 [18] ITA: 50,000 [a] [19] SPA: 100,000 [a] [20] [21] DEN: 100,000 [a] [22] [23] [24] SWI: 50,000 [a] [25] BEL: 50,000 [a] [26] [27] POL: 50,000 [a] [28] FIN: 20,000 [29] HKG: 20,000 [30] NOR: 25,000 [31] NZ: 15,000 [32] [33]	6,000,000 [34]
2	You Can Dance	Madonna	Sire Records	1987	2,305,000 US: 1,000,000 [9] GER: 250,000 [11] UK: 300,000 [12] FRA: 300,000 [13] AUS: 70,000 [a] [15] HK: 20,000 [35] BRA: 100,000 [a] [17] POR: 20,000 [36] SWI: 25,000 [37] ARG: 30,000 [38] NLD: 50,000 [18] SPA: 100,000 [a] [39] [40] SWI: 25,000 [a] [25] NZ: 15,000 [32] [33]	5,000,000 [41]
3	Love	The Beatles	Apple Records	2006	4,132,500 US: 2,000,000 [9] JPN: 250,000 [a] [10] ARG: 20,000 [38] GER: 300,000 [11] UK: 600,000 [12] FRA: 200,000 [13] CAN: 200,000 [14] AUS: 140,000 [a] [15] NLD: 35,000 [18] SPA: 160,000 [a] [20] DEN: 80,000 [a] [24] SWI: 30,000 [a] [25] BEL: 25,000 [a] [27] POL: 20,000 [a] [28] NZ: 15,000 [32] [33] GRE: 7,500 [42] IRE: 45,000 [43] MEX: 50,000 [44]	5,000,000 [45]
4	Reanimation	Linkin Park	Warner Bros. Records	2002	1,597,500 US: 1,000,000 [9] GER: 150,000 [11] UK: 300,000 [12] AUS: 35,000 [a] [15] BRA: 50,000 [a] [17] SWI: 20,000 [a] [25] NZ: 7,500 [32] [33] AUT: 15,000 [a] [46] ARG: 20,000 [38]
5	J to tha L–O! The Remixes	Jennifer Lopez	Epic Records	2002	1,582,500 US: 1,000,000 [9] UK: 300,000 [12] FRA: 100,000 [13] CAN: 100,000 [14] AUS: 35,000 [a] [15] NLD: 40,000 [18] NZ: 7,500 [32] [33]	3,000,000 [47]
6	Shut Up and Dance: Mixes	Paula Abdul	Virgin Records	1990	1,107,500 US: 1,100,000 [9] CAN: 100,000 [14] NZ: 7,500 [32] [33]	1,000,000 [48]
7	Super Eurobeat Presents Ayu-ro Mix	Ayumi Hamasaki	Avex Trax	2000	1,200,000 JAP: 1,200,000 [49]
8	We Invented the Remix	P. Diddy	Bad Boy Records	2002	1,100,000 US: 1,000,000 [9] UK: 100,000 [12]
9	Never Say Never: The Remixes	Justin Bieber	Island Records	2011	1,040,000 US: 1,000,000 [9] BRA: 40,000 [a] [17]
10	Dance!...Ya Know It!	Bobby Brown	MCA Records	1989	1,007,500 US: 1,000,000 [9] NZ: 7,500 [32]
11	No More Games/The Remix Album	New Kids on the Block	Columbia Records	1990	1,000,000 US: 500,000 [9] JPN: 100,000 [a] [10] CAN: 200,000 [14] AUT: 25,000 [a] [15] BRA: 100,000 [a] [17] SPA: 50,000 [a] [20] [21] [50] [39] FIN: 20,000 [29]
12	Misia Remix 2000 Little Tokyo	Misia	Arista Records	2000	800,000 JAP: 800,000 [51]	831,000 [51]
13	Further Down the Spiral	Nine Inch Nails	Nothing Records	1995	600,000 US: 500,000 [9] UK: 100,000 [12]
14	Ayu-mi-x II Version Non-Stop Mega Mix	Ayumi Hamasaki	Avex Trax	2000	400,000 JPN: 400,000 [a] [10]	505,000 [52]
15	Disco	Pet Shop Boys	Parlophone	1986	550,000 GER: 250,000 [11] UK: 100,000 [12]
16	New Old Songs	Limp Bizkit	Interscope Records	2001	500,000 US: 500,000 [9]
17	Eu e Memê, Memê e Eu	Lulu Santos	BMG Brasil	2000	500,000 BRA: 500,000 [a] [17]
18	The Remix	Lady Gaga	Interscope Records	2010	405,000 JPN: 250,000 [a] [10] BRA: 40,000 [a] [17] BEL: 15,000 [a] [27] UK: 100,000 [12]	500,000 [53]
19	The Remixes	Shakira	Sony Music	1997	200,000 US: 200,000 [9]	500,000 [54]
20	Todas as Estações - Remixes	Sandy & Junior	Universal Music Group	2000	250,000 BRA: 250,000 [a] [17]	500,000 [55]

See also

• Dub music
• List of best-selling music artists

Notes

1. Certification systems have been established periodically throughout the past half century; thus, certification databases are not able to cover all sales. Some (or all) records released and sold prior to a certification system's establishment year may not be found within the available searchable certification databases. Year of establishment (from largest market to smallest based on Retail Value each market generates respectively): ^{[56] [57]}
   • United States: 1958 ^[58]
   • Japan: 1989 ^[59]
   • Germany: 1975 ^[11]
   • United Kingdom: 1973 ^[60]
   • France: 1973 ^[61]
   • Canada: 1975 ^[62]
   • Australia: 1997 ^[15] (online certification-database has begun since 1997. Certifications; however, existed in Australia since the 1970s)
   • Brazil: 1990 ^[63]
   • Netherlands: 1978 ^[18]
   • Italy: 2009 ^[19] (online certification-database covers certifications issued since 2009. Certifications; however, have existed in Italy since the 1990s)
   • Spain: 1979 ^[50]
   • Sweden: 1987 ^[64]
   • Denmark: 2001 ^[22] (online certifications for Denmark start from 2001. Certifications; however, existed in Denmark since the early 1990s ^[65] )
   • Switzerland: 1989 ^[66]
   • Mexico: 1999 ^[67]
   • Argentina: 1980 ^[68]
   • Belgium: 1995 ^[69]
   • Austria: 1990 ^[46]
   • Poland: 1995 ^[28]
   • Finland: 1971 ^[70]
   • Ireland: 2005 ^[71]
   • New Zealand: July 1978 ^[32]
   Certified sales might sometimes be larger than actual sales, if stores order more albums than they are able to sell, due to certifications generally being determined by shipments and not actual sales. Often, however, actual sales are larger than certified sales, since record labels must pay a fee to obtain certifications. Record companies often apply for certifications only when a record reaches a multiple certification-levels, meaning certifications might not be visible in the databases for more than a short period of time after an album reached a certification level. ^{[72] [73]} As global music sales declined in the 2000s mostly due to CD burning and downloading from unauthorized sites, certification bodies opted to reduce their certification levels. ^[74] See the changes in Certification-award-levels in the following markets:
   • United States ^[75] (Note, U.S. certification-award-levels for singles before 1989 were: 1,000,000 for Gold and 2,000,000 for Platinum. ^[76] Also, U.S. certification-awards for Shortform albums before September 1996 were: 250,000 for Gold and 500,000 for Platinum ^[77] )
   • Japan ^{[78] [79]}
   • Germany ^[80]
   • United Kingdom ^[81]
   • France ^{[82] [61] [83] [84]}
   • Canada ^[85] (Canadian certification-award-levels for singles before February 1982 were: 75,000 for Gold and 150,000 for Platinum ^[86] )
   • Brazil ^{[87] [88] [89]}
   • Netherlands ^[90]
   • Italy ^{[19] [91] [92]}
   • Spain ^{[93] [94]}
   • Sweden ^[95]
   • Denmark ^{[65] [96] [97] [98]}
   • Switzerland ^[66]
   • Mexico ^{[99] [100]}
   • Argentina ^[68]
   • Belgium ^{[101] [102]}
   • Austria: ^{[101] [103] [104]}
   • Poland ^{[105] [106]}
   • Finland ^[70]
   • New Zealand: (NZ certification-levels for singles before 1989 were: 10,000 for Gold, 20,000 for Platinum) ^[107] (NZ certification-levels for singles before June 2007 were: 5,000 for Gold, 10,000 for Platinum) ^[108] (The levels for singles were adjusted again on 17 June 2016 from previous 7,500 for Gold, 15,000 for Platinum, to 15,000 for Gold, 30,000 for Platinum) ^[109]

References

1. Fennessey, Sean (6 August 2013). "Deconstructing Harry". Grantland . Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
2. Chamy, Michael (13 July 2001). "Neu!, Neu! 2, and Neu! 75 (Astralwerks)". The Austin Chronicle . Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
3. Aswad, Jem (28 August 2020). "Dua Lipa's Remix Collection 'Club Future Nostalgia' Is an Immaculate Reconception: Album Review". Variety . Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
4. Lester, Paul (31 October 2007). "No 216: Spektrum". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
5. Copsay, Rob (20 August 2020). "Remix albums: the best, biggest and highest charting". Official Charts Company . Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
6. Dub: soundscapes and shattered songs in Jamaican reggae, p.2
7. Chris Roberts, Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind Rhyme, Thorndike Press, 2006 ( ISBN   0-7862-8517-6)
8. "First remix album to debut at No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart". Guinness World Records . 2 October 2020.
9. "RIAA: Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
10. "RIAJ: Digital Certifications" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
11. "BVMI: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
12. "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
13. "SNEP: Les Certifications". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
14. "Music Canada: Gold & Platinum searchable database". Music Canada. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
15. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
16. "Home | IFPI". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012.
17. "PMB: Certificados" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Archived from the original on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
18. "NVPI: Goud/Platina". NVPI. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
19. "F.I.M.I: Federazione Industria Musicale Itaiana" (in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
20. "PROMUSICAE Charts: Home > Weekly charts" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
21. Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año : 1991-1995. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. pp. 928–939. ISBN   978-84-8048-639-2. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
22. "Hitlisten.nu". Tracklisten . Hitlisten.nu. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
23. "Guld og platin i august". IFPI Denmark . 9 May 2004. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
24. "IFPI Denmark: Certificeringer". IFPI Denmark . Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
25. "Hitparade.ch: Edelmetall". Schweizer Hitparade . Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2017.Note that the certifications for DVDs need to be retrieved by selecting the years at"http://hitparade.ch/awards.asp"
26. "Awards 1997–2003". Belgian Entertainment Association . Ultratop. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
27. "Ultratop: Goud En Platina". Ultratop. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
28. "Polish certification awards 1995–present" (in Polish). ZPAV. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
29. "Kulta- ja platinalevyt: Artistit". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
30. "Archived copy". ifpihk.org. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
31. "Trofeoversikt - IFPI - Gull og Platina". Archived from the original on 25 July 2012.
32. "Recorded Music New Zealand: The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
33. "Radioscope: Latest Gold / Platinum Albums". Radioscope. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
34. Rojek, Chris (2007). Cultural Studies. Polity. p. 74. ISBN   978-0-7456-3683-2.
35. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1988". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
36. De Almeida, Luis Pinheiro (4 January 1989). "Platinum in Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media . 4 (2): 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
37. "Gold & Platinum Awards 1987: Switzerland" (PDF). Music & Media. 4 (51–52): 46. 16 December 1987. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
38. "CAPIF: Discos de Oro y Platino (albums)". CAPIF. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
39. Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año : 1996-1999. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. pp. 940–952. ISBN   978-84-8048-639-2. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
40. Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año : 2000-2002. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. pp. 952–966. ISBN   978-84-8048-639-2. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
41. "Madonna, take a bow". The Detroit News. 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2013. ...a fixture in the city's underground dance club scene, her collection of remixes released a year later in 1987 eventually went on to sell five million copies...
42. "Greek album certifications – The Beatles – Love" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
43. "The Irish Charts - 2006 Certification Awards - Multi Platinum" Archived 25 May 2012 at archive.today . Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
44. "Certificaciones" Archived 14 November 2020 at archive.today (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved 4 March 2019. Type The Beatles in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Love in the box under TÍTULO
45. "EMI Group plc preliminary results for the financial year ended 31 March 2007". 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2007.
46. "IFPI Austria : Gold & Platin" (in German). International Federation of the Phonographic Industry – Austria. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
47. "Jennifer Lopez: Officiel engelsk biografi" (in Danish and English). Sony Music. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
48. "Paula Abdul back with her brand of light pop". Spartanburg Herald-Journal . 24 June 1995. p. A9. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
49. "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年4月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. April 2000 Edition](PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 487. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 8. 10 June 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
50. Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año : 1979-1990. Iberautor Promociones Culturales. pp. 913–929. ISBN   978-84-8048-639-2. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
51. "GOLD ALBUM 他認定作品 2000年6月度" [Gold Albums, and other certified works. June 2000 Edition](PDF). The Record (Bulletin) (in Japanese). 489. Chūō, Tokyo: Recording Industry Association of Japan: 8. 10 August 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
52. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 21 April 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
53. Ziegbe, Mawuse (8 July 2010). "Lady Gaga Remix Album Due In The U.S. Next Month". MTV News. Retrieved 9 July 2010.^{[ dead link ]}
54. "Los millones de Shakira, Empresas - Edición Impresa Dinero.com - Últimas Noticias" (in Spanish). Dinero.com. 13 October 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
55. Garcia, Lauro Lisboa (10 July 2000). "A nova namoradinha do brasil". Revista Época . Editora Globo. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2010.