http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0a/Madonna_-_GHV2.jpg/220px-Madonna_-_GHV2.jpg

On November 12th 2001 Madonna released her second Greatest Hits album called GHV2: Greatest Hits Volume 2. Madonna decided to name it GHV2 because "it's a title you will remember" and also because of "laziness", due to the fact that she had just finished the Drowned World Tour and was about to begin filming Swept Away. Other titles the album was given and rejected was The Immaculate Collection 2 and The Second Coming. GHV2 was released on the eleventh anniversary of The Immaculate Collection, featuring a selection of hits ranging from Erotica - Music albums. Madonna felt that because it was a "greatest hits", it should only contain previously released hit songs. In an interview with Jo Whiley, Madonna said "I only wanted songs that I could listen to five times in a row." Like The Immaculate Collection, there were many other popular singles excluded. "American Pie", which was a big hit, was excluded as a "punishment", because Madonna regretted putting it on the Music album. "It was something a certain record company executive twisted my arm into doing, but it didn't belong on the album so now it's being punished," This Used to Be My Playground, I'll Remember, You'll See, Rain, which had all appeared on her ballads compilation Something to Remember so they was being punished too. To avoid an "explicit lyrics" label, an edit of "Human Nature" was included, in which the line, "I'm not your bitch, don't hang your sh*t on me", is removed. Of the other 15 songs, ten other songs were also edited down from their original album versions.

 

Track Listing:

01. Deeper And Deeper - 7" Edit

02. Erotica - Radio Edit

03. Human Nature - Radio Version

04. Secret - Radio Edit

05. Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Radio Edit

06. Bedtime Story - Radio Edit

07. The Power Of Good-Bye

08. Beautiful Stranger - William Orbit Radio Edit

09. Frozen - Radio Edit

10. Take A Bow - Radio Edit

11. Ray Of Light - Radio Edit

12. Don't Tell Me

13. What It Feels Like For A Girl

14. Drowned World / Substitute For Love

15. Music

 

Original Tracklist:

As of september 2001 You'll See was on the album and Drowned World / Substitute For Love was left off and the track listing was totally different to what was released (see image below). The album's run time is 67:13 so they could of easily had both in.

http://www.madonnatribe.com/i_05/ghv2_test_500.jpg

 

A special edition of GHV2, featuring the same track listing, but some additional artwork, was released in December 2001. Hidden in the inner sleeve album artwork of both editions of GHV2 is a quote from "Human Nature": "Express Yourself, Don't Repress Yourself."

 

The album was given very little promotion with no singles released apart from the promotional only "GHV2 Megamix". Madonna did however make an appearance at the 2001 Turner Prize award ceremony and mentioned that she "had a new record out called GHV2". She had an interview with Jo Whiley on radio 1 and was on the Today Show in the US.

 

In December 2001 Maverick Records also released a promotional album GHV2 Remixed: The Best of 1991-2001, featuring remixed versions of tracks from the greatest hits compilation GHV2. Like the promotional megamix single release, it was not made commercially available.

The album contains a remix of each song, except for Take a Bow, Don't Cry for Me Argentina, and The Power of Good-Bye. The album was released as a double CD and a triple 12" set.

 

The track list:

01. What It Feels Like for a Girl (That Kid Chris Caligula 2001 Mix)

02. Don't Tell Me (Timo Maas Mix)

03. Drowned World/Substitute for Love" (BT & Sasha Bucklodge Ashram Mix)

04. Human Nature (Bottom Heavy Dub)

05. Frozen (Calderone Extended Club Mix)

06. Erotica (Masters at Work Dub)

07.Deeper and Deeper (David's Klub Mix)

08. Ray of Light (Calderone Club Mix)

09. Beautiful Stranger (Calderone Club Mix)

10. Bedtime Story (Luscious Dub Mix)

11. Secret" (Junior's Sound Factory Dub)

12. Music (HQ2 Club Mix)

 

In the UK GHV2 broke the pre order records. The album has gone platinum everywhere. GHV2 has sold 7 -8 Million worldwide to date.

 

What do you think of GHV2 ?

Do you own it ?

Should You'll See have made the final cut or would you drop Drowned World / Substitute For Love ?

What song (s) shouldn't have made the album and what songs should have ?

Discuss everything GHV2..

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by SweetCandy

Considering it's part 2, I think that all the singles that weren't on Immaculate Collection should have been on GHV2, especially those which were most successful - like You'll See

I have the album - i think it was unwise to not feature atleast 1 new song!! (this then would have increased sales further)

 

conisdering how successful 'american pie' was as a single i think it also should have been included, i am fully aware she and william both are not fond of this song now!

 

i cant choose what i wouldve chosen out of you'll see and drowned world, love them both but You'll See was a much bigger hit but this does feature on her ballads collection!

 

Maybe you'll see could have replaced dont cry for me?

When GHV2 was released I rushed to hmv as soon as they opened, then later in that night I was so disappointed.

 

At the time I really wanted American Pie to be on it but now I can see why and I'm glad it wasn't included. The songs I would have included would be Nothing Really Matters, Bad Girl & Rain (but that's on STR).

 

The original track list would have flowed much better than the list that made it.

 

I think the megamix should have been a bonus track on the album as there was no new material.

Edited October 30, 201113 yr by SweetCandy

I have to say I think it's complete shit. The track listing is shit, the edits are shit, the artwork is shit, the absence of any new material is shit. Shit, shit, shit!