A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!

Last updated
A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!
A Collection of Roxette Hits, Their 20 Greatest Songs.png
Greatest hits album by
Roxette
Released18 October 2006
RecordedNovember 1987 – June 2006
Genre Pop rock
Length79:28
Label
Producer
Roxette chronology
The Pop Hits
(2003)		A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!
(2006)		 The Rox Box
(2006)
Singles from Roxette Hits
  1. "One Wish"
    Released: 9 October 2006
  2. "Reveal"
    Released: 10 January 2007

A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs! is the fourth greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 18 October 2006 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol to celebrate 20 years since the release of their debut album, Pearls of Passion . It was issued in conjunction with a six-disc box set, The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 . The duo recorded "One Wish" and "Reveal" in June 2006, their first songs recorded as a duo since vocalist Marie Fredriksson's brain tumour diagnosis four years earlier.

Contents

Original deluxe editions of the record featured a bonus DVD containing 18 music videos. It was a commercial success upon release, and went on to be certified gold or platinum in several territories, namely Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. In 2011, the compilation was reissued in numerous territories to coincide with dates of The Neverending World Tour—this version included the Ballad & Pop Hits – The Complete Video Collection as its bonus DVD. This version was the first to appear on the Australian Album Chart, peaking within the top twenty. [1]

Background and production

The compilation contains two new songs, "One Wish" and "Reveal", which were both released as singles. These were the first new tracks recorded by the duo following vocalist Marie Fredriksson's brain tumour diagnosis in 2002. The songs were recorded and produced by Per Gessle alongside frequent collaborators Clarence Öfwerman and Christoffer Lundquist in June 2006 at The Aerosol Grey Machine in Skåne—a studio where Gessle had recorded the majority of his other work since Fredriksson's diagnosis, including his solo albums Mazarin (2003) and Son of a Plumber (2005), as well as Gyllene Tider's comeback album, Finn 5 fel! (2004). Gessle later said it was a "big mistake to record ["One Wish" and "Reveal"] in Skåne. Marie didn't feel comfortable there. I think she felt excluded." [2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Classic Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Expressen Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]

James Christopher Monger of AllMusic incorrectly described the compilation as containing just four singles, along with twelve album tracks and two "new cuts, and a couple of remixes", but said that the album "dutifully sums up the hook-filled careers" of Fredriksson and Gessle, whom he called "Swedish pop masters". He also commented on the conjunctive release of this compilation with The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06 , writing: "Longtime fans who balked at the group's mammoth six-disc box set will find this concise and impossibly catchy compilation a whole lot easier to digest, both cerebrally and monetarily." [3]

Mike Schiller of PopMatters gave the album a positive review, calling it "the best [Roxette] compilation out there for a pseudo-fan simply looking for all the radio tunes", and saying: "The first half of this collection is full of songs that any child of the late '80s will absolutely recognize, even if the immediate recollection is met with a bit of a blush." He also lamented the duo's drop in popularity in the United States in the late '90s, writing: "Given the latter half of the album, [that's] kind of a shame, because the straightforward, fairly rocking "Sleeping in My Car", and the rather lovely "Milk and Toast and Honey" (which sounds like Dido before Dido was Dido) could have livened up the American pop landscape that had so unfortunately passed them by. Heck, even "Stars" could have made some noise as the best "Ray of Light" knockoff out there." [6] Anders Nunstedt of Swedish publication Expressen was more critical, complaining that the new songs were inferior to the unreleased tracks contained on prior compilations The Ballad Hits (2002) and The Pop Hits (2003), but said that, during their early '90s peak, Roxette "scored an ideal radio sound and made precise pop songs in a different class than the competition". [5]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Per Gessle, except "No Sé Si Es Amor" by Gessle and Luis Escolar; all music is composed by Gessle, except "Listen to Your Heart" and "Spending My Time" by Gessle and Mats Persson.

A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!– Original release
No.TitleLength
1."One Wish"3:03
2."The Look" (from Look Sharp! , 1988)3:57
3."Dressed for Success" (US Single Mix; from Look Sharp!)4:11
4."Listen to Your Heart" (Swedish Single Edit; from Look Sharp!)5:14
5."Dangerous" (Single Version; from Look Sharp!)3:49
6."It Must Have Been Love" (from the Pretty Woman soundtrack, 1990)4:19
7."Joyride" (Single Edit; from Joyride , 1991)4:02
8."Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)" (from Joyride)3:53
9."Spending My Time" (from Joyride)4:35
10."How Do You Do!" (from Tourism , 1992)3:11
11."Almost Unreal" (from the Super Mario Bros. soundtrack, 1993)3:58
12."Sleeping in My Car" (Single Edit; from Crash! Boom! Bang! , 1994)3:34
13."Crash! Boom! Bang!" (Single Edit; from Crash! Boom! Bang!)4:26
14."Run to You" (from Crash! Boom! Bang!)3:38
15."Wish I Could Fly" (from Have a Nice Day , 1999)4:42
16."Stars" (from Have a Nice Day)3:58
17."The Centre of the Heart" (from Room Service , 2001)3:24
18."Milk and Toast and Honey" (Single Master; from Room Service)4:04
19."A Thing About You" (from The Ballad Hits , 2002)3:47
20."Reveal"3:43
Total length:79:28
A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!– Original Spanish release
No.TitleLength
15."No Sé Si Es Amor" (from Baladas en Español , 1996)4:43
16."Wish I Could Fly"4:42
17."Stars"3:58
18."The Centre of the Heart"3:24
19."Milk and Toast and Honey"4:04
20."Reveal"3:43
Total length:80:24
A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!– 2012 Canadian Tour edition
No.TitleLength
18."The Sweet Hello, The Sad Goodbye" (Bassflow Remake; non-album single, 2012)3:48
19."A Thing About You"3:47
20."She's Got Nothing On (But the Radio)" (from Charm School , 2011)3:34
Total length:79:03
A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!– Deluxe edition bonus DVD (music videos)
No.TitleDirectorLength
1."The Look"Peter Heath3:55
2."Dressed for Success"Heath4:09
3."Listen to Your Heart"Doug Freel5:04
4."Dangerous"Freel3:54
5."It Must Have Been Love"Freel4:18
6."Joyride"Freel4:38
7."Fading Like a Flower (Every Time You Leave)"Freel3:56
8."Spending My Time" Wayne Isham 4:45
9."How Do You Do!"Anders Skog3:14
10."Almost Unreal"Michael Geoghegan4:18
11."Sleeping in My Car"Geoghegan3:45
12."Crash! Boom! Bang!"Geoghegan4:53
13."Run to You" Jonas Åkerlund 3:38
14."Wish I Could Fly"Åkerlund4:38
15."Stars" Anton Corbijn 3:58
16."The Centre of the Heart"Åkerlund3:27
17."Milk and Toast and Honey"Jesper Hiro4:12
18."A Thing About You"Åkerlund3:43
Total length:74:25
A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!– 2011 reissue bonus DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Ballad & Pop Hits – The Complete Video Collection" 
Total length:218:45

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI) [29] Gold100,000^
Ireland (IRMA) [30] Platinum15,000^
Sweden (GLF) [31] Gold30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [32] Gold15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [33] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

Roxette Swedish pop rock duo

Roxette was a Swedish pop rock duo, consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle. Formed in 1986, the duo became an international act in the late 1980s, when they released their breakthrough second album Look Sharp! Their third album Joyride, which was released in 1991, became just as successful as its predecessor. Roxette went on to achieve nineteen UK Top 40 hits and several US Hot 100 hits, including four US number-ones with "The Look", "Listen to Your Heart", "It Must Have Been Love", featured on the soundtrack of Pretty Woman, and "Joyride". Their other hits include "Dressed for Success", "Dangerous", and "Fading Like a Flower".

Per Gessle Swedish singer, guitarist and songwriter

Per Håkan Gessle is a Swedish pop singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the male half and primary songwriter and lyricist of the Swedish pop rock duo Roxette, which he formed with Marie Fredriksson in 1986 and which was disbanded after her death in 2019. The duo achieved international success in the late-1980s and early-1990s with their albums Look Sharp! (1988) and Joyride (1991), and topped the charts in the US four times, most notably with "It Must Have Been Love" which was featured in the film Pretty Woman. Prior to the formation of Roxette, he had a successful career in native Sweden as the frontman for Gyllene Tider. The band released three number-one albums during the early 1980s but disbanded shortly after their fourth album, The Heartland Café (1984).

<i>Look Sharp!</i> (Roxette album) 1988 studio album by Roxette

Look Sharp! is the second studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette. The album was released on 21 October 1988, two years after their debut Pearls of Passion (1986). It was recorded at EMI Studios in Stockholm and at Trident II Studios in London between March and September 1988. The album was an immediate commercial success in Sweden, debuting at number one and eventually being certified 6× platinum there.

<i>Pearls of Passion</i> 1986 studio album by Roxette

Pearls of Passion is the debut studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, originally released on cassette and vinyl on 31 October 1986 in Scandinavia and Canada. The album was remastered and released on CD on 31 October 1997, with several previously unreleased bonus tracks. It was remastered and re-released again in 2009.

<i>Joyride</i> (Roxette album) 1991 studio album by Roxette

Joyride is the third studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 28 March 1991 by EMI as the follow-up to their international breakthrough Look Sharp! (1988), as well as the non-album single "It Must Have Been Love", from the soundtrack to Pretty Woman (1990). The album was recorded over an 11-month period in Sweden. The duo experienced considerable pressure from their record label to deliver a successful follow-up album, and resisted pressure to relocate to Los Angeles and work with experienced American producers.

<i>Tourism</i> (Roxette album) 1992 studio album with live tracks by Roxette

Tourism: Songs from Studios, Stages, Hotelrooms & Other Strange Places is the fourth studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 28 August 1992 by EMI. Despite often being mistaken for a live album, the record was described by Roxette in its liner notes as a "tour album": the band recorded the majority of its material in numerous recording studios in-between live dates of their worldwide "Join the Joyride! Tour". The album contains three live concert recordings, while another track was recorded live in an empty nightclub in São Paulo. A further two tracks were recorded in Buenos Aires' Alvear Palace Hotel.

<i>Crash! Boom! Bang!</i> 1994 studio album by Roxette

Crash! Boom! Bang! is the fifth studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 9 April 1994 by EMI. The album was an immediate commercial success, peaking within the top 10 in over 20 national charts throughout Europe, Australasia and South America. The full-length album was not originally released in the United States, where a shortened version titled Favorites from Crash! Boom! Bang! was sold for a limited time through McDonald's outlets; this version sold over a million copies in the US but was deemed ineligible to chart on the Billboard 200 as, until 2007, Billboard had a policy of excluding albums sold by an exclusive retailer.

<i>Have a Nice Day</i> (Roxette album) 1999 studio album by Roxette

Have a Nice Day is the sixth studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released worldwide from 22 February 1999 by Roxette Recordings and EMI. Recorded over an 18-month period in studios in Sweden and Spain, the album was produced by Marie Fredriksson, Per Gessle, Clarence Öfwerman and Michael Ilbert, and was their first studio album since Crash! Boom! Bang! in 1994. The album was not released in the US, as the duo were no longer signed to a label there. A deluxe edition was released in Spanish-speaking territories and, in Arabian regions, the naked babies on the cover were digitally removed, due to religious concerns.

<i>Room Service</i> (Roxette album) 2001 studio album by Roxette

Room Service is the seventh studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released worldwide from 2 April 2001. A planned release in the United States failed to materialise, as the duo's label there, Edel Records America, had been disbanded the previous month due to financial difficulties. Marie Fredriksson was not as involved in the album's production as she had been on previous records, taking part in the composition of just two songs. The album was remastered and reissued with bonus tracks in 2009.

<i>Dont Bore Us, Get to the Chorus!</i> 1995 greatest hits album by Roxette

Don't Bore Us - Get to the Chorus! Roxette's Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 30 October 1995 by EMI. The record contains the duo's four number ones from the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: "The Look", "Listen to Your Heart", "It Must Have Been Love" and "Joyride", and a further two which reached number two on the chart: "Dangerous" and "Fading Like a Flower ". It also includes four newly recorded tracks, three of which were released as singles: "You Don't Understand Me", "June Afternoon" and "She Doesn't Live Here Anymore". The album's title is based on a quote from Motown-founder Berry Gordy.

<i>The Ballad Hits</i> 2002 greatest hits album by Roxette

The Ballad Hits is the second greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 4 November 2002 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records. It was the first of a two-part series of "best of" albums released by the duo in quick succession, and was followed by The Pop Hits in March 2003. Two new songs were recorded specially for The Ballad Hits: lead single "A Thing About You" and "Breathe". The album was a commercial success upon release, and has been certified gold or platinum in a number of territories.

<i>The Pop Hits</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Roxette

The Pop Hits is the third greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 24 March 2003 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records. It was the second in a two-part series of "best of" albums released by the duo in quick succession, and was preceded by The Ballad Hits in November 2002. The album was not as commercially successful as its predecessor, although it did peak within the top twenty of various Scandinavian record charts. It was also certified gold in Brazil.

Salvation (Roxette song) 1999 single by Roxette

"Salvation" is a song by Swedish pop music duo Roxette, released on 22 November 1999 as the fourth and final single from their sixth studio album, Have a Nice Day.

One Wish (Roxette song)

"One Wish" is a song by Swedish pop music duo Roxette, released on 9 October 2006 as the lead single from the duo's fourth greatest hits compilation album, A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs! It was recorded in June 2006, and was one of the first songs recorded by the duo since vocalist Marie Fredriksson's brain tumour diagnosis in 2002. Longtime collaborator Jonas Åkerlund directed the song's music video. The single performed well in several territories, particularly in Scandinavia. It ended 2006 as one of the twenty best-selling singles in Sweden.

<i>The Rox Box/Roxette 86–06</i> 2006 box set by Roxette

The Roxbox is a boxed set compilation by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 18 October 2006 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol. It is an expanded companion piece to the single-disc greatest hits album A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!, which was also released on the same date. The box set consists of four CDs containing singles, album tracks, non-album singles and B-sides, as well as previously unreleased outtakes, alternate versions and demos. It also includes two DVDs: the first is of their previously unreleased 9 January 1993 performance at the Cirkus arena in Stockholm for MTV Unplugged; the second contains every music video ever recorded by the duo.

Opportunity Nox 2003 single by Roxette

"Opportunity Nox" is a song by Swedish pop music duo Roxette, released on 25 February 2003 as the lead single from the duo's third greatest hits compilation album, The Pop Hits (2003).

Reveal (Roxette song) 2006 single by Roxette

"Reveal" is a song by Swedish pop music duo Roxette, released on 10 January 2007 as the final single from the duo's fourth greatest hits compilation album, A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs! (2006). Gessle was reportedly unhappy with the original album version of the track, so a slightly remixed single version was created, incorporating a re-recorded middle 8. Two other remixes were also created: one by Swedish house duo The Attic, and another by record producer Kleerup. "Reveal" became the duo's 35th and – as of 2017 – final song to enter the Swedish Singles Chart, where it peaked at number 59. It failed to chart elsewhere.

<i>Charm School</i> (Roxette album) 2011 studio album by Roxette

Charm School is the eighth studio album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 11 February 2011 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol. It was their first studio album since 2001's Room Service, and their first since vocalist Marie Fredriksson's brain tumour diagnosis in 2002. "She's Got Nothing On " preceded the album as its lead single, which became the duo's highest-peaking single in almost two decades in territories such as Austria, Germany and Switzerland. The song also entered Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart—making Roxette the only duo who appeared on that chart in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

<i>Roxette XXX – The 30 Biggest Hits</i> 2014 greatest hits album by Roxette

Roxette XXX – The 30 Biggest Hits is the sixth greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 3 November 2014 by Roxette Recordings in conjunction with Parlophone and Warner Music Group.

<i>Good Karma</i> Album by Roxette

Good Karma is the tenth and final studio album by Roxette, a Swedish pop rock duo consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle. Released on 3 June 2016 by Roxette Recordings and Parlophone, it was the first and only album issued by the duo under an international recording contract signed with Parlophone's parent company Warner Music Group. The album was produced by Gessle alongside Christoffer Lundquist and Clarence Öfwerman, with co-production on several tracks by Addeboy vs. Cliff, among others.

References

  1. 1 2 "Australiancharts.com – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  2. ↑ Tobias Regnell (December 2008 – January 2009). "50 År Och Diskokung? Per Gessle Börjar Om" [50 Years Old and a Pop King? Per Gessle Starts Over]. Filter (in Swedish). No. 5. Stockholm, Sweden: Offside Press . Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 Monger, James Christopher. "A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs - Roxette | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  4. ↑ Ling, Dave (December 2006). "Classic Rock Presents AOR #2: Roxette – A Collection Of Roxette Hits!". Classic Rock . No. 2. Future. p. 99.
  5. 1 2 Nunstedt, Anders (18 October 2006). "Roxette - Roxette Hits!". Expressen . Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  6. 1 2 Schiller, Mike (30 March 2007). "Roxette: A Collection of Roxette Hits". PopMatters . Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  8. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Brazilian Albums : 28 May 2011" . Billboard . Prometheus Global Media. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 200644 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Danishcharts.dk – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  14. ↑ "Eurocharts | Albums". Billboard . Vol. 118 no. 45. 11 November 2006. p. 99. ISSN   0006-2510.
  15. ↑ "Roxette: A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  16. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  17. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2019. 50. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  18. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 43, 2006". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  19. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  20. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  21. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100: 22 October 2006 - 28 October 2006". Official Charts Company . 22 October 2006. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  23. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  24. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  25. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Roxette – A Collection of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  26. ↑ "Roxette | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  27. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan > Sök Alla Listar > Årlistar > Album > 2006". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  28. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1999" (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  29. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Roxette; 'Hits 20Greatest Hits')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  30. ↑ "The Irish Charts - 2006 Certification Awards - Platinum". Irish Recorded Music Association.
  31. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033257/https://www.ifpi.se/wp-content/uploads/ar-20071.pdf
  32. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Roxette; 'A Collection Of Roxette Hits - Their 20 Greatest Songs!')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  33. ↑ "British album certifications – Roxette – A Collection Of Hits". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 5 September 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.